WWE Classics: Stone Cold and The Rock vs The Undertaker and Triple H (pilot SmackDown episode)

SmackDowns initial stage set-upSmackDown has had its ups, downs and everything in between, and for its sixteen year existence, has been an almighty roller coaster.This Thursday-Friday-Thursday night sensation kicked into gear on the 29thof April, 1999, around the time that WWE had taken its lead over WCW in the Monday Night Wars. It was in the same week as the incident when The Undertaker tried to abduct Stephanie McMahon. Those were wild times. It was also the time when The Corporation, consisting of Triple H, The Undertaker, Hyena, Rodney and Pete Gas, led by Shane McMahon, were playing the role The Authority play in the modern day.The first ever main event for SmackDown was a short one, but it was important in its own way, as shall be explained in this article.

#1 The build-up

The events of a few days earlier

The opening segment of this show had the McMahon Family come out to cut a promo, following the events on Raw, which was mentioned earlier. Midway though, The Corporation interrupted, and Shane O’Mac announced the main event, which would feature The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin, rivals at the time, teaming up to face two of his cronies, The Undertaker and Triple H, who would, in true heel fashion, be accompanied to the ring by everyone in The Corporation. 

The Undertaker would add on by saying he wanted vengeance on Austin for stopping him from making Stephanie McMahon his wife and slave on Raw. It really was a wild time back then. Triple H volunteered to be Undertaker’s tag team partner. 

After a night which was given a four star rating on IMDb (International Movie Database), the main event arrived.