Chris Jericho Recalls Legendary Match With Shawn Michaels
Chris Jericho took to social media to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of one of his best and favorite matches ever with Shawn Michaels.
Jericho and Michaels had two famous singles feud five years apart. The first was in 2003 and culminated at WrestleMania XIX in Michaels’ first ‘Mania match since 1998.
The second, and the focus of Jericho’s recent comments, took place five years later in 2008 and saw Jericho get much more violent and personal with Michaels.
In 2008 Jericho became a vicious heel after being frustrated with the fans for cheering Shawn Michaels even when he did something dirty or underhanded. At the same time, when Jericho did those same things, the crowd booed him.
Jericho became so incensed with Michaels that at one point he threw Michaels head-first into his JeriTron 5000 TV and allegedly caused Michaels such severe eye damage that he had to retire. But when Michaels confronted Jericho about that injury and his potential retirement, Jericho responded by swinging at Michaels, only to miss and hit his wife instead.
That angle led to a famous ladder match at No Mercy 2008, which is widely regarded as one of the best matches in modern WWE history.
Many fans have thought so, including those that voted it the Wrestling Observer’s Match of the Year 2008. And now Jericho, feeling nostalgic, decided to bring up his memories of that match and share them with the world.
“15 years ago today I had one of my all time best matches, against one of my all time best opponents, in one of the all time best ladder matches, which was the culmination of one of the all time best pro wrestling storylines!
Thanks to @officialshawnmichaels for being such a great dance partner, rival, mentor and creative collaborator! If u haven’t seen this match in a while, go back and watch it & see why it was voted the @wonf4w match of the year in 2008! @wwe”
What other awards has Chris Jericho earned?
Chris Jericho’s 2008 match with Shawn Michaels led do Y2J receiving other awards that year, including being voted Wrestler of the Year, Feud of the Year (with Shawn Michaels) and Best on Interviews.
He has also received non-wrestling-related distinctions as well. In 2004 the province of Manitoba bestowed upon him the Order of the Buffalo Hunt for his commitment to helping underprivileged children.
That same provincial authority thanked him once again earlier this year with the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for similar charity work, and the street he grew up on in Winnipeg was renamed after him shortly thereafter.