For modern fans looking back via the WWE Network or Peacock, this episode serves as a perfect time capsule. It captures The Rock at his charismatic zenith and Triple H as one of the most effective heels in wrestling history. The May 4, 2000, episode remains a shining example of why Thursday nights were "must-see TV" for wrestling fans around the world.
This episode solidified the "Iron Man Match" stipulation that would eventually happen at Judgment Day. Because Triple H had pinned The Rock (even via cheating), he had the momentum to demand a 60-minute Iron Man Match for the title.
What followed was one of The Rock’s most iconic retorts. As the crowd chanted "Rocky," the champion's music hit. The Rock didn't just walk to the ring; he glided. He looked at Triple H, smirked, and delivered a promo that is still quoted in YouTube comments today. wwf smackdown may 4 2000
The Rock & Earl Hebner defeated D-Generation X to retain the championship when Hebner pinned X-Pac after The Rock delivered a People’s Elbow. Match Card & Results Match Type Participants WWF Intercontinental Championship Chris Benoit Chris Jericho Chris Jericho (New Champion) Tag Team Match Eddie Guerrero Eddie Guerrero & Chyna Singles Match Kurt Angle Hardcore Holly Kurt Angle 2-on-1 Handicap Match Rikishi (via Count Out) Tag Team Match The Hardy Boyz The Hardy Boyz Singles Match Bull Buchanan The Big Show No Contest WWF Hardcore Championship Crash Holly Dean Malenko Crash Holly (Retained) 3-on-2 Handicap Match (Main Event) The Rock & Earl Hebner vs. Triple H, X-Pac & Road Dogg The Rock & Earl Hebner (Retained) Notable Moments
Furthermore, this SmackDown is a case study in how to book a television main event: For modern fans looking back via the WWE
Technically, the May 4, 2000, episode of SmackDown illustrated why the WWF was winning the Monday Night Wars. The pacing was relentless, the characters were larger than life, and every segment felt like it moved the needle. It was an era where the mid-card felt as important as the main event, and the crowd energy was consistently at a fever pitch.
This wasn't just a wrestling show. It was a soap opera with steel steps, a concert of violence, and a landmark episode that proved SmackDown was no longer the "B-show" to Raw. It was a must-watch program that drew massive ratings and set the stage for one of the greatest PPVs of the year. This episode solidified the "Iron Man Match" stipulation
The Rock (WWF Champion) & The Undertaker vs. Triple H & Shane McMahon The Stakes: King of the Ring qualifier implications and pure, unadulterated violence.
The defining segment of the May 4 broadcast was the massive main event. In a move typical of the era's over-the-top booking, the WWF stacked the deck. The match saw The Rock teaming up with the Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) to take on the unholy alliance of Triple H, Shane McMahon, and Vince McMahon.
The spring of 2000 was, arguably, the absolute peak of the World Wrestling Federation’s (WWF) Attitude Era. The Monday Night Wars were winding down, but the product on screen was hotter than ever. Stone Cold Steve Austin was the rebellious face of the company, The Rock was the most electrifying man in sports entertainment, and the McMahon-Helmsley Regime was the most dominant heel faction in history. Amidst this creative renaissance, one episode of WWF SmackDown stands out as a perfect time capsule of the era: .
He mocked Triple H’s "tired act," called Stephanie "the world’s most un-sexy human being," and famously asked the crowd if they wanted him to "lay the SmackDown" on the Cerebral Assassin. The pop was deafening. This set the tone: the champion was confident, but arrogant—a setup for the hammer to drop later in the night.