2004 Match of the Year

• 1. Chris Benoit defeated Triple H (c) and Shawn Michaels in a Triple Threat match to win the World Heavyweight Championship (24:47)
o Benoit forced Triple H to submit with the Crippler Crossface.
o After the match, friend and WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero celebrated with Benoit in the ring to close the show.
o *****

• 2. Chris Benoit won the 2004 Royal Rumble (1:01:30)
o Chris Benoit and The Big Show were the final two participants. Benoit, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, John Cena and Rob Van Dam all ganged up on Big Show, trying to eliminate him. However, each wrestler was eliminated one-by-one by Big Show until it went down to the final two. Big Show tried to press-slam Benoit over the top rope but Benoit countered with a standing guillotine choke, pulling Big Show over the top rope as Benoit hung onto the ropes for the win.
o ****1/2

• 3. Eddie Guerrero defeated Brock Lesnar to win the WWE Championship (30:07)
o Eddie pinned Lesnar after a Frog splash.
o Goldberg, who was in the front row seat earlier, interfered late in the match by spearing Lesnar.
o ****1/4

Honorable Mention:

• Eddie Guerrero defeated Kurt Angle to retain the WWE Championship (21:32)
o Eddie pinned Angle with a Small package.
o During the match Eddie slipped his boot off and used it as a distraction.
o ****1/4

• Chris Benoit defeated Shawn Michaels to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
o Benoit pinned Michaels after HHH gave HBK the Pedigree.
o ****1/4

• Chris Benoit defeated Shawn Michaels and Triple H to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (30:08)
o Benoit forced Michaels to submit with the Sharpshooter.
o ****

• Randy Orton defeated Cactus Jack in a No Holds Barred, Falls Count Anywhere Match to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship (23:03)
o Orton pinned Cactus after an RKO on a barbed wire baseball bat.
o ****

Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, and Edge defeated Ric Flair, Randy Orton and Batista in an Elimination match
****

Shawn Michaels, Shelton Benjamin, Chris Benoit and Mick Foley defeated HHH, Randy Orton, Batista and Ric Flair.
Michaels pinned Orton after Sweet Chin Music
****

Eddie Guerrero won the Smakdown Royal Rumble.
Guerrero eliminated Kurt Angle to win.
****