Exterior of the formation of The Company Ministry, and the aforementioned all-star tag group match that closed out the present, the pilot episode of “WWE SmackDown” was, to place it bluntly, a bit far and wide. That is 1999 WWE we’re speaking about right here, the peak of the Perspective Period the place “automotive crash tv” reigned supreme. So for those who return and watch this present for your self, do not be anticipating any five-star classics since you’ll be majorly disillusioned.
Together with the principle occasion, a complete of seven matches occurred on the two-hour broadcast, and not one of the matches went longer than seven minutes. In truth, the entire in-ring time for the pilot episode of “SmackDown” is available in at 24 minutes and two seconds which, for context, is shorter than the match John Cena had with Logan Paul at WWE Conflict In Paris 2025.
After all, the wrestling was the least vital a part of the present throughout this period, however a number of the matches did have their moments. The primary match in “SmackDown” historical past was between The Blue Blazer, performed by the late Owen Hart, and Val Venis, with the masked man getting the victory. The Massive Present would proceed to beat Take a look at in beneath a minute, D’Lo Brown’s match with Droz led to a disqualification, and the longest match on the present at seven minutes precisely featured Kane and X-Pac defending the WWE Tag Staff Championships in opposition to The New Age Outlaws.
Ken Shamrock and Bradshaw would observe that with a No Holds Barred Avenue Struggle which some followers have since referred to as their match of the evening. Mankind took lower than two minutes to defeat The Massive Bossman, and the principle occasion of Steve Austin and The Rock defeating Triple H and The Undertaker despatched the followers house glad.
The present is seemed again on fondly for its historic significance, however from an in-ring perspective it is not going to blow anybody away from a top quality standpoint. What made the pilot episode of “SmackDown” distinctive wanting again on it was that it’s a true illustration of how common WWE was on the time, and a time capsule of the place the corporate was heading. Everybody who wrestled on the present acquired a response no matter their placement, the old-fashioned stage arrange that may evolve into one thing extra grand, and the tales that had been advised had everybody hanging on every thing that occurred. You would not suppose this was a pilot, you’d see it as a bonus episode of “Uncooked” for the way vigorous and energetic it was.
“SmackDown” has gone by many phases all through its 26 yr lifespan, some good, some not so good. However every thing that has occurred in these 26 years has been constructed off the success of this pilot, and for that, it has earned its place in historical past.
