How A Chris Jericho Vs Shawn Michaels Match Got Blood Banned From WWE

May 2024 · 5 minute read

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Professional wrestling has seen the use of blood throughout its history, including in WWE, in which both blading and fake blood have been used over the years to add suspense, violence, and realism to a match. However, in 2008, the common use of blood in WWE came to an abrupt end, and that was all down to Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels, who, during their incredible feud in 2008, had a match which led to the banning of blood in the company. Blood in WWE has cropped up now and again, but only under special circumstances or due to an accident.

Chris Jericho And Shawn Michaels Developed A Personal And Physical Rivalry

In 2008, Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels picked up a rivalry which started way back in 2003, when the pair clashed in a classic bout at WrestleMania 19. It began on rather amicable terms, as Jericho became involved in a rivalry between Michaels and Batista. During a match which had Jericho as the guest referee, Michaels feigned an injury to gain an advantage. Jericho felt that this betrayed the trust and respect he had for his hero.

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This led to a heel turn for Jericho, who would smash Michaels’ head through the Jeritron 6000 on an edition of the Highlight Reel, in what was an iconic moment. During this, Jericho had injured Michaels’ eye, causing a real cut. Their bad blood led to a match at the Great American Bash PPV, where the pair clashed in what was a hugely violent, physical, and bloody affair, one which was so bloody that it would have huge ramifications on the future of WWE going forwards.

A Gruesome Match Between Chris Jericho And Shawn Michaels Caused WWE To Ban Blood

During the match, Jericho would target Michaels’ already injured eye in a physical assault, causing him to get busted open and bleed. Blood in matches had always been something in professional wrestling that helped to elevate matches, with classic WWE examples including Steve Austin vs Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13, and a gruesome battle between Eddie Guerrero and JBL. However, by the time Michaels and Jericho faced off, WWE was in the midst of transitioning to the PG Era, with the Great American Bash actually being the final official PPV of the Ruthless Aggression Era.

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Due to WWE moving to a more family and kid friendly product, this match went down quite badly in the case of Vince McMahon. Michaels was left absolutely drenched in his own blood in a hard-to-watch sight. On the Talk is Jericho podcast, Jericho explained that it was this match that led to WWE deciding to do away with blood and to ban it. “It’s very much the reason why we got away from blood. Shawn got so much blood in that first match of the series, just a normal match where he got color. I think it was in Omaha or something like that. Or somewhere in Kansas, Wichita, maybe. So much blood that Vince was like, ‘We’re done. No more blood.'”

From there, the entire landscape of WWE would change as there was less “attitude” and “ruthless aggression”, and far more simpler and family-friendly storylines. WWE still found ways to make matches intense and physical though - for example the further matches in the series between Jericho and Michaels. At the Unforgiven PPV, the pair fought in an Unsanctioned Match, and then again at the No Mercy PPV in a Ladder Match. The quality of these showdowns proved that matches don’t necessarily need color to be a success and to evoke emotion.

WWE Became Very Strict On The Use Of Blood

WWE firmly put their foot down from this point on, with an example coming later that very year, once again involving Chris Jericho. During a Steel Cage Match for the World Heavyweight Championship between Jericho and Batista, the latter would cut himself open to try and make the match more physical and brutal. However, due to the ban put on blood by Vince McMahon, Batista was allegedly fined between $100,000 and $150,000, which was a huge sum, but proved just how strict the company had become on the issue.

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Since 2008, there have been countless bloodless classics, though when it comes to truly personal rivalries and matches which take place in the Hell in a Cell structure, the crimson masks are sorely missed, even if it most definitely safer for the performers, and the content is undoubtedly more inclusive. The banning of blood would likely have occurred at some point down the road even without this match, but Michaels’ bloodied and battered performance at the Great American Bash sped up this process, and forced WWE into a corner in terms of making a decision once and for all.

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