It’s time now to unveil my Top 50 Matches of 2003, but first here are the matches that just missed the cut:
 
Honorable Mentions:
 
1. Chris Benoit vs. Charlie Haas (1/23 Smackdown)
2. Booker T and Goldust vs. Triple H and “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (3/24 RAW)
3. Team Angle vs. Los Guerreros (Backlash)
4. Shawn Michaels vs. “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (Bad Blood)
5. Eddie Guerrero and Tajiri vs. Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin (7/3 Smackdown)
6. Eddie Guerrero vs. John Cena (8/28 Smackdown)
7. Shane McMahon vs. Kane (Unforgiven)
8. Chris Benoit and John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar and the Big Show (11/13 Smackdown)
9. 20-Man Battle Royal (11/27 Smackdown)
10. Shawn Michaels vs. Batista (Armageddon)
 
And now here are my Top 50 Matches of 2003:
 
50. Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle (2/6 Smackdown)
 
After tearing the house down at the Rumble, these two face off here in a non-title match which is a solid match and Angle gets the clean win as he suckers Benoit into a beatdown from Team Angle
 
49. Chris Benoit vs. Rhyno (6/19 Smackdown)
 
This first round match in the US Title Tournament sees the two partners do battle with Benoit getting the clean win and he tries to show respect to Rhyno who doesn’t return it out of frustration
 
48. Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena (Backlash)
 
This seemingly random title defense for Lesnar on PPV ends up being a solid match as Cena takes Lesnar to the limit, but Lesnar gets the clean title defense though Cena establishes himself in defeat
 
47. The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar vs. the Big Show (8/28 Smackdown)
 
This mega Triple Threat match is a fun match between three big men as they beat the crap out of each other and despite the odds, Taker gets the win to earn a title match the next week
 
46. Triple H vs. Kane (6/23 RAW)
 
This huge World Title match on RAW in MSG is a fun match as Kane comes close to winning the title, but Triple H escapes thanks to Evolution and Kane is forced to unmask in one of RAW’s biggest moments
 
45. Los Guerreros vs. Team Angle (2/6 Smackdown)
 
In the buildup to No Way Out, these two teams put on a solid title match as Team Angle manage to pull the upset over Los Guerreros and become the tag champions much to their leader’s approval
 
44. Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton (Unforgiven)
 
This battle between veteran and rookie is a solid, if somewhat long match as Orton becomes established and is able to steal the win over Michaels thanks to a pair of brass knuckles
 
43. Tajiri vs. Rey Mysterio (No Mercy)
 
The opener to this Smackdown PPV is a solid match as Mysterio takes Tajiri to the limit and nearly regains the Cruiserweight Title, but Tajiri escapes with it thanks to the debuting Akio and Sakoda
 
42. Chris Benoit and Edge vs. Team Angle (1/16 Smackdown)
 
This big handicap match is a solid match as Benoit and Edge hang tough against all of Team Angle, but Team Angle get the win by DQ though Benoit gets the last word heading to the Rumble
 
41. Matt Hardy vs. Rey Mysterio (WrestleMania XIX)
 
The opener to WM is a fun sprint as Mysterio takes Matt to the limit in his WM debut, but Matt is able to escape with the Cruiserweight Title thanks to a little help from the ropes
 
40. Triple H vs. Bill Goldberg vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Kevin Nash vs. Chris Jericho vs. Randy Orton (SummerSlam)
 
The main event is SummerSlam is a pretty good Elimination Chamber that’s a step down from the first one as Goldberg looks dominant, but Triple H escapes with the title thanks to the sledgehammer
 
39. Rey Mysterio vs. Brock Lesnar (12/11 Smackdown)
 
The main event of this edition of Smackdown is a fun match as Mysterio looks to earn a title shot in his hometown, but Lesnar forces Mysterio to tap out and keeps his title reign going
 
38. Eddie Guerrero vs. the Big Show (No Mercy)
 
This big US Title match at the PPV is a good match as Eddie uses every trick he can find to try and defeat Show, but Show proves to be too much and leaves as US Champion
 
37. Brock Lesnar vs. the Big Show (Judgment Day)
 
In the first-ever Stretcher match on PPV, these two men put on a solid match as Lesnar uses some creativity and carries Show out on a forklift to retain the title
 
