Many thoughts come to my mind when I think of this Friday night’s 500th episode celebration of SmackDown. Some fans may not remember that yours truly was the first play-by-play voice of SmackDown when it debuted on Thursday nights on the UPN television network on Aug. 26, 1999 in Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri.

I can remember several facets of that somewhat chaotic and stressful TV taping day which was, to be exact, Aug. 24, 1999. Apparently the term “network TV” had many on edge, even though when the show came on the air it was going to be business as usual as far as I was concerned.

After the Owen Hart tragedy, Kemper has never been one of my favorite places to work, but let me make one thing perfectly clear about that statement. It has nothing to do with the fans of K.C. who have been loyal fans of the genre since the Central States Wrestling days of yesteryear.

We produced a live Raw as usual the night prior to the first SmackDown taping, and everyone would have to gear up to go again 24 hours later. That’s not a new development nowadays, but it was back in ’99. With all my administrative duties as Vice President of Talent Relations and being the voice of Monday Night Raw, I was somewhat concerned how I was going to hold up with the addition of another project to do every week. Luckily for me, Michael Cole was prepared and ready to go as the voice of SmackDown and he started his long and admirable tenure on the network broadcast with show No. 2.

The first SmackDown featured a main event consisting of The Rock challenging the new WWE Champion, Triple H. HBK had returned to WWE and had been named “Commissioner” and named himself as the special referee for that first SmackDown main event. For the record, Referee/Commissioner HBK delivered some “Sweet Chin Music” to Rock as The Great One was about to “layeth the SmackDown” on Triple H with a “vintage” (Sorry, Michael Cole, but I couldn’t resist, Pal) “Peoples Elbow.” Triple H then pedigreed the future movie star at 9:43 of the main event to retain the WWE Title.

Do you remember who the WWE Tag Team Champions were at that time? Stay tuned for the answer.

This program also featured a skirmish between ring announcer Tony Chimel and former ring announcer Howard Finkel. Thanks to a manipulative Chris Jericho, this then lead to an altercation between The Fink and Ken Shamrock that allegedly saw the World’s Most Dangerous Ring Announcer “soil himself.” By the way for you trivia buffs, Fink came to the ring that night to confront Sir Anthony Chimel using the music of Ultimate Warrior. 

The Hall of Fame duo of Pat Patterson and Jerry Brisco also got in on the action that night, which was always a treat for me to see. Plus, Mankind battled Shane McMahon on the first SmackDown, which saw Shane upset the Mandible Claw expert thanks to his future brother-in-law Triple H’s interference.

The first SmackDown felt like a Monday Night Raw show inasmuch as it included lots of attitude and surprises. With that said, the best news for me was when Michael Cole tagged in and took my chair at ringside the next week. I mean, how much BBQ can an Okie eat?!

Another memorable SmackDown that I was involved with was the Thursday after the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. I think we had been in San Antonio the night before for Raw when the attacks occurred on Tuesday morning while we were in our hotel rooms in Houston after flying Monday night. The Tuesday night taping for SmackDown was postponed until Thursday at which time we went live. I am not 100 percent sure, but I think that was the first time SmackDown ever aired live. I remember being a part of that broadcast, which some speculate was the first public assembly of its kind since the 9-11 attacks. I felt very proud to be an American that night, and to be able to be a small part of helping Americans take their mind off the tragedies of the week while watching WWE.

Another significant SmackDown moment for yours truly also occurred in Houston, the home of this year’s WrestleMania. It was in June of 2008, and it was my first Friday Night SmackDown after being “drafted” from Raw the night before in San Antonio. At the time, that was not one of my favorite moments of my 30-plus year career, but in hindsight it has become one of my career highlights. I had discovered my comfort zone, a kiss of death in any profession, on Raw, and had broadcast more than 600 episodes of WWE’s top-rated cable TV program and did not want to leave my “TV home.” Sometimes we old-schoolers resist change, which is not a good philosophy as I have learned. Even though I miss working with The King at times, I am honored to have been able to forge a new broadcast relationship with the man I fondly call “The World’s Angriest Announcer,” Tazz. Our team has been able to see the Friday Night SmackDown ratings set new records on MyNetworkTV and dominate our target demographic by reaching thousands upon thousands of males every Friday night.

Speaking of that first night on Friday Night SmackDown, I do remember that many of the fans inside the Toyota Center booing me when they heard my entrance music, which is the Oklahoma University fight song, “Boomer Sooner!” That reception, a reaction toward OU and not me personally … or at least I hope that was the case, really made yours truly feel “great” about my new TV home (only kidding). Seriously, what did help me get settled in was the kind words that Triple H, who also got drafted the night before, said about me when he came to the ring at the top of the show to address the SmackDown fans, not to mention sitting beside Mick Foley who I had known for years.

With all that said, this Friday night is a milestone event in the annals of WWE, and one of which I am proud to be able to participate. I was diagnosed this past Saturday with pneumonia, but not even pneumonia was going to keep me from being a part of SmackDown No. 500. This broadcast felt like a PPV, while we were taping it Tuesday night in Corpus Christi, Texas, and I think you will really enjoy it Friday night on MyNetworkTV.

On another Texas oriented note, it gave me great pleasure to see the Von Erich Family be announced for induction into WWE’s Hall of Fame. I knew all the Von Erich sons except Jackie, and will look upon their induction with pride, especially considering all the challenges the family has faced over the years, not to mention all the contributions that the Von Erichs and World Class Championship Wrestling have given us fans. I can’t wait to see what Freebird Michael Hayes wears for this special occasion as he will induct the Von Erichs, and I understand that Kevin Von Erich will accept on his family’s behalf. Word on the street has it that P.S. Hayes is consulting with Dog the Bounty Hunter’s hair and wardrobe people for the classic voice of the Freebirds’ special appearance at the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania.

Thanks for stopping by this week for this special look at Friday Night SmackDown, as we celebrate number 500 this Friday night. I also appreciate all of you who check out www.jrsbarbq.com especially those that are taking advantage of the great offers we now have in our online store. If you would like to read more of my blogs and/or ask questions, then check out our ever-growing Web site. Be well and count your blessings.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R.

P.S:. The WWE Tag Champions on the first SmackDown were Undertaker and Big Show.  

Editor's Note: Join Howard Finkel and WWE.com editors for the SmackDown 500th Episode Live Blog on WWEUniverse.com, Friday night at 7:45 p.m ET. Set an e-mail reminder for yourself in the box below.