SmackDown's 15 Greatest Matches

SI Staff | Oct 15, 2014

SmackDown's 15 Greatest Matches

Aug. 26, 1999

Courtesy of WWE

On the official SmackDown premiere, WWE Champion Triple H defeats The Rock with the help of special guest referee Shawn Michaels.

Sept. 9, 1999

Courtesy of WWE

The Undertaker and Big Show defeat The Rock N' Sock Connection (The Rock and Mankind) in a Buried Alive Match to become World Tag Team Champions.

April 12, 2001

Courtesy of WWE

Jeff Hardy appears to be in trouble against Triple H with the Intercontinental Title on the line before Matt Hardy makes a huge match-changing save.

July 26, 2001

Courtesy of WWE

Kurt Angle defeats Booker T for the WCW World Heavyweight Title.

Sept. 26, 2002

Courtesy of WWE

Edge and Eddie Guerrero go all-out in a brutal match, using ladders to batter each other, with Edge the victor.

Oct. 24, 2002

Courtesy of WWE

Rey Mysterio and Edge win their tag-team match against Los Guerreros (Eddie and Chavo Guerrero), decided behind the referee's back.

May 29, 2003

Courtesy of WWE

Team Angle (Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin) fails to recapture the WWE Tag Team Championship from Eddie Guerrero and Tajiri.

June 5, 2003

Courtesy of WWE

In front of his family, Rey Mysterio looks to win the Cruiserweight Title from Matt Hardy. He does.

June 12, 2003

Courtesy of WWE

Brock Lesnar shocks the WWE Universe as he superplexes Big Show and destroys the ring. The Heavyweight Title match ends in a No Contest due to the ring collapse.

Sept. 11, 2003

Courtesy of WWE

Eddie Guerrero won his Parking Lot Brawl against John Cena with the help of his returning nephew, Chavo.

Sept. 18, 2003

Courtesy of WWE

In one of the greatest matches ever contested on SmackDown, Brock Lesnar defeats Kurt Angle in a 60 minute Iron Man match for the WWE Championship.

July 15, 2004

Courtesy of WWE

Eddie Guerrero and JBL create an instant classic inside a steel cage in a bout for the WWE Championship. John Bradshaw Layfield won, escaping over the top, with the help of El Gran Luchador (Kurt Angle in disguise).

March 3, 2006

Courtesy of WWE

The Undertaker and Kurt Angle go one-on-one for the World Heavyweight Championship. Mark Henry interfered with the match, causing Angle to lose by disqualification.

Nov. 4, 2011

Courtesy of WWE

Randy Orton beats Cody Rhodes in a vicious, anything goes Street Fight.

June 14, 2013

Courtesy of WWE

The bickering trio of Team Hell No (Kane and Daniel Bryan) and Randy Orton pull it together to beat The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins).