20 Best WWE Matches Since 2000
14. Chris Benoit Vs. Chris Jericho (Royal Rumble 2001)
Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon is widely regarded as the greatest ladder match of all time, but Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit at the 2001 Royal Rumble isn't far behind. Benoit's presence means you'll never hear it referred to on WWE television, but these men were two of the best technical wrestlers in the world, and this was them at their absolute peak.
All they needed was one ladder and one chair: nothing else. They put on an excellent show, and this was a breakout performance that really elevated the once-proud Intercontinental Championship. As strong as the night's Rumble match was, Jericho vs. Benoit was the real show-stealer, and vital in establishing both competitors as future world champions.
Jericho came-up with some innovative ladder spots, highlighted by tying his opponent in the Walls of Jericho at the very top. Benoit, not to be outdone, attempted to flatten his opponent with a diving headbutt from the top of the ladder, but he missed completely. The match features a nasty chairshot that's particularly hard to watching knowing what would eventually become of Benoit, but the duo certainly weren't shy on amplifying the brutality, and this match proves it.
They'd become Tag Team Champions a few months later, but this was Jericho and Benoit at the height of their rivalry.