Smackdown!
Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
December 7, 2000

With just three days until Armageddon, SmackDown! emanated from the World's Most Famous Arena -- Madison Square Garden!

As the show opened, Rikishi, Kurt Angle, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley got out of a limo when they were approached by Commissioner Mick Foley and Lt. Commissioner Debra. Foley told Triple H and Rikishi that after their actions on Monday night, they had earned a one-day suspension and would have to leave the arena. The Game, Rikishi and Stephanie reluctantly left in the limo. But the commish wasn't done -- he told Angle that he would have to defend his World Wrestling Federation Championship on SmackDown! in a Fatal Fourway against The Rock, the Undertaker and Stone Cold Steve Austin!

The opening match on SmackDown! was a mixed tag match, pitting Ivory and Val Venis of the Right to Censor against Chyna and Intercontinental Champion "The One" Billy Gunn. Ivory soon cracked Chyna across the back of the head with the Women's Championship. As Billy Gunn went to break up the pinfall, Chris Benoit came to ringside to hold him back, and Val pinned Chyna. After the match, Benoit locked the Crossface onto Gunn -- if that happens Sunday at Armageddon, a new Intercontinental Champion will be crowned.

Backstage, Dean Malenko was shown holding a big bouquet of roses in preparation for his date with Lita. After giving the roses to the former Women's Champion, Malenko promised Lita a night she wouldn't forget. Lita told Dean that it would definitely be a night he wouldn’t forget.

The sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden rose to its feet as Stone Cold Steve Austin made his way to the ring! The Rattlesnake said he is ready for Hell in a Cell this Sunday. Austin then addressed The Rock's comments on RAW, when the Brahma Bull imitated the men in the match in Hell in a Cell. Austin said that Angle might eat cookies and drink milk, but he was an Olympic gold medalist. Rikishi might have a fat ass, but he would do anything to win the title. Rock took Triple H lightly, but it was the Game who put Austin out for a year. And the Undertaker was still in the midst of his Decade of Destruction -- and the Taker had already survived three Hell in a Cell matches.

Austin said that when the cage door closed at Armageddon, he was willing to suffer and bleed to become World Wrestling Federation Champion. The Rattlesnake then said that that was the bottom line ... but before he could finish, Kurt Angle's theme music played.

The Federation Champion said he agreed with the Rattlesnake ... and Austin threw a beer at him! In fact, every time Angle started to talk, Stone Cold chucked a cold one at him! That angered the champion so much that he just left!

Backstage, Edge & Christian were discussing their match on SmackDown! against Road Dogg and K-Kwik when Ashton Kutcher from the new movie "Dude, Where's My Car?" approached. He was apparently a big fan of Edge & Christian, but all the former Tag Champions could talk about was where the guy's car was! Soon, Edge & Christian thought he was accusing them of stealing his car, and they left! Tazz then approached Kutcher and said that his friend Joey Numbers from Red Hook could get him a really good deal on a car.

Next up, Molly Holly took on Trish Stratus, with the winner to get a Women's Title shot against Ivory at Armageddon. Trish's team, T&A, soon came to ringside. When they tried to interfere, Crash came to ringside and cleaned house with a garbage can lid! The lid soon found its way into the ring, and Trish nailed Molly with the lid! Molly won by DQ, but since neither diva won by pinfall, no clear No. 1 contender for Armageddon was determined. After the match, Crash went into the commissioner's office, where Debra told him that Molly, Ivory and Trish would compete in a Triple Threat Match for the championship at the Pay-Per-View!

In tag team action, European Champion William Regal teamed with Kane to face off with Chris Jericho and Hardcore Holly. Hardcore was able to lock on a sleeper with his "super arm," and when Regal passed out, Hardcore and Y2J picked up the win. After the match, Jericho attacked Kane with a steel chair.

Confined to a wheelchair after being attacked on RAW, Vince McMahon made his way to ringside, accompanied by Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco. Mr. McMahon said that Monday should have been a glorious night when he delivered the "State of the WWF" address, but instead it was a nightmarish hell after he was humiliated by Stone Cold, The Rock, the Undertaker, and Commissioner Foley. Mr. McMahon said that things like that shouldn't happen to him -- because he was a billionaire who could buy and sell everyone in the arena! He then demanded respect for all his accomplishments. 

He said he was violated on RAW, but he promised it would never happen again – in fact, he guaranteed that would never happen again. Mr. McMahon said it would have never happened to begin with if not for Commissioner Foley. 

That brought the commish to the ring -- and Mr. McMahon promised to beat him up in the middle of Madison Square Garden! Foley said that the one exception he would make to his retirement would be to face Vince. Foley then brought out the person who hired him -- Vince's wife, Linda McMahon!

Linda said she respected Vince's opinion about the Hell in a Cell match, but she also respected Mick's. She said she knew Mick would become the most popular commissioner in Federation history. 

Mick said if anyone in the Hell in a Cell match were to be seriously injured, he would resign as commissioner.

Mick then told Vicne that maybe they would face off one day, but until then, Vince should have a nice day!
But it wasn't over yet. Mr. McMahon grabbed the microphone and addressed his wife. He said he couldn't believe that after what he went through on Monday, his wife would support Foley. Mr. McMahon said he had given his life to Federation fans and to his family and to his marriage, but he couldn't take any more. Vince was irate -- to hell with Federation fans, to hell with his family and to hell with his marriage! Vince then told Linda he wanted a divorce, and he demanded that Linda get out of his ring and out of his life! He said she was never good enough for him anyway -- because he was Vince McMahon, dammit!

During the break, Linda left Madison Square Garden in tears.

Prior to their match with Road Dogg and K-Kwik, Edge & Christian performed a rap for the New York City crowd about the Rangers and Patrick Ewing -- and as you might expect, it wasn't too flattering! During the match, Edge speared Christian by accident. The Dogg and K-Kwik then hit the "Hangtime" kick to the face on Edge for the win!

Jonathan Coachman then interviewed the Undertaker about the Hell in a Cell match. A veteran of three such matches, Taker said he was willing to put his career on the line to become Federation Champion this Sunday.

Steven Richards, Val Venis and Ivory stood in the ring and introduced the two newest members of the Right to Censor -- the Dudley Boyz!

D-Von and Buh Buh Ray testified about seeing the light and joining the extremist group. Buh Buh said that vulgairty was wrong, and that violence was wrong, and that scantily-clad women were wrong -- but that if putting people through tables was wrong, then he didn't want to be right! The Dudleys then attacked the Right to Censor in what was obviously a ruse! Moments later, Steven Richards was put through a table in the middle of Madison Square Garden!
Dean Malenko and Lita were at the restaurant on their date when Dean said that Lita should stop denying the chemistry between them. Lita agreed, and said she wanted to be with Dean! Caught off guard, Dean quickly asked the waiter for the check!

Kutcher was still trying to tell Tazz that he didn't want a car when The Kat came by and asked him to take her to a private screening of "Dude, Where's My Car?" Kutcher agreed!

In a hotel room, Lita approached Dean Malenko wearing a negligee! She said she had just one thing to ask Dean -- how did his wife feel about him being a sneaky two-timing bastard? Dean said to forget about his wife, because he was all about her that night. Lita then turned off the lights -- and when she turned them back on, Matt Hardy was standing there with a champagne bottle! Matt slammed the bottle over Malenko's head as Lita laughed! She told Malenko that she had promised him a night he'd never forget, and she hadn't lied! Lita left arm-in-arm with the Hardy Boyz!

It was then main-event time on SmackDown!, as Kurt Angle put his World Wrestling Federation Championship on the line against The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin and the Undertaker