10 Great SmackDown Matches From WWE's Original Brand Split
8. Matt Hardy Vs. Rey Mysterio (5 June 2003)
SmackDown didn't just get some of the best workers in the world in the original brand split. The show also got the esteemed cruiserweight division that WWE picked up when the company purchased WCW.
Heading into WrestleMania XIX, Matt Hardy was the Cruiserweight Champion - he had defeated Billy Kidman after barely making weight, making him one of the largest Cruiserweight Champions of all time. Facing him in the show's opener was the quintessential WCW cruiserweight, Rey Mysterio. Many fans expected that Mysterio would claim the title, but Hardy scored a questionable win after a roll-up with help from the ring ropes.
Still, Mysterio doggedly pursued Hardy, finally scoring a rematch on the 5 June edition of SmackDown... which just happened to be emanating from Mysterio's hometown of San Diego. With a rabid crowd watching on - and Rey's family in the front row - the challenger valiantly fought to win the title and the SmackDown main event. Rey's chance for victory seemed to be closing when "Mattitude" followers Shannon Moore and Crash Holly interfered, but Rey still managed to roll Hardy up for the pin and claim his first Cruiserweight Title in WWE.