SmackDown 1000: The Top 10 Moments In SmackDown History
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WWE SmackDown has been a staple of the WWE since its inception all the way back in 1999 as not only an alternative to Raw, but a show to leave lasting memories of its own.
Since the show hit the airwaves in 1999, WWE SmackDown has provided the WWE universe with countless unforgettable moments that have helped shape the WWE forever.
The blue brand is getting ready to celebrate its 1,000th episode on Oct. 16 in a night where many memorable moments are bound to take place, but what are the biggest moments in the show’s twenty-year run? Here are the top 10 moments in WWE SmackDown history.
10. Rhyno Gores Chris Jericho Through SmackDown Set: August 9, 2001
By the year 2001, pro wrestling had gone through a massive change the likes of which the business had never seen before. Two of the top three biggest promotions in the business were both bought out by Vince McMahon in early-2001, but those organizations would be brought into a WWE storyline.
The invasion storyline will go down as probably the biggest missed opportunity in WWE history and an angle that could have wound up being the biggest angle in pro wrestling history. But despite the invasion’s shortcomings, there were still a few glimpses of brilliance along the way.
One came courtesy of a former ECW standout in Rhyno and one of WWE’s top stars in Chris Jericho. The two were in a feud of sorts by the summer of 2001 and on an episode of SmackDown in early- August, The Man Beast left his mark in a big way and probably left a few marks on the body of Y2J in the process.
Rhyno attacked Jericho from behind on the top of the stage and chaos would ensue. However, the peak of the chaos would take place when Rhyno lined up Jericho for the gore of all gores. He gored Y2J through part of the stage in one of the most extreme moments in blue brand history. The feud wouldn’t really go on past SummerSlam 2001, but this was an epic moment.
Everybody loves big spots and there was no bigger spot on SmackDown at the time than Rhyno’s gore to Jericho.