The war between Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels has been raging for no less than six months; now the two will meet in what will be a personal, bloody and brutal unsanctioned battle at Unforgiven.
Jericho vs. Michaels Begins
The rivalry between Jericho and Michaels dates back to the 27th April at Backlash. Michaels was competing at the event against Batista when “The Heartbreak Kid” managed to escape the Batista Bomb, only to fall to the ground as a result of his knee buckling upon landing. The special guest referee, Jericho, quickly went to check on the “injured” Michaels. However, as Batista approached his stricken opponent, Michaels got up and hit Batista with Sweet Chin Music. Consequently, Michaels ended up victorious.
On the episodes of Raw after this event Jericho continually questioned the legitimacy of Michaels injury during the aforementioned match. Jericho claimed that it wasn’t a one-off either, he stated that Michaels had been a liar and back-stabber all the way through his career. Eventually, Michaels admitted that he had in fact faked the injury in order to gain the victory at Backlash. At the next pay-per-view, Judgment Day, the two would meet in a match, only for Michaels to pin Jericho as he attempted the Walls of Jericho.
Jericho vs. Michaels at the Great American Bash
The feud between the two of them was escalated to a new level on 9th June when Jericho attacked Michaels during The Highlight Reel. According to the storyline, Michaels was left with a detached retina in his eye. Despite this kayfabe injury the two would fight each other again, this time it was at the Great American Bash.
Prior to the match Jericho had changed his character, he was now a darker and more sinister human being who had little respect for the fans, due to the fact that they cheered a liar like Michaels. As a result of his more evil persona, Jericho targeted the injured eye of Michaels during the bout. Both Jericho and his accomplice, Lance Cade, continually beat Michaels right eye. Jericho gained the victory thanks to the referee stopping the contest has Michaels had lost a lot of blood and could no longer defend himself.
Michaels Retires at SummerSlam
With Michaels’ damaged eye in a severe state he was set to make an announcement on his future at SummerSlam. At the pay-per-view Michaels came to the ring with his wife by his side. What followed was an emotional speech that saw Michaels announce his retirement from professional wrestling. However, fans knew it wouldn’t last. Upon hearing of his retirement Jericho came down to the ring to berate “The Heartbreak Kid”, only to inadvertently punch Michaels’ wife later on in the segment.
Understandably, Michaels wants vengeance, therefore he requested a match against Jericho to take place at Unforgiven. Michaels stated on an episode of Raw that he wanted it to be an unsanctioned match because what he wanted to do to Jericho wouldn’t be legal elsewhere.
On the past episode of Raw, Michaels suffered an injury to his arm, however, the injury is not as bad as was first thought. As a result, the match should be going ahead as scheduled, news that will no doubt please the vast majority of fans.
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