LeCutlock

Honestly, early till mid 2008 was probably the best time period that SmackDown has ever had. Although it's disputable as to when SmackDown had been better than RAW. This period here, the big blue brand was better. On RAW we had the whole John Cena - Triple H - Randy Orton rivalry and a short program with Jeff Hardy at the beginning of the year. On SmackDown, the main events were perfect as well. Honestly, the best I think RAW did back then was John Cena vs Jeff Hardy.

At the beginning of the year, we had a nice two month Rey Mysterio-Edge feud which was good because it had nice matches and was, essentially, a prelude to the Edge-Undertaker feud. That feud was so good that it headlined WrestleMania that year. The Edge Vickie relationship was actually a good heel development, unlike that crap that's happening with Ziggler right now. Then the return of the Elimination Chamber? God, while both were good, I will settle for RAW having the better one.

Let's move on to Backlash. The Matt Hardy and MVP feud was probably the best feud for the US Title since Booker T and Benoit. While I will agree Orton vs HHH in the Steel Cage was better than Taker vs Edge III, Orton vs HHH in a Last Man Standing match was not better than Taker vs Edge in a TLC match.

Again, Edge vs Batista was better than HHH vs Cena. Then the whole transition putting the wWe title into SmackDown was fantastic, while the HHH vs Edge feud was less than stellar, it did help pave way for the BEST match of the year, Edge vs Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match.

And then it went to hell for Smackdown until Punk and Hardy. And in hell we remain.

But that is why 2008 was SmackDown's year, it beat RAW for most of the year and I believe it was a better year than the years of Lesnar's SmackDown. 2008 was the best year in the world as we know it.

CMPunkFan18

2008 SD is an underrated year IMO, but the best period of SD is 2002-2004 ruthless agression era. Very close second is May 2009- October 2009 SD. In there you had Edge (for awhile), Jericho, Mysterio, CM Punk, Jeff Hardy, Umaga, John Morrison. Solid Tag fued between Cryme Tyme/ Hart Dynasty, then you had good midcarders with Dolph Ziggler,Mike Knox, Kane, Finlay, Shelton Benjamin. The shows were great then.
But yes 2008 was pretty good aswell, despite the fact that Summerlam 2008 had HHH/Khali for the World title for god knows what reason, when they could have had Jeff Hardy, MVP, Mr.Kennedy, Shelton Benjamin or Umaga.

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LeCutlock

Yeah, but Summerslam 08 also had Punk vs JBL and Cena vs Batista.

Choke2Death

2003 and 2002 are Smackdown's best years by far. 2004 sucked, but 2005 until first half of 2007 and 2008-2009 were both good too. Although I need to give 08 an episodic watch through every week before making the perfect judgment of it.

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CMPunkFan18

Yes but that Summerslam couldve been better if it had a better WWE Title match, IMO HHH vs J.Hardy/MVP/Kennedy/Umaga or S.Benjamin is 100x better than any Khali match, especially a Khali match for the WWE Title. Im just saying it wouldve made for a more interesting feud on the SD side of things.

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The_Jiz

I think the following would be a convincing counter-argument.

Smackdown! 2009 roster:
Edge
Jericho
CM Punk
Jeff Hardy
John Morrison
Rey Mysterio
Dolph Ziggler

2008 SD! I felt was a rather quiet period with a thinned out roster. Kung Fu Naki? Jimmy Wang Yang? It was a also the debut of R-truth whom creative had absolutely no direction with. Vickie was a big part of the show. And the rise of Kozlov was some awful TV. Khali debuted the awful dancing gimmick he has today that year as well.

Highlight was Undertaker/Edge and HHH refusing to put over Jeff Hardy.

Clique

It was awesome. Jeff Hardy chases WWE Champion Triple H for months in edge of your seat wrestling contests, coming closer winning each time, and he FINALLY wins the title from EDGE at the end of the year! Perfect example of muddying up a fine story with the hottest babyface on the roster at the time.

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P H E N O M

obby

Chuck Palumbo vs Jamie Noble was actually an excellent feud. It made the fans care about two lower card guys and pulled off a really good double turn. It's a shame it had no proper conclusion/Noble lost.

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Obfuscation

Pretty garbage year pardon a few bouts. 2009 is where it is at from an underrated perspective.

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We will sing as one in solidarity, we will sing together. And still we will be here - standing like statues.Brightly coloured, no use for camouflage.

rjsbx1

The summer of 2009 Smackdown had amazing matches (Heel Champ Punk, Hardy, Edge Jericho, Mysterio Morrison, and rise of Ziggles) and really was a saving grace from a shitty 2009 Raw.

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