1. Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle - WrestleMania X-Seven
WrestleMania X-Seven is the greatest wrestling pay-per-view of all-time, a show that perfectly encapsulated everything that made World Wrestling Entertainment the No. 1 promotion in the world throughout the Attitude Era. With a main event pitting Steve Austin against The Rock, a TLC match for the tag titles, The Undertaker vs. Triple H and a Street Fight between Vince and Shane McMahon, it is understandable that some of the undercard matches would be overshadowed as the show progressed. One of those undercard matches, however, is one of the best wrestling bouts in the long and illustrious history of the event. Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle had nothing else better to do at the April 2001 show so the decision was wisely made to put them in the same ring, give them nearly 20 minutes of match time and watch as they crafted something truly special. The technicians worked a match full of counter wrestling, submission maneuvers and nearfalls that kept the fans in Houston on the edge of their seats, even if choosing one of the Superstars to cheer proved difficult early on. By the match's conclusion, though, Benoit was the clear favorite, and well on his way to victory, until Angle reversed a pinning combination and cheated his way to victory, grabbing hold of the tights for added leverage. Angle would win the match but the rivalry would be far from over. In the months that followed, they continued to wage war with each other, leading to a Two-Out-of-Three Falls match at Judgment Day, again won by the former Olympian.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
