Top 10 WWE Smackdown Matches of All Time

The legacy of WCW’s outstanding mid-card matches burned bright within this WWE rematch between Chris Jericho and Rey Mysterio. Both men were veterans, not only of the squared circle, but of the competition’s light heavyweight division. This familiarity showed within this match from the tenth of July, 2009, as both men kept the pace fast and furious. Their energy and acrobatics were matched only by the surprisingly hard-hitting nature of the offense from both men. Plus, the crowd remains energetic throughout this Intercontinental Championship contest, making it feel exciting and vital. It’s truly an example of two masters at work.

Speaking of the WWE Universe, the “Smackdown” crowd was red hot for this match-up on the fourteenth of June, 2013. The Shield were running roughshod throughout the company, defending an undefeated streak that they had earned as a trio. However, the combination of Team Hell No (a.k.a. Daniel Bryan and Kane) alongside “The Viper,” Randy Orton, had other plans. Orton’s reliability combined with Kane’s power move set and Bryan’s legendary ring skill proved able to dole out an inaugural trios loss for The Shield. And in impressive fashion, as well. The final sequence of a push from Kane, an RKO and Bryan’s LeBell lock sealed the deal to a rapturous “Smackdown” reception.

AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan were another veteran pairing with a history working in other promotions. The two men possessed a storied history working formative contests in Ring of Honor Wrestling, but this match from June 12th, 2020 was for the vacant WWE Intercontinental Championship. Bryan and Styles made the most of their time, feeling each other out at first, and allowing the match to grow organically. This measured pacing allowed Bryan’s grappling and chain wrestling skills to rise to the forefront, while Styles seemed game to match Daniel move-for-move. The contest nearly runs 30 minutes, but none of it feels wasted. It is, for lack of a better word, a banger.

The “loser leaves town” stipulation can be a dicey one, if not executed correctly. Thankfully, both Jeff Hardy and CM Punk had plenty of heat on their 2009 rivalry. This was thanks to the very personal digs Punk had for his opponent. The “Straight Edge Savior” directly attacked Hardy’s real-life issues with substance dependency, and this made the steel cage match from the August 28th episode of “Smackdown” feel like life-or-death. Hardy and Punk delivered on their feud’s consistency within the match’s in-ring quality. Meanwhile, the final outcome delivered some real pathos, an emotional core that felt amplified by Punk’s unrepentant heel selling.

The pairing of Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin went under the moniker of “World’s Greatest Tag Team.” While the veracity of that claim is debatable, matches like this certainly don’t hurt the pair’s reputation as a unit. They were going after the tag team title belts that were being held by Los Guerreros, Eddie and Chavo. Now, it takes a certain level of superstar to run alongside the pedigree of one Guerrero, never mind two, but this was The World’s Greatest Tag Team, right? Haas and Benjamin proved that they were more than up for the task, with some confusion over who was the legal man allowing Haas to pin Eddie with a roll-up.

If you were to take every match worked by the pairing of Bayley and Sasha Banks, and put them in a hat, it wouldn’t matter which one you picked: they would all rule. For the purpose of the “Smackdown” brand, however, it was somewhat unique to watch the former babyface Bayley switch up her game to beat “The Boss" on November 6th, 2020. The fact that this match unfortunately took place during the “Thunderdome” era doesn’t take away from the fact that these two are master storytellers. Sure, Bayley and Sasha may flip-flop allegiances enough to make The Big Show blush, but that doesn’t really matter when the in-ring results are this good.

This was another “Smackdown” contest that took place under Pandemic-era rules, but it’s so good, we can almost forget that fact. Roman Reigns was finally entering “God Mode” with his villainous “Head of the Table” gimmick, while Daniel Bryan was slowly focusing upon his exit from the WWE. The pair work really well together, possessing a chemistry that went beyond just a clashing of styles. There are a number of chest-clutching near falls, some great submission wrestling and a level of excitement that maybe, just maybe, Bryan can pull it out. Spoiler alert: he doesn’t, but the “Smackdown” faithful received one heck of a match from both men.

Speaking of ladders, Edge felt right at home utilizing one of these during this match against Eddie Guerrero from the September 26th, 2002 episode of “Smackdown” This No Disqualification Match went for almost twenty minutes, and yeah, as a result, it does have some rest holds. This is quickly forgotten, however, once the bout begins in earnest. The “Smackdown” crowd reaches a fever pitch as Edge and Eddie batter each other to bits. Want proof? Check out the ridiculous sunset flip Eddie performs off the top of the ladder, or Edge’s “Edgicution” DDT for the finale. It’s pro wrestling electricity at its finest.

If you thought it was a foregone conclusion that the sixty minute “Iron Man” match between Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar would top our list, then congratulations! You’re correct! Because, honestly, what other “Smackdown” match-up enters your mind when you think of top-tier examples of the brand in action? Lesnar and Angle possessed an insane amount of chemistry together, certainly enough to carry what could otherwise be a risky stipulation. Risky, because “Iron Man” contests can potentially be boring, if placed within the wrong hands. Lesnar and Angle, however? Pure gold, with each man earning multiple, thrilling falls against their opponent. Brock may have left “Smackdown” with the title, but it was the fans that went home happy.