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.
