WWE finally found a true second weekly show becoming a hit like Raw when SmackDown was introduced in the Attitude Era. Record-setting ratings showed a demand for more WWE content as fans ate it up every week. SmackDown is still running over 25 years later with no end in sight following WWE’s growth.
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WWE’s SmackDown has been going strong for over two decades, with many amazing matches rated highly by Dave Meltzer.
Most fans view the closing segment as the biggest moment of the night, whether it’s a match or a moment. WWE witnessed quite a few great SmackDown moments in that spot creating memories lasting many decades. The following endings were the best in SmackDown history that fans still love today.
10
Shawn Michaels Superkicks The Rock As Special Referee
First Episode Of SmackDown Featured A Memorable Moment
|
Date |
Location |
Episode Rating |
|
August 26, 1999 |
Kansas City, Missouri |
4.2 |
WWE had one test pilot episode of SmackDown work well in April of 1999 to have the weekly show premiere on UPN in August. The first main event for that historical show saw Shawn Michaels as the guest referee for a WWE Championship match between Triple H and The Rock.
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Fans were captivated by a major main event match involving two main eventers and a legend in the referee spot. Michaels delivering a perfectly timed superkick to Rock during his People’s Elbow finisher helped Triple H win in noteworthy fashion.
9
Big Show Gets Monster Pop Destroying Everyone In Return
One Of His Best Career Moments Came In Surprising Dominant Fashion
|
Date |
Location |
Episode Rating |
|
September 9, 2004 |
Tulsa, Oklahoma |
2.6 |
WWE wrote Big Show off television for months with the storyline of him getting suspended for hurting Kurt Angle, but the real-life reason was to rehab an injury. Big Show returned during a lumberjack match between Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero with most of the roster at ringside.
A shocking return saw Big Show getting a huge pop for attacking everyone in sight with chokeslam after chokeslam. Everyone getting destroyed made Big Show look more credible than he had looked in years with a memorable moment closing the show.
8
The Shield Brutally Attack The Undertaker In Shocking Moment
Shocking Moment Helped Make The Shield Feel Like Legit Top Stars
|
Date |
Location |
Episode Rating |
|
April 26, 2013 |
London, England |
1.9 |
WWE used The Undertaker to help elevate members of The Shield in a surprising week of interaction. Dean Ambrose facing Undertaker was booked for a SmackDown main event, but it was the aftermath that fans remember most.
Undertaker scored a win over Ambrose since he was still protected as a top star. However, the follow-up saw The Shield brutally attacking Undertaker and putting him through a table. SmackDown fans were stunned to see Undertaker in such a weak position at the hands of The Shield.
7
Brock Lesnar Wins Epic Iron Man Match Over Kurt Angle
This Became A Contender For Greatest Match In SmackDown History
|
Date |
Location |
Episode Rating |
|
September 18, 2003 |
Raleigh, North Carolina |
3.2 |
Many fans will name Kurt Angle vs Brock Lesnar as the greatest Iron Man match in WWE history. It is a bit surprising that the match took place on SmackDown since most of the top Iron Man matches for WWE came at the PPVs with more time.
WWE dedicated a full hour to Angle and Lesnar having a masterclass in technical wrestling. Brock winning back the WWE Championship after a great back and forth match helped create a new classic match on the SmackDown brand.
6
Jeff Hardy Wins The Intercontinental Championship From Triple H
This Feel Good Title Change Was One Of SmackDown’s Biggest Upsets
|
Date |
Location |
Episode Rating |
|
April 12, 2001 |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
3.7 |
WWE witnessed Triple H and Steve Austin getting immense heat as the Two-Man Power Trip looking to take over all shows. The Hardy Boyz and Lita getting attacked by the powerful heels allowed them to have some major television matches against two top legends.
SmackDown was the stage of a free TV Intercontinental Championship match between Jeff Hardy and Triple H. Fans were stunned in the best way when the beloved underdog Hardy pulled off the upset pinning Triple H to win singles gold.
5
AJ Styles Ends Jinder Mahal’s Hated WWE Championship Reign
United Kingdom Fans Got The Special Moment That Most WWE Fans Wanted
|
Date |
Location |
Episode Rating |
|
November 7, 2017 |
Manchester, England |
1.8 |
Many variables were at play when AJ Styles challenged Jinder Mahal for the WWE Championship on the go-home SmackDown before Survivor Series 2017. Mahal had a controversial title reign with a lot of negative feedback for a lower card act randomly becoming world champion with a sudden push.
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Styles was doing some of the best work of his career and had the full audience support against Mahal. The big WWE Championship win was wonderful just as a title change, but it also confirmed a new Survivor Series dream match of Brock Lesnar facing Styles rather than Mahal.
4
Kevin Owens Delivers Vicious Attack On Vince McMahon
No One Saw It Coming When Owens Had Another Career Highlight
|
Date |
Location |
Episode Rating |
|
September 12, 2017 |
Las Vegas, Nevada |
0.8 |
WWE rarely used Vince McMahon beyond the early 2010s when he started to grow older. Vince’s on-screen appearances were rarer moments meant to feel important. SmackDown closed an episode with Vince confronting Kevin Owens during Owens’ feud with his son Shane.
Owens headbutting Vince at the end of the promo exchange to bust him open had fans stunned silent. The attack continued with KO hitting more of his vicious moves for a brutal beatdown on an elderly man. Most fans celebrate Owens doing this today all these years later.
3
Edge Appears On SmackDown To Cash In On Undertaker
Edge’s Second Notable Money In The Bank Cash-In
|
Date |
Location |
Episode Rating |
|
May 11, 2007 |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
2.6 |
Edge made history as the first Money in the Bank ladder match winner and showed how it worked by becoming WWE Champion for the first time by cashing in on John Cena. WWE decided to try this again when Mr. Kennedy got injured after winning MITB and lost the briefcase to Edge.
The Undertaker survived a brutal cage match against Batista and received a beat down by Mark Henry when Edge appeared to cash in. Edge moved from Raw to SmackDown to utilize the briefcase and become World Champion in a legendary SmackDown closing moment.
2
Brock Lesnar & Big Show Deliver The Suplex Heard Around The World
This Spot Is Still Used From Time To Time
|
Date |
Location |
Episode Rating |
|
June 12, 2003 |
Orlando, Florida |
3.7 |
WWE has booked the moment of the ring breaking multiple times, but the most successful was clearly Brock Lesnar and Big Show. SmackDown witnessed their long rivalry having one of the many matches in a television main event.
No one remembers anything about this match but the ending, and that worked for the best. Lesnar hitting a top rope suplex on Big Show caused the ring to fall apart. Fan reaction in the venue and at home showed an invested audience in awe of the ring exploding after two beasts delivered such a move.
1
Daniel Bryan Ending The Shield’s Undefeated Streak As Team
First Shield Trios Tag Match Loss Came On SmackDown To Elevate Bryan
|
Date |
Location |
Episode Rating |
|
June 14, 2013 |
Greensboro, North Carolina |
1.6 |
The Shield getting protected in their booking was the biggest reason all three talents became stars together. WWE had the wrestlers taking losses in singles matches or two vs two tag matches, but they went several months without being defeated in six-man tag team matches.
Most fans expected the streak to end on a big PPV, but it actually came in a SmackDown main event. Daniel Bryan, Kane and Randy Orton defeated The Shield cleanly in a tremendous moment with great fan ovation. The story of Bryan being the one to take down all three members and make Seth Rollins tap out helped spark his main event push during the Yes Movement.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
