Why Was SmackDown Live 2016-17 Special?

SmackDown Live. To me, this was one of WWE's best runs of the past decade. I was thoroughly entertained with SmackDown Live and I was always wanting more. Guys like AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose, The Miz and John Cena really made SmackDown Live must see. In this video, I cover the epic SmackDown Live run from July 2016 all the way up to April 2017(WrestleMania 33). If you enjoyed this video then make sure you like, share and subscribe!
My Twitter: / wreslingpremier

[@wrestlingspremier]

Probably my favorite video! I really enjoyed making this one. It was nice to go back to a time where SmackDown was the land of opportunity. What did you think of this era of SmackDown?

[@BigRion16]

i like it but i had a problem. when wwe had their first ever superstar shake up that killed what made smackdown special and made raw better until 2018. the only rivalry i remember that was good was shane mcmahon vs kevin owens. when when smackdown did invade raw in 2017 it was lit. jinder was ok as wwe champion but his feud with shinsuke was kinda racist and kinda ruined him in a way.

[@yktobe]

it wasn't as big as Raw at this time

[@glutton2399]

Do Chris Jericho and Christian fued in 2004

[@BigRion16]

5:56 feel like that was one of the good things smackdown did had in 2017? good tag team matches

[@babarazamsucks]

🙀🙀🙀Oh man I agree with everything you said here! I can remember this era like it was yesterday! I became a fan of WWE and slowly of many other promotions as time passed by from this era forward! I remember watching this entire era with every little and big detail that you described in this video and actually enjoying with what I was watching! I don’t know how else to describe my excitement towards this era just like you have so I’ll just end all my thoughts on that note! Oh and there is one more thing that I thought of that being that this entire era you described here was just as long as a pregnancy is! This just crossed my mind so I thought that I may as well just spit it all out here!😱😱😱

[@DBDUndisputed]

I freaking LOVED Smackdown Live from 2016-2017. Smackdown Live felt so different from Raw. The best part of Smackdown Live imo is Talking Smack. 💯

[@thelegendkillerrandyorton9635]

Coming from a AEW Fan is shocking 😳

[@EpicChente30]

And the best thing about it was Commentating team. Mauro ranallo, David otunga and JBL

[@DBDUndisputed]

@@EpicChente30 Hell yeah! Especially Mauro, he really gave Smackdown Live that real combat sport feel.

[@bigtree6984]

Miz as Intercontinental champion was the best thing in WWE in 2016

[@ratedrpsychopath3402]

The Rock made Smackdown and Made it Special, Batista, Edge, Taker etc. Became the faces of Smackdown. Now Styles made it his home

[@ucey-mi2wr]

And kane from 2005 onwards

[@Gxlden31]

abdi no, he didn’t switch to SmackDown till late 06

[@Gxlden31]

abdi and he was only the face of SmackDown for a short period of time in 2010

[@steveG2443]

Forgot to mention Jeff Hardy

[@lautheimpaler4686]

Kurt Angle made SmackDown not Rock.

[@anthonyrivera2306]

People talk about the 2002-03 Smackdown Six. But I also feel that SD Live in 2016-17 had a SD Five or SD Six: The Miz, Dolph Ziggler, John Cena, AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose.

[@laquanburroughs3828]

Justin Sharpe that’s why he said 5 or 6 just in case someone else can name someone else

[@CHW60]

Bray Wyatt?

[@o.w.omarquito2047]

Marc Spera Benoit over Cena as far as charisma? You must be a big fan of the rabid wolverine

[@hafizsyednomanali6868]

@Marc Spera Guerrero has more charisma? Guy tanked SD’s ratings when he became World champion and was the lowest drawing champion of all time in WWE. He drew the lowest crowd ever in WWE Live Events. Lol And, Benoit was nothing more than a great technical wrestler.

