This match on the **January 4, 2001 episode of WWE SmackDown! ** pitted Chris Jericho against Intercontinental Champion Chris Benoit in a technically crisp, hard-hitting singles bout that was building their long-running feud and title chase. The two men traded chops, suplexes, and submission attempts, with Benoit showing off his mat-wrestling and German suplex offense while Jericho countered with forearms, bulldogs, and a near-miss on a Lionsault. Just as Jericho began to gain control and looked to put Benoit in the Walls of Jericho, Perry Saturn ran in and attacked Jericho, causing the match to end in a disqualification and preserving Benoit’s Intercontinental title. After the bell, Benoit and Saturn continued to double-team Jericho before Matt and Jeff Hardy (with Lita) ran out to make the save, setting up further carnage in the feud.
