The first ever episode of Smackdown was actually broadcast on April 29, 1999, airing as a one-off special. A few months later, it was decided that the show should become a regular fixture on the weekly schedule, and thus the first weekly telecast is often credited as being August 26. On that show, The Rock faced Triple H in the main event, with Shawn Michaels as the Special Guest Referee. Throughout the years, both these men put together some classic matches, including their Intercontinental Title Ladder Match at Summerslam 1998, and future bouts at Backlash and Judgment Day 2000. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5j3HZFB004 This one may not be quite as powerful as those, but it is historically crucial - by booking a main event such as this on the first episode, WWE gave Smackdown instant credibility.
Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.
