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On October 18, 2018, the WWE will be celebrating another milestone in the form of the 1000th episode of SmackDown Live. In Michael Cole's words, it will make SmackDown the second longest running episodic television show in history. For a show that derived its name from a catchphrase by the Rock and is usually regarded as the B Show, to broadcast 1000 episodes is no mean feat. What makes it extra special is the fact that SmackDown will be moving to FOX next October in a deal worth $1 billion for five years.
Though SmackDown as a show has had its ups and downs, it has trumped RAW in ratings and overall quality on multiple occasions. The 2016 Brand Extension Draft and the period following is an example of where SmackDown was garnering praise from fans and critics while RAW was struggling to draw fans.
As WWE gets set to celebrate the 100th episode of the blue brands, here are six Superstars who have played a huge role in the brand's success.
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Honorable Mention: AJ Styles
The Phenomenal One has been the backbone of the blue brand ever since the brand extension draft in 2016. Styles has delivered on all aspects and has played a huge role in the recent resurgence of SmackDown from being a tapped secondary show to one of the company's premium offerings.
#6 Rey Mysterio
Part of SmackDown's Big 6 which consisted of Chavo and Eddie Guerrero, Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Edge and Mysterio, this crop of talent played a huge role in the resurrection of the blue brand from a B-show to the company's top show under the watchful eye of Paul Heyman, who was the head writer and the on-screen authority figure of the blue brand.
Mysterio achieved most of his career success on the blue brand winning the World Heavyweight Championship twice, the Cruiserweight Championship, Tag Team Championship with real-life friends Eddie Guerrero, Batista and Edge and most importantly winning the Royal Rumble in 2006.
Rey Mysterio was one of the cornerstones of the blue brand during the mid to late 2000's and with Mysterio's return to the WWE being a done deal, we hope to see the Master of 619 return to the blue bland and have one last run in the brand before he bids adieu to the squared circle.
#5 Kurt Angle
The on-vacation former General Manager of RAW, Kurt Angle is ironically associated with the blue brand where he spent a major part of his first stint in the WWE. The Olympic hero has won multiple world championships, tag team Championship, and competed in the main event of WrestleMania as part of the blue bland.
He was involved in some high profile feud against the likes of Eddie Guerrero, Brock Lesnar, and Rey Mysterio. Who can forget his epic battle against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 19 against Brock Lesnar and the 60-minute Ironman Match the duo had on the September 18, 2003, episode of SmackDown. Their Ironman Match is considered by many to be the greatest match in the blue brand's history.
If one tries to a make a list of the greatest matches in SmackDown, Angle's name would pop up more than once in that list. The Olympic Hero had a very big impact on the blue brand's success throughout the mid 200's before finally leaving the company in 2006.
#4 Brock Lesnar
Before he was a part-time former Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar was the next big thing on SmackDown. The former NCAA champion and Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) graduate would have a meteoric rise to the main event scene of the WWE. Lesnar would beat The Rock at SummerSlam 2002 for the WWE Undisputed Championship, becoming the youngest WWE Champion in the company's history in the process .
Alongside his advocate and then GM of SmackDown, Paul Heyman, Lesnar would wreak havoc upon the Superstars of SmackDown and establish himself as one of the biggest box-office attractions in the company. Lesnar would pick up victories against the likes of Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle, John Cena, and The Big Show on the Blue Brand Capturing the WWE Championship thrice.
#3 Batista
One of the biggest stars of the Ruthless Aggression Era, Batista made a name for himself as a part of the famed 'Evolution' stable. But the Animal's breakout moment was his win against Triple H at WrestleMania 21 where he captured the World Heavyweight Championship.
Batista would be drafted to SmackDown following his feud with the Game and would go on to have one of the best runs in SmackDown history. Throughout the mid to late 2000's, Batista would solidify his position as the top dog of the blue brand raking up victories against the likes of The Great Khali, Rey Mysterio, and The Undertaker. The Animal would then be drafted to RAW in 2006.
The Animal would once again return to the blue brand in 2009 for a short stint before leaving the company the following year after his trilogy of matches against John Cena for the WWE Championship.
#2 The Undertaker
Widely regarded as one of the greatest performers in WWE history, The Undertaker has spent the majority of the latter part of his full-time career as a SmackDown Superstars. The Deadman has had some of the memorable victories as part of the blue brand. He Won the Royal Rumble match in 2007 and defeated Batista at WrestleMania 23 to capture the World Heavyweight Championship.
Taker would go on to win the World Heavyweight Championship on multiple occasions and have iconic feuds against Batista, The Great Khali, Edge, and La Familia. Undertaker would feud against CM Punk and Kane for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship before transitioning into a part-time role after his Carrer Vs Streak Match against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 26.
Undertaker was an integral part of the blue brand throughout the late 2000's. The Deadman is one of the primary reasons why SmackDown has managed to relevant after all these years.
#1 Edge
Edge is one of the most decorated Superstars in WWE history and his name is synonymous with the blue brand. This is due to fact that the Rated R Superstar has spent a major part of his career on the brand and achieve a tremendous amount of success. Whether be it as part of the Last Familia or his run as the World Heavyweight Champion in 2011, Edge has always been at the top of the food chain in SmackDown.
He was a part of the SmackDown Big 6 and helped establish the brand. He started out as a tag team Superstars and won the Tag Team Championship alongside Rey Mysterio. The Rated R Superstars would then move to RAW but would return to the blue brand by Cashing in his Money in the Bank Contract on the Undertaker and capture the World Heavyweight Championship.
Edge would then go on have numerous high-profile feuds against The Undertaker, Batista, Jeff Hardy, Triple H, Dolph Ziggler, and Alberto Del Rio. He defeated Del Rio and retained the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 27. This was his last match in the WWE as the Canadian Superstars was forced to retire from in-ring competition a few weeks later, thereby ending one of the illustrious careers in WWE history.
Edge and his contribution in putting the Smackdown in the same league as the company's flagship programme, RAW is huge. The master of the Spear deserves the title of 'Mr. SmackDown' as he is undoubtedly the greatest superstar in the brand's history.
