WWE: How SmackDown Live became the show to watch
The Land of Opportunity
Those were SmackDown’s roots, with the overall ethos of the show being that it was “The Land of Opportunity”. Now, that phrase was turned on its head when the man who would often proclaim this, Shane McMahon, turned heel. But even to this day, SmackDown has been a place for up-and-coming stars to shine.
Perhaps nobody has burst onto the scene recently as an underdog quite like Ali. It didn’t seem like he’d become a permanent member of the Blue Brand when he stepped up to take on WWE Champion Daniel Bryan last December, but he’s now become an indispensable part of the show’s weekly programming. And maybe more importantly to his legion of hopeful fans, he looks like a future champion.
Of course, it’s hard to talk about “opportunity” without centering the discussion around Becky Lynch and Kofi Kingston. Lynch became the star she is because of her acclaimed rivalry with Charlotte Flair on SmackDown, with each successive rise in momentum stemming from “The Man” seizing on one opportunity after another.
Kofi, though, is the ruler of SmackDown. Nobody – not even Styles – has held the WWE Championship with as much graceful authority as the future Hall of Famer. It all began when Kingston took his opportunity to replace an injured Ali in the Elimination Chamber by putting on a legendary performance in a Gauntlet Match before being so good that WWE couldn’t deny him a title win at ‘Mania. His feud with Bryan will go down in the history books, with the match at WrestleMania likely standing the test of time as one of the greatest in the event’s history.
Did I mention that Kingston is the first African-born world champion in a company that has historically undervalued Black performers in the main event scene?
Just remember that SmackDown Live is the Land of Opportunity not because WWE says so, but because of the incredible performers and the fans who get behind the performers. If SmackDown were to get credit for something, though, then it’s for subtly being the more fan-focused, breezier alternative to Raw.