10 Greatest WWE SmackDown Endings
4. The Beast And The Rattlesnake - 11 March 2004
In the 12 months prior to WrestleMania 32, rumours began circulating that 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin was being courted to headline the event opposite Brock Lesnar. Paul Heyman's presence on the WWE Network's Stone Cold Podcast only fuelled those flames. Nevertheless, the bout 14 years in the making was ultimately not to be.
As such, the 11 March SmackDown prior to WrestleMania XX is the closest we'll ever come to Brock Lesnar vs. Steve Austin. As far as show closing segments go, it was an instant classic, while it also marked the final appearance of Brock Lesnar on weekly WWE TV for eight years.
Lesnar had appeared on Raw two weeks earlier to deliver an F5 to Austin, commandeering his four-wheeler in the aftermath. Naturally, 'The Rattlesnake' took it upon himself to go get it back and gain a measure of revenge at the same time. Just days before Austin was scheduled to referee the bout between Lesnar and Goldberg at Madison Square Garden, 'The Beast' and 'The Rattlesnake' would come face-to-face on SmackDown.
Despite being out of action for a year, Austin hadn't lost a step and the two men threw hands, teased finishers, and drew blood all within minutes. The segment was magic and turned out to be far better than the WrestleMania bout itself.