Every Shawn Michaels WrestleMania Match Ranked

8. Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart – WrestleMania XII

Pat Patterson has said that the only two wrestlers at the time that could have pulled off an Iron Man match were Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart. At WrestleMania XII both men performed the first televised Iron Man match in the main event.

This was Michaels’ first WrestleMania main event and his match with Bret Hart played out like clockwork. The two men wrestled for an hour before the time expired, however, the rules dictated that there must be a winner and so they went to sudden death. Michaels quickly hit the superkick and won his first WWF Championship. A really good match and even better moments as Vince McMahon proclaimed “the boyhood dream has come true for Shawn Michaels”.

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7. Shawn Michaels vs. John Cena – WrestleMania 23

John Cena had been the WWE Champion for the majority of the previous two years before this match. However, he had yet to have the big singles match that solidified him as The Man.

This was that match. John Cena and Shawn Michaels wrestled the main event of WrestleMania 23 and they put on a truly star-making match for Cena. They wrestled for nearly a half hour before Cena tapped out Michaels with the STF. While it was another great match for Michaels, it was perhaps the best match of Cena’s career to that point.

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6. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho – WrestleMania XIX

To have the best match on perhaps the best WrestleMania of all time is no small feat. Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho had a wonderfully evenly matched battle that stood out as a highlight at WrestleMania XIX.

Jericho had been a huge fan of Michaels as a young man and his wrestling style reflected that. Their match together resulted in a story that resembled a teacher facing his student. They had a symmetry in their styles that Michaels’ matches had not had before. Michaels was finally able to roll up Jericho to pull of the three count much to the delight of the Seattle crowd.

The post match was as good as the match itself as an emotional Jericho embraced his idol before kicking him low. Another great moment to go with a great match.

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5. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon – WrestleMania X

This match featured a lot of firsts for WrestleMania. It was the first time a match received a 5 Star rating from Dave Meltzer, it was the first Ladder match, and it was the first time Shawn Michaels stole the show.

While the match does not hold up as well 25 years later, it is still a great match that pioneered a style that many others have tried to emulate. Michaels and Razor Ramon competed in a Ladder match to determine who was the real Intercontinental Champion. What resulted was an iconic match. Michaels and Ramon innovated the offense that would lay the foundation of every Ladder match to come after it.

Razor Ramon may have won the match but Michaels had the standout performance and this match elevated him to new heights.

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