10 Greatest Special Guest Referee Performances In WWE

A classic of storytelling that became a footnote in the most controversial wrestling finish ever. Michaels, still bouncing around the Federation as a brash, detestable backstage bad guy, had deep-rooted rivalries with both men involved in this WWF Championship match. As expected, the friction between wrestlers and referee threatened to boil over, but it didn't get intrusive until the final stretch.

Hart and 'Taker were the making of Michaels throughout his fledgling singles career, so it was only right that it was the Heartbreak Kid who oversaw this heavyweight clash. After a near-half-hour encounter where HBK did his best to quash Hart’s quest of dethroning The Undertaker, Michaels attempted to seal his Canadian nemesis’ fate courtesy of a chair to the face.

Unfortunately for Shawn (and Bret, a couple of months down the line), the steel made contact with the wrong man, sending ‘Taker to the canvas. Michaels - consummate in-ring professional that he is - begrudgingly counted the three. After that, Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart went their separate ways, never to bump into each other again...