SmackDown is over 300 episodes behind Raw. If the show survives that long, it'll be at the end of 2018 until we see SmackDown 1000.

With very little competition from the wrestling world, there's little reason WWE can't have SmackDown repeat Raw's historic feat.

The following is an imagining of what that episode might look like.

Undertaker, Kane and Rey Mysterio will all likely be retired. New blood from FCW, TNA and Japan will find its way into the world's biggest wrestling company.

Trying to factor in those changes and others, I present a glimpse into one potential future.

SmackDown and WWE Updates

After some chaos on both shows, Vince McMahon decided several months back to take over Raw and appoint his son, Shane, as the GM of SmackDown.

Michael Cole and Chris Jericho are currently on commentary. Jericho is doing a three-month stint before returning to the rock-and-roll side of his life once more.

Wade Barrett is the WWE Champion. He also leads a faction that calls themselves, "The Horde." They are a merciless group of selfish men who seek to take over WWE, delighting in destruction along the way.

Their group borders on cult status, with leader Barrett speaking of training to thrive on pain, to see in the darkness, to move beyond human limitations.

Antonio Cesaro, Dean Ambrose, Tyler Reks, Curtis Hawkins and Jinder Mahal are all members.

Cesaro is the current Intercontinental Champion, having beat (and injured) Tyson Kidd at SummerSlam.

Richie Steamboat and Seth Rollins have been tag team champions for 370 days now.

Cody Rhodes is the World Heavyweight Champion. He and John Cena have had an increasingly intense feud over the last few months.

CM Punk has put together to a group to combat the growing power of The Horde.

Along with Punk, The Red Knights are comprised of Booby Roode, a face Dolph Ziggler and Christian.

The Red Knights and The Horde have been clashing of late, especially Punk and Barrett.

Tamina is the Divas champion, but she is rarely used.

The brand split is completely gone with all champions appearing on each show from time to time.

Opening

Shane McMahon welcomes the fans to SmackDown 1000. He promises a great show.

Kurt Angle is scheduled to appear. Wade Barrett will put his WWE title on the line, as will the WWE Tag Team Champions.

Kofi Kingston, who holds the WWE Championship Money in the Bank, will face Damien Sandow, who holds the Money in the Bank for the World Heavyweight Championship.

"And Hall of Famer, Edge will be in the building!" Shane says.

The Red Knights' music comes on and the group heads down to the ring. Last week, Shane told them that one of the members of The Red Knights would face Barrett for the title.

"Well, who is it?" Ziggler asks.

Shane tells them that any one of their members can challenge for the WWE Championship. It's up to them to choose amongst themselves.

Punk and Ziggler immediately look at each other. As they open their mouths to speak, Christian butts in.

"Don't think this is just between the two of you," he says.

Each Red Knights member says why they have the best chance to beat Barrett. They squabble for a few moments before Punk tells everyone to stop.

"This isn't the place to decide this," he says.

He suggests they mull it over backstage. They begrudgingly agree and begin to leave the ring when The Horde comes down to face them.

Wade tells Punk that it doesn't matter who faces him. He'll cripple them, regardless.

The Red Knights walk on.

Tag Team Championship

Tag team champions Richie Steamboat and Seth Rollins stroll down the aisle, smirking with arrogance. In the ring, Rollins demands a mic.

He tells the crowd that after tonight, he and Steamboat will have the longest reign of any tag champs in WWE history. Their reign of 370 days is tied with The Valiant Brothers.

"And seeing how Yoshi Tatsu is injured, I don't think Naomichi Marufuji is going to pose any challenge to us," Rollins says.

A Raw recap plays on the big screen showing Steamboat and Rollins attacking Tatsu in the locker room. Watching their handiwork, the champions laugh.

Marufuji's music comes on. He storms down to ringside.

He tells them that he will still be challenging for the tag titles.

"I've found a new partner," he announces.

After a pregnant pause, AJ Styles' music hits. The crowd shoots to their feet and cheers.

"After only six months with WWE, AJ Styles is going to have a shot at gold tonight," Michael Cole says.

