Since time immemorial, when something works well, people want more of it. Widely popular television series are a prime example, often resulting in “spinoff” programs intended to double viewers’ pleasure. In most cases, these spinoffs fail to capture the original show’s spirit—11 seasons of M*A*S*H couldn’t breathe viewer life into the woeful post-Korean War casualty, After M*A*S*H—while rare exceptions like Frasier prove equal to predecessors like Cheers. However, on April 29, 1999, after 309 installments of Raw, the pilot episode of SmackDown did what most spinoffs couldn’t: it established its own identity in sports-entertainment.

From Connecticut’s New Haven Coliseum, SmackDown broadcaster Michael Cole hailed the return of World Wrestling Entertainment to network television (UPN, which in 2006 merged with the WB! to create the CW Network). The more commonly recognized SmackDown identifiers didn’t yet exist—the show’s traditional blue ring ropes were red, while the TitanTron familiar to Raw fans stood over the stage (later giving way to the OvalTron, then the giant steel-colored fist fans now know and love)—but the show instantly took on a life of its own. Seamlessly carrying over the WWE action and drama that dominated Monday night cable, SmackDown emphasized a unique blend of athleticism and emotion on broadcast television. The end result? SmackDown became an instant hit, and muscled its way into the network’s fall lineup.

Of course, the events that unfolded that night in New Haven certainly went a long way toward SmackDown’s emergence as a primetime TV powerhouse. Chief among these highlights was the introduction of WWE’s latest threat, in which Shane McMahon merged his Corporation cronies (Triple H, Chyna, Big Boss Man and the Mean Street Posse) with Undertaker’s Ministry of Darkness (The Acolytes, Mideon, Viscera and Paul Bearer) to form the Corporate Ministry. Their mission: to destroy WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon, new WWE Champion “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and The Rock, who had been unceremoniously kicked out of the Corporation less than 72 hours earlier.

Triple H & Undertaker nearly accomplished the unholy alliance’s objective that evening, in an explosive tag-team main event that forced Austin to team with the archrival Brahma Bull, only one month after beating him for the WWE Title at WrestleMania XV. Despite a no-contest result, an ensuing Corporate Ministry onslaught threatened to doom the Texas Rattlesnake and The Rock, until Big Show, Test and Shamrock raced down to thwart the attack. Even more unbelievable, Mr. McMahon would participate in the ultimate of ironies, sacrificing himself to save Austin from an Undertaker chair assault. Driving The Deadman from the ring, Stone Cold interrupted Shane’s brutal beating of his unconscious father, delivering a debilitating Stunner on the Corporate Ministry leader.

Naturally, April 29, 1999, was only the first salvo of a bigger battle destined to unfold in the coming months. However, one important measure of victory had been achieved: the WWE masses loved and wanted more SmackDown. Four hundred episodes later, the fans continue to clamor for more, yet few will argue as to how pivotal a role the show’s pilot played—and why it deserves its place as WWE.com’s No. 3 Most Memorable Moment in SmackDown History.