20 Greatest SmackDown Episodes
In honor of SmackDown’s 1,000th episode, let’s count down the greatest shows.
In honor of SmackDown’s 1,000th episode, here are the 20 greatest episodes in the show’s nearly 20-year history.
#20 SmackDown 239, March 18, 2004
Unknowingly, this was the last episode of the initial run of Paul Heyman’s SmackDown. The evil genius goes out with a bang, booking a gauntlet with the winner challenging WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero in the main event. Shelton Benjamin ran pretty far, but Rey Mysterio swooped in to meet Latino Heat for the title. Plus, the APA finally break up as Bradshaw abandons Farooq, planting the seeds for his JBL character.
#19 Pilot Episode, April 29, 1999
Par for the course in the Attitude Era, this show was eventful and storyline-driven. In order to instantly make an impact and position SmackDown as equal to Raw, the main event featured Stone Cold and The Rock teaming for the first time. They faced Undertaker and Triple H, now comrades in the newly-formed Corporate Ministry. With every match and segment meaning something, it’s easy to see why the show was picked up during the company’s hottest period.
#18 SmackDown 181, February 6, 2003
This episode was a great balance of sport and entertainment: Come for the title change between Los Guerreros and Team Angle as well as yet another Kurt Angle-Chris Benoit clinic. Stay for The Rock’s hilarious roasting of Philadelphia and The Hulkster, plus Big Show’s giant gift for the Undertaker.
#17 SmackDown 506, May 1, 2009
The first episode following the Draft Lottery and SmackDown has been infused with a helluva roster. It’s all on display in this fun show from Madison Square Garden as Edge main events with CM Punk (who teases a cash-in, but gets cut off by another draftee), Sherri Shepherd accompanies MVP in his clash with Dolph Ziggler and a fatal four way elimination match between Chris Jericho, Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio and Kane.
#16 SmackDown 150, July 4, 2002
Enjoy a three-course meal of Americana as our Olympic Hero takes on Undertaker in a controversial main event, the future “Marine” meets Chris Jericho in the former’s second match on SmackDown and finally, Hulk Hogan comes out to “Real American” for the first time in nine years, teaming with Edge against Tag Team Champions Billy & Chuck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSjon8Bcmss
#15 SmackDown 108, September 13, 2001
Two days after September 11, 2001, WWE held the largest public assembly in the country following the terrorist attacks, airing SmackDown live in Houston. Vince McMahon kicked off the show with a patriotic speech, establishing WWE’s role for the night as distracting the country with some good, ol’ fashioned entertainment. No storylines were furthered, but WWE Superstars and Alliance members collided in crowd-pleasing matches, with various talent and personnel speaking off-script about what they, their families and the rest of the world was going through.
#14 SmackDown 160, September 12, 2002
We were invited to the commitment ceremony between Billy and Chuck, which featured the greatest moment in SmackDown history. Elsewhere on the show, Kurt Angle and Rey Mysterio tore the house down while Los Guerreros faced Edge and Rikishi in a fun match. Plus, Brock Lesnar breaks Hardcore Holly’s neck.
#13 SmackDown 227, December 25, 2003
“Tribute to the Troops” kicked off with “Christmas from Baghdad,” just two years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. While all of these events are feel-good shows, there’s something special about the first as soldiers and tanks surrounded a ring in broad daylight. Aside from Chris Benoit vs. Eddie Guerrero, the matches are nothing to seek out, but they’re spliced with footage of WWE Superstars mingling with the troops in rare, out-of-character moments.
#12 SmackDown 178, January 23, 2003
Hulkamania ran wild once again as Hogan made his surprising return after last seen coughing up blood in the arms of Brock Lesnar. Undertaker also returned to action, taking on A-Train. But let’s get to the good stuff – Chris Benoit vs. Charlie Haas and Kurt Angle vs. Rey Mysterio. You can’t go wrong with those matches.
#11 SmackDown 99, July 12, 2001
Now that Vince McMahon’s children have conspired with Paul Heyman to merge WCW and ECW into an alliance of epic proportions, threatening to destroy their father’s company, McMahon is assembling an army to go into battle. But he isn’t satisfied with his leader – Stone Cold Steve Austin. After months of hiding behind McMahon’s power, buddying up to the chairman with cowboy hats and sing-a-longs, Austin has become a sad shell of his former self. McMahon wants the ol’ Stone Cold, goddamnit!