[@anthonyrivera2306]

@@CHW60 I can see him as part of that SD Six 2.0

[@mbeas9612]

Smackdown 16-17 was awesome. We had Becky Lynch, Alexa Bliss, Baron Corbin, Carmella, and Naomi on the rise. Feuds like Cena vs Styles, Miz vs Ziggler, Nikki vs Carmella, Ambrose vs Styles, and Orton vs Wyatt was awesome. Great tag team and women's division and Miz reinvented himself as an main event caliber by delivering the infamous Talking Smack promo on Bryan

[@thelegendkillerrandyorton9635]

I don’t think Orton vs Bray was awesome like I felt like them both together combined as a team was awesome like they just looked like a killers instinct tag team It was like no one can stop them and If u realize It both was great and they both accomplished something big as a team • They both was tag team champions • Both was Sole Survivor at Survivor Series Co. • Randy won the Rumble for the 2nd time • Bray was finally WWE Champion And etc.. they both just accomplished major things as a team imo 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@legendaryreactions5312]

The Legend Killer Randy Orton I think the feud was awesome but the match wasn’t 😂, IMO I think Bray should’ve beat Orton at WM33 then go on to feud with Luke Harper

[@mbeas9612]

@@thelegendkillerrandyorton9635 I meant that the storyline between Orton and Wyatt was great like how Orton joined forces with Bray so that he can double cross him

[@willmk4042]

Nah we had Jinder Mahal as champ 💀

[@mbeas9612]

@@willmk4042 That was terrible

[@duran2xx]

I miss 2016 in general 😢

[@gator9339]

2016 was a good year

[@EDeeDeeS]

My high school graduation year. Honestly the last year I was genuinely happy

[@UltraShadow97]

@@EDeeDeeS I graduated high school that year as well.

[@BRONXBX]

2016 was the last year before all this PC liberal nonsense flooded all sorts of media lol

[@hafizsyednomanali6868]

Same

[@yktobe]

"Wrestlingpremier is here" gets me everytime 😂

[@flipman223]

Same

[@babarazamsucks]

Me as well.

[@yun6kin669]

I luv it 🤣🤣

[@gator9339]

Smackdown in 2016 reinvigorated my love for wrestling. I stopped watching SD in 2014 and kinda stopped watching Raw but when Smackdown Live started I became a fan again. Everyone on the roster felt like they had a purpose and even the lower card wrestlers like Slater had storylines. I miss those days

[@knowyourroleproductions7388]

I wish we would get these days back 😭😭😭 SmackDown is terrible now and it sucks

[@wrestlingspremier]

I do like some stuff on SmackDown nowadays but this era was way better. It was top notch, from the matches to the promos.

[@BigRion16]

agree

[@tomasandrade2550]

facts

[@randyokungu1222]

Hasn’t been the same since they changed the writers

[@o.w.omarquito2047]

Randy Okungu Yep, that wilcard era killed SD and it hasn’t recovered since

[@mycahjofficial]

*SmackDown Live was the place to be from July 2016 to WrestleMania 33. You had plenty of great feuds, great storylines, TalkSmack and even superstars actually got a real opportunity to do something great. But then after WrestleMania, the show just started becoming bad because Vince McMahon.*

[@fightromeofight2352]

I believe during that it was triple h his crew behind smackdown then Vince wanted his hands on it 🙄

[@snakeeyes2551]

Smackdown showed WWE fans that WWE doesn't have to be TV-14 to great, it just has to be entertaining.

[@o.w.omarquito2047]

SnakeEyes25 of course, but it’s always Vince

[@Birdoswrld-]

I keep telling people wwe in 2016 was so great to me idk why . But smackdown live was definitely the show to watch in July 2016- to April 2018 smackdown was so great watched every Tuesday

[@gamechanger700]

@@fightromeofight2352 Shane McMahon was running the show though.He had influence.Trips was busy with NXT.I don't want to piss off any NXT fans but SmackDown 2016-2017 was better than NXT in my opinion

[@ChhzCpeon0]

When Roode was actually championship material. But now what's he doing. Sucking off someone who he beat. I would have like a AJ Styles vs Bobby Roode for the WWE Title in 2017 or 2018.

[@wrestlingspremier]

Roode had momentum in 2017. He had the look of a superstar yet he wasn't utilized properly. He reminded me of Triple H in NXT.

[@Bagchaserdemon]

@@wrestlingspremier Bobby roode was better in tna

[@unknownjr2484]

WrestlingsPremier what if the superstar shakeup after mania 33 never happened?

