I realize I’m more than a week late on getting this out, but whatevs. I watched SmackDown 1000 last week, and while I thought the show left a lot to be desired, it did get me thinking about the nearly 20 year history of the blue brand. So, I figured – hey, maybe since I’m a wrestling writer sometimes, this would be a good opportunity to do some journalism and count down my top 10 Smackdown superstars in WWE history. So, here we are.
Honorable Mentions
I guess if you name the brand, you should be considered as one of the greatest superstars on it, right? A lot of these top 10s will have The Rock on them, but I just don’t see it. In my mind, SmackDown didn’t really become its own real brand until the brands actually split. The Rock wasn’t around for that, so I don’t have a lot of memories involving him tied to it. That’s just me.
The Miz also comes to mind. He got his start on SmackDown, but it’s his recent work with the Intercontinental Championship and those pipe bombs on Talking Smack that warrant consideration on the blue brand’s upper echelon of talent.
Like JBL, I love the way Mark Henry stepped up, reinvented himself, and became one of the greatest monster heels of the last couple decades. That was done on SmackDown. In that same vein, I love the way The Usos reinvented themselves and led a tag team resurgence, stealing shows for the bulk of 2017. While we’re talking about tag teams…any love for Brian Kendrick and Paul London here? Finally, if there’s such a thing as “Ms. SmackDown,” I would honestly consider that to be Becky Lynch.
Now, onto the top 10!
The Top 10 Smackdown Superstars in WWE History
10. Daniel Bryan – In the late stages of the initial brand split, Bryan had one of the most fun come-ups in WWE history. That U.S. title feud with The Miz…then winning the World Championship…that stuff was gold. Now, he’s back on the blue brand and putting out great shit again. Bryan has quietly become one of the biggest builders of the SmackDown brand.
9. Batista – There’s a part of me that still remembers Evolution’s run, that hot ass Triple H feud in 2005, and that monstrous heel turn in 2010, and considers Batista a Raw guy. But, when he switched brands and took on The Undertaker at WrestleMania 23, it kicked off an excellent SmackDown run that he obviously takes a lot of pride in. As he should. The feuds with ‘Taker, King Booker, and Edge were phenomenal. His work with Rey Mysterio was a lot of fun. There’s no doubt at all that Batista was one of the guys to make SmackDown a credible brand.
8. JBL – Still one of my all-time favorite WWE Championship reigns – that transformation from the APA to JBL in 2004 is a prime example of how guys should always be evolving and adapting to the needs of the big machine. He stepped up and became one of the most punchable people in WWE history.
7. A.J. Styles – It may seem a little early to put him on this list given the nearly 20-year history of the brand, but “The Phenomenal One” has been THE guy on the blue brand for the last two years, and he’s having one of the all-time great WWE Championship runs.
6. Kurt Angle – From the SmackDown Six era to Team Angle to GM to the return to the brand in early 2006, Angle has quietly been one of the most solid SmackDown guys in WWE history.
5. Booker T – By and large, Booker T is one of the most underrated guys in WWE history, period. But, I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves for his work on SmackDown. The rivalries with Undertaker and JBL to kick off his SmackDown run, the phenomenal series of matches with Chris Benoit, and then ultimately, the King Booker run. All of that makes me forget about him getting his ass kicked with a gallon of milk by Stone Cold Steve Austin.
4. Eddie Guerrero – Guerrero gets a lot of credit for being one of the few guys to carry SmackDown through its weirdest transitional phase (‘member the spring of ’04 when they were trying to make Rene Dupree a superstar? Yeah…that roster was shallow). But, Latino Heat was THE workhorse of the brand from his memorable feud with Edge in 2002 to his last program with Batista in 2005.
3. Rey Mysterio – Mysterio was one of the show’s biggest draws, and spent the bulk of his career on it. His first championship run was a little lackluster, but between that Royal Rumble performance and the huge moment at WrestleMania 22, I don’t think it was as bad as some make it out to be. He’s one of the most recognizable figures in wrestling history, and helped build SmackDown’s brand as the more exciting one.
2. Edge – In the early stages of the brand split, Edge had an awesome mid-card run on SmackDown. But, when he switched from Raw to SmackDown in 2007, he took it to another level. From his World Championship run in 2007 to his last match against Alberto Del Rio at WrestleMania XXVII, Edge was THE main event guy on the blue brand.
1. Undertaker – When I hear the word ‘SmackDown,’ I immediately think about The Undertaker. A lot of people go Edge at #1 here, but to me, the entire foundation of the post-brand split era SmackDown was built upon the shoulders of the dead man. From the classic feuds to the memorable championship runs, Undertaker is THE SmackDown guy.
What do you think, graps fans? Who’s your preeminent “SmackDown guy?”
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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