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WWE’s resident ‘B Show’ had its beginnings nearly 20 years ago in August 1999. This followed a pilot that aired in April 1999 but it now had a completely new set, its own network and all the main eventers that were running the WWF at the time.
The Ovaltron gave SmackDown a completely new look to what people were used to. Coupled with the blue ropes, this gave the WWF a fresh look and the show debuted when ratings were high and the Attitude Era was in full swing. There was no doubt a second show was needed to further storylines, and capitalise on the success it was having.
A new TV deal with UPN would bring in a lot more needed revenue. At the time, WWE was a private company and despite doing much better in the ratings, did not make half as much money as it does today.
The crowd were hot, the card was packed and the excitement was high on the premiere episode of the blue brand and it did not disappoint. Jim Ross and Jerry The King Lawler were on commentary to ensure that the show went off without a hitch and they automatically bring legitimacy to anything they commentate on, so that helped a lot in making the show feel as important as Monday Night Raw.
The first episode hailed from Kansas City in front of a sell-out crowd and is notable for how good the matches were and how explosive the show was, but what has happened to the superstars that made up the roster for the first episode of WWE SmackDown?
Let’s take a look.
The Mean Street Posse
The Mean Street Posse had quite a role in the first ever episode of SmackDown as they were seen several times throughout the show. They were involved in the opening brawl with The Rock, Triple H, Mankind and Shane McMahon, attempting to come to Shane’s aid, but unsuccessfully as The Rock and Mankind dispatched of them with relative ease.
They were seen once again in the match with Mankind and Shane McMahon, beating Test in the moments before the match started. Test would eventually get the better of them of course. Throughout their career, they were used as enhancement talent and were always on the bad end of a beating from a much better superstar.
All three have retired from wrestling, leaving the company in 2001 having been in developmental after their usefulness had run dry. According to an article in WWE.com several years ago, Pete Gas now works for an office supply company and released a book earlier this year titled Looking At The Lights: My Path From A Fan To A Wrestling Heel. Rodney owns his own landscaping company and Joey Abs works in a family owned car repair shop.
At least they’ll have some cool stories to tell their grandkids.
Mr Ass, Chyna and Jeff Jarrett
Billy Gunn and Jeff Jarrett were embroiled in a feud over the Intercontinental Championship. In this non-title match, Mr Ass managed to pick up the win after Chyna came down to the ring a levelled Debra with a guitar. And I mean that guitar exploded over her head. Ah, the good old days.
Following the win, Mr Ass attempted to moon the 9th Wonder of the World but took a forearm to the gonads as Chyna was preparing herself for an Intercontinental title reign and staking her claim to be in the title picture.
Chyna would eventually have a reign with the championship. Unfortunately, after leaving the WWE in 2001, she became increasingly erratic as she battled with personal demons and unfortunately passed away in 2016. We won’t forget how dominant she was in the ring though. #HallofFame
Mr Ass would never really reach his full potential in WWE after many failed singles pushes. He was still successful in the tag team arena though forming a partnership with Chuck. He would leave the WWE in 2004 after being released from his contract. Another stint not so long ago in 2014 saw him become a WWE tag team champion with Road Dogg once again but was let go later on as he tested positive for enhancement drugs.
He is currently performing in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Jeff Jarrett left the WWE in 1999 to make his fortune in WCW and actually became World Heavyweight Champion there. He then formed TNA wrestling which bred many superstars we love today in the current WWE climate. Samoa Joe, Austin Aries and AJ Styles to name a few. After leaving that company he formed Global Force Wrestling which earlier this year, merged with his original company.
Jeff Jarrett is a major player in the wrestling world.
Faarooq and Bradshaw
The Acolytes were involved in the Tag Team Championship triple threat match that occurred that night. No-one really took it seriously though as it was a platform to show off how dominant the Big Show could be under the power of The Undertaker.
Bradshaw would go on to reinvent himself as JBL and became a main event player in the WWE, capturing many titles, but none more important than the Undisputed WWE Championship. He is known for being the face of SmackDown during the brand split. He still works for the blue brand he worked so hard to build as he commentates on SmackDown Live alongside Tom Phillips and Byron Saxton.
