5 Best Wrestling Matches of 2003

2. Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit - Royal Rumble 2003

This match is a wrestling purist’s dream. You had two of the greatest technical wrestlers in WWE at the time showing off their skills in singles competition. You had Chris Benoit (who had been praised for his wrestling skills as far back as in the early 1990s) and Kurt Angle, who was quite possibly the most technically-gifted wrestler to ever set foot in a WWE ring.

And they were also fighting for the WWE Championship, so you knew this was going to be a big match. These two men were evenly matched for the entire match, with the advantage and momentum changing in seconds each time. Both Angle and Benoit were known for their German Suplexes, so they hit several on each other, which brought to the crowd to their feet.

Benoit was an awesome underdog challenger, as he fought savagely to win the world title for the first time. Not only did he hit one German Suplex that was so strong Angle landed on his stomach, but Benoit at one point also flew ¾ across the ring to land his trademark diving headbutt.

This match is so much fun to watch because these two men know each other so well and know how to reverse moves with lightning quickness. That’s a rare skill because it keeps the fans watching intently, and leads to bigger reactions when moves land. All of these things make a match better, which is what Angle and Benoit did.

These two had perfect chemistry with each other, and this match is a perfect example of that. They both did amazing in this match, making it one of the best matches in the world in 2003.