WWE's Post-9/11 SmackDown Was Tough But Brought the Roster Closer Than Ever

Shawn Stasiak was honored to be a part of the first SmackDown after the September 11 attack in 2001, a role he did not take lightly. 

The September 13, 2001, edition of SmackDown was the largest gathering on U.S. soil following the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, New York. The show featured several tributes from wrestlers and on-screen personalities as well as a heartfelt rendition of America the Beautiful by then-ring announcer Lilian Garcia to open the show. 

Shawn Stasiak on WWE's Post-9/11 SmackDown

During the September 13, SmackDown, Stasiak, a comedy goofball on-screen worked with The Rock, whom he had a mini-feud with at the time. Speaking to Sportskeeda this week, Stasiak reflected on the show and being able to be a sense of relief at a dark time in American history. 

"I got to work with The Rock and also I got to play a character role that was, yes the comical relief of the show, maybe I wasn't crazy about it. But to be part of that special night, to be able to put smiles on faces, to be able to make people laugh for a moment during my segment. I did my job. I did my part. I played my role."

Stasiak, like many in the States, learned of the attack on that fateful Tuesday morning and watched the tragedy unfold live. With a numb feeling, Stasiak went to a nearby workout center, where he found Vince McMahon. 

"I remember going into the fitness room and seeing Vince McMahon there and I remember him just sitting on the floor with his back up against the wall just staring at the TV monitor uh during the CNN Network. I don't know what news it was but it was a major news network. He was just sitting there just nodding his head in disgust and saying 'Those b***rds! Those b***rds and I think that's how we all felt."

Being Brought Together

After the attack, businesses and events immediately shut down fearing that another attack was coming. After much deliberation, the decision was made for the show to go on and SmackDown was held in Houston, Texas. In the video, Stasiak recalls this being a tough time but how the tragedy ironically brought the roster closer together. 

 "It was a tough time but at the same time ironically it really brought all of us closer together. Really like one big family to be honest. The people that you were already close with or that you traveled with you became even closer. The ones that maybe you didn't care for, I mean in this business you don't have to always like the person you're doing business with, that happens all the time in this business.

"But it just made you realize [what is really important.] It's unfortunate that sometimes there has to be a traumatic event or something of that nature to take place for you to just bring things out into what matters and what's important and I think that just brought us all together closer."