At WWE Vengeance on July 27, 2003, Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit headlined the show as the **finalists in the tournament to crown a new WWE United States Champion, delivering a high-intensity, back-and-forth wrestling match that opened the pay-per-view. Both men, known for their technical ability and chemistry, traded holds, suplexes, and counters over more than twenty minutes, with Benoit targeting Guerrero’s shoulder and applying his trademark Crippler Crossface and Guerrero responding with chops, arm drags, a superplex, and near-falls that kept the crowd engaged throughout. The bout grew increasingly physical and dramatic, including a referee bump that allowed Guerrero to use the vacant title belt and attempt to cheat his way to victory, and even a moment where Benoit applied the crossface again while the official was still incapacitated. Ultimately, interference from Rhyno, who unexpectedly Gored Benoit, allowed Guerrero to hit his Frog Splash and secure the pinfall in the 22 minute match, becoming the new United States Champion. The encounter was widely praised for in-ring action, though some critics noted the chaotic finish slightly muddled an otherwise excellent performance from both competitors.
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