He also takes part in a lot of celebrity fundraising events and is a global ambassador for Beyond Sport which drives to make a positive social change through sports. He lives in Bermuda.
Faarooq, now going under his real name Ron Simmons, never really reached the heights of his tag-team partner Bradshaw and unfortunately goes down in history as the Marty Jannetty of The Acolytes. He is currently still signed with WWE under a Legends contract and makes sporadic appearances in comedic segments spouting his well-known catchphrase “DAMN!” You can also find him in original programming for the WWE Network sharing stories from the past.
Kane and X-Pac
The second tag team involved in the triple threat match that night were Kane and X-Pac. As X-Pac was the one who was pinned, he was shown to leave the arena in a bad mood as Kane followed him out, interestingly shouting ‘Sean’ instead of X-Pac.
X-Pac had many great feuds following this episode of SmackDown but ended up leaving the company in 2002. He performed all around the world once again on the independent circuit and even performed in Jarrett’s TNA where he saw relative success. He is currently back with the WWE under a legends contract just like Faarooq.
Kane would eventually remove his mask but he was originally taught how to speak by X-Pac. He would capture many titles in his storied career and no-one would blame him if he retired years ago. Kane is still with the company but is currently taking a break as he runs for Knox County Mayor. Many fans are clamouring for his return.
Undertaker and Big Show
The Undertaker and The Big Show had a strange dynamic as Tag Team Champions and it was evident in this opening episode of SmackDown. The Undertaker sat on commentary and did not get involved in the match barring a motivational slap to the 7ft giant. Big Show picked up the win for his team alone.
The Undertaker was a large part of WWE programming until the streak became the only thing worth fighting for in terms of character development. Brock Lesnar broke that streak and Roman Reigns added another loss at WrestleMania 33 just a few months ago. No-one has seen or heard from The Undertaker since.
He left his coat, hat and gloves in the ring following his defeat to Roman Reigns so it is assumed he retired, but one would expect him to make appearances in the future in a Legends capacity if not as an in-ring performer. Outside of wrestling, he is involved in investing in real estate.
The Big Show is still active with the WWE having had a glittering career involving multiple title wins in the promotion. He has been extremely loyal to the WWE since joining in 1999 and has created many highlights throughout the years. He is currently involved in the feud between Enzo and Cass, taking on Big Cass to inevitably put him over as a force to be reckoned with.
Al Snow and The Big Bossman
This match between Al Snow and Big Bossman for the Hardcore Title was the beginning of the storyline that would end with one of the worst matches in WWE history, the Kennel from Hell match at Unforgiven 1999. Big Bossman picked up the victory and kept Al Snow’s dog Pepper hostage. This was a far cry from the wacky “Head” gimmick that had made Al so popular.
Al Snow became a massive part of TNA and Impact wrestling and barring a short time in the mid-2000s, it has where he remained until early 2017. He recently got married and is working on getting his training academy (Al Snow Wrestling Academy) off the ground in the UK. It is unlikely we’ll see him back in the WWE in the future.
The Big Bossman went to train developmental wrestlers for the WWE due to his character having nowhere else to go and the company having no use for him as an in-ring competitor. He was then released in 2003 and had his last matches in International Wrestling Association of Japan where he competed for the IWA Championship.
Big Bossman sadly passed away from a heart attack in 2004. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class in 2016.
Road Dogg and Chris Jericho
Road Dogg gave Chris Jericho his in-ring debut in the WWE. Road Dogg won the match by disqualification as Jericho power bombed him through a table.
Road Dogg, though no longer an active in-ring competitor for the WWE is still with the company. He returned with Billy Gunn and won the WWE Tag Team Championships in 2014. While Billy Gunn parted ways with the company, Road Dogg took a backstage role and is currently head writer of the SmackDown Live brand having taken over from a former NXT writer. He is also the producer of the show and can be seen in several backstage segments.
Jericho is a part-time competitor in the WWE and has been seen competing as recently as last week. He shows no sign of slowing down though as he has been U.S Champion this year having beaten Kevin Owens for the title after their friendship fell apart. He has to take time off every now and then to tour with his band Fozzy.
Test and Stephanie McMahon
Test looked to be getting a push by asking Stephanie McMahon to marry him but it was all a ruse as Triple H married her in secret…then in real life. Test was left in no man’s land for a bit before forming a tag team with Albert. He got battered by the Mean Street Posse in the opening episode of SmackDown but eventually got the upper hand with help from Mankind.
