17 years ago today, was Shawn's return to WM after a 5 year break, his match with Jericho at WM 19. When Shawn was gone from 1998 to 2002, Jericho became my favorite active wrestler in that time period. So, HBK/Jericho became my dream match in that time period. Between Shawn being gone and Jericho being in WCW in 1998 and most of 1999, I never thought this match would happen. Hell, even when Jericho did jump to the WWF in August 1999, I still never thought it would happen because I thought by around 2000ish that Shawn was never coming back to wrestle. When Jericho attacked Shawn at the 2003 Royal Rumble, and Shawn came back out and attacked him later in the match, I knew we were going to get the match at WM and that made me SO happy. Love this match. Stands the test of time. The video below starts off with the video package promo highlighting the feud that aired right before the match at WM 19. It's one of the best WWE has ever done. The music that they use was one of the production themes they used multiple times for these hype promos back in the mid 90's/New Generation Era. When I first heard that music when it aired on WM 19, I marked out so hard that they brought it back for the first time in years. I also love how the video highlights how much Jericho modeled himself after Shawn. Great video:
And 12 years ago tonight, HBK retired Flair (yes, even though Flair wrestled again in TNA, I get it). Such a great story told in that match. I still to this day believe that match should've main-evented due to it being RIC FLAIR. Nothing against Taker and Edge, but come on, it's RIC FLAIR. Anyway, Shawn has said interviews he wrote the entirety of this match from start to finish one night when he woke up at 3AM in the middle of the night a week before the match and woke up with an idea and a story for the match. It was so perfect and fitting. I still feel this match is vastly underrated. Love this match:
It's absolutely insane how many WM moments and great WM matches Shawn has had in his career. Absolutely staggering.