[@klyodog9980]

Roode should have never been a baby face and he shouldn’t have moved to raw where he was the number 6 baby face

[@thelegendkillerrandyorton9635]

Where’s Roode at now 😂 haven’t seen the guy for a while 🤔

[@ax3ren333]

Miz n AJ carried that show 😍🍻

[@MikeJr9284]

Smackdown during the beginning of the second brand split was waaaay better than Raw. I still can't believe that the second brand split happened 4 years ago.

[@joshuajenkins9088]

Please do how Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens (Jeri-Ko) Rise and Fall Duo. They made 3 hours of Raw watchable MAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Miss Those Times😢......

[@thelegendkillerrandyorton9635]

GREAT REQUEST 😌 Man I was so disappointed they ended JeriKo and even worst It was on the Friendship Festival 😓😥🤧

[@joshuajenkins9088]

@@thelegendkillerrandyorton9635 yeah😔

[@ikervega0116]

Smackdown Live in its prime died when Jinder became champ

[@thelegendkillerrandyorton9635]

No It died basically after Mania 33 plus after Jinder was champion AJ became WWE Champion and made It great again and he was getting more great because of that feud with Shinsuke then him and Shinsuke start having boring matches Styles continued on with awesome feuds but boring matches then Styles just left Smackdown and went to Raw barely did anything their and now he’s back on Smackdown as our Intercontinental Champion and hopefully he has a good title run and have awesome matches

[@laumondsenior1625]

@@thelegendkillerrandyorton9635 i wholeheartedly agree with you on the jinder mahal bit ,even tho at the time i was happy when they made jinder champ but his matches *SUCK ASS* ......plus the transition was not right they should have made jinder win more singles match to build up momentum ,character and to help build up his wrestling style to be a genuine threat before facing randy who shouldn't have dropped the championship so soon . The end result was that it looked forced and the timing was off which genuinely described his matches with randy and shinsuke which were botchy and lackluster ; however i disagree with the Aj styles part because all except for his shinsuke matches were (excuse the pun) phenominal ,if you say that they lacked story then i would somewhat agree with you but ultimately every single one of aj matches were entertaining or worthwile(except for nakamura matches bc his only good match with him was on money in the bank ppv) , it was actually funny enough that jinder last great match was with Aj

[@bastienclo2388]

Miz and Styles where the best on 2016🔥

[@tonyd3752]

Oh yeah, best Miz promo work. That first Talking Smack segment was gold.

[@kal-el1827]

People trash the SD Live era way too much sometimes. It was mostly legit and good, haters just criticize because of Jinder's title run and that only lasted 6 months while SD Live existed from July 2016 to October 2019. We had the special wonderful run from 2016 to WM 33, we had AJ Styles one year title run, we had the return of Daniel Bryan, we had the rise of Becky Lynch, we had Kofi Mania. It was a good run in general.

[@oitookyourbreath1138]

Cena-Styles feud was absolutely amazing

[@KristianNikolla8]

Easily AJ Styles’ best matches/feud in his WWE Career

[@pvictorville]

Imagine 04 Cena vs 2012 AJ Styles. Hands down guy would go down in history of the greatest event

[@KristianNikolla8]

peter j baca absolutely

[@SunshineStateCoasters]

Cena VS Styles at Summerslam is still my all time favorite WWE match!!

[@KristianNikolla8]

Sunshine State Coasters one of my favorites man!

[@DJBlack909]

Those two years Smackdown was the most fun since Smackdown’s Golden Era (1999-2004)

[@user-nt9rs9fi2v]

Smackdown in 2016-2017 was really good. Now its like raw but 2 hours

[@BigKamar]

The miz definitely deserved to be in the title picture around this time

[@tomasandrade2550]

when is Kurt Angle's Impactful run in TNA happening . Pun intended

[@BigRion16]

when wwe had their first ever superstar shake up that killed what made smackdown special and made raw better until 2018. the only rivalry i remember that was good was shane mcmahon vs kevin owens. when when smackdown did invade raw in 2017 it was lit.

