15 Best Matches To Ever Take Place At Royal Rumble
2. Chris Benoit Vs. Kurt Angle (Royal Rumble '03)
In #4, we discussed the element of the foregone, conclusive result. We had a similar case in 2003 with Angle vs. Benoit. Though it may not have worked for everyone, the match that they put together at the Royal Rumble for the WWE title had some second-guessing themselves. It was a masterpiece, perhaps more of a #1A than a #2 on this list, getting bumped to second place merely because it has basically been erased from existence. Their biggest accomplishment may have been tearing down the veil of certainty and replacing it with a shroud of unexpected unpredictability. The sheer volume of counters and false finishes - not just the number of false finishes, but the incredible execution and selling of those near falls created a sense of doubt. What started as well, this is going to be fun based on the reputation set by previous Angle vs. Benoit outings, morphed into a series of well, I know we're getting Lesnar vs. Angle at Mania, but what if they put the title on Benoit for a week or two and switched it back at the next PPV? Even if you did not feel that way about the result, then surely the work speaks for itself. Is there a better sub-20-minute match in wrestling history? Does this match not contend with Savage vs. Steamboat for the pantheon of stories that were epic even though they were not epically long? It was spectacular. If not the greatest half-technical, half-athletically superior WWE style main-event ever, then certainly one of the greatest. It is certainly difficult for this particular writer to dream up a scenario that could have made this match any better. There is an interesting moment that puts the match into perspective. The crowd, for the duration of the match, was pretty quiet. Yet, when they gave the match a standing ovation after it was over, that told you everything you needed to know. It changed the perception from mildly engaged live attendees to stunned beyond words attendees. They became more of a Japanese audience of old, politely watching the incredible action unfold and then showing their appreciation once the performance was complete.
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
