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SmackDown has been airing on our screens since August 1999, and since that time WWE's B-show has been entertaining fans all around the world. Although SmackDown has been considered WWE's B-show for the longest time, the current crop of superstars prove time and again that they are as good as, if not better than, the ones on RAW. Before SmackDown was the house that AJ Styles built, other superstars made their name on the show. On the road to SmackDown 1000, we look at 5 WWE legends who got famous on SmackDown.
Honorable Mentions
This honorable mentions section is dedicated to The Rock. Before the Rock's name was synonymous with Hollywood blockbusters, he was a WWE superstar who got over because of his mic skills and exceptional in-ring technique. While the other superstars who will appear on this list owe their success and fame to SmackDown, the show owes its success to Dwayne Johnson.
In 2002, the Rock became the first superstar to be fully assigned to SmackDown which significantly elevated the blue brand's prestige. Aside from that, the Rock was effectively responsible for naming the brand as he popularised the catchphrase "lay the SmackDown." Shane McMahon also deserves special recognition for working hard to build SmackDown into what it is today.
#5 The Undertaker
Although the Undertaker's current WWE contract has him appearing on RAW most of the time, he gained mainstream success while working on SmackDown. Undertaker's time on SmackDown dates back to the show's first televised episode which was shown on April 29, 1999, where he teamed up with Triple H in a losing effort against Stone Cold and The Rock. Although Taker's first SmackDown match was a loss, he gained lots of success on the brand participating in several memorable feuds with the likes of Randy Orton and the Big Show. His time on SmackDown also improved his WrestleMania winning streak.
#4 John Bradshaw Layfield
For the longest time, JBL was considered one of WWE's most gifted heels because his work on the mic and in the ring was beyond compare. On the blue brand, JBL initially teamed up with Faarooq with whom he won the WWF tag team title 3 times. JBL's real success was in the single's division where he won the WWE championship from Eddie Guerrero.
His title run was one of the most eventful heel runs with controversial matches at several pay-per-views like the Great American Bash and Summerslam defending against WWE legends like The Undertaker, Booker T, and Kurt Angle. Sadly, after losing the title to John Cena, JBL never managed to win it back. JBL also appeared on the first episode of SmackDown losing to Ken Shamrock.
#3 Chris Jericho
Every wrestling fan knows Chris Jericho's name; he has often been touted as one of the biggest stars the WWE has ever produced and undoubtedly the best on the mic. Chris Jericho might have the Midas touch because most of his projects are successful and none more so than his time on SmackDown. Chris Jericho has won the Intercontinental title 9 times with his third reign beginning on SmackDown after defeating Chris Benoit. The two would go on to have a memorable feud, and for a time they even formed a partnership and would go on to win the tag titles. Y2J also had feuded with Triple H during his time on SmackDown.
#2 Rey Mysterio
Arguably the greatest lucha libre star to ever step foot in a WWE ring, Rey Mysterio earned the respect and adoration of fans while working on the blue brand. Rey's first WWE appearance was on SmackDown in a winning effort against Chavo Guerrero.
Rey quickly rose through the ranks on SmackDown and formed a tag team with Edge, but their first attempt at winning the belts ended in failure after they lost to Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit. The match was such a technical masterpiece that the Wrestling Observer Newsletter ranked it as the best match that year. That was only the beginning of Rey's success as he would go on to win the Cruiserweight Championship, the tag team titles and the 2006 Royal Rumble Match.
#1 Teddy Long
In a surprising twist, a general manager and not a wrestler tops this list. Teddy Long made SmackDown his own in a way no other manager has ever managed to do. He understood the wrestling industry in a way few did and created matches that the fans actually enjoyed watching.
As a General Manager, Teddy Long was an innovator coming up with several unique concepts such as the Last Ride Match, the Stretcher Match, and the Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match. Teddy's induction into the WWE Hall of Fame was a testament to how hard he worked.