The two teams battle back and forth. The challengers start out quickly, hitting dropkicks and springboard moves before Steamboat catches Marufuji with a vicious mid-air lariat.

He and Rollins proceed to stomp and grind on Marufuji in their corner.

A hot tag from Styles turns the tide for a few moments, but soon Rollins hits his Blackout and Styles is out cold. Marufuji makes the save just before two, hitting Rollins with a superkick.

Styles makes the tag, as does Rollins. Briefly, all four men brawl in the ring. Styles knocks Rollins out of the ring with a Pelé kick then gives one to Steamboat as well.

Marufuji lands the Shiranui for the pin. The new champions embrace in the ring and raise their titles high in the air.

Kurt Angle Promo

Kurt Angle receives a massive pop as he heads down the ramp.

Angle addresses the crowd about returning to WWE. He's only signed for one match.

"And if it's going to be one match, it has to be at WrestleMania," he says.

He explains that he doesn't want to waste this opportunity. It isn't going to be about championships; it's going to be about making history. He says he wants someone who can provide him a real challenge, someone who can bring out the very best in him.

"I don't know if there is anyone on this roster today who can do that," he says.

Daniel Bryan's music hits and the fans instantly go into Yes!-chant mode. Bryan and Angle stare each other down in the center of the ring.

"This Yes chant is like herpes, you just can't get rid of it,” Jericho says.

Bryan talks about wanting to be the best ever, to become a legend. In order to do that, he's going to have to beat Angle.

Angle hesitates, eyes Bryan warily, glances over at the crowd.

"You're on," he says.

Alberto Del Rio Wants a Match

Alberto Del Rio confronts Shane McMahon backstage.

"How can you not have me in a match? It's SmackDown 1000. You can't have SmackDown 1000 without Alberto Del Rio,” Del Rio whines.

Shane smiles.

"I do have a match for you. It starts right now," he says.

Shane refuses to tell him who it is against. He says that he'll have to find out when the fans do.

Del Rio waits apprehensively in the ring. Batista's music comes on. Del Rio scrambles out of the ring.

Batista charges down to the ring, catches Del Rio and pounds away on him. In a short match, Batista delivers a series of ring-rattling power moves before ending it with a powerbomb.

Edge’s Announcement

Edge enters the arena to a booming response from the crowd. In the ring, he talks about having that desire to return to in-ring action. He wishes his body was in better shape.

He misses the WWE.

But instead of risking his own health, he's decided to take another avenue to reclaim the euphoria of victory. He says he's been training a new superstar and he will serve as this young man's manager throughout his stellar career.

He points to the entrance ramp as former NCAA wrestling champion Tony Nelson enters.

Nelson does little talking as Edge explains that Nelson has all the tools to succeed. He has the size, he has the wrestling ability—he just needs the attitude.

"That’s where I come in," Edge says.

He says that Nelson will enter the Royal Rumble and promises that he'll win the whole thing.

Antonio Cesaro vs. Bobby Roode

Antonio Cesaro comes to the ring with The Horde at his side. Bobby Roode comes in with The Red Knights.

While Cesaro and Roode feel each other inside the ring, Christian and Dolph Ziggler both loudly and demonstratively give CM Punk their opinions about the WWE title match.

Roode out-wrestles Cesaro momentarily and tops an offensive flurry with a hard-hitting clothesline. Roode goes for the pin, but Ambrose yanks the ref's leg while he counts.

The ref yells at Ambrose, but lets the match continue.

Roode and Cesaro trade big moves and soon the match turns uglier. The two begin to brawl. When they roll out of the ring, still blasting each other with punches, they fall onto Ambrose and Tyler Reks.

The Horde beats up on Roode before The Red Knights head over and fight them off. A wild fight breaks out.

In the midst of the brawl, Barrett sneak-attacks Punk with a chair to his leg. He continues to smash Punk's ankle as Punk writhes in pain.

Eventually, security teams and referees come in and break up the fight. Punk is helped to the backstage area.

John Cena vs. Ted DiBiase

Cody Rhodes sits at the announce table and joins Chris Jericho and Michael Cole on commentary.

Ted DiBiase attacks John Cena right away, punching him repeatedly in the head. He gets in a move or two before Cena goes on the attack.

