WWE - Shawn Michaels: 5 Awesome Matches And 5 That Sucked

5 Awesome Matches...

5. Shawn Michaels vs. Shelton Benjamin - RAW, 2nd May 2005

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-FBBolZN-w "This is gonna be awesome" was how Jim Ross introduced this match - and boy, was he right. The first ever meeting between Michaels and Benjamin, there was very little that needed to be set up in order to sell this match. Two incredible athletes, one a living legend and the other a sure-fire future star (at that moment, anyway); Shelton was still riding a wave of support and momentum as Intercontinental Champion following the initial Draft Lottery in 2004, whilst Shawn had just teamed with Hulk Hogan at Backlash. In terms of potential matches, this was the WWE throwing it all on the line for free on RAW. The two men went back and forth in the early goings, with neither really looking likely to pick up the victory as the crowd settled in for what would obviously be a lengthy match. Shawn's athleticism seemed a match for Shelton early on, but Benjamin would turn the match around following a top-rope counter to a backdrop. The back-and-forth action would continue though and the fans in the arena were soon eating out of the two wrestler's hands, after HBK performed his trademark kip-up, only for Shelton to pull off an even more impressive one. Shelton again took control, but now seemed to be edging closer and closer to the victory with every move. He twice countered the Sweet Chin Music, once with the Dragon Whip and the second with a high kick to the side of Shawn's head. Whilst Shawn had played the plucky face coming from behind many times in his career, for once it seemed that Shelton was playing that role even better. Seemingly out of desperation, Shawn was able to send Shelton over the top rope before falling back to his knees. Benjamin, clutching on to the ropes, poised himself before springboarding off the ropes...and landing right in to Sweet Chin Music. One of the most devastating, jaw-dropping (let alone shattering) deliveries of the move got the three and HBK picked up the win; in many ways, that one moment has outlived the incredible standard of this match. What should have been a star-making performance for Shelton was left to slide, but this proved that Shawn still had plenty left in the tank and he could go as well as he ever could.