20 Greatest SmackDown Stars
In honor of SmackDown’s 1,000th episode, here are the greatest stars in the show’s history.
In honor of SmackDown’s 1,000th episode, here are the greatest stars in the show’s nearly 20-year history.
20. Daniel Bryan
Entering WWE at the tail end of the initial brand extension, Daniel Bryan has pretty much spent equal time on Raw and SmackDown. Of course, the seeds of the YES! Movement were sewn on the blue brand, where Bryan first tasted the World Heavyweight Championship. In 2012 and 2013, Bryan delivered show-stealing performances, whether in single’s competition or as part of Team Hell No. Since 2016, he has been exclusive to SmackDown, serving as General Manager before returning to the ring earlier this year.
19. CM Punk
CM Punk came into his own on SmackDown, embracing his hardcore beliefs and pushing them onto the masses. In the summer of 2009, he turned heel and battled with Jeff Hardy over the World Heavyweight Championship, their genuine, contrasting lifestyles clashing in a groundbreaking feud. Then Punk amassed followers, shaving heads in an act of purity as he led the Straight Edge Society into battle. When the initial brand extension faded, you could catch Punk returning to Friday nights, always putting on a good match with a variety of opponents.
18. Kane
With such impressive tenure in WWE, Kane’s time on SmackDown can be divided into pre-and post-brand extension. From 1999 until early 2002, the Big Red Machine was a featured player, teaming with X-Pac before feuding with the McMahon-Helmsley Regime. Then he aligned with Undertaker and the Brothers of Destruction fought the Two-Man Power Trip before waging war against the Alliance.
After several years as a top act on Raw, Kane was drafted to SmackDown in 2009. On the surface, it seemed like his role would be putting over new faces and fresh talent. But the Demon was only getting started, winning the World Heavyweight Championship and feuding with his brother and Edge before aligning with Daniel Bryan.
17. Booker T
Coming into WWE as the biggest star from WCW, Booker T quickly inserted himself into the main event scene. Battling The Rock and Stone Cold on a weekly basis, the five-time WCW Champion was a great foil for the heroes of the era, effortlessly blending comedy and ruthless aggression. That hybrid was on greater display as he morphed into King Booker, becoming the top villain on SmackDown for a solid year and winning the World Heavyweight Championship in the process.
16. Chris Jericho
Fun fact: Y2J made his WWE in-ring debut at the start of SmackDown on August 26, 1999. For the next three years, he would work his way up the ladder, earning the fans’ respect along the way. No stranger to the main event, Jericho would either battle top villains like Triple H and Kurt Angle or elite heroes like Rock and Austin, carrying promos and segments like a leading man.
Although he mostly defined his legacy on Raw, the year he spent on SmackDown at the end of the 2000s included a great feud with Rey Mysterio, a tremendous Tag Team Championship run with the Big Show and a World Heavyweight Title reign that carried through WrestleMania XXVI.
15. Chris Benoit
Similar to arch rival-turned-tag team partner Jericho, Chris Benoit worked his way up the ladder from mid-card to frequent main eventer in the early years of SmackDown. He shifted from heel to face, winning the Intercontinental and Tag Team Titles along the way. A neck injury kept the Rabid Wolverine out of action for a year, but he picked up right where he left off in the summer of 2002, becoming a member of the iconic SmackDown Six – a core group that consistently delivered 5-star matches.
After jumping to Raw to topple Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship, Benoit returned to the blue brand in 2005, holding the United States Championship for the better part of the next two years until his death.
14. JBL
At one time the longest-reigning champion in SmackDown history, John Bradshaw Layfield was also the most unlikely (until Jinder Mahal). In the early years of SmackDown, Bradshaw was simply one half of the Acolytes, pounding beer and ass along with Farooq. They were a fun reprieve on the show, occasionally mixing it up with big names and other teams.
Then Farooq was fired by General Manager Paul Heyman, and Bradshaw transformed into JBL – the modern-day Million Dollar Man who kicked illegal immigrants back over the border. Although his matches were the shits, JBL delivered on the mic and served as the centerpiece of SmackDown for a solid year. After his main event run, his transition to commentary was a natural fit.
13. AJ Styles
In July, AJ Styles broke JBL’s record as the longest-reigning champion in SmackDown history. It’s an incredible accomplishment considering nobody pegged Styles to be on top in WWE – he goes against everything Vince McMahon prefers. He’s not tall, he’s no longer young and he wasn’t a WWE creation.
