#4.) Chris Benoit
Chris Benoit was a “smart fan” favorite long before many of the independent superstars became popular. His undeniable wrestling prowess made many believe that he would be a World Champion, just not in WWE due to his size. However, 2004 turned out to be his year as he was suddenly one of the central characters of SmackDown.
It would lead to an incredible Royal Rumble victory, leading him to headline WrestleMania and defeat two legends in Triple H and Shawn Michaels to win his first and only World Championship in WWE. While all of that has been marred by the events that happened 3 years later, it’s not easy to forget just how unexpected and satisfying his rise to the top was to watch as a fan.
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