Every WWE Wrestler Of The Year For The 2000s

Key matches: Royal Rumble, Vs. Shawn Michaels & Triple H (WrestleMania XX & Backlash), Triple H (Vengeance & Raw Iron Man), Randy Orton (SummerSlam), Shawn Michaels (Raw Feb 16 & May 3)

Chris Benoit had long been considered one of, if not the, best wrestlers in the business by the time 2004 rolled around. Since the early 90s, the Rabid Wolverine had cultivated a worldwide reputation for in-ring excellence, dazzling audiences in Japan, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the United States and beyond.

He'd had a decent WWE run (interrupted for a year while he had major neck surgery), but he'd never truly risen above Intercontinental Title level. He was a great talent, a man capable of producing the goods in almost any circumstance, but not the face of the company, the guy you put the big belt on. That changed in '04.

First, Benoit won the Royal Rumble match, going the distance as the No.1 entrant and lasting over an hour. Defecting to Raw the next night, The Crippler made it known he wanted Triple H, specifically his World Heavyweight Title. All of this lead to the main event of WrestleMania XX and a triple threat match also involving Shawn Michaels.

There, in the show-closer of the biggest event of the year, in front of a sold-out Madison Square Garden, Benoit made The Game tap out in the middle of the ring. Following this monumental victory, he was joined by best friend and then-WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero, as confetti reigned down. It would represent the pinnacle of Benoit's career.

Not that he took his foot off the gas after his crowning moment. Oh no. The grizzled veteran continued to produce the goods in rematches with Michaels and Triple H before doing the right thing for business and putting Randy Orton the right way at SummerSlam, ending his five-month title reign. After that, Benoit slid down the card somewhat, but his performances remained top notch.

Even after dropping the strap, Benoit had more great matches with Triple H, Edge and a host of others.