[@trockdagamer1623]

Battleground 2016 was so good I’m kinda starting to get emotional about it. That song they used this is a war was so emotional I miss 2016.

[@Videogamelover58]

AKA the only good Battleground to ever happen lol

[@Dude_Its_Pistachio]

8:15 Renee was like whoa we don't do that here on a show call talking smack lol

[@Kskillz2]

I was at the Smackdown when Randy joined the Wyatt Family

[@thelegendkillerrandyorton9635]

Boy was u lucky and in for a shock!!!

[@discipleclub9642]

When days was good

[@thelegendkillerrandyorton9635]

I mean still is because we might see Christian return back in the ring and have a SummerSlam rematch with Orton

[@aaronm8143]

The Legend Killer Randy Orton Christian Cage has returned! Just not on WWE, which shocked me.

[@Mjwara]

SmackDown Live > SmackDown On Fox P.S: I hope they bring Talking Smack back.

[@MovieEggman]

R.I.P. SmackDown Live 2016 (July 2016-April 2017)

[@MovieEggman]

SmackDown Live 2016 was just as iconic as The Era of The SmackDown Six (Edge, Rey Mysterio, Eddie and Chavo Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Kurt Angle)

[@theiconsean]

I agree 100% with this video. I started returning to watching WWE in these years, and I was amazed seeing how well they made Smackdown entertaining again. Some of my favorite highlights is Miz/Ziggler Feud, Bliss Debut, Wyatt Family w/ Orton, Ambrose/AJ Feud.

[@Bagchaserdemon]

I didn't even know fandango and Tyler still in the wwe but the aj styles and John cena was a good rival

[@mujjumax]

Smackdowns Road To Wrestlemania was Just Gold I Remember Every Storyline has Sense And Talking Smack Was Just Awesome !! Just Love It SD 2016 - 2017

[@NotCornette]

People normally insult the WWE draft 2016 and how they made everything the same color as the brand but to me it just showed the dedication the WWE had to this new era like it was no Brock and Cena as champion it was some new and fresh faces and I loved that time.

[@usainbolt7904]

All these years and I never knew Smackdown was pre-taped

[@RiruKrypto_]

If you ever been to a live event, you can tell and you can't hear the commentators during the matches.

[@rodneylewisjr2917]

Cena vs Styles is what made smackdown live so special around this time

[@RaulSHermano]

im also glad you mentioned the good Storyline between Orton and Wyatt. very underrated

[@memeking5017]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thought 2016 smackdown was amazing

[@STARCORESUPERSTAR]

This was hands down one of my favorite eras of smack down The A Show😤

[@450sad]

I loved this era!!

[@discipleclub9642]

BTW congrats for getting 40K subscribers

[@wrestlingspremier]

Thank you so much!

[@discipleclub9642]

@@wrestlingspremier np

[@TheSwiftie467]

I graduated high school in 2016, so it does make me feel a little nostalgic. Four years ago seems like a lifetime ago lmao.

[@yamattVersion1]

Smackdown X era, it was one my faves.

[@futureufcchampion9293]

This was a very very good video it’s probably in my top 4 favorite WrestlingsPremier videos after the Eddie video the shield video, and the decade videos!!!

[@thecharmcityplayerbrandona8827]

In my personal opinion Smackdown during that time was more about the younger guys getting mold into Stars along with getting opportunities that they probably wouldn't on Raw

[@chris34ce]

I most definitely want you to cover SmackDown 2005-2007 the golden era of SmackDown. Man every Friday night was epic

[@seanblaze4788]

I was always team Smackdown so seeing them win at survivor series I was hype

[@demonNthesn0w]

Nothing will beat smacking talk. The miz went off off

[@Tech-cy9yo]

Honestly I found WWE from 2013-2016 to be REALLY good.

[@marcusfaze]

My favorite point in time of wrestling that I’ve been around for

[@deaklonis9770]

Talking Smack was a great show. Styles vs Ambrose was awesome. Miz vs Ziggler was great . Becky Lynch was given a spotlight away from Charlotte, Alexa Bliss, Naomi made their names. The tag team scene was entertaining .

