10 Best Shawn Michaels Matches of The 1990's

Shawn Michaels is arguably the greatest in-ring performer in the history of not just the WWE, but professional wrestling as a whole.

He has wrestled countless match of the year calibre performances and never failed to disappoint. It has been often said that Shawn Michaels is one of those wrestlers who could carry a broomstick to a great match, and that is probably true.

Shawn Michaels is now stepping out of retirement for the second time, and why now celebrate his next, what will be another triumphant return by looking over the top 10 best Shawn Michaels matches of the 1990's.

#10 Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart - Survivor Series 1992

When you think of Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart, the first thing that comes to mind is the Montreal Screwjob at Survivor Series 1997. And it is obviously what comes to mind when you think of Survivor Series and Survivor Series matches involving those two.

However, this wasn't the first time the two legendary rivals met at the big annual November event. Before Shawn Michaels officially broke into the main event scene in 1995, his main event level talents were tested in big WWE Championship matches now and again in 1992, with his second ever WWE Championship opportunity coming at the Survivor Series in 1992 with Bret Hart.

Shawn, who was WWE Intercontinental Champion at the time, and Bret, put on a clinic in the ring, easily outshining everything else on the card and had been one of the most entertaining WWE Championship matches in recent memory. I don't think anyone believed the young Heart Break Kid was going to come out on top that night, but the action was so good, it makes you wonder why Shawn didn't have more opportunities over the next 2 years.

#9 Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel - WrestleMania XI

This was one of those matches that proved how phenomenal Shawn Michaels really was.

While Kevin Nash is one of the best big men in the history of WWE, his run in WWE as Diesel was often plagued by poor performances due to the size difference between he and many of his opponents. Although he did manage to have many entertaining matches with Razor Ramon, Bret Hart and of course, Shawn Michaels.

After being 2-time WWE Tag Team Champions, Shawn and Diesel broke up in late 1994 after Michaels 'accidentally' kicked Diesel in a few different matches, most notably at the Survivor Series. Shawn would win the 1995 Royal Rumble, setting up a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 11.

Although it wasn't the main event, in favour of the publicity Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Lawrence Taylor match, the two managed to steal the show and even perhaps have the best match in all of 1995. Despite the bigger size difference than usual, the two put on a great match that pretty much made the entire disappointing pay-per-view worthwhile. Diesel came out on top after a slightly, intentionally botched (by Michaels) Jackknife Powerbomb.

#8 Shawn Michaels vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin - WrestleMania XIV

Shawn Michaels gave Stone Cold Steve Austin one excellent performance when he was in no real condition to be able to do so.

To be honest, the matches mentioned so far on this list are actually probably better matches than this, but it was Shawn's performance that puts it over here. At the 1998 Royal Rumble, in a casket match against The Undertaker, Michaels took a back body drop to the outside of the ring and hit his lower back on the casket, causing him to herniate two discs and crush one completely. Shawn wouldn't wrestle again until this WrestleMania Championship match with Steve Austin.

With arguably the greatest boxer of all time, 'Iron' Mike Tyson as the guest enforcer, this was a big match all over. It is a shame that they couldn't have had a better match here, but Shawn’s injury prevented that from happening but it still had a lot of intensity, crowd heat and a strong story told by both superstars. Austin picked up his rightful win and first WWE Championship, while Shawn was left laying by Tyson.

#7 Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel - In Your House: Good Friends, Better Enemies

As mentioned earlier, Shawn Michaels proved how phenomenal he was when he got to share the ring with opponents that were much bigger than he, and still pull off a great match.

As good as the WrestleMania match between Shawn and Diesel was, they managed to outdo themselves in their rematch at In Your House: Good Friends, Better Enemies. The title of the even built around these two, and fittingly so as this was a great match and one of the better if not best match of Kevin Nash's career.

A lot of back and forth action, some violence with use of the ring ropes, a beautiful moonsault from Shawn to the floor in the beginning, Diesel powerbombed Shawn through Vince and King's announce table, which looked very sick by 1996 standards. Shawn took the win with some Sweet-Chin Music.

