10 Great SmackDown Matches From WWE's Original Brand Split
6. Brock Lesnar Vs. Chris Benoit (4 December 2003)
As champion, Lesnar once again ran roughshod over SmackDown, defeating all manner of challengers. On the 27 November episode of the show, a battle royal was held to determine Lesnar's next opponent, and it didn't end without controversy. The last two men, John Cena and Chris Benoit, eliminated each other simultaneously, making a winner impossible to declare.
The following week, Cena and Benoit went one on one with the understanding that the winner would challenge Lesnar later in the broadcast. Cena pinned Benoit after an FU, but his foot was on the rope and the match was restarted. Minutes later, Benoit forced the future superstar to tap out to the Crippler Crossface.
That led to a Lesnar-Benoit title match, and despite the fact that it didn't take place on PPV, it was everything for which fans could have hoped. Benoit actually made Lesnar tap out, but the referee had been knocked out. Lesnar came back with an F5 as the referee came to his senses, but Benoit kicked out after two. His chances didn't last long, though - Lesnar hit him in the leg with a chair, then debuted the Brock Lock for the submission.