However, through sheer talent and determination, along with making an undeniable connection with the WWE Universe, the Phenomenal One has become the face that runs the place on Tuesday nights. Since the brand split in 2016, Styles has been carrying the blue brand with heated feuds against John Cena, Shane McMahon, Kevin Owens, Shinsuke Nakamura, Samoa Joe and even James Ellsworth.
12. Big Show
From 1999 until being drafted to Raw in 2005, the Big Show was a major player on SmackDown. It’s where he enjoyed the highest of highs (dethroning Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship) and the lowest of lows (losing the WWE Title to Triple H, breaking the ring, failing to stop Big Bossman from stealing his father’s casket, being hosed in feces by Eddie Guerrero…).
Ok, so there are many more lows than highs. Fact of the matter is Big Show was consistent: he could switch from heel to face and vice versa at a moment’s notice, teeter between jester and monster, and work the opener or the main event. He would come back to SmackDown at various points over the next decade or so, instantly inserting himself into the top storylines.
11. Jeff Hardy
His daredevil antics and lifestyle attracted a massive following, yet they led to his quick burnout and too-soon departure from WWE. Drafted to SmackDown in 2008, Jeff Hardy began his ascension to the top of the company, finally entering the main event scene and chasing the WWE Title. For about a year, he was either on par with John Cena or ahead of the flag bearer as the most popular wrestler in the company.
His feuds with Triple H, Edge and CM Punk cemented SmackDown as must-see TV. Of course, he helped put the blue brand on the map in the early years, teaming with his brother in jaw-dropping bouts and even shocking the world with an upset over Triple H.
10. Stone Cold
The MVP of Monday Night Raw carried his momentum over to SmackDown, albeit for a brief tenure. He appeared on the first couple of months of episodes until being run down by Rikishi in November of 1999. When he returned in late 2000, he picked up right where he left off, despite sharing the spotlight with The Rock.
Clearly, the Texas Rattlesnake doesn’t play well with others, so he went from splitting top hero duties to becoming the number-one villain in 2001. While the heel turn was lambasted at the time, in, retrospect, it provided another dimension to the Stone Cold character. He added a healthy dose of comedy to his repertoire, matching The Rock in entertainment value, and also upped his mean streak to sadistic levels. Entire episodes were built around him for a year straight – and Austin always delivered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6gUqTMUBL4
9. Triple H
If SmackDown was The Rock’s show, Triple H was the main villain. His reign of terror began at the end of 1999, as the McMahon-Helmsley Regime dominated WWE TV. As the WWE Champion, he thwarted the attempts of all challengers, from Rock to Mick Foley to Jericho to Rikishi, relying upon his D-X comrades, Big Show or the McMahon family to bail him out of trouble. His incredible run came to an abrupt halt in May of 2001, when he tore his quad muscle and was taken out of action until 2002.
He was a mainstay on Raw during the brand extension, finally being drafted to SmackDown in 2008. It was a stark contrast to his Raw run as The Game became a fan favorite, defending the WWE Championship against a variety of challengers in an old-school, Harley Race-type fashion. He brought stability to the blue brand, albeit for a brief time before heading back to Monday nights.
8. Brock Lesnar
Obviously, we’re ignoring his return to WWE in 2012 because he’s been all Raw since then.
But from his arrival in the company in 2002 until WrestleMania XX, Brock Lesnar was the man on SmackDown. He quickly won the WWE Championship against The Rock, became exclusive property to the blue brand and ran roughshod over everybody. His feuds with Kurt Angle and Big Show were classic, and his sickening acts of violence against Zach Gowen still keep millennials up at night. Lesnar truly evolved into the “Next Big Thing” on Thursday nights, becoming the first breakout star of the post-Attitude Era.
7. Batista
Despite being ignored by WWE in recent years, Batista was the face of SmackDown for three years. After debuting as Deacon Batista and then honing his craft in Evolution, he was drafted to SmackDown in mid-2005 as the reigning World Heavyweight Champion. His historic reign was ended due to injury, but when the Animal returned, he remained a main event act and permanent fixture in the title picture. His feud with Undertaker is underrated, as they stole the show at WrestleMania 23 and beyond.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvWPp_lD9PA
6. The Rock
Even though SmackDown was “The Rock’s Show,” the People’s Champ appeared for only four years, give or take. After all, The Rock was destined for much greater than kicking candy ass on Thursday nights. But when the Brahma Bull was around, you can bet that he captured the spotlight – headlining nearly every show and stealing every segment. All of 2000 was about his chase of the title or defending it – overcoming Triple H, Stephanie and Vince McMahon by any means necessary. In 2001, he took over as the leader of WWE against the Alliance, and in 2002, he bid farewell after passing the torch to Brock Lesnar.
