'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
If RAW 1000 was anything to go by, we are in for a huge treat this Tuesday as SmackDown is set to celebrate its 1000th episode in Washington DC. SmackDown has always been WWE's B brand, but after the brand split in 2016, it has been the unofficial A brand.
While RAW has been filled with filler segments, SmackDown has showcased quality storylines and wrestling.
With around 20 years of history, SmackDown has always been underrated, and it is now emerging from the shadows of RAW. WWE is planning to make the 1000th episode of SmackDown a grand spectacle.
Huge names like The Undertaker, Batista, Ric Flair, Triple H and Rey Mysterio have already announced their involvement in the grand event. It would be interesting to see how this episode will shape the future of the blue brand.
In the 1000th episode of RAW, CM Punk turned heel. With AJ Styles ready to take on Daniel Bryan, a huge question looms regarding AJ turning heel at the event.
With that being said, since SD 1000 is around the corner, here are a few interesting facts about SmackDown you need to know. So, lets get started.
#5 SmackDown was always a PG show
It is a common misconception that both RAW and SmackDown were TV-14 before 2008. That's wrong. While RAW was rated TV-14, SmackDown was always a PG show. Although there were many edgy contents on SmackDown, the show was labelled PG from its inception in 1999.
However, SD was too edgy for a PG show, and had to tone down its contents around 2004. The difference in quality is quite evident in the segments between 2003 and 2004.
#4 Match of the year
Only once did a match from SmackDown win the Pro Wrestling Illustrators award for The Match of the Year. It was a match between Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar for Angle's WWE Championship under Iron Man rules.
In 60 minutes of this barn burner, we saw outstanding back and forth action. Lesnar got the first fall by hitting Angle with a chair to gain a physical advantage. This match was outstanding, and may be one of the best TV singles matches of all time.
#3 Outside the states
SmackDown has been broadcast from seven different nations across three continents. Obviously, the United States of America and Canada are on the list. The blue brand has been broadcast from Mexico, The United Kingdom, Japan, Italy, and Iraq as well. There have been multiple episodes broadcast from the United States, and Canada.
However, this tally of 7 nations is 3 lesser than its big brother RAW. RAW has been broadcast from 10 different nations, including all the above mentioned countries as well as Afghanistan, South Africa, and Germany.
#2 Most appearances
If you thought someone like Edge, The Undertaker, Rey Mysterio or Kane have made the most appearances for SmackDown, you are wrong. Michael Cole is the person with most appearances for the blue brand with 423.
This is followed by JBL with 343. However, Kane is the guy with most appearances as a wrestler on SmackDown with a giant 334.
Among the full time wrestlers, Dolph Ziggler has the most appearances on SmackDown with 294. Slithering behind The Showoff is The Viper, Randy Orton with 280. The General Manager with most appearances on the blue brand is Teddy Long with 287. Charles Robinson is the referee with most appearances on the show with 256.
The souls of SmackDown - The Undertaker, Edge, and Rey Mysterio have just 211, 202, and 240 appearances respectively.
#1 World Championships
The WWE Championship has traded hands on SmackDown only three times - Vince McMahon defeated Triple H in 1999, Brock Lesnar defeated Kurt Angle in the earlier mentioned Iron Man match in 2003, and most recently, AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal in the United Kingdom to capture the most prestigious title in WWE.
It is quite shocking to know that even after being exclusive to SmackDown, after the brand split, there haven't been more title changes.
Another interesting fact pertaining to SmackDown's world championship is that in its 19 year history, there has been only one world title reign which has lasted over 300 days. AJ Styles, the current SmackDown world champion has been holding the title for around 11 months. JBL's reign of 280 days was the world championship record on SmackDown before this.
How did Ric Flair spend $1500 at a pizza place? More details here
