Top 10 WWE heel turns of all time

2. Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho turns on Shawn Michaels in the Highlight Reel

Jericho was right, but he was a prick about it and everyone loves Shawn Michaels. Summary of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Award for Feud of the Year in 2008.

Well, of course, it wasn’t that simple, so let me elaborate.

Michaels was feuding with Batista and Jericho became involved as the special guest referee for their match at Backlash. Michaels and Jericho were still on good terms at this point and it was common knowledge that Jericho considered Michaels his idol. In the match, Michaels feigned a knee injury, causing Jericho to stop Batista and allow Michaels to recover, but Michaels lured Batista in and hit the Sweet Chin Music for the win.

Then, there was a period of Jericho accusing HBK of faking the injury and HBK insisting it was real. Jericho was finally convinced and apologized to HBK for doubting him. HBK then admitted that he actually was faking it and proceeded to superkick Jericho to prove it. Everyone cheered and saw that as just HBK being HBK. Everyone but Jericho.

Jericho invited Michaels on an episode of the Highlight Reel and laid down facts of what happened. He accused Michaels of lying to him and the fans of cheering for him. He then proceeded to attack Michels, who fought back. Jericho then hit a low blow and sent Michaels head-first through the Jeritron 6000, injuring his eye, and we were off to the races.

Michaels cost Jericho the Intercontinental title, Jericho adopted the slow-talking, suit-wearing villainous persona inspired by Javier Bardem’s character in No Country for Old Men, and the two men met at The Great American Bash. Jericho brutalized Michaels, repeatedly attacking his injured eye. Michaels bled heavily and sold brilliantly, and got beaten by Jericho. Then there was the Shawn Michaels retirement angle at SummerSlam, in which Jericho interrupted HBK and told him to admit that Chris Jericho was the reason he was retiring. Michaels then unleashed the ultimate burn when he told Chris he’ll never be Shawn Michaels. Jericho tried punching Michaels but ended up punching his wife, Rebecca, square in the face.

Michaels decided to avenge that punch by challenging Jericho to an unsanctioned match at Unforgiven. In this match, it was Michaels who absolutely destroyed Jericho. Oh, and Lance Cade was involved too. Michaels bludgeoned Jericho to the point where the referee had to stop the match, declaring Michaels the winner, but HBK had a tearful and distraught look on his face, what was all this for?

The night didn’t end for Jericho though, as he entered the Championship Scramble as a replacement for CM Punk and ended up winning the World Heavyweight Championship. The feud culminated in a Ladder match for the title at No Mercy, and it’s been regarded as one of the greatest Ladder matches of all time. Both men beat each other up with ladders in innovative and unique ways, Jericho even lost a few teeth in this match. Jericho won a tug of war at the top of a ladder to retain his belt.

Everything about this feud, from the buildup to the turn itself to the aftermath was perfect and, for my money, it’s the best feud following a heel turn in WWE history.