5. Rey Mysterio
The legendary luchador splashed onto the scene in 2002, staying on SmackDown for six years before switching back and forth between brands. As soon as Mysterio arrived, he became one of the most popular acts on the show, soaring off a steel cage onto a horde of villains below. A beloved underdog, he seamlessly transitioned from Cruiserweight Champion to the tag team scene to the main event, finally winning the World Heavyweight Championship in the wake of Eddie Guerrero’s death. Whether he opened the card or closed the show, it was impossible for fellow competitors to follow his dazzling performances.
4. Eddie Guerrero
His life tragically cut short, Eddie Guerrero had so much more to offer the world of professional wrestling. While his body had taken a pounding, he was still a young man – not even 40 years old. He could have trained future generations of SmackDown stars, or even contributed to the creative team. After all, nobody embodied sports-entertainment quite like the charismatic Latino Heat.
A member of the SmackDown Six, Guerrero delivered 5-star matches on a weekly basis, whether teaming with nephew Chavo or going it alone. Their team became one of the most popular acts in WWE, lying, cheating and stealing their way to victory. Guerrero transitioned into the U.S. Title picture and then finally, the world title scene, as his story of redemption captivated fans from all over the world.
It was his heel turn in 2005, though, that showed just how versatile the legend truly was. Battling his ex-best friend Mysterio, Guerrero went into uncharted territory, claiming that he was the father of Mysterio’s son. It’s eerie to see how dark Latino Heat had become, just months before his death.
3. Edge
Although he morphed into the Rated-R Superstar on Monday nights, Edge carried that attitude over to the blue brand in 2007. Despite being a member of the Raw roster, the Ultimate Opportunist cashed in on Undertaker, winning the World Heavyweight Championship and subsequently taking over SmackDown for the next three years.
Of course, you have to go back before the brand extension to see how Edge evolved. He and Christian were arguably the top duo in WWE for 2000, holding gold on many occasions. Over the next year, Edge broke out onto his own, winning King of the Ring and the Intercontinental Championship. Then in 2002, as the brand extension got underway, Edge was showcased as the hottest rising star on SmackDown, regularly taking on Jericho and Kurt Angle in the main event.
2. Kurt Angle
Our Olympic Hero bleeds blue. From 2000 until 2005, Kurt Angle was a top star on SmackDown, oftentimes the main attraction. Always reliable in the ring and entertaining on the mic, Angle could switch from hero to villain at a moment’s notice. He carried many to their best match, and tore the house down with equally impressive grapplers. From his love triangle with Stephanie and Triple H in 2000, to feuding with Stone Cold in 2001, to being the brand’s MVP in 2002, to putting on several clinics with Lesnar in 2003, to even running the show for a large part of 2004, Angle has done everything there is to do on SmackDown.
Hell, he saved the show in 2006 when Batista went down with an injury, and a new champion was needed.
1. Undertaker
Since the pilot episode where he helped form the Corporate Ministry, there is no man more synonymous with SmackDown than the Undertaker. Sure, he hasn’t been seen much since 2010, but think about the decade prior: The Deadman was a constant presence, often challenging for or defending the World Heavyweight Title. When he wasn’t in championship action, he was constantly putting up-and-comers in their place. Lesnar, Randy Orton, Mr. Kennedy, Muhammad Hassan, Batista, the list goes on and on, all mere mortals trying to bury the original big dog.
General Manager Teddy Long’s summoning of the Deadman has become an iconic catchphrase, a looming threat and grand punishment for many evildoers. His frequent returns popped ratings, and his name on the marquee guaranteed interest. While Raw was seen as the flagship show, Undertaker’s loyalty to SmackDown gave the blue brand some solid credibility. Spoilers were out there, but they couldn’t describe the aura of the Phenom.
For a good portion of 20 years, Undertaker was the reason to stay in on Thursday and Friday nights.
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