WWE: Five matches that changed the business

4. Chris Jericho vs Shawn Michaels (WM 19)

This was built as a ‘Protégé vs Mentor’ classic, and the match itself was highly anticipated. Leading into the event, the ‘Ayatollah of Rock n’ Rolla’ Chris Jericho proclaimed how he was better than Shawn Michaels, and how he had emulated him throughout his entire career, and how he always wanted to be like him. And then he claimed he would beat the HBK at Wrestlemania, since Shawn was known as ‘Mr. WrestleMania’. At the showdown, these guys put on one of the best matches of WrestleMania history. They two guys tore the house down, and the Seattle crowd witnessed one of the best matches taking place right in front of their eyes. I remember watching the match, and just being blown away by the pace of it.

On this night, something interesting happened. Jericho was a former World Champion, and had accomplished almost everything in the business. Everything, except the one thing that would put him on the shelf of the greats: stealing the show at WrestleMania. Before the match, Jericho was seen as a former World champion, but after the bout, he was seen as a great in the business. It is fascinating how one match can change the stake of an individual in the world of pro wrestling, and on this night, even though Jericho lost to HBK, he cemented his legacy among the greats in the wrestling world.