20. "Smackdown" Added To Webster's Dictionary
WWE.com
Date: July 10th, 2007 In a true sign of how powerful pro wrestling's reach can be sometimes, the word "Smackdown" was officially added to Webster's dictionary, giving it multiple definitions, including something that actually mentions pro wrestling. The "first known use" of the word is listed as 1997, which is when The Rock began to use the term, cutting promos about how he was going to "lay the smackdown" on someone's "candy ass". Of course, "smackdown" became "Smackdown" on April 29th, 1999 when the WWF debuted it as a television show on UPN. It was the Thunder to Monday Night Raw's Nitro, so to speak, and has become a very definitive brand for the company through the years. Pro wrestling was red hot in the late-1990's, and this shows just how hot it was, with something as truly mainstream as the
dictionary took notice of the business and something involved with it.