2. Kurt Angle Vs. Chris Benoit – Royal Rumble 2003
For the second time in three years, Kurt Angle defended the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble. The Olympic Gold Medalist regained the WWE Championship from Big Show at Armageddon 2002. However, he wasted no time in turning heel by siding with Paul Heyman and starting up Team Angle. Nevertheless, Angle’s WWE Championship was at stake with Chris Benoit looking to dethrone him for the title.
As expected, Angle and Benoit’s WWE Championship match was a technical masterclass. The three-time WWE Champion didn’t have everything his way, but he found a way, and he retained the WWE Championship with his patented Angle Lock. Unlike his successful title defense in 2001, Angle managed to follow it up by successfully walking into WrestleMania as the reigning WWE Champion.