[@Oofboy-04]

Congratulates on 40k subscribers dude I love wwe

[@sammymorales6838]

AJ Styles was the main reason why smackdown was so awesome....he was at the top of his game...he is the best thing on WWE....truly phenomenal

[@ojay2595]

Cover aj styles transition to wwe. I was watching both tna and wwe from 08-12 but I stopped watching wrestling all together for years. During this quarantine you’ve restored my love for it and I’ve been catching up on what I missed. Thank you bro even if you don’t get around to making this vid

[@ivanburden4658]

I think a video about the Smackdown Six is needed.

[@rolandgreen6876]

Best Year On SMACKDOWN!!! #HandsDown💪

[@diegoprodriguez]

That was such a good time on SmackDown. I wish we could go back to that.

[@mshotzz2924]

Great video! I actually like the topic of this video. Almost reminds me of the certain “WWE Year” series. 2016-2017 for SmackDownLive felt weird to me bc at the time, 2016 was just a year of vibes.

[@devanshdoshi681]

that cena v styles match at royal rumble 2017 was the best match from that time period

[@damekiomcculler-pratt3279]

I swear I used to be home every Tuesday just to watch Smackdown. Like Dean Ambrose was so funny. Great Video Btw💯💪🏾 I would like you to do a Video on Dean Ambrose Run On Smackdown in 2016. From Money in the bank to WrestleMania 33. He had alot of amazing Promo Work and Funny Segments

[@michaelpeng9993]

Can you make a video about KO’s United State championship runs, the feud with Jericho and Styles, especially with Aj styles, since it’s pretty special by how the title changed on a live event and possibly a botched finish so Y2j has to clean it up

[@progamingworld7847]

I think during the Ruthless Aggression Era The Best of Raw and Smackdown during that time period was 2002 through 2007 one of the greatest times ever!!!

[@AJDaniels99]

You another underrated Smackdown period 2008-2009

[@robotmafia000]

I really loved this era of Smackdown. Some of the best stuff I've seen from WWE in years

[@certified__mv]

Wrestlingpremier thank you for this video I have been waiting for this video so I thank you for this video

[@simbarocksone]

AJ Styles was THE MAN in 2016! He was the BEST in ring performer on SmackDown, the best matches on the brand and he is so good that he somehow managed to make us believe that JAMES F***ING ELLSWORTH was gonna be WWE Champion. This was AJ’s best year in WWE.

[@msobushido]

This vid needed to be made💯

[@CallOfApache]

It was a awesome time period!!! I always say that 2016 thru late 2017 was some good wwe , especially smackdown!

[@Venemofthe888]

Smackdown built the stars for RAW to ruin them 90% of the time. Once the draft happened in 2017 the magic was just gone and it never recovered

[@dumbaccount]

Congrats on the 40k dude Well deserved and trust you'll keep growing Keep up the good job

[@flipflop1591]

The Smackdown theme back then was amazing

[@sportsdaily4602]

Never commented but I have been watching since around 10k ahaha secret admirer 😂😂 congrats on 40k mate 🔥

[@eatkiba4492]

Bray wyatt becoming wwe champion was something I thought I would never see but did during this time

[@superkickgaming370]

That was the best Smackdown theme other than rise up

[@mysticmo8035]

2016 The Best Year Ever

[@nobody-xw3hi]

Amazing video I just subbed 2016 SmackDown was amazing I miss it much

[@lukiluki6665]

For real now: AJ Styles thinks that the earth is flat... Randy said so.

[@thealjohnsonshow2188]

SmackDown Live from July 2016-April 2017 was amazing stuff. Ever since Jinder Mahal won the championship to the current FOX era, SmackDown has been trash (with some exceptions here and there). It's messed up how much SmackDown has been mistreated throughout its run.

[@wrestlingspremier]

It felt special but once the Superstar Shakeup occurred. SmackDown was never the same. There was that never ending KO/Shane feud an Jinder as champ and it just wasn't a good time for the show.

