10 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE SmackDown From 1999

10. Some Of The Matches Were Horrible

Actual wrestling wasn't the 'Attitude' era's main focus.

If any top company (WWE or AEW, for example) launched a brand new TV product now, they'd probably deliver some class matches to help sell it. That might be more true for All Elite, to be fair, but WWE know the value of marquee bouts too. Back in 1999, you'd be forgiven for thinking they were trying to tank SmackDown.

Showdowns like Shane McMahon vs. Joey Abs and Triple H vs. Gillberg were all early reminders that storyline trumped bell-to-bell action in McMahon's dizzying "sports entertainment" universe. Plus, there was a forgotten Boss Man vs. Al Snow “Pepper On A Pole” disaster on the 16 September episode.

Even matches that seemed good on paper, like Chris Jericho vs. X-Pac and Kane challenging Triple H for the WWF Title, struggled to get going. This was not a banner period for top notch quality between the ropes.