WWE SmackDown Debut Wrestlers: Where Are They Now?
Whatever happens to the Attitude Era's likely lads?
Raw might be WWE's flagship show, but SmackDown has taken on a life of it's own. Initially devised as a means of expanding WWE's programming during the Monday Night Wars, the blue brand debuted on April 29, 1999, and has already produced 908 shows in its 17-year existence.
The show's name was came from The Rock's signature "layeth the smacketh down" catchphrase, and The People's Champ soon claimed it as "his show." It has been considered both WWE's forgettable B-show and the company's most enjoyable brand throughout its lifespan, and is currently amidst a renaissance through the new Brand Split. SD regular trumps its red cousin in all-round quality , despite the ongoing ratings struggle.
Taking place in New Haven, Connecticut, SmackDown's pre-taped debut show featured six matches, commentary from Michael Cole and Jim Cornette, and a host of the Attitude Era's most prominent characters. It ended with the familiar sight of Stone Cold pouring beer on a downed Vince McMahon's face, and drew a healthy 5.8 TV rating.
SmackDown will turn 18 years old in April, and time has taken a number of turns for its debut wrestlers. Some remain with WWE to this day, others have left the business all-together, and a handful are sadly no longer with us. This sport is nothing if not chaotic, and a lot can change in a single year, let alone 17+.
What became of the 18 wrestlers who competed on SmackDown's debut show, and where are they now? Let's find out...
17. The Blue Blazer
The Blue Blazer was a preachy, self-righteous heel who came to life in 1998. Debuting towards the tail end of the year, Blazer existed to rage against the Attitude Era’s inherent crudeness. He didn’t quite reach the Right To Censor’s authoritarian levels, but he wasn’t far off before aligning with Jeff Jarrett to take the gimmick into full-on comedy territory.
It was Owen Hart under a mask, of course. Part of the gimmick’s charm was that Owen was very obviously beneath the mask, but the Blazer insisted he was someone else, even going so far as to enlist Koko B. Ware to appear under the mask to convince the audience. He and Jarrett eventually became tag team champions by beating Ken Shamrock and the Big Boss Man in January, but lost the belts to Kane & X-Pac later on.
The gimmick dragged-on throughout 1999, with the Blue Blazer defeating Val Venis in a quick two-minute match on SmackDown’s first ever episode. Sadly, we all know the end to Owen Hart’s story, and it happened less than four weeks later. Hart’s zipline malfunctioned during his entrance at May’s Over the Edge pay-per-view, Hart plummeted to his death, and while he lives on as one of the most gifted wrestlers of his generation, the incident remains wrestling’s biggest in-ring tragedy.