100 Greatest WWE Matches Of All Time (Ranked)
31. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit (WrestleMania XX)
It'll forever be a pity that the magnificent 'we made it' moment between Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit has been soured. Confetti rained down on both workhorses as they hugged inside Madison Square Garden as WWE Champion and World Heavyweight Champion respectively, and it seemed like a fresh era of hard work over "sports entertainment" sizzle on Raw and SmackDown had dawned.
The tragically grim ending to Benoit's story destroyed that 'Mania XX closure for many, which is fair enough. If one is strictly analysing the quality of pro wrestling on display during Benoit's match vs. Triple H and Shawn Michaels though, then it fully deserves a spot on this list. This was the kind of WrestleMania headliner workers of the past like Bret Hart or Randy Savage would've enjoyed being a part of.
It was right up there with the greatest matches in 'Mania history. There's a weird retro flavour to WrestleMania XX overall; watch it back now and you'll marvel at how nostalgic everything is. At times, the pre-HD camerawork and WWE honouring the past makes it look like something from the late-1980s or early-90s. Nothing else in 2004 had that vibe, so it stands out when watching today.
Brief double team efforts from DX buddies Hunter and Shawn added to the feeling that Benoit would have to win against the odds. His submission victory marked the first time such a finish had closed 'Mania too, which only made things even more exceptional. This was an in-ring belter from start to finish, and it's amazing the trio retooled their efforts for another Triple Threat at Backlash the very next month.
Watch that one too if you're in the mood/can stomach a marathon session of Benoit bouts.