10 Awesome WWE "Nearly Moments"

10. Bischoff Break's HBK's Heart

It was New Year's Eve 2003 when Shawn Michaels - still harbouring a bitter grudge against former best friend Triple H (with whom, about two and a half years later, he would reform D-Generation X for totally non-merchandise-related reasons) - got his opportunity at the World Heavyweight Championship. This was the same belt he lost to 'The Game' a year earlier in a brutal Three Stages of Hell match and, having spent the intervening period getting beaten up on by Evolution, a shot at redemption was finally within HBK's grasp.

And he got it - well, he nearly got it. In the match's dying moments, an exhausted 'Heartbreak Kid' hit Triple H with the Sweet Chin Music, then sort of just fell on top of his opponent's lifeless body. Eric Bischoff - the bout's makeshift ref - counted three, and the hometown crowd duly erupted. Only problem was, Shawn's shoulders were also pinned to the mat, and the Raw general manager not only awarded victory to the reigning champion, but proceeded to fire HBK for good measure (but don't panic: he was back within a week).