#10 SmackDown 25, February 10, 2000
In the fallout of an epic 10-man tag team match on Raw, the McMahon-Helmsley Regime vowed to divide and conquer The Rock, Cactus Jack, Too Cool and the returning Kane. A series of intriguing matchups were set up throughout the night between the Radicalz and the regime’s targets. Plus, Kurt Angle won his first championship, the Dudley Boyz added another victim and Kane got revenge on a certain jezebel.
#9 SmackDown 545, January 29, 2010
D-X invades SmackDown two days before the Royal Rumble. It leads to three big matches: a good clash between Triple H and CM Punk (even more intriguing in hindsight), an exciting No DQ brawl between John Morrison and Drew McIntyre and holy shit, check out Rey Mysterio vs. Shawn Michaels.
#8 SmackDown 163, October 3, 2002
A wrestling-heavy show that purists will love as Chris Benoit battled Rey Mysterio in their first one-on-one match and Edge took on arch rival Kurt Angle in a thrilling encounter. A tournament to crown the first SmackDown Tag Team Champions also kicked off, along with Undertaker going no holds barred with Matt Hardy.
#7 SmackDown 213, September 18, 2003
Not exactly a one-match show, despite half of it dedicated to an Iron Man match between Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle. Los Guerreros also won the Tag Team Titles from Haas & Benjamin in a very good bout. Just consider that a bonus to the last great 60-minute match on WWE TV.
#6 SmackDown 162, September 26, 2002
When you have two classic matches on the same show, clearly, you need to add this to your queue. Eddie Guerrero battles Edge in a hellacious no disqualification match. And in the main event, Kurt Angle faces Chris Benoit and Rey Mysterio in a thrilling triple threat, in the latter’s hometown of San Diego.
#5 SmackDown 127, January 24, 2002
After losing to Ric Flair at Royal Rumble, Mr. McMahon has had an epiphany – WWE is going to die a slow, painful death with Flair in charge, so it’s up to McMahon to kill his creation. Throughout the night, McMahon speaks to someone off camera, explaining what he has to do. In the final seconds, it’s revealed that he was talking to the mirror, and he’s bringing in the NWO. Definitely some of his finest work. Also on the show, Stone Cold faces Booker T and Kurt Angle meets The Rock in the main event.
#4 SmackDown 892, September 20, 2016
The best SmackDown in many years as Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan steer the ship in the right direction following the second brand extension. Alexa Bliss delivers her first big promo that would define her character. The Usos and American Alpha have a tremendous match that makes you wonder why Alpha ever split up. Before they burnt out the series, Miz takes on Dolph Ziggler with a crafty finish. And Dean Ambrose pinning John Cena clean is the cherry on top.
#3 SmackDown 167, October 31, 2002
Halloween-themed episodes are always fun, and this is no exception as Stephanie McMahon hosts a party for the entire roster. A few blasts from the past are mixed in with John Cena’s rapping debut, and of course, every wrestling party has to end in chaos. Matchwise, this is can’t miss as Edge takes on Benoit, Angle meets Eddie Guerrero and Mysterio challenges Lesnar.
#2 SmackDown 107, September 4, 2001
Austin is furious at the Alliance after being embarrassed by Kurt Angle on Raw, so he opens a can of whoop ass throughout the night on anybody that ticks him off. Having absolutely lost his mind, he vows to wrestle the next man that walks through the door – the crowd erupts as peace-loving Rob Van Dam enters. They headline with a really good match and surprise finish that showed RVD could hang with WWE’s elite.
#1 SmackDown 153, July 25, 2002
Rey Mysterio splashed into WWE, defeating future rival Chavo Guerrero before making the save at the end of the show. Brock Lesnar also jumped to the blue brand, making his presence felt throughout the night. The Rock teamed with Hulk Hogan against the Un-Americans and in the main event, Edge battled Chris Jericho in a steel cage. To cap off the historic episode, RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff left the arena with a mystery superstar, leaving us with a juicy cliffhanger.
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