Chris Benoit is a different case to the rest of the entries on this list as, at the time, his Royal Rumble 2004 win meant a great deal. It was a watershed moment for smaller wrestlers in WWE, with Benoit winning the Rumble from the number one position in an excellent one hour, coast to coast performance. It was the ultimate way of going over, establishing him as the number one contender for WrestleMania XX. It was also proof that charisma and character weren't always key to success in WWE. Benoit had earned his status through sheer hard work and in-ring excellence. Ultimately, as things stand today, the win is meaningless. It isn't even recognised by WWE. They skip over Benoit's entire career, so there's no bookmark for his Rumble win on WWE Network, for example. Plus, they never mention Benoit's historic feat in their 'Rumble in numbers' video packages. The 2007 Benoit Tragedy means that the Crippler's Rumble win is null and void in terms of WWE history.