#6 Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon - WrestleMania X

There hadn't been many ladder matches in all of wrestling, not just in WWE when this happened. Often mistaken for the first ever WWE ladder match, this, the second ever WWE ladder match, was a true spectacle. We had nowhere near as many death defying moments as we do in a standard ladder match today, but what we did get out of this match was amazing for 1994.

Shawn's performance was excellent, and unlike the previous two entries on this list, he didn't carry most of the match himself, as Razor kept up the pace every step of the way. A match that should be watched by all, this set the standard for how great a ladder match needs to be.

#5 Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Janetty - Monday Night RAW, 1993

The action in this match was simply amazing to see by RAW 1993 standards.

Marty Jannetty had been fired by WWE five month prior to the match and due to his reported issues at the time, no one expected him back any time soon, but here he was emerging from the crowd in disguise, challenging Shawn to an impromptu WWE Intercontinental Championship match.

The match was given a good amount of time, considering RAW was only 1 hour long at the time, and the two throughout some moves that hadn't been seen on WWE TV in so long. It was high flying and very fast paced. Many WWE superstars, including Daniel Bryan, have called it their favourite match in WWE RAW history and one of the best ever, overall.

Marty took the win and Intercontinental title with help from Mr. Perfect.

#4 Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon - SummerSlam 1995

Many superstars, fans and WWE themselves always look back fondly at the previously mentioned Intercontinental Championship Ladder match from WrestleMania X with Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon.

However what doesn't get talked about as much is the I.C title Ladder rematch a year and a half later at SummerSlam 1995. And this is actually a shame because it was a far more superior encounter.

The action in the match was spectacular right from the start. There were more high-risk spots than the first match, there was never a decisive moment where you thought either was going to lose the match as the action was so back and forth, and this mixed in with the psychology was great to. Razor won at WrestleMania, but Shawn won here.

#3 Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart - WrestleMania XII

Without a doubt one of, if not the most polarizing match in history, fans either think it is one of the greatest matches of all time or one of the most boring. As you can tell by its entry on this list, I am certainly not the latter.

Shawn and Bret worked very hard in this match. It was technical, with brawls and high flying manoeuvres and having the match go into overtime only increased its heat. This match was so good, that it is a shame Shawn allegedly faked an injury to get out of losing to Bret in a rematch the following year.

#2 Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind - In Your House 10: Mind Games

Mick Foley's favorite match — Mick Foley's

Mick Foley referred to this match in his book, 'Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks', as his favourite match ever. And it's not that hard to see why. The match is incredible.

For almost half an hour, Shawn and Mick beat the high holy hell out of each other. It was never slow paced and had so much drama. It was very violent, as all 90's Foley matches were, fast-paced, a lot of back and forth action, weapon use, dangerous spots, including a reversal of a suplex where t was countered into a cross body where both men went crashing through the Spanish announce table.

Unfortunately, it had a bit of a screwy ending when Vader ran in and caused a disqualification, but this is still one of the best matches of the entire 1990's.

#1 Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker - Badd Blood 1997

WWE WrestleMania 25 in 2009 wasn't the first time that Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker had a 10/10 epic encounter.

They feuded in 1997 through early 1998 with many good matches, but the one that stands out the most is their clash at Badd Blood 1997, which also happened to be the first ever Hell in A Cell match. It was half an hour of a flat-out action packed bloodbath.

Everything here was just so perfect. While Shawn did get a lot of offence and moves in, he also took one of the biggest beatings in history, probably only being beaten by The Undertaker's destruction on Mankind the following year in the same match. Shawn looked like he had walked out of heel when all was said and done, he was covered in that much blood.

We have some very violent chair shots that you would never see in today's world, as well as Shawn hitting Taker with a piledriver onto the steel steps. They make it outside the Cell and to the top where we have some scary moments that eventually lead to Taker stamping Shawn off the top to the table below.

As Shawn is lying helpless, looking like he is already dead, Taker signals for the Tombstone before his 'brother' Kane makes his historic debut and hits Taker with a Tombstone of his own, allowing Shawn to make the cover for the win. An absolutely excellent match.

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Edited by Pratyay Ghosh