The landscape of WWE has been altered with WWE entering a new era. Fresh faces are now being pushed, while the brand extension has given the rest of the locker room a new lease of sorts. While for the last decade, RAW was considered the “A brand”, with SmackDown going live on USA Network, things have taken an interesting turn.
The fact that Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon – two of the most popular figures in WWE today are spearheading the new era on the blue brand gives the fans and superstars renewed hope. SmackDown is no longer the “B show”, or the show where RAW is recapped.
Going live has certainly helped SmackDown, considering the fact that the first edition of SmackDown Live drew in higher ratings than RAW for that week! However, there have been other monumental moments that took place on the blue brand. Today, we take a look at the 10 greatest SmackDown moments in history.
10. Shawn Michaels helps Triple H on the first ever edition of SmackDown
The 90s was an incredible period in the world of professional wrestling. From the Monday Night Wars to the rise of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, the 90s bore witness to some of the greatest moments in the history of the industry. It was also the period when two young superstars started climbing the ranks and became top stars in WWE.
The Rock and Triple H hit their peak in ‘98 - ‘99, and during the very first edition of SmackDown, Shawn Michaels, who was the Commissioner at the time, announced a match between the then WWE Champion Triple H and The Rock for the title. However, during the main event, Shawn Michaels stabbed The Rock in the back by giving him Sweet Chin Music, and made the three count.
HBK helped his best friend retain the title over The Rock in the main event, setting up an intense rivalry between the two superstars.
9. Rhyno gores Jericho through the screen
Chris Jericho is one of the most popular WWE stars of all time. The “Ayatollah of Rock n’ Rolla” took the WWE by storm in his debut year. He became the first ever Undisputed WWE Champion, by beating Steve Austin and The Rock in one night!
In 2001, Chris Jericho was involved in a feud with former ECW superstar, “The Man Beast” Rhyno. Their rivalry reached new heights towards the end of the year, and during one particular episode of SmackDown, both the superstars exchanged blows while making their way up the ramp.
After dropping Jericho with a suplex on the floor, Rhyno set himself up for a gore. However, Rhyno gored Jericho through the SmackDown screen, destroying the set! The very next week, SmackDown debuted a different set, with the now vintage giant fist on the top.
8. “The face that runs the place” makes his SmackDown debut
John Cena needs no introduction. Cena is one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time and has been the face of WWE for over a decade. The 15-time world champion is also one of the biggest cross – over personalities in the industry, and is synonymous with WWE itself!
However, in 2002, a relatively young John Cena took center stage and went up against one of the greatest technical wrestlers of all time, Kurt Angle. When Angle asked Cena what made him think he could beat Kurt, Cena replied by saying he had “ruthless aggression”.
14 years and 15 world championships later, John Cena finds himself as the greatest superstar of this generation.
7. WWE pays tribute to the victims of 9/11
The 9/11 attacks were intended to bring the United States to its knees. However, the unfortunate event helped in bringing all the countries together, while the people in the United States remained defiant. While the country was still reeling from one of the biggest acts of terrorism in history, WWE decided to show the world that America wouldn’t bow down to anyone.
The live edition of SmackDown was the first WWE program to be televised post the 9/11 attacks, and the first congregation of a large group of people after 9/11. Lillian Garcia’s rendition of the Star Sprinkled Banner sent a chill up the spine of every American, as WWE epitomized the never say die spirit of the people in the United States.
6. Steve Austin attacks Booker T in a grocery store
2001 was the dawn of a new era in professional wrestling. With WCW going out of business, WWE became the undisputed king of sports entertainment. WWE also managed to acquire the services of WCW stars who weren’t contractually obligated to Time Warner. This meant that superstars such as Booker T found themselves in WWE, and played a big role during the Invasion angle.
The feud between Booker T and WWE’s resident redneck – Steve Austin was entertaining, to say the least. During one particular edition of SmackDown, Austin attacked Booker T in a grocery store, which made it one of the most entertaining segments in WWE history! The sight of Booker being rag dolled around the convenience store was truly a memorable one, which ended with Austin “checking” Booker T out!
5. SmackDown remembers Eddie Guerrero
Eddie Guerrero was one of the most entertaining superstars in WWE history. “Latino Heat”, with his mantra of “lie, cheat and steal” soon became one of the most popular stars, and found himself in one of the main events of WrestleMania 20. Eddie Guerrero could make the fans laugh one second, and get them infuriated the very next moment.