[@thelegendkillerrandyorton9635]

No I think Smackdown became trash after Mania 33 then when Jinder became champion It got even worse but then AJ saved Smackdown by defeating Jinder and became WWE Champion AJ was basically carrying Smackdown and has amazing feuds but boring matches with Shinsuke, Samoa Joe, and Randy Orton but Styles end up leaving then we had Roman feud with Shane 😒 for literally months 😩 😑... Then all of a sudden AJ is back where he belongs because Raw didn’t do anything with Styles for real and now he’s our Intercontinental Champion and hopefully he becomes a great champion and have great feuds and matches with newer talent maybe 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@thelegendkillerrandyorton9635]

WrestlingsPremier U should of said that Roman/Shane feud that was the most terrible part about Smackdown Live 😩

[@unknownjr2484]

The Legend Killer Randy Orton his matches with nakamura, joe, and randy wasn’t boring they were good matches it’s just that the fans had high expectations

[@blakesnipes]

WrestlingsPremier 2018 sd live after mania was good too cause they had everyone

[@francisconava8823]

Two words. One name. Ryan Ward.

[@djtrankilo231]

Cover Smackdown from '02-05

[@juanluis2855]

I was wating for this video like you said about waiting to see every damn 2016 episode of Smackdown Live. Man, good explanation about all the parts of that product. All wrestlers were shining without exception. Even the fucking James Ellsworth was a star of the show. I have very good memories following SmackDown in that year and I was pissed because the random decision of putting out Luke Harper from WrestileMania (Something that would have benefited the WWE championship match) and because the replacement of Ryan Ward. He was the former writer of NXT and the company put him to run SmackDown. Apparently, Vince didn't like the ideas for the WrestleMania building (included the WWE championship triple threat) and fired him on February to put Road Dogg. After the brand split one half of the roster were disappear of TV and the show became a peace of shit. 2018 the product was a little bit better but, meh

[@Joshjohnson.]

WHAT IS UP GUYS WRESTLING PREMIER IS HERE gets me hype all the time i hear it 😂

[@itsgravediggin]

Smack down was carying WWE back in 2016

[@aceplays1081]

One thing I’m not sure was mentioned was Dolph Ziggler feud with Dean Ambrose leading into summerslam. There were some really good promos done by them. Great video by the way , I really want to rewatch this time period of smackdown now

[@AnmicJ]

Daniel Bryan & The Miz were like the Bret Hart & Shawn Michaels of today

[@milothaloser1443]

This was such a phenomenal era. They could have trickled in new talent rather than the actual shake up, which was utter shit, and I promise those glory years would’ve lasted a little longer

[@pol610]

Luke Harper should have been in it too and make it a Triple Threat Match at Wrestlemania. The underlying dynamic of who will win the title was a missed opportunity to make it more memorable than what it came out to be.

[@terrancegallemore6864]

Talking after smack was good tho especially when the miz cut his best promo as heel ever when he cut the promo on Daniel

[@chaznewton7411]

Watching does make me realize how good this year was

[@KadariusGreen]

This time in WWE was so good. I still to this day use these rosters as a template to my universe modes.

[@CeoJaylennn]

DO 2002 RUTHLESS AGGRESSION SMACKDOWN VIDEO PLEASE

[@jamestorres000]

Miz: Watches this video. WrestingPremier:He was the man of this year. Miz: God dang right I was

[@jakepannell3176]

I'd like to see a video of Raw 2016 - 2017 specifically Jericho & Owens partnership.

[@vjwebb6182]

Smackdown 2016-17 was worth watching due to the storylines and feuds every Tuesday there was a title match.

[@Videogamelover58]

I'll never forget the last smackdown of 2016, they decided to turn it into a PPV. God that was such an amazing time for smackdown

[@TheKN128]

I remember being so hype for the last smack down episode of 2016. I believe every match was a title match. I didn’t even watch raw during this time, smackdown was where it was at

[@brycegadson3370]

Wrestlingspremier Great video great era.

[@rolodwayne5841]

God that miz promo was gold. He is so good on the mic idk why he hasnt gotten atleast a second chance with the wwe title he is a draw.

[@davisenas9949]

The 2017 "Superstar Shake Up" aka Draft, ruined this Smackdown roster. If Raw took AJ in 2017,the show would've died in viewership. SD Live was the house that AJ Styles built. Even if he wasnt the champion.