The 10 greatest title matches in Royal Rumble PPV history

#5 Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho in a Ladder Match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship (Royal Rumble 2001)

Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit for the Intercontinental Championship, Royal Rumble 2001 [thread] pic.twitter.com/hk3M6BPkJt

— Meltzer Said What? (@MeltzerSaidWhat) September 6, 2019

Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho battled in many impressive encounters throughout their careers all over the world. But their clash at the Royal Rumble 2001 may arguably be their best match together. This bout is the only entry for the Intercontinental Championship, and it features two men who have competed for the title against one another on many occasions.

This Ladder Match was different from the high-risk insanity that fans at this time witnessed with The Hardy Boyz, The Dudley Boys and Edge and Christian. With the animosity at its height ahead of Royal Rumble 2001, the ladder became a tool in destroying the opponent. Both men did take the chance to climb and fly, but the ladder was used as a weapon throughout the contest.

Chris Benoit dropkicks a ladder into Chris Jericho during their outstanding WWF Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match at the 2001 Royal Rumble pic.twitter.com/Cvz4u3PRLJ

— Rasslin' History 101 (@WrestlingIsKing) April 13, 2020

One of the most infamous spots in this clash did not involve the ladder, though. Jericho used a steel chair to block a suicide dive attempt from Benoit. The other remembered moment from this WWF Intercontinental Championship classic was when Chris Jericho locked in the Walls of Jericho on Benoit with the ladder bending the champion's back.

Jericho won the match and regained the gold. But both men came out of this ladder war looking like future world champions. They both went on to further glory following Royal Rumble 2001. In fact, the present-day "Demo-God" would close 2001 as the first ever WWF Undisputed Champion by defeating Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock in the same night.