Miller - WWE SmackDown 20 Years and Counting

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April 6, 2007: WWE World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker looks to continue his unprecedented winning streak against Booker T.

On April 27, 1999, my creatures of the night witnessed
Triple H and I battle Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock
in the first main event of SmackDown. The match descended into chaos, but on that night an eternal flame was ignited that cant be extinguished.

For nearly two decades, I have loomed over SmackDown like a shadow. Digging holes and taking souls, I gave every WWE Superstar something to fear. Those who challenged my reign of darkness quickly learned to never summon the dead.

My eyes have seen it all.

These pages collect every match, every moment and every Superstar who has dared to make history on their journey
to immortality.

REST IN PEACE

Undertaker.

SMACKDOWN ARRIVED on television screens in April 1999. A few months later, WWEs latest flagship show joined RAW to form a two-pronged attack in WWEs ongoing rivalry with WCW. Broadcast on Thursday nights, in direct competition with WCWs Thunder,SmackDown was an instant success. With a new set and its own distinct feel, SmackDown had all the star-power, unpredictability, and entertainment values of its Monday counterpart, RAW. The Attitude Era was in full swing and Superstars such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Mankind, and Undertaker were at the height of their powers. Moreover, the emergence of Triple H, and many crucial moments of the subsequent McMahon-Helmsley era, would also play out on SmackDown.

Elsewhere in WWE

March 30: The annual SummerSlam spectacular saw Mankind defeat Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H in the main event, which featured Jesse Ventura as the special guest referee. Test also defeated Shane McMahon in an entertaining Greenwich Street Fight.

A successful pilot

April 27: While the official launch of SmackDown would not take place until the summer, the pilot episode whetted fans appetites. The show featured a battle of the giants in which Big Show and Test, plus X-Pac and Kane, retained their WWE World Tag Team Championships over the New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn and Road Dogg). The main event saw Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock take on and defeat Triple H and Undertaker in a captivating match.

April 27: Stone Cold Steve Austin pounds Undertaker, before claiming victory in their tag team encounter in the main event of the SmackDown pilot.

Immediate controversy

August 26: SmackDowns launch episode was main-evented by Triple H defending his WWE Championship against The Rock. To make sure the match ran smoothly, WWE Commissioner Shawn Michaels was appointed the special guest referee. The Rock appeared to have Triple H beaten with the prone WWE Champion about to receive a Peoples Elbow; however, before The Rock could deliver his signature move, Michaels attacked The Rock and hit him with his Sweet Chin Music move, gifting Michaels former D-Generation X ally the match.

Bubba Ray (top) and D-Von specialized in double-teaming opponents.

INTRODUCING...

The Dudley Boyz

September 2: The Dudley Boyz made their WWE debut on SmackDown, attacking Edge and Bradshaw during a Tag Team Battle Royal. Having first made their name in ECW, the Dudley Boyz would go on to have Hall of Fame careers in WWE, capturing the World Tag Team Championships a record nine times.

Rock n Sock keep their titles

September 2: This show featured several notable moments, including a Tuxedo Match between ring announcers Howard Finkel and Tony Chimel (who won by stripping off Finkels tux) and an entertaining match between X-Pac and a recent arrival to WWE, Chris Jericho, which ended in a no contest. The excellent main event saw the Rock n Sock Connectionthe unlikely duo of The Rock and Mankindtake on WWE Champion Triple H and Shane McMahon and retain their World Tag Team Championships.

Buried alive by an unholy alliance

September 9: The World Tag Team Championship pitted The Rock and Mankind against Undertaker and Big Show. The climax of this brutal, No Disqualification Match featured a shocking twist when Triple H intervened, attacked Mankind from behind, threw him into an empty grave, and buried him alive! The title thus went to the unholy alliance of Undertaker and Big Show.

September 9: Mankind tries to hold off Big Show with his sock puppet Mr. Socko.

Triple H... as long as I am walking... I will hunt you down like the jackass that you are!

Stone Cold Steve Austin (September 16, 1999)

Stone Cold intervenes

September 16: Rejecting Stone Cold Steve Austins challenge for a title opportunity, Triple H picked WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon to face him for the WWE Championship. Both he and the WWE Universe were expecting an easy win, but Triple H did not take into account the Chairmans fighting spirit, to say nothing of a certain Stone Cold Steve Austin. As part of their ongoing rivalry, Austin rushed to the ring and hit Triple H with a Stone Cold Stunner, making Mr. McMahon the most unlikely of champions.