Top Ten Matches in WWE in 2003...

[Guest Ray]

Top 5 cause-this-year-wasn't-good-enough-for-10

 

1. Benoit vs. Angle RR03 - the pinnacle of its form (that being the WWE workrate intensive style).  It was mainly style over substance, and I usually hate that (at least, in the "ratings" sense), but it was such a high calibre of work that it fucking ruled.  Every move was crisp and clean and the flow was superb.  The work was SMART and they manipulated the crowd to perfection (sleeper spot to put heat on benoit, double knockdown to get the crowd chanting along with the ref, reversals into the BIG German Flip spot, all being capped off with Benoit's HUGE swandive).  In terms of technique, I haven't seen anything better this year.  A 10 for sure on that scale with a medium degree of difficulty.  I'm sure you could pull something out of it in terms of story and substance to help prop it up, but in this case of extreme technical excellence, it doesn't bother me.

Holy Fuck! Someone *actually* gave me reasons. Thank you, RRR.

 

2. Taker vs. Angle SMACKdown - I wish I had taped this. 

It's on kazaa.

 

 

I decided to rewatch Angle/Benoit, and after viewing it again, I think I've been underrating it. I still wouldn't give it ****+ (and certainly not any OMG-*****-best-match-ever!), but I'd now call it my MOTY for WWE.

 

A little less german suplexing would have been nice.

[Guest NCJ]

Benoit vs. Angle

Benoit vs. Guerrero

HBK vs. Jericho(WM)

WGTT vs. Filthy Animals

Rock vs. Austin

Lesnar vs. Angle(WM)

WGTT vs. Guerrero/Tajiri(ladder match)

Angle vs. Cena

Angle vs. UT

Matt Hardy vs. Benoit(damn it was to short)

[Damaramu 0]

I really can't justify the Benoit/Guerrerro being so high on some people's cards. The ending was so screwy and took so much away from the match.

[Mecha Mummy 0]

This is going by matches I've SEEN, and I've yet to see Vengeance.

 

1. Benoit vs. Angle (Rumble)

2. HBK vs. Jericho (Mania)

3. Brock vs. Angle (Mania)

4. Los Guerreros vs. WGTT (Any of them.)

5. Eddy and Tajiri vs. WGTT (Any of them.)

6. Matt Hardy vs. Rey Mysterio (Smackdown, Rey wins Cruiser Title)

7. Ric Flair vs. Triple H (While not a great match, the markout value earns it the spot. Plus, like I've said, I haven't seen Vengeance, so this is where the list gets weak.)

8. RVD vs. Christian (Raw Ladder Match)

9. Matt Hardy vs. Chris Benoit (Smackdown US Title Tourney)

10. Spanky/London vs. Kanyon/Moore (Velocity)

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

It's on kazaa.

 

REAAAAAAAAAAAALLY?

 

A little less german suplexing would have been nice.

 

But this actually had a purpose as it set up the UBER Suplex.

[Guest ChrisBenoitPMW]

1) Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho wrestlemania xix

2) Chris Benoit vs Kurt Angle royal rumble

3) Team Bischoff vs Team Austin survivor series

4) Eddie Guerrero vs Chris Benoit vengeance

5) The Rock vs Steve Austin wrestlemania xix

6) Undertaker vs Kurt Angle smackdown - wwe title

7) Mysterio & Kidman vs Worlds Greatest Tag Team vengeance

8) Brock Lesnar vs Kurt Angle wrestlemania xix

9) John Cena vs Kurt Angle no mercy

10) Guerrero & Tajiri vs Worlds Greatest Tag Team smackdown - may 22, 29 & july 3

Edited December 1, 2003 by ChrisBenoitPMW

[Guest Coffey]

• Kurt Angle © Vs. Chris Benoit; WWE Royal Rumble 2003
• Kurt Angle © Vs. Brock Lesnar; WWE Wrestlemania XIX
• Triple H © Vs. Booker T.; WWE Wrestlemania XIX
• Chris Jericho Vs. Shawn Michaels; WWE Wrestlemania XIX
• The World's Greatest Tag Team (Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas) © Vs. Billy Kidman & Rey Mysterio; WWE Vengeance

I got five....

[Guest Ray]

It's on kazaa.

 

REAAAAAAAAAAAALLY?

Yep! I downloaded it last night.

[Guest wildpegasus]

I can't answer this properly since I'd have to watch tons of matches over again to fairly judge them and I only have some of them on tape.

 

1)Benoit vs Angle at the Rumble--I had a couple of problems with this but overall loved it to death. The buildup to the headbutt particulary as by the time Benoit hit it on his 3rd attempt the crowd went nuts. The super long distance of the headbutt was perfect as it showed how much Benoit wanted the gold. (remember the prior interviews) Cole was really good here too telling Benoit to get up and realise his dream as Benoit was visibly hurt trying to get to the ropes making the match all the more dramatic. They also built off their previous PPV match and Angle learning how to counter Benoit's counter to the anklelock (the one where Benoit flips around and uses his free leg to drive Angle to the mat) at the end was great. I also loved how Angle had to bring out the laying anklelock for the first time to finally finish off Benoit as Benoit's fighting spirit was just so great. The laying anklelock also set up the seeds for a rematch as you'll notice that no one else has been able to counter the anklelock as of yet. Very dramatic match. Good story of one upmanship as well. 4 1/4 *

 

The WGTT matches unfortunately are all a blur to me but I know I'd probably put a couple of their matches in here.

 

Some of my other picks in no order would be

 

HHH vs Booker T Raw

 

Benoit vs Angle-The rematch on Smackdown-There's also some smart work in this one and I for one didn't mind the "controversial" turnbuckle spot.

 

Undertapper vs Angle

 

Benoit vs Eddie Vengenance-I hate interference endings but still enjoyed this

 

Jamie Knoble vs Tajiri--no idea of the date but this was good. Noble is a great wrestler.

 

Benoit vs A-Train #1 contender tournament match

 

Mysterio Jr. vs Matt Hardy--The match that ended Smackdown one night

 

Benoit vs Matt Hardy--Smackdown

[HurriShane 0]

1) HBK vs Y2J- Wrestlemania

2) Angle vs Benoit- Royal Rumble

3) Angle vs Brock- Wrestlemania

4) Filthy Animals vs WGTT- Vengenance

5) HHH vs Booker T- Wrestlemania

6) Matt Hardy vs Mysterio- Smackdown

7) Angle vs Brock vs Big Show- Vengeance

8) Rock vs Austin- Wrestlemania

9) Cena vs Eddy- Smackdown

10) RVD vs Christian- Raw