The Good - An opening segment that may never be topped
Occasionally something can be so great, so iconic, and so groundbreaking that fans instinctively know they are in the midst of professional wrestling history. SmackDown's opening segment was just that and may never be bested.
The show made a clear statement, as its most important Superstar made her way to the ring first, before all others. Becky Lynch will go down in history as the first wrestler to appear on Friday Night SmackDown.
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She addressed Los Angeles and the millions watching at home,
"This show is in my blood. This is where I shattered glass ceilings. This is where you used your voices to raise me up."
Then King Corbin's music hit and the audience reacted appropriately, with venom. Corbin made his way to the ring in full royal getup. He took exception to Lynch opening the show and calling herself 'The Man.' As WWE's newest king, he demanded loyalty from her and from the 'unworthy' WWE Universe. None of that would matter seconds later, as The Rock's music would hit, causing Los Angeles to lose its collective mind, providing one of the biggest pops in wrestling history.
In a powerfully emotional moment, the man who originally coined the term SmackDown began one of his famous catch phrases, "The Rock has finally come back..." Then he paused, visibly overwhelmed. He gazed at the crowd. His eyes darted around the ring, taking in the moment before he finished, "Home."
Then the fun began. The Rock was quick to turn his attention to King Corbin. He called Corbin a "Broke ass Burger King," and compared him to a "35 year old virgin hanging out at Comic Con." The Hollywood mega star even gave Corbin a new nickname, "STD."
The segment ended with both The Rock and Lynch teaming up against Corbin, who endured a People's Elbow and all the humiliation to go with it.