5 Superstars who rose to main-event status during their time on SmackDown
Debuting on April 29,1999, SmackDown has been a staple of WWE programming for over two decades now. Despite being billed as the B show to WWE's flagship offering, RAW, the Blue Brand has always been the superior show as far as in-ring action goes.
From the mid-2000s to its resurgence following the 2016 Brand Split, SmackDown has always given RAW a run for its money.
One of the Blue brand's biggest has been its ability to put the spotlight on young, up and coming Superstars.
Names like John Cena and Brock Lesnar started their careers on the Blue Brand and went on to become megastars in the business. SmackDown's moniker of being the 'Land of Opportunity' holds true to a certain degree as, over the years, a plethora of superstars have risen through the ranks to become a top tier talent on the Blue Brand.
As SmackDown moves into a new era with its premiere on FOX on October 4, here are five WWE Superstars who rose to superstardom during their time in the Blue Brand
# 5 Eddie Guerrero
One of the best in-ring technicians of his times, Eddie Guerrero had built quite the resume prior to arriving in WWE in 2000.
The Guerrero family scion was an established star in his native, Mexico and had won the Best of the Super Juniors in 1996 during his time in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Guerrero was the backbone of WCW's Cruiserweight division and would hold the WCW Cruiserweight Championship on two separate occasions.
The Texas-native would shock the world at No Way Out 2004 when defeated Brock Lesnar to become WWE Champion. He would successfully defend his championship against Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 20. Guerrero would drop the title to JBL at Great American Bash in a Texas Bullrope Match ending his reign at 133 days.
Guerrero's in-ring career came to an abrupt end following his untimely death in 2005. He was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006.
Eddie Guerrero has inspired a plethora of current WWE Superstars and will go down in history as one of the greatest to have ever laced up a pair of wrestling boots.