What should SmackDown Live bring back from the past?

5 things WWE SmackDown Live should bring back on FOX

After being publicized for months on end, SmackDown Live's big debut on FOX is almost upon us. The first episode of the blue show on FOX will air on October 4th, and is being heavily promoted by WWE, with a string of WWE legends all set to appear at the show.

Ad

Over the course of the past several months, the eventual FOX debut of SmackDown Live has given rise to rumors and speculations as to what kind of product WWE will present going forward. A while ago, WWE moved Roman Reigns, possibly the biggest star of the current generation, to the blue show, in what could be perceived as the company gearing up for the show's move to FOX.

Ad

If one looks back at the history of SmackDown Live, they'll notice a string of elements that are unique to the show. Let's take a look at five elements from the past that WWE could bring back on SmackDown Live, to entice the fans.

Ad

Also read: 5 things that could happen if WWE does another Shakeup

Ad

Ad

#5 The SmackDown Six

Ad
Edge and Rey Mysterio
Ad

Back in 2002, when SmackDown was on the verge of getting canceled due to poor ratings, the lead writer Paul Heyman bagged a bunch of Superstars and turned them into major attractions on the show. For the next several months, these six Superstars produced a string of quality matches and engaging storylines, which ultimately helped SmackDown stay on TV.

Ad

Edge, Rey Mysterio, Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Eddie & Chavo Guerrero were referred to as The SmackDown Six. The blue show could benefit from a modern-day SmackDown Six, consisting of six promising stars from the present roster. This move will not only give those six stars a push to the top, it will also give the show its own unique identity, similar to how it did in the old days.

See WWE Smackdown Results, Highlights of the event, & more on WWE Smackdown Results page.

#4 SmackDown Fist

SmackDown fist
Ad

During the early to mid-2000s, SmackDown used to have a large fist structure above the entrance ramp. This setup was done in a way that made it look as if someone punched through a wall and cracked it hard, as can be seen in the above picture.

This fist was synonymous to the blue show and really added to the overall feel and atmosphere of it. When WWE went HD, the fist was scrapped and it got replaced with a large HD screen on top of the entranceway.

The SmackDown Live FOX logo has an old school feel to it, cementing the fact that WWE is trying to go back to their old ways. Hopefully, WWE decides to bring the fist back and add a nice touch to the overall atmosphere of its weekly SmackDown Live shows.

Also read: 5 times Vince McMahon abruptly canceled a Superstar's push


#3 The wrestling show

Ad
Lesnar vs Angle

Although things are still pretty neat on the blue show when it comes to in-ring action, there was once a time when fans dubbed it as a true wrestling show. While Monday Night Raw used to be mostly about the theatrics, engaging angles, and story-heavy content, SmackDown Live used to focus way more on the wrestling aspect.

Ad

It would help the company a great deal if it attempts to turn the blue brand into a wrestling-heavy show again. What should be nixed to make way for that? Storylines that go on for a long time without any payoff, an overload of humor, and not featuring younger stars in a regular capacity. Now that young guns like Ali and Murphy are getting the spotlight more, we'll hopefully see SmackDown go back to being "the wrestling show".

#2 Brock Lesnar as a SmackDown Live exclusive

Lesnar on SmackDown Live?
Ad

After SummerSlam 2002 was done and dusted with, Stephanie McMahon signed WWE Champion Brock Lesnar to an exclusive SmackDown contract and he started appearing only on the blue show following the move. For almost the entirety of his remaining first run in WWE, Brock Lesnar competed on SmackDown.

There have been reports of Lesnar being brought in to the blue brand upon its move to FOX. Although he won't appear regularly like he used to do in his first run, Lesnar being a SmackDown Live exclusive Superstar could really make fans care about the show more, and would give WWE a chance to build Monday Night Raw around a bunch of future stars.

Also read: John Cena gets emotional while talking retirement


#1 Talking Smack

Talking Smack
Ad

WWE Talking Smack debuted on the WWE Network on August 2, 2016, as a post-show feature. The show's final edition aired on July 11, 2017, and was hosted by Renee Young and Shane McMahon. The short-lived run of Talking Smack gave the fans a string of memorable moments, the biggest of them being The Miz's outburst on Daniel Bryan, regarded by many as being one of the best promos of the modern era.

The show was a hit among the fans, and bringing it back will only add to the overall unique feel of SmackDown Live. Here's a look at how amazing this show used to be:

Follow Sportskeeda Wrestling and Sportskeeda MMA on Twitter for all the latest news. Do not miss out!

Ad
Edited by
Umid Kumar Dey
 
See more
More from Sportskeeda