10 Greatest WWE SmackDown Endings

2. Seeing Double - 13 March 2003

When it was announced that Kurt Angle would defend the WWE Championship against Brock Lesnar two weeks before WrestleMania XIX, fans were left baffled. Why would WWE give away their WrestleMania main event on free TV a fortnight before the biggest show of the year?

Truthfully, Angle was in such a bad way physically that he was deemed unable to compete. As such, the champ was set to quickly drop the belt to Lesnar to allow a proposed substitute match of Brock vs. Benoit at 'Mania, while Angle underwent surgery. However, a chance encounter with a neighbour's child led Angle to reconsider and this hugely memorable bout was the result when WrestleMania came early on 13 March.

With Angle already in the ring completing his pre-match ritual, a pumped Lesnar approached. The dimmed entrance lights allowed Kurt to switch places with his brother, Eric, who was dressed identically. A quick distraction from his Team Angle brethren allowed Kurt to switch back with Eric and roll up Brock in a small package for the win - a genius move that made their feud all the more personal going into WrestleMania.

The two athletes would meet again for the WWE Title on SmackDown later that year, when they collided in the first ever 60 minute Iron Man match on broadcast TV. Unsurprisingly, that too was off the charts.

Contributor
Contributor

Occasional wrestler, full-time gym rat and lifelong lover of the grapple game. Would probably buy you a shot of Jack at the bar in exchange for witty banter...and preferably more Jack. @MartynGrant88 for more wrestling-related musings and weight room wisecracks!