WWE SmackDown 1000: 10 Superstars Who Must Return
Who should join The Deadman at the blue brand's celebratory event?
It's hard to believe that there have almost been 1000 episodes of SmackDown. WWE's blue brand aired its pilot episode back in April 1999 before becoming a regular fixture of network television that August. Flash forward 19 years and it's now the (deep breath to fit in all the company rhetoric) "second-longest-running weekly episodic television show in history" — second only to WWE's flagship show, Monday Night Raw.
Initially a companion to Raw, SmackDown became its own entity in 2002 following the brand split. Complete with its own unique roster, it was renowned for being the "land of opportunity", and helped launch the careers of many wrestlers, including John Cena and Mr. Kennedy. Over the years, it has provided us with countless memorable moments and some historic main events, proving that it should be taken every bit as seriously as Raw.
1000 episodes is a big deal, and you can rest assured that when WWE marks the occasion with a special broadcast, it will be an unforgettable event. We already know that it will feature three huge matches and, with the recent news that perhaps the show's greatest superstar, The Undertaker, is set to return, let's take a look at 10 other WWE superstars who should make their presence felt on the 1000th episode.
10. Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin helped reinvigorate WWE, with his rivalry with Vince McMahon part of the reason why the company's flagship show transformed into the more cutting-edge Raw Is War. However, he also had a major role in SmackDown's initial success.
Synonymous with WWE's Attitude Era, Austin was one of the company's top stars when the blue brand launched and even co-headlined the pilot episode's main event, teaming with The Rock. He would then appear regularly on the show for the following four years, feuding with the likes of Triple H, The Undertaker and the nWo.
The Texas Rattlesnake rarely appeared on SmackDown following his retirement from in-ring competition in 2003, restricting his returns to the show that made him famous — Raw. If his career hadn't been cut short, perhaps we would have seen more of him on the blue brand, but it's undeniable that he made a major impact on the show's early years and helped it grow into the success that it is now.
Austin almost always returns for any of Raw's major milestones, so we shouldn't be surprised if he shows up on SmackDown 1000 to dish out a few Stunners.