21 WWE Matches That Almost Got 5 Stars

It's arguable that Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit had the best in-ring rivalry in WWE history. From around 2001 to 2003, these two feuded on and off, and each time they met, it was like magic. They were rough, ground-based technicians who knew how to make every match feel like a fight. Perhaps there is no better example of that than their WWE title match at the 2003 Royal Rumble.

The two had scrapped before, but now, on a stage like the Royal Rumble, with the WWE Championship up for grabs, these two were ready to put everything on the line, especially Benoit, who had never won the gold at that stage in his WWE run. What followed was a blistering series of suplexes, chops, and submission holds that never dragged in pace. It was the kind of speed, athleticism, drama, and storytelling that people had come to expect of the SmackDown Six around this time, and Benoit and Angle were perhaps the two greatest ambassadors. This match certainly ranks among the best Royal Rumble title matches.