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

4. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho - Wrestlemania XIX, March 30th 2003

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WMPAqnflAU There have been many incredible matches between Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho, but it was their incredible clash at Wrestlemania 19 that really set their on-off rivalries rolling. After returning to the WWE in 2002, Michaels' first feud outside of his hunt for the World Heavyweight Title would be with Jericho, who said that whilst he has wanted to be the "next Shawn Michaels", he had instead decided to be even better as the "first Chris Jericho". After the two traded blows for several months, including causing each other's eliminations at the Royal Rumble, they ultimately agreed on a Wrestlemania match, HBK's first since 1998. Whilst Shawn was casually cocky as ever to begin with, Jericho would dominate the match from the start, blocking many of Shawn's trademark moves; the tide particularly turning after Jericho countered a Figure Four Leglock. Many of Shawn's initial matches after his return saw his opponent's focus on his back, and this was no different, with Jericho obviously keeping in mind the Walls of Jericho as an obvious match-ender. It took nearly ten solid minutes of Jericho offense before he finally made an error, kipping up and posing with his back turned to Michaels. To the fans delight, Shawn sprung up behind Jericho and started to fight back - right up until a roll-up sequence saw Jericho lock in the Walls, the submission finisher that should have sealed the match. Showing why he was "Mr. Wrestlemania", HBK was able to get to the ropes, but Jericho remained in control yet again. A second Walls of Jericho again saw Michaels somehow escape, leading to Jericho getting frustrated. HBK was able to slide out of a backdrop, catch Jericho with a rollup from behind and steal the threecount. Throughout his career, HBK was able to "get lucky" several times, but this was perhaps one of the best examples and where it worked best. It did no harm to Jericho, who came out of the match looking strong - particularly when he low-blowed HBK after teasing respect with a hug after the match. Shawn, meanwhile, was able to prove he could wrestle a no-frills match and last in the ring with an "unknown" opponent, far from the matches he had been having with Triple H earlier in his return. Whilst some of their later matches would be much more brutal - their epic ladder match in 2008, for example - this was a great example of two technical greats putting on a stunning show.