10. August 26, 1999 - HBK Screws The Rock
WWE.comThe inaugural episode of SmackDown, not counting the one-off special that aired the previous April, took place on August 29, 1999 and featured a main event pitting new WWE champion Triple H defending against The Rock. The returning commissioner of WWE, Shawn Michaels, was the guest referee for the match and promised fans that he would see to it that a fair outcome was reached. As it turned out, Michaels ensured anything but. As the Great One took off across the squared circle for the People's Elbow, he was greeted with Sweet Chin Music to the jaw courtesy of the Showstopper. Three seconds later, any dreams he had of regaining the title he once called his own evaporated. Elsewhere on the show, Undertaker continued to show protege Big Show some tough love, forcing him to defend the WWE Tag Team Championship on his own in a Triple Threat match against the Acolytes and Kane and X-Pac. Al Snow lost the WWE Hardcore title to Big Boss Man in the latest chapter of their feud and Tori gained a measure of revenge against Ivory for months of torment by defeating the Women's champion in a non-title Evening Gown match. Chris Jericho continued to infuriate fans and wrestlers alike as he targeted both Road Dogg and Ken Shamrock while his sidekick Howard Finkel got into it with fellow ring announcer Tony Chimmel. And, finally, Shane McMahon once again stuck his nose in the business of sister Stephanie and fiancee Test. With every match and segment meaning something to stories and feuds that were ongoing at that time, the episode was a great way to kick off the legacy of a show that would serve as a second helping for an insatiable, and growing, audience of wrestling fans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0k9a9NQeL4
Full Results: Billy Gunn defeated Intercontinental champion Jeff Jarrett in a non-title match... WWE Tag Team champions Undertaker and Big Show defeated Kane and X-Pac and the Acolytes in a Triple Threat match... The Big Boss Man defeated WWE Hardcore champion Al Snow to win the title... The Road Dogg defeated Chris Jericho by disqualification... Shane McMahon defeated Mankind when Triple H interfered... Tori defeated Women's champion Ivory in a non-title Evening Gown match... WWE champion Triple H defeated The Rock