The Best Matches On SmackDown From The 2000s, Ranked
SmackDown may be considered WWE's "B-Show" by many in the industry, but it has rostered many of the biggest names in the company. Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, and Kurt Angle are a few of the biggest stars in wrestling history, and they all found success while wrestling for the brand early in the decade.
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The blue brand may not have always gotten the attention of Monday Night Raw, but they have still featured many matches that have stood the test of time over the years. While many of these classic bouts occurred early in the show's history, there have also been a few iconic matches that occurred years later.
10 The Undertaker Vs. Kurt Angle - March 3, 2006
The Undertaker and Kurt Angle had an underrated rivalry that saw them go head-to-head in a handful of exciting matchups throughout their career. One of these matches, which was a rematch of their iconic bout at the No Way Out pay-per-view a few weeks earlier, occurred on the main event of SmackDown on March 3, 2006.
Their pay-per-view bout may have been an instant classic, but the ensuing rematch, which saw Angle put his World Heavyweight Championship on the line, was arguably even better. The two legends put on a technical wrestling clinic, as the bout was full of classic moves and timely counters. The match ended in DQ after 'Taker was attacked by Mark Henry midway through the contest.
9 Matt Hardy Vs. Rey Mysterio - May 6, 2003
Rey Mysterio and Matt Hardy faced off in a fast-paced matchup for the Cruiserweight Championship on May 6, 2003. The two men previously met at WrestleMania XIX, where Hardy retained the belt after interference from Shannon Moore. However, he was not so lucky when the two men met again as Mysterio beat Hardy cleanly in the rematch.
The match is not only considered one of the greatest Cruiserweight Championship matches of all time, but it also resulted in Mysterio's first singles title reign of his WWE career. His family had front row seats for the contest, which made the moment even sweeter for The Master of the 619.
8 Rey Mysterio and Edge Vs. Los Guerreros - October 22, 2002
Many forget that Rey Mysterio and Edge had a relatively effective partnership, as they have been pitted against one another often throughout their careers. They were nearly the inaugural WWE Tag Team Champions before being edged out by Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit in the final round of an eight-team tournament at the 2002 No Mercy pay-per-view.
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One of their most exciting bouts occurred on October 22, 2002, when they faced off against Los Guerreros in a Number One Contendership Match for the newly crowned tag belts. Mysterio and Edge came out victorious in the contest after Mysterio pulled his partner over the fallen Chavo moments after Eddie attempted to do the same thing. The bout may have been quick, but it was a flurry of action and non-stop entertainment.
7 Eddie Guerrero Vs. John Cena - September 11, 2003
The Latino Street Fight between John Cena and Eddie Guerrero on September 11, 2003, may have been more of a bare-knuckle fight than a traditional match, but it did not fail to entertain. The bout was somewhat of a coming-out party for The Doctor of Thuganomics, who was appropriately sporting a Brian Urlacher jersey for the violent clash, as it showed he had versatility as a main event competitor.
The two men pulled out all the stops in the gimmick match as they used everything at their disposal in an attempt to beat each other down. Guerrero came out victorious in the brawl after hitting Cena with a Frog Splash on top of a car.
6 Booker T Vs. Kurt Angle - July 26, 2001
The WCW Championship match between Booker T and Kurt Angle on July 26, 2001, was not only highly exciting, but it also produced one of the best moments from the underwhelming Invasion angle. Booker T may not have been the champion that Angle was hoping to face that night as he was in the midst of a heated feud with WWE Champion Steve Austin, who attacked The Olympic Gold Medalist midway through the bout, but that did not stop him from coming out victorious in the contest.
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The two men had the crowd on the edge of their seats throughout the entire match, which included a handful of memorable moments, including the ending that saw Booker tap out to the Ankle Lock after controlling the tempo of the contest throughout. The victory was one of the most improbable of Angle's career, as he outlasted multiple attacks from outsiders before coming out on top.
5 JBL Vs. Eddie Guerrero - July 15, 2004
Eddie Guerrero and JBL shared an underrated feud that saw them face off in a series of entertaining contests in 2004. One of their best matches occurred on July 15, 2004, when the two men went head-to-head in a Steel Cage match for the WWE Championship. The bout's most memorable spot occurred when Guerrero chose to punish JBL with a Frog Splash from the top of the cage (like he promised he would) rather than take the easy victory.
The match's ending, which saw a returning Kurt Angle thwart Latino Heat's shot at winning the gold, was arguably the only downside of the otherwise thrilling contest. Nevertheless, the bout was still one of the most exciting in the show's history, as the two men put on a show in front of the passionate and electric crowd.
4 Jeff Hardy Vs. CM Punk - August 28, 2009
Jeff Hardy and CM Punk were both at the height of their powers when they were engaged in an entertaining (and extremely heated) rivalry over the World Heavyweight Championship throughout 2009. Their feud saw them headline a handful of pay-per-views throughout the year, but the Steel Cage match on the August 28, 2009 episode of SmackdDwn was arguably their most exciting clash.
It felt as though both men were on the cusp of victory multiple times during the match, but Punk outlasted The Charismatic Enigma in the end. The contest marked the end of their feud and, because of a pre-match stipulation, Hardy had to leave WWE following the loss. In reality, his contract had just expired, and he left the company to heal from a slew of injuries.
3 TLC III - May 24, 2001
WWE Tag Team Champions Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit put their belts on the line against the three original TLC Match veteran squads on May 24, 2001. They may not have had experience with the gimmick in the past, but their star power did nothing but add to the excitement of the bout. Not only did they come out victorious in the match, but they also looked like they belonged while doing it.
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Much like the previous iconic TLC matches, the contest was full of memorable moments, including when Benoit returned to the ring after being stretchered out of the arena earlier in the bout. The wrestlers involved have expressed disappointment that this match has been buried, and they believe it may have been the best installment of the gimmick.
2 Kurt Angle Vs. Brock Lesnar - September 18, 2003
Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar played hot potato with the WWE Championship throughout their heated rivalry in 2003. One of their most exciting bouts was a 60-minute Iron Man match for the belt on SmackDown on September 18, 2003. Iron Man matches tend to be slower-paced than traditional contests, but Lesnar and Angle went full speed as soon as the bell rang, and the bout became an instant classic as a result.
In the end, Lesnar came out victorious in the bout with a score of 5-4 and reclaimed the WWE Championship in the process. Not only was the match one of the best in SmackDown history, but it was also one of the greatest Iron Man matches in WWE history.
1 Edge Vs. Eddie Guerrero - September 26, 2002
Eddie Guerrero and Edge began to feud with one another after they both got drafted to Smackdown during the 2002 brand split. The series was tied 1-1, with both previous matches taking place at SummerSlam and Unforgiven pay-per-views, heading into their No Disqualification match on September 26, 2002.
Edge came out victorious in the exciting contest after hitting Latino Heat with an Edgecution off the top of a ladder. The match, which resulted in the culmination of their feud, proved that SmackDown could compete with Raw in terms of star power.
