A Year Ago Today: Benoit’s Last PPV Match

2 out of 3 falls here. Lockup battle to start and they take it to the floor, and back in for a bitchslap battle that ends with Benoit going for the crossface. MVP escapes and they start again, as Benoit takes him down with armdrags and locks in the crossface, but MVP makes the ropes. MVP takes him down with the headlock, but Benoit suplexes out of it. MVP shoots in for the leg and works for an armbar on the mat, but Benoit makes the ropes. MVP takes out the knee and gets two, and goes to work on the leg as a result. Benoit tries a chop, but MVP goes back to the leg, so Benoit punishes him with chops. He follows with the rolling germans, but hurts his own knee. So he tries the crossace, but MVP is too close to the ropes. Back to the leg again, but he misses a big boot in the corner and Benoit takes him down with the Sharpshooter. MVP makes the ropes again, but Benoit gets an enzuigiri. MVP keeps attacking the knee, but goes up and gets caught in electric chair position. The knee gives way, however, and MVP gets the Playmaker to win the first fall at 8:15.

Second fall sees Benoit taking him down and pounding away on the mat, but MVP trips him from the floor and attacks the knee again. Back in, that gets two. Benoit’s little selling stuff here is fantastic. MVP goes back to the leg, so Benoit kicks him in the face, but that only gets MVP going again. He hangs Benoit in the Tree of Woe and gets two. MVP goes to the kneebar, but Benoit fights out and makes the comeback. They reverse until MVP gets a horse-collar hold on the bad knee, but Benoit is too manly and makes the ropes. MVP throws short knees to stun Benoit and goes for the finish again, but Benoit counters into the crossface. MVP elbows the bad knee to escape, and rolls him up for two. Straight kick to the knee into another cradle finishes and finally gives him the title.