The rivalry between Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels created some of the best matches in WWE history. Both wrestlers had similar strengths as all-around outstanding performers. Jericho’s genuine fandom of Michaels growing up started their first storyline back in 2003. Things grew more personal with the epic 2008 feud that carried WWE television and was a defining time in their legendary careers.
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Michaels and Jericho had ten televised matches in WWE throughout their time working together. Five of them came on PPV in the big match spots with the other five still holding importance on Raw. Any time Jericho and Michaels were in the ring together provided importance to WWE fans. Find out which matches left the biggest market as we rank every singles match of Michaels vs Jericho.
10 RAW: March 15, 2010 (Final meeting)
WWE booked one last match between Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho a few weeks before Michaels retired from the ring. The third to last match for Michaels saw him facing him former enemy on RAW for old times' sake.
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Unfortunately, it only lasted about five minutes before Jericho intentionally got counted out when it looked like Michaels was going to win. Edge attacked Jericho to build up their World Championship match for WrestleMania 26.
9 RAW: September 20, 2004 (Intercontinental Championship)
The earlier work in the Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho rivalry saw them only having one match when both played faces. Jericho defended the Intercontinental Championship against Michaels on Raw in September of 2004.
The match was going well until heels Christian and Tyson Tomko interrupted attacking both wrestlers. WWE knew it would get Christian a lot of heat and fans were livid that the potential classic was ruined by the villains.
8 RAW: May 26, 2008 (Double Count Out)
The 2008 rivalry between Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels featured a tremendous build from the spring into the fall. Jericho and Michaels started it off with mutual respect with each causing Jericho to snap more.
The May 26, 2008 episode of RAW featured Jericho and Michaels having a rematch from their prior PPV battle in the main event. WWE booked a smart non-finish by having a double count out when Jericho placed Michaels in the Walls of Jericho on the outside. Jericho teased hitting Michaels with a chair before putting it down and helping him up.
7 Great American Bash 2008 (Bloody brawl)
Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels saw things escalating at Great American Bash 2008 with the first bloody match of the feud. Both wrestlers took their game to another level to sell the story setting up bigger matches down the road.
Michaels was a bloody mess after an elbow from Jericho. The entire match consisted of Jericho brutally attacking the cut until the referee was forced to end the match via ref stoppage. Jericho’s heel character gained huge momentum to set up the future of their feud.
6 RAW: July 21, 2003 (WM Rematch)
WWE booked the 2003 rematch of Chris Jericho vs Shawn Michaels from their WrestleMania 19 match on Raw about four months later. Michaels was involved in a deeper feud with Evolution that played a role in the story here.
Jericho and Michaels had another very good match that looked a Michaels win until Randy Orton and Ric Flair interfered. Orton hit an RKO on Michaels and Jericho then placed the Walls on Jericho on the legend until he tapped out.
5 Judgment Day 2008 (Technical wrestling match)
WWE’s epic 2008 storyline between Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels actually started in a match where Michaels faced Batista. Jericho was the guest referee when Michaels faked a leg injury to get a break before hitting Batista with a superkick for the win.
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Judgment Day 2008 saw Jericho conflicted about Michaels when they faced off. This was the best pure wrestling match of the 2008 series when Michaels won to further upset Jericho and build up his resentment.
4 RAW: November 10, 2008 (Last Man Standing Match)
Many fans forget that the final match of the 2008 series between Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels took place on RAW. WWE wanted an attraction for the RAW taping in England and booked them in a Last Man Standing match for the World Championship.
Jericho and Michaels had another great match with the chaotic violence all over the ringside area. The ending had JBL hitting Michaels with a steel chair to start their feud and move Jericho into a program with John Cena returning from injury.
3 Unforgiven 2008 (Unsanctioned Match)
Chris Jericho accidentally hitting Shawn Michaels’ face in the face at SummerSlam inspired this unsanctioned match at Unforgiven. Both wrestlers put it all on the line with this bloody fight bringing the violence.
Michaels won the match to avenge his wife and teach a lesson to Jericho. The lesson only lasted about an hour as Jericho replaced an injured CM Punk in the main event to win the World Championship. Regardless of the title win, Jericho’s biggest accomplishment on this night was another classic with Michaels.
2 WrestleMania 19 (Dream match)
WWE did a great job saving the first-ever Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho match for WrestleMania 19. Michaels was having his first WrestleMania match in five years and it was against a new star who grew up idolizing him.
This was a genuine dream match for many fans all over the world wanting to see two of the best workers in the business mix it up. Michaels won a superb match that further established Jericho as a top star even in defeat.
1 No Mercy 2008 (Ladder Match)
The best match from the Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho series saw them having a legendary ladder match. Michaels was known as the pioneer of the ladder match in WWE and wanted a shot at Jericho’s World Championship, since he defeated Jericho earlier in the night where he won the gold.
The ladder match featured a scorching hot crowd in awe of every second of action. Jericho and Michaels wanted to close the feud here in grand fashion. They hit a home run with one of the most memorable matches in WWE history.
