10 Great SmackDown Matches From WWE's Original Brand Split
3. Chris Benoit Vs. Finlay (24 November 2006)
In a major surprise, SmackDown got a brand-new world-class superstar in 2006 - David 'Fit' Finlay, a respected veteran who was believed to have retired years earlier. Finlay showed that he hadn't missed a step, immediately having classic matches with the likes of Chris Benoit, William Regal, and more.
One of the best matches of Finlay's WWE career came in the fall of 2006. Chris Benoit had returned from an absence weeks earlier to recapture the United States Championship, and this bout was something of a "throw-away" - there was no real storyline buildup, nor was the title even on the line. Instead, two of the best wrestlers in the world were simply given 17 minutes to go out and have a great match.
To nobody's surprise, they succeeded. The two technical experts traded tight holds and hard strikes building to a hot ending. Benoit looked to have things in control as he hit the rolling German suplexes, but interference from foe Chavo Guerrero distracted him. Benoit fended off Chavo, but Hornswoggle provided additional distraction for the referee, allowing Finlay the chance to hit Benoit with a shillelagh. After that, the Irish star hit the Celtic Cross for the pin.