On June 13, 2003, at approximately 9:56 a.m., scientists noted minor seismic activity on the floor of the Indian Ocean. While the near-insignificant activity represented no danger to anyone, researchers were mystified as to what had triggered it. It was eventually discovered that the disruption had originated nearly half a world away on June 12, when Orlando’s TD Waterhouse Centre hosted SmackDown’s 199th installment, and WWE.com’s No. 2 Most Memorable Moment in SmackDown History. The night when WWE Champion Brock Lesnar superplexed the seven-foot, 500-pound Big Show from the top rope, causing all four corners of the ring to collapse under their weight.

Hulk Hogan’s bodyslam of Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III is often referred to as the “Slam Heard ’Round the World,” yet even that ring didn’t buckle under the incredible force of Andre’s body impacting against the mat. Yet in this SmackDown main event, with the WWE Championship at stake, Lesnar’s superplex of Big Show literally flattened the squared circle. The ropes, turnbuckles, ring supports…everything imploded as the two behemoths crashed onto the canvas, creating a thunderous sound much like a series of cannons being discharged. As the ring dropped out from under his feet, official Mike Chioda’s reaction comically resembled Wile E. Coyote after realizing he had run off the edge of a cliff; unfortunately, Chioda had no time to even brace himself from a hard fall, much less write or display a sign that said “Yikes”.

The sold-out TD Waterhouse crowd erupted and stood in unison, convinced that Lesnar and/or Big Show had been seriously injured. Even SmackDown announcers Michael Cole and Tazz were unable to contain their shocked disbelief as Chioda struggled to upright himself, then immediately summoned trainers, EMTs and referees down to ringside to tend to the motionless Superstars.

Both Lesnar and Big Show would recover from the devastating ring collapse, though it was obvious by this point that their hotly contested WWE Championship Match would end in a no-contest. Even so, the coveted gold became a secondary concern in the minds of WWE fans that night; those who weren’t shrieking in fear for the Superstars’ well-being were wildly clamoring in approval of this unforgettable moment. The top-rope superplex also provided significant figurative impact from a television standpoint. Unlike many tenured programs that fall back on familiar elements, this edition of SmackDown firmly reminded viewers that anything can happen in WWE, at any time. (By the way, if you’re a seismologist stationed to monitor future activity in the Indian Ocean, consider this fair warning.)