However, in 2005, Eddie Guerrero, unfortunately, passed away, sending the wrestling world into deep shock and disbelief. RAW and SmackDown were dedicated to the memory of Eddie, and his best friend, Chris Benoit, faced Triple H on SmackDown while dedicating his match to his fallen friend.
Among the numerous tear-jerking moments, the sight of Chris and Triple H embracing each other after an emotional bout will linger in the minds of wrestling fans for a long time to come.
4. Kurt Angle – Brock Lesnar Iron Man Match
Brock Lesnar’s rise to fame during his initial run saw him become the top dog on SmackDown. This eventually led to Lesnar crossing paths with the Olympic Gold medalist and former WWE Champion, Kurt Angle. Kurt and Lesnar were involved in numerous memorable matches and segments – from Kurt tricking Lesnar into doing 300 push ups to their encounter at WrestleMania, Kurt and Lesnar had great chemistry.
One of the most memorable moments during their feud came during the Iron Man Match on SmackDown for the WWE Championship. Tied at one fall apiece, Lesnar locked Kurt in the ankle lock, forcing Kurt to tap out. Lesnar thus became one of the very few superstars to have made Kurt tap out, and that too to his own submission hold. Lesnar eventually won the match with 5 falls to 4 and became the new WWE Champion in the process.
3. Big Show and Brock Lesnar tear the house down
In 2003, the rivalry between The Big Show and Brock Lesnar intensified, resulting in a match between the two on SmackDown for the WWE Championship. In the bout which was touted as the “Irresistible force meeting the immovable object”, Lesnar looked certain to win the match, and it wasn’t seen as anything extraordinary.
However, when Lesnar set Show up for a superplex the fans got on their feet. It wasn’t anything like they had seen before, considering a giant was being superplexed on to the mat. No one knew how it would end, and soon enough, both Show and Lesnar crashed on the mat, resulting in the ring giving way! The fans came unglued, and it was one of the greatest sights that a fan could feast his/her eyes on!
Big Show later came clean during an episode of “Talk is Jericho” podcast, revealing that the whole thing was a setup, and it was a planned spot.
“We did a spot right before we broke the ring where we’re both down and they shoot a real close-up of both of us selling. Well in that time, [WWE Stunt Coordinator] Ellis [Edwards] had airbags under the ring. So they had lifted the ring a couple inches. So now, when I’m standing on that top corner, that ring is like standing on marbles. Because it’s moving. Of course, now I’ve got my fat ass up in the air, 500 pounds on a not very stable surface … So then the ring broke. I just remember when it happened because … you don’t know how the stunt is going to look. But man, it was so perfectly timed the way we did it and Ellis did a great job of setting up. That thing collapsed and everybody they bought it so long.”
2. Steve Austin destroys the D – X Express
The rivalry between Steve Austin and the McMahons has been well documented. Austin, who became a thorn in Vince McMahon’s side was taken out by Rikishi, who was in turn hired by Triple H. While the McMahons and D – X believed that Austin was taken care of, there were rumblings about Austin being present in the building during an episode of SmackDown.
With the McMahons and D – X being paranoid, The Rock promised that he would bring Steve Austin, and prove that he was in the building. While Vince and Triple H didn’t believe The Rock, Austin was indeed present in the vicinity, and just so happened to be in the parking lot.
Austin proceeded to destroy the D – X Express, while Triple H and Vince McMahon threw a tantrum in the ring. This made for one of the greatest moments in SmackDown history, as the “Austin Deconstruction Crane” blew up the D – X Express.
1. Big Boss Man gate crashes Big Show’s father’s funeral
Attitude Era was famous for pushing the envelope, and car crash TV. One particular storyline which raised quite a few eyebrows was the one between The Big Show and The Big Boss Man. WWE announced to the world that Big Show’s father was critically ill (kayfabe), which resulted in The Big Boss Man trying to take advantage of Show’s situation.
During one particular edition of SmackDown, WWE announced that Show’s father had passed away, and sent their cameras to the cemetery where Show was paying his final respects. However, The Big Boss Man showed up, and dragged the casket away, with Big Show jumping on top of the casket to stop The Big Boss Man.
While the angle was done in poor taste, it still became one of the most talked about segments in SmackDown history!
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