Test had a relatively successful career in the WWE but was released at his own request after failing a wellness policy test. Test retired from wrestling in 2009 after a tour in France. He sadly died from an overdose of oxycodone. He also suffered from a degenerative disease caused by blows to the head which shows you the dangers wrestlers used to put themselves through and why the WWE is so committed to protecting their superstars.
Stephanie McMahon is a massive part of the WWE still today. She was an onscreen talent until recently where she has taken a backseat after being flung through a table at WrestleMania 33.
She is still active as the commissioner of RAW and is the company’s Chief Brand Officer and is extremely active in encouraging the Connor’s Cure charity as a co-founder and the Be A Star campaign.
Mankind and Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon had Mankind to deal with as well as trying to sabotage the proposal of marriage to his sister from Test. He took on Mankind in a brutal match and only picked up the victory thanks to interference from Chyna and Triple H.
Shane McMahon has had an unbelievable career as a wrestler, becoming a guaranteed ‘spot-monkey’ most recently careering off the Hell in a Cell structure down onto The Undertaker in a losing effort at WrestleMania 32. He missed and exploded through the announcer’s table.
He is currently the GM of SmackDown but still competes in the ring, having lost to AJ Styles at WrestleMania 33. He is due to be the special guest referee at SummerSlam in the match between Kevin Owens and AJ Styles for the United States Championship.
Mick Foley has not always had a rosy relationship with the WWE, but he was the RAW General Manager up until a few months ago where he was fired for his storyline actions by Stephanie McMahon. In reality, he was unable to handle the travel schedule as he had to get a hip replacement surgery(which was successful). Mick has not been seen on WWE television since, barring the Hall of Fame ceremony. He has been working on the release of his upcoming book “Saint Mick” and will be doing book signings toward the back end of 2017.
Ivory, Tori and Luna
Ivory faced Tori in an evening gown match. I forgot how excited Jerry Lawler gets in these situations. It sure is funny to watch but it’s hard to believe what they used to get away with and what the women of the WWE used to be reduced to given the athletes we have nowadays. The video above features a scene censored in the WWE Network version. Enjoy.
Ivory left the WWE in 2005 and after working the independent circuit for several years retired from in-ring competition. She makes the occasional appearance on WWE produced shows such as Table for 3 to talk about times gone by.
Tori was released in 2001 after a spat with former ECW star Raven. She currently runs a Yoga studio in Portland Oregon.
Luna Vachon was released in early 2000 due to a backstage incident where she lost her temper. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder which may have contributed to the outburst. Unfortunately, Luna was found dead in her home in 2010.
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Triple H, The Rock and Shawn Michaels
The WWF Champion opened the first episode of SmackDown with a promo regarding how he had been held back but is now on top of the mountain. The Rock would then interrupt Triple H and a WWF Championship match was made for the main event. Shawn Michaels as commissioner, authorised it.
The Game, Triple H is still with the company to this day in a very important role. He wrestles very sporadically but was WWE Champion as recently as last year. He is in charge of NXT and the Performance Center and oversees everything that happens in that brand. He has developed many of the stars we now see on Raw and SmackDown and has been extremely influential in the evolution of WWE’s developmental brand. He has been off TV recently but will likely make a return as an authority figure later this year.
Shawn Michaels is retired from wrestling having put his career on the line against The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI. He now makes sporadic appearances on WWE television following his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011. He most recently appeared on WWE Raw to give Reigns advice about facing The Undertaker at WrestleMania. He was rumoured to be the Head of the WWE Performance Centre last year but this rumour was quashed, and he is said to have helped with training the future stars of WWE.
The Rock is the most successful actor of our time hitting the Forbes rich list and breaking all sorts of Box Office records. While it was very rare for him to smile in the WWE, he never stops nowadays and who can blame him? Heading the successful Fast and Furious film series for the last few years and more recently having success with Disney’s Moana, he does not need wrestling anymore. Despite this, he still makes appearances at WrestleMania and has even competed in recent years with his last match breaking the fastest match record at WrestleMania with 6 seconds against Erick Rowan.
