100 Greatest WWE WrestleMania Moments

Despite returning with an in-ring bang (to WWE, at least) at SummerSlam 2002 then winning the World Heavyweight Title in the first Elimination Chamber match at Survivor Series that same year, confidence remained an issue for the great Shawn Michaels heading into 2003. Privately, he was still finding his feet when WWE announced a match vs. Chris Jericho for WrestleMania XIX. Would 'Mr. WrestleMania' himself flop on the night?

In a word, no. Jericho knew that'd be the case, but he had a tough time bringing Michaels onboard. HBK was riddled with self doubts about just how much he had to offer. Rocking the house at SummerSlam with good pal Triple H was one thing, but delivering performances people expected from him proved daunting for Shawn. All of that apprehension washed away following 'Mania.

Jericho recalled in one of his books how a re-energised Shawn returned back behind the curtain and loudly bellowed: "Follow that!". Amusingly, his friend Trips and Booker T were next up on the card, so they'd have been camped out around the Gorilla Position waiting on their cue when that happened. Many (including this writer) would pay decent money to see their facial expressions when 'the old Shawn Michaels' arrived backstage with a sneering attitude that hadn't been seen since 1998.

'Mania XIX was a big deal for Michaels, and Jericho has always expressed gratitude that he was the one to help his inspiration get back on track. Shawn and Chris produced a work of art in 2003. That wouldn't be the final time either - their 2008 rivalry lives long in the memory too, but it wasn't as personally essential to Michaels as '03's dance was.

Hands off the merchandise.