Due to its status as the "B Show" of the WWE, SmackDown has often been used as something of a proving ground for new workers looking to progress up the ladder. This function of the show has been diminished in recent years with the addition of NXT to the company's programming, especially as the most promising new stars are often hot-shotted straight onto Raw. This has left modern-day SmackDown in a creative rut, playing out secondary feuds and matches of little consequence while saving all the main storylines for Monday night. In its earlier years, however, Smackdown was the show to watch for viewers eager to see the potential stars of the future pay their dues. Although WWE occasionally show highlights of John Cena's 2002 début, in which a testosterone-fuelled Cena marches bravely out to the ring and clocks Kurt Angle with a right hand, the full match is never aired due to his eventual defeat. The first matches of Batista and Orton are decidedly more embarrassing with the benefit of hindsight, despite the fact that both men were able to pick up victories. Randy's clean-cut babyface act would never be referenced today, especially as it contrasts so flagrantly with his Viper persona. He was able to defeat Hardcore Holly, but had to rely on a rollup to do so. Batista has the most outlandish début of the three, acting as an ecclesiastical henchman to "Reverand" D-Von Dudley. The Animal's "Deacon" gimmick was thankfully dropped shortly before his rapid rise up the card.
