SmackDown was born on April 29, 1999, but it wasn't until the 2000s when SmackDown went from being WWE's "B Show" to being on the same level as RAW. During the time, SmackDown had many stars who were responsible for delivering incredible matches and boosting the popularity of this TV show.
In the 2000s, there were many memorable matches on SmackDown, such as the third TLC match in history between Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho, Christian and Edge, The Hardy Boyz, and The Dudley Boyz, or that mind-blowing 60-minute Iron Man match between Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar in 2003.
There are also some matches that were great, but for some reason, nobody talks about them nowadays. Without further ado, here are 10 great matches on SmackDown from the 2000s that you probably forgot about.
10 Eddie Guerrero Vs. Rey Mysterio (September 9, 2005)
Arguably the two best wrestlers of Mexican descent of all time collided on episode 317 of Friday Night SmackDown in a Steel Cage match.
Technically, the match was very good. It had several incredible spots and several excellent moments. Both Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio knew how to take advantage of the cage and put on a great show, especially Eddie, who could have walked out of the cage, but instead chose to perform a Frog Splash on Rey Mysterio to pin him and win the match.
9 Chris Jericho vs. Edge (July 25, 2002)
Another Steel Cage match worth mentioning is this one between Chris Jericho and Edge, two of the best Canadian wrestlers in history. Both are fundamentally technical wrestlers, but on this occasion, they forgot that and only had one purpose, to cause a lot of damage to their rival to prevent him from leaving the cage.
This was a classic hard-hitting match full of intensity. The end was very exciting, both were exhausted. Jericho desperately crawled towards the door to try to get out of the cage, but Edge was faster, climbed the cage, and jumped to take the victory.
8 Steve Austin & The Rock Vs. Chris Jericho & Kurt Angle (December 6, 2001)
Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock starred in one of the best rivalries in WWE history, but on some occasions, they teamed up. Rock and Austin made an extremely charismatic and talented combination, becoming almost unbeatable. During the 121st episode of SmackDown, they faced off against another very talented team, Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle.
It’s no wonder this match was great, as there were four wrestling legends in the ring. The funny thing is that it gave the impression that they didn't try their best, but still, the match was pretty good.
7 Brock Lesnar vs. Hulk Hogan, (August 8, 2002)
This was the only time Brock Lesnar and Hulk Hogan faced each other. This match was very special because it meant the clash of two generations, a clash between one of the greatest wrestlers of all time and a rising star.
The young Brock Lesnar managed to defeat Hogan and proved that he was a true monster. This was Lesnar's first step to greatness, as two weeks later he defeated The Rock and became WWE Champion for the first time in his career. The rest, as they say, is history.
6 The Undertaker Vs Tajiri (December 27, 2001)
On Episode number 124 of SmackDown, The Undertaker defended his Hardcore Title against Tajiri. This was the fourth time in less than 15 days that The Deadman had to defend the title. He had handily defeated all three of his previous challengers, Spike Dudley, Jeff Hardy, and Matt Hardy, but Tajiri was not that easy.
The bout lasted only six minutes, but it’s worth watching. Tajiri resisted as long as he could and even put The Undertaker in a tight spot for a few seconds. But at the end, ‘Taker walked out of the ring with the title in tow.
5 CM Punk Vs. Jeff Hardy (August 28, 2009)
The great rivalry between CM Punk and Jeff Hardy couldn't have a better ending than this. Just days after that unforgettable Tables, Ladders & Chairs match at SummerSlam 2009, they faced off in a "Loser Leaves WWE" Steel Cage match.
During their rivalry, Punk and Hardy put their bodies on the line over and over again and this match was no exception, as it was very intense, dramatic and spectacular. The Straight Edge Superstar defeated Jeff Hardy, who had to leave the company.
4 Stone Cold Steve Austin Vs. Rob Van Dam (September 4, 2001)
Rob Van Dam's first year in WWE was a very good one, he quickly earned the love of the fans and established himself as a Superstar. This match is proof of the aforementioned, as RVD managed to defeat none other than Stone Cold Steve Austin.
The bout had its high points and low points, but overall, it was pretty good. Obviously, this win was very important to Rob Van Dam, but most important of all, RVD made it clear that he knew how to work with high-caliber wrestlers.
3 Triple H, Shawn Michaels, John Cena & The Undertaker Vs. CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton & Ted DiBiase (September 29, 2009)
On episode 528 of Friday Night SmackDown, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, John Cena, and The Undertaker made a dream team to take on CM Punk and Legacy (Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, and Ted DiBiase).
This match was very entertaining, and admittedly it was interesting to see that team of second-generation wrestlers against a team of living legends. The finish was great, Randy Orton was surrounded by all four members of the opposing team and couldn't escape The Undertaker's Tombstone.
2 Eddie Guerrero Vs. John Cena (September 11, 2003)
This Parking Lot Brawl between Eddie Guerrero and John Cena was very fun to watch, they worked so well that at times it didn't feel like wrestling but a real street fight.
Both Guerrero and Cena used every weapon they could get their hands on and were willing to do anything to win the match. The match ended when Eddie performed a Frog Splash from a car onto John Cena, who was lying on a car as well.
1 Edge Vs. Kurt Angle (October 3, 2002)
Edge and Kurt Angle had good chemistry and that was what allowed them to deliver several solid matches, including this one.
This match was truly great, perfectly done, and simply flawless. It was a bit slow-paced at first, but it was getting better and better with each passing second. Kurt Angle's technical wrestling style and Edge's passion and ferocity made this match one of the best on SmackDown from the 2000s.