10 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE SmackDown From 2001

3. There's A Hardcore Match You NEED To See

Stone Cold Steve Austin WCW 2001
WWE Network/Peacock

You won't be let down by this cracker either.

The Rock and Rob Van Dam had another scorcher on Raw about a month or so before this one. Both are well-worth seeing, but choose the 25 October SmackDown offering if you like the quirky flavour of seeing Rocky challenge for the lowly Hardcore Title. That didn't happen every day, y'know.

Van Dam, like Booker T before him, had quickly settled into life as a WWF star. By October, people were calling for him to become a permanent headliner, and bouts like this show why. RVD's unique style captivated fans, and he was helped by top names like The Rock selling hard for him.

Interesting combos like Rock vs. RVD is why binging on SmackDown's 2001 lineup was a treat this guy looked forward to. Hearing what was coming up next on following episodes actually made it hard to stop. Who doesn't want to see The Rock take a Van Daminator or six?!

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.