5 Greatest Moments In SmackDown History

SmackDown, as it reaches 1000 episodes, has been through an incredible run. Often viewed as the "B-Show", it's been proven wrong time and again. The show was originally created and named after The Rock, whose famous catchphrase became the title of the show.

Beginning early in the Attitude Era, it was simply used as an extension of RAW programming. It wasn't until the brand split in 2002 that saw the show take its own form. Led by Stephanie McMahon and Paul Heyman, the show would see the beginning of the SmackDown Six era, where Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Edge, Rey Mysterio and Eddie & Chavo Guerrero took the show to a whole new level.

The brand was further legitimized when then-WWE Champion Brock Lesnar was made exclusive to SmackDown, forcing RAW GM Eric Bischoff to introduce the World Heavyweight Championship.

SmackDown would see its glory years through the Ruthless Aggression Era, where superstars such as Undertaker, Kurt Angle and Batista among many others further legitimised the show and made it a must-see programme. The quality of the blue brand increased so significantly that there was even a point where it started beating RAW in the ratings, forcing WWE officials to start moving SmackDown stars to RAW.

After years of being another extension, the brand split was brought back and SmackDown was revived under the leadership of Shane McMahon. As we cross a 1000 episodes of SmackDown, let's look at the 5 greatest moments from the blue brand.

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#5 Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar's Iron Man match

Bar none, the greatest match in SmackDown history. The culmination of Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle's long-standing rivalry took place in 2003 in a 60-minute Iron Man match where the two behemoths went at it for the WWE Championship.

Brock Lesnar would be victorious, defeating Kurt Angle to recapture the WWE title for the last time in his first WWE run.

#4 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin blows up the DX Express

It was the go-home show to Backlash 2000, where Triple H was set to defend the WWF Championship against The Rock. It was announced in advance that 'Stone Cold' would return to be by The Rock's corner for the match.

Now, Austin hadn't yet appeared but on the final SmackDown before Backlash, DX, Vince & Shane McMahon were paranoid about Austin appearing, even going so far as to call him out in the ring.

The Rock, of course, came out and did what The Rock does best - verbally decimate his rivals. He then pointed to the screen, where it showed Stone Cold in the parking lot area somewhere. He had arrived. He was inside the "Austin Deconstruction", which he then used to destroy the DX Express as DX and the McMahons frantically watched from the ring.

It was mind games through and through from Austin and it worked!

#3 Big Show and Brock Lesnar destroy the ring

Long before the spot started being copied, there was an original. The Big Show and Brock Lesnar went head-on in the main event of SmackDown in 2003. Just to put it into perspective, the two had a combined weight of 669 pounds.

The finish of the match saw Lesnar superplex The Big Show onto the ring, with the ring entirely collapsing. You can make out by referee Mike Chioda's face just how taken by surprise he was. He seemed bewildered at what just happened while the crowd erupted in a way that hadn't been heard in a long time.

Everything about the moment was perfect and whether it was planned or unplanned, it turned out to be one of the most iconic moments in SmackDown history. The two giants were flat out cold in the ring while medical staff came to check on them.

#2 A kid named John Cena debuts

It was June of 2002 and Kurt Angle was riding high after a victory over the legendary Hulk Hogan. He took to the ring to brag about himself and even laid out an open challenge for anyone in the locker room.

It was a young upstart kid named John Cena who debuted and accepted his challenge. Angle asked him "What's the one quality that you possess that makes you think you can walk out to the ring and face the very best in the business?"

The young Cena replied with two simple words: "Ruthless Aggression" before attacking Angle. He took it to Angle and despite the fact that he fell short, he proved that night that he was going to be the next big sensation in WWE.

John Cena's words would define the era and he would go on to become the face of the company for over ten years. Truly one of the most memorable debuts in WWE history.

#1 Eddie Guerrero's Championship Celebration

If you've never seen Eddie Guerrero perform, subscribe to the WWE Network and take a look at his body of work. Guerrero was a sensation, a once in a lifetime talent, a larger than life superstar.

Eddie Guerrero truly proved that it wasn't size that mattered, but the heart. After being bullied by Brock Lesnar, who even called out the Demons of his past (Guerrero had faced legitimate addiction to pills, which led to him being released by WWE in 2001).

The feud brought out an intense side of Guerrero that had never been seen before. On the go-home show to No Way Out 2004, Brock Lesnar called Eddie Guerrero an addict, and Guerrero's response was nothing short of bone-chilling.

If you haven't seen the promo above before, watch it. It's the perfect example of how reality can create one of the greatest promos. He made Lesnar shut up with his "I'm an addict" speech.

Eddie Guerrero would defeat Brock Lesnar at No Way Out and become WWE Champion in one of the greatest feel-good moments in WWE history. Two nights later on SmackDown, he walked through the crowd as confetti and balloons of red, white and green fell from the ceiling.

It was one of the happiest moments in WWE history and undoubtedly the greatest in SmackDown history. The ultimate underdog had won and he celebrated with the people who stood by him and loved him. Watch the video below and notice the number of "Viva La Raza" and "Latino Heat" signs. He lifted the title with pyro exploding. It was a moment that will never be forgotten.

R.I.P Eddie Guerrero.

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