WWE SmackDown, like WWE’s other programming, was affected due to the pandemic. The unprecedented development forced Vince McMahon and his team to identify new ways in order to entertain millions of fans around the world and to keep the company afloat.
The pandemic paved the way for the creation of WWE ThunderDome, a videoconferencing crowd system that allowed fans to experience all the action on screen as opposed to in person.
Both RAW and WWE SmackDown, as well as premium live events, utilized the bio-bubble experience to its full effect. Superstars of the blue brand, in particular, found a unique environment to showcase their craft, putting on great matches in the process.
With that being said, these are the best WWE SmackDown matches of 2020:
Daniel Bryan vs. Jey Uso (November 20, 2020)
Their previous outing was much shorter and angle-driven. But this match between Daniel Bryan and Jey Uso put emphasis on in-ring action and psychology. The American Dragon did a terrific job selling his back injury to Jey’s aggressive strikes.
Jey also stepped up his game for the match and proved he was a great value to the single division of WWE SmackDown and not just a reliable tag team specialist alongside his twin brother Jimmy Uso.
Seth Rollins vs. Rey Mysterio (WWE SmackDown November 13, 2020)
The final chapter in the Seth Rollins-Rey Mysterio saga. This match was a lot of improvement on their panned outing at The Horror Show At WWE Extreme Rules 2020. The No Holds Barred stipulation meant that the pair had no choice but to finish their months-long feud.
From the creative steel chair spots to stiff chair strikes, the match saw Seth Rollins and Rey Mysterio beat each other to the brink of annihilation. For Rey, unexpected help arrived when Buddy Murphy finally betrayed his mentor in Rollins with a vicious jumping knee to the face.
The future WWE Hall of Famer would capitalize on the distraction with a 619 and a five-star frog splash combo for the win in this epic WWE SmackDown outing.
Bayley vs. Sasha Banks (November 6, 2020)
After retaining her SmackDown Women’s Championship over Bayley via DQ in October, Sasha Banks met The Role Model in a heated contest the following month. The pair were given close to 20 minutes to settle the feud. They made the most out of the opportunity.
For Banks, the encounter was a huge opportunity to prove she could successfully defend her championship, and she did. This was a solid bout with decent pacing and plenty of near falls, as well as a satisfying conclusion for the champion.
Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens (WWE SmackDown – December 25, 2020)
Kevin Owens’ recent return to SmackDown full-time pretty much proves he and Roman Reigns are destined to fight forever. Back in 2020, the Prizefighter was involved in a championship program with the Head of the Table.
Owens wasn’t going to get over his loss at WWE TLC: Tables 2020 easily. He decided to go to war with Reigns inside a steel cage in the opening contest of WWE SmackDown. The match was paced out brilliantly, with the pair spending the first half toying with each other.
The highlight of the match was arguably the finish, which saw Jey Uso handcuff Kevin Owens to the cage walls – allowing Reigns to walk out with no trouble at all.
AJ Styles vs. Daniel Bryan (June 12, 2020)
A match between AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan is never a letdown. The pair met in an instant classic on WWE SmackDown for the Intercontinental Championship. The storyline had the Phenomenal One trying to reclaim his top spot in the house he built. For the American Dragon, it was about retaining one of the most prestigious titles against a fellow best in the world.
WWE put this SmackDown encounter between the two veterans on number five of their 25 best matches of 2020 compilation. In the end, Styles defeated his longtime opponent to capture the Intercontinental Championship for the first time in his career.
Also read: Best SmackDown Matches Of 2022
