Five years ago this week, WWE SmackDown aired a memorable episode centered around the Undertaker’s iconic Boneyard Match against A.J. Styles, a moment that remains a cornerstone of WWE history. The event, held on June 26, 2020, at the Orlando Performance Center and broadcast on the FOX network, featured tributes, intense rivalries, and set the stage for Jeff Hardy’s heated clash with King Corbin.
This episode revisited Undertaker’s legendary career and sparked emotional responses from wrestlers and fans, framing the Boneyard Match as his retirement bout and paying homage to his storied legacy in WWE.
Opening Tribute and Build-Up to the Boneyard Match
The show began with a compilation of highlights celebrating Undertaker’s long career, including rare early footage. Wrestlers gathered on stage chanting “Thank you, Taker!” to honor his contributions. Announcers Michael Cole and Corey Graves stoked anticipation for the Boneyard Match, which aired soon after, interspersed with comments from notable WWE figures such as John Cena, Edge, Kane, and Ric Flair.
After the match concluded, the show returned to the Performance Center, where the retirement nature of Undertaker’s Boneyard battle was emphasized. King Corbin appeared in the ring, delivering a scathing promo about Undertaker. He criticized the WWE legend, suggesting that the Boneyard Match was a fitting end 30 years after Undertaker’s debut, branding him “an old bag of bones” and
“a shell of what he used to be.”
Corbin accused Undertaker of benefiting unfairly from WWE owners’ protection, implying he had held back talent for decades. In a pointed attack, Corbin declared,
“Undertaker, you’ve been stealing money from this company for the last 20 years,”
asserting he was selfish for blocking the rise of younger wrestlers.
Despite Corbin’s jeers at the crowd chanting “Thank you, Taker!” Jeff Hardy then launched an unexpected attack on Corbin from behind the plexiglass barrier, escalating tensions between the two wrestlers.
Wrestlers Reflect on Undertaker’s Legacy
Throughout the episode, numerous WWE stars shared their thoughts on Undertaker’s influence. Steve Austin praised him as a relentless competitor, calling him a “war horse,” while Kurt Angle lauded his intelligence and described him as the embodiment of a superhero in the wrestling world.
At ringside, Sarah Schreiber interviewed Jeff Hardy about Corbin’s harsh criticism of Undertaker. Hardy responded passionately, stating that Undertaker’s legacy was deserving of top-tier respect. As Hardy put it, the Mount Rushmore of WWE should feature Undertaker’s face four times. He challenged Corbin directly, promising to unleash everything he had learned through his career in response to Corbin’s insults.
Bayley and Sasha Banks also made their presence felt by playfully taunting announcers before taking seats at the commentary desk, setting the stage for further drama throughout the night.
SmackDown Women’s Title Contenders Battle It Out
The first match of the night featured Nikki Cross, Alexa Bliss, Lacey Evans, and Dana Brooke competing for a chance to challenge for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at Extreme Rules. The bout opened with Bliss and Nikki targeting their opponents together, but friction soon arose when Nikki attempted a roll-up on Bliss, leading both Sasha Banks and Bayley to express disbelief at such betrayal among allies.
As the match progressed, Lacey Evans and Dana Brooke gained the upper hand with coordinated attacks, including Brooke’s gymnastic elbow drop and a top-rope senton splash that narrowly missed its mark. Nikki Cross intervened at crucial moments, breaking pins and mounting counterattacks. Bliss’s attempt at her signature move, Twisted Bliss, was thwarted by Brooke, who countered with a knee strike.
The conclusion saw Lacey deliver her finishing move, Woman’s Right, to Brooke, but Nikki quickly capitalized, rolling up Lacey from behind for the pinfall victory at the five-minute mark, securing herself a title match opportunity.
During this time, several audience members including NXT star Eric Bugenhagen were noted wearing masks, adding an unusual visual element to the live crowd amid pandemic precautions.
Tag Team Chaos and Backstage Rivalries Heat Up
Next, tension flared with backstage confrontations involving Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura, The New Day, Lucha House Party, and the duo of Miz & John Morrison. These disputes set up an eight-man tag team match later in the show. The in-ring action was fast-paced, with Big E beginning aggressively by splashing Miz on the ring apron, and Lince Dorado executing a springboard stunner on Miz during the bout.
The match spilled into chaos at ringside, culminating in Cesaro, Nakamura, and The New Day fighting their way backstage. Gran Metalik ended the match with a decisive top-rope elbow on Miz, giving the combined teams of The New Day and Lucha House Party the victory.
Meanwhile, backstage interviews continued to add drama. Sarah Schreiber caught up with Corbin, who derided Jeff Hardy, claiming his association with Undertaker had only led to personal troubles including legal issues and rehab stints. Corbin urged Hardy to consider retirement, ironically mirroring Undertaker’s own farewell.
Braun Strowman’s Intense Reflection on Bray Wyatt
Braun Strowman made a powerful entrance, delivering a deeply personal and chilling promo about his history with Bray Wyatt. Strowman described feeling profound fear upon first meeting Wyatt, recalling a sinister night by a swamp where Wyatt’s lantern glowed ominously. Strowman painted a vivid picture of a snake emerging from the swamp, which Bray called a friend despite it biting him repeatedly. He described this as a clear sign of Wyatt’s malevolent nature.
Strowman solemnly declared,
“and all he did was laugh.”
He acknowledged he had since embraced some of that darkness himself and struggles to suppress it, yet it still calls to him. He issued a grave warning, saying there were only two possible outcomes of their conflict: he would either become the most evil person on earth or triumph and tear Wyatt apart. Strowman vowed to drag Wyatt back to the swamp and let nature finish the fight, adding,
“Do you want to go to the place of your creation? Let’s go because I’m ready to turn it into the place of your destruction, one more time,”
as Bray’s eerie laughter echoed over the arena’s speakers.
Veterans Reflect on Undertaker’s Influence
Veteran wrestlers Mick Foley and Batista offered insights on Undertaker’s lasting impact. Foley emphasized that Undertaker’s role in shaping his own career was immense and something he could not imagine being without. Batista’s comments carried a tone of quiet disappointment, as if addressing a wayward child, underscoring the mixed emotions tied to Undertaker’s retirement and legacy.
Climactic Match: Jeff Hardy vs. King Corbin
The night’s main event saw Jeff Hardy face off against King Corbin in a passionate contest marked by Corbin’s early dominance. Corbin brutalized Hardy in the opening moments, even mocking Undertaker’s iconic pose before the show cut to commercial. Hardy mounted a comeback, turning the tide with a reverse whip at ringside and evading Corbin’s attack attempts.
After intense exchanges, Hardy clinched victory with his signature move, the Swanton Bomb, after 12 minutes. However, Corbin’s aggression continued post-match as he attacked Hardy once more, prompting a group of wrestlers including Big E, Braun Strowman, and Matt Riddle to come to Hardy’s defense. Big E’s Big Ending and Braun’s powerslam cleared the ring before Riddle sealed the moment with a Floating Bro, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
Michael Cole summed up the night as
“What an incredible night here on SmackDown!”
and Hardy honored Undertaker by kneeling and signaling towards a tribute photo displayed on the big screen, closing the episode on a poignant note.
Lasting Impact of the Boneyard Match on WWE
Reflecting on this WWE SmackDown episode five years later, the Boneyard Match remains a defining moment not only for Undertaker’s career but for WWE storytelling as a whole. Its cinematic approach and emotional weight enhanced the perception of wrestling beyond the ring, influencing how rivalries and retirements are portrayed.
The ongoing feuds and passionate performances from Hardy, Corbin, Strowman, and others during the show demonstrated WWE’s ability to weave real and scripted tensions into compelling narratives. This episode helped to cement the legacy of legends like Undertaker while elevating rising stars through dramatic challenges.
Looking ahead, the echoes of this night continue to shape WWE programming, reminding fans of the emotional stakes involved in the sport-entertainment hybrid and the lasting power of moments like the Undertaker Boneyard Match WWE highlight.
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