36. Shawn Michaels and Rob Van Dam vs. Evolution (12/15 RAW)
 
This big handicap match on RAW is a fun match as Evolution use the numbers to their advantage, but Michaels gets the pin on Triple H to earn himself a title shot in two weeks
 
35. Team Angle vs. Team Lesnar (Survivor Series)
 
The opener to Survivor Series is a fun Survivor Match as Team Lesnar try to use their size to overpower Team Angle, but Team Angle win with Benoit and Cena as the sole survivors
 
34. Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, and Mr. America vs. the Big Show, Charlie Haas, and Shelton Benjamin (6/26 Smackdown)
 
This huge 6-man tag for Smackdown in MSG is a fun match as Show, Haas, and Benjamin get the win and we see the last appearance of Hulk Hogan for about a year and a half
 
33. Team Angle vs. Los Guerreros vs. Chris Benoit and Rhyno (WrestleMania XIX)
 
This big Triple Threat match for the tag titles is a fun sprint as all 3 teams bring their A-game to WM and Team Angle are able to sneak out with the win on the biggest stage of their careers
 
32. The Undertaker vs. John Cena (8/7 Smackdown)
 
This big rematch from Vengeance is another solid match as Cena again hangs with Taker and gets his win back after some interference from A-Train
 
31. Kevin Nash, Shawn Michaels, and Booker T vs. Triple H, “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, and Chris Jericho (Backlash)
 
This big 6-man tag match is a pretty good match as all 6 men worked hard and put on a solid match though the ending was a bit strange with Triple H pinning Nash to win the match for his team
 
30. Los Guerreros vs. Chris Benoit and Rhyno (3/13 Smackdown)
 
This big Number One Contenders match is a really good tag match as both teams go all out for the 20 minutes they got, but there is no winner as Team Angle attack both teams
 
29. Christian vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Chris Jericho (Unforgiven)
 
This big Triple Threat match for the IC Title is a really solid match though again it might’ve been a few minutes too long, and Christian is once again able to escape and remain champion
 
28. Royal Rumble match (Royal Rumble)
 
The 30-men Rumble match is a pretty solid match with some good performances throughout and the return of the Undertaker, but Lesnar gets the win in the end to earn himself the title match at WM
 
27. Matt Hardy vs. Rey Mysterio (6/5 Smackdown)
 
This big rematch from WM is a fun match as Matt tries to again escape with the title thanks to Shannon Moore and Crash Holly, but Mysterio overcomes it and wins the Cruiserweight title in his hometown
 
26. The Undertaker vs. John Cena (Vengeance)
 
This interesting midcard match on the PPV is a really good match as Cena takes Taker to the limit and comes close a few times in winning, but Taker gets the win in the end
 
25. Rob Van Dam vs. Randy Orton (Armageddon)
 
This big IC Title match with Mick Foley as the guest referee is a really good match as both men give their all and Orton ends up getting the win to bring the first belt of the night to Evolution
 
24. Brock Lesnar and Chris Benoit vs. Team Angle (No Way Out)
 
In what was supposed to be a 6-man tag though was changed with Edge taken out, Lesnar and Benoit are able to overcome the odds and get the win over Team Angle
 
23. Brock Lesnar vs. Chris Benoit (12/4 Smackdown)
 
After earning the title shot earlier in the night, Benoit wrestles his second match and takes Lesnar to the limit though Lesnar ends up surviving after making Benoit pass out
 
22. Triple H vs. Kevin Nash (Bad Blood)
 
The final blowoff to this feud ends up being a pretty fun Hell in a Cell as both men destroy each other as well as guest referee Mick Foley, and Triple H once again survives and leaves as World Champion
 
21. Eddie Guerrero vs. Chris Benoit vs. Rhyno vs. Tajiri (SummerSlam)
 
This big Fatal 4-Way for the US Title is a solid match as all four men do what they can to leave as champion, but Eddie is able to secure the win by pinning Rhyno and remains champion
 
20. Eddie Guerrero vs. John Cena (9/11 Smackdown)
 
This special Latino Heat Parking Lot Brawl is a fun brawl as both men beat the crap out of each other and Eddie is able to get the win thanks to the returning Chavo Guerrero
 
19. Christian vs. Rob Van Dam (9/29 RAW)
 
After going at it for the last month, these two finally settle their issues in a Ladder match and put on a fun match as RVD is able to win and become the IC Champion once again
 
18. Team Angle vs. Eddie Guerrero and Tajiri (Judgment Day)
 
In what was supposed to be a match between Team Angle and Los Guerreros, Tajiri takes the spot for the injured Chavo and he and Eddie win this fun Ladder match to become the tag champions
 
17. The World’s Greatest Tag Team vs. Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman (8/14 Smackdown)
 
In a rematch from Vengeance, these two teams once again go out and tear the house down as Mysterio and Kidman come close only for Haas and Benjamin to retain the tag titles
 
16. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho (7/21 RAW)
 
This big rematch from WM is another great match between these two and Jericho gets his win back over Michaels thanks to an assist from Randy Orton
 
15. Chris Sabin vs. Jerry Lynn vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Johnny Swinger (The Reckoning)
 
This big unification match is a fun showcase for these four Cruiserweights and in the end, Sabin is able to survive and unify the TNA X-Division and WWA Cruiserweight Titles on WWA’s last PPV
 
14. Kurt Angle vs. the Undertaker (9/4 Smackdown)
 
This big WWE Title match for Smackdown is a really fun match as these two take each other to the limit, but the match ends with no winner after Brock Lesnar attacks both men
 
13. Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle vs. the Big Show (Vengeance)
 
The main event of Smackdown’s first PPV is a really fun match as all three men go all out and put on a fun Triple Threat match with Angle getting the pin on Lesnar to become WWE Champion again
 
12. Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar (SummerSlam)
 
The Smackdown main event of SummerSlam is a great match though it was a step down for these two from their WM match, and Angle gets his win back by making Lesnar tap out much to Vince’s chagrin
 
11. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. the Rock (WrestleMania XIX)
 
In what ends up being the final in-ring match for Steve Austin until 2022, these two men put on their greatest hits in their 3rd WM match and after losing the last two, Rock finally beats Austin at WM
 
10. Hulk Hogan vs. Vince McMahon (WrestleMania XIX)
 
In a match billed as being 20 years in the making, these two men put on a great Street Fight as Vince pulls out all the stops to end Hulkamania, but Hogan is able to get the win and stands tall at WM one more time
 
9. Chris Benoit vs. Eddie Guerrero (Vengeance)
 
In the opener of Smackdown’s first PPV, these two men go all out in the finals of the US Title tournament and Eddie manages to become the first US Champion after Rhyno costs Benoit the match
 
8. Kurt Angle vs. John Cena (No Mercy)
 
This big midcard match for this Smackdown PPV ends up being a fantastic match as Cena hangs with Angle and takes him to the limit, but Angle is able to win by making Cena tap out
 
7. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels (12/29 RAW)
 
The last main event of RAW in 2003 is a great match as both men go all out and Michaels seemingly wins the title, but Bischoff screws him over by declaring the match a draw
 
6. The World’s Greatest Tag Team vs. Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman (Vengeance)
 
In what was seemingly just a random title match on PPV, these two teams put on an instant classic and Haas and Benjamin retain the tag titles in what could’ve been the beginning of a great feud
 
5. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho (WrestleMania XIX)
 
In what was hyped as one of the big matches of WM, these two go out and steal the show as Michaels proves he is still Mr. WrestleMania and Jericho puts on a great performance as well with Michaels winning
 
4. Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar (9/18 Smackdown)
 
The third match between these two is a classic Ironman match as Lesnar cheats to get an advantage and Angle battles valiantly to keep it close, but Lesnar is able to just survive and becomes WWE Champion for the third time
 
3. Team Austin vs. Team Bischoff (Survivor Series)
 
The final chapter in the feud between Austin and Bischoff is an epic Survivor match as Michaels nearly overcomes the odds in a fantastic performance, but Batista makes the difference and helps Orton be the sole survivor and Austin’s career is over…for now
 
2. Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar (WrestleMania XIX)
 
The main event of WM is a classic between these two men as they go all out with Lesnar almost killing himself on the Shooting Star Press, but he is able to become champion once again and they embrace out of respect
 
And now, the Number One Match of 2003:
 
1. Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit (Royal Rumble)
 
After having an interesting run as tag partners and also putting on great matches, these two men go out and put on possibly their best match together as Angle makes Benoit tap out to retain the title, but Benoit gets the standing ovation afterwards
 
That concludes the Top 50 Matches of 2003, see you in 200