Top 10 Royal Rumble Matches Of All-Time
By Tim Sherry
#6: Royal Rumble Match 2004
The 2004 Royal Rumble will most likely be remembered as the night that every hardcore wrestling fan’s dream came true. The night that Chris Benoit survived almost 62 minutes, eliminated 6 contestants, and ultimately earned his Wrestlemania Title shot. Not nearly as remembered as much as Benoit is that this was one of the most brilliant Rumble matches of all time. It seemed to be one of those matches that just worked. And even more forgotten is that Rumble, as great as it was, featured very few legends. No Rock, no Austin, no HBK, no Triple H, no Flair, no Undertaker. Just outstanding in ring work from the cast involved.
Benoit and Randy Orton, in a pre-cursor of what was to come, carried the majority of the opening parts until Mick Foley made a surprise appearance and took Orton out. Shortly after, Kurt Angle joined the mix and took over where Orton left off. After Goldberg was eliminated by an interfering Brock Lesnar (although that wasn’t until after Goldberg delivered one of the greatest spears of all time to a 150 pound Nunzio) all signs pointed towards Angle winning this one. But Benoit would not quit that evening.
In the closing moments it was Big Show who took care of Angle and that’s when it happened. Show, locked in Benoit’s Crippler Crossface , stood up with Benoit still attached to him. He attempted to dump Benoit over the top rope but Benoit hung on. And for what would be a symbol of Benoit’s career, he didn’t cheat, he wasn’t flashy, he didn’t use deception or trickery, he just used brute strength and determination to muscle the 500 pound Big Show over the top rope.
Benoit would go on to wrestle one of the best Wrestlemania matches of all time a few months later, capturing his only WWE world title while also being part one of the most memorable Mania moments of all time with Eddie Guerrero to close the show. We all know what happened a few years later and that will never be forgotten. But this is the way I’ll always remember The Crippler.