A shoulder block is followed by another shoulder block. Cena signals for the Five Knuckle Shuffle.

Half the fans wince; the other half is elated.

Cena lifts DiBiase over his shoulders for an Attitude Adjustment and hooks the leg for the pin.

Rhodes tries to sneak up on Cena and whack him his World Heavyweight Championship, but Cena sees him. Cena balls up his fists. Rhodes ducks out of the ring, frustrated.

Cena promises to take Rhodes' belt off him soon.

Who Challenges Barrett?

Backstage, Dolph Ziggler and Christian watch on as medical staff work on Punk's ankle.

"Just tape it up," Punk tells the doctor.

The doctor says that Punk is not medically cleared to fight. He needs a brace, some painkillers and some rest. Wrestling is not an option.

"Then who faces Barrett tonight?" Ziggler asks.

Christian and Ziggler bicker over the right, tensions getting worse. Punk interrupts.

"Dolph. You do it," Punk says. Christian objects, but Punk tells him that he has to make a call somehow.

"There's no right answer to this," Punk says, "but somebody has to crack Barrett in the mouth."

Christian sulks as the camera fades and heads to commercial.

Kofi Kingston vs. Damien Sandow

Kofi Kingston gets a big reaction from the crowd. Damien Sandow gets big-time boos.

The action begins with a quick pace, both men countering each other's moves and out-thinking the other man.

Sandow does his best to ground Kingston, keeping much of the action on the mat. He grinds on Kingston with various submission holds, but Kingston still gets a dropkick and a high-flying clothesline in there.

Sandow attempts an Irish whip into the corner, but the ref gets bowled over.

With the ref down, Sandow grabs his Money in the Bank briefcase and whacks Kingston in the head with it. Sandow goes for the pin just as the groggy ref stirs.

The ref counts one, two and just as he is about to count three, he sees the dented briefcase in the corner. He berates Sandow, pointing at the case and accusing him of using it.

Sandow denies it and argues. He gets in the ref's face and seems close to striking him. Kingston sneaks up for a roll-up and gets the pin.

An irate Sandow slams his briefcase around the ring and pulls at his hair.

Austin Aries Backstage

Austin Aries lifts weights with Ric Flair's daughter, Ashley, standing near him. Ashley encourages Aries while flirting with him.

The Horde walks in.

Wade Barrett tells Aries that The Horde has been watching him and has liked what they've seen. He talks about his philosophies about free will and letting the animal in you take over.

Aries stands face to face with Barrett.

"I'm more of the lone wolf type."

Barrett is disgusted. He orders the other members to attack Aries, banging him into the wall and stomping on him. Ashley darts out of the room, screaming.

WWE Championship Match

Antonio Cesaro accompanies Wade Barrett. Dolph Ziggler comes out alone.

Ziggler and Barrett put on a main event-worthy match. They fight intensely, but cautiously.

Each man attempts his finisher, but it is thwarted by his opponent with a clever counter.

The action is well-paced and each big move gets a roar from the crowd.

They trade near-falls until Cesaro lands a cheap shot and slams Ziggler into the steel steps. The ref doesn't see any of this.

The match continues and Cesaro continues to throw in sucker punches and choke Ziggler at opportune times. Still, Ziggler hangs in there.

CM Punk heads down to the ring on crutches. He stands ringside, shouting at both Cesaro and Barrett.

The ref nearly catches Cesaro cheating and while he admonishes the Intercontinental Champion, Barrett heads over to shout at Punk.

Ziggler is about to run up from behind and deliver a Zig Zag, but Punk whacks Barrett with one of his crutches. Barrett drops to the ground.

Ziggler goes for the pin. When the ref is about to slap the mat for three, Ziggler gets off Barrett and shakes his head as leaves the ring.

"I can't do it this way," he screams.

Punk tries to convince Ziggler to get back in the ring, but Ziggler only says, "I had him. Why'd you have to take that away from me?"

The bell rings. Ziggler is counted out.

Barrett sits up and seeing his foes squabble, he and Cesaro laugh. SmackDown ends with Punk hobbling after a furious Ziggler.