5 Best Wrestling Matches of 2001

#2 Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit vs. Edge & Christian vs. The Dudleyz vs. The Hardyz – 4-way TLC – May 22nd, 2001

Benoit & Jericho were thrust into a 4-way TLC match for the tag titles they had just won on the RAW prior. They were the obvious underdogs as they faced the three best tag teams in the company, all of whom had beef with each other and didn’t need another team getting added to the mix. One day before this one (SmackDown was taped back then), Benoit & Jericho put on an amazing match against the two biggest singles stars in WWE, Steve Austin & Triple H. On this night, they proved that they could steal the show anywhere and anytime.

So even though there were several crazy spots between the three teams that hated each other, there was obvious acrimony for Benoit & Jericho as well.

Aside from the usual craziness associated with TLC matches, this contest was all about Benoit proving that he had the soul of a champion. Benoit missed a diving headbutt onto Matt Hardy (who was on a table outside the ring), and ‘had to be stretchered out’.

As the match progressed, Benoit returned, visibly hurt and wracked in pain, determined to continue the match despite presumed serious internal injuries. Benoit sold some of the most vicious pain imaginable, including simultaneous chair-shots to his ‘injured’ ribs from Edge & Christian, yet still wouldn’t give up. He was showing pure babyface fire, and the crowd loved him for it.

Not only is this an awesome ‘demolition derby’ of a match that should be watched for its own merits, but it has a great underlying story of one wrestler overcoming insurmountable odds to win. It’s a wrestling classic that should be more of a focal point of Benoit’s legacy in the pro wrestling business.