Friday night’s SmackDown from Louisville was the kind of show WWE hopes it never has to do. After losing not one, but two beloved figures during the week — Terry Funk, who died at 79, and Bray Wyatt, who passed away unexpectedly at just 36 — it was the kind of broadcast that had to be extremely difficult for the wrestlers and staff to put on.
It was tough for fans as well, still reeling from the fact that a universally respected legend and a uniquely creative superstar were both gone. Yet by turning most of Friday’s show into a tribute to Funk and Wyatt, WWE managed to make it as cathartic as possible. Certainly it felt that way watching at home, and hopefully it turned out the same for everyone involved.
Yes, there was sadness. Yes, there were tears. But SmackDown also did a fantastic job of highlighting the joy both men brought to so many during the course of their careers.
Emotional? No question. Touching? Absolutely.
If ever there was a SmackDown to revisit, this was it. Here, in chronological order, were the five most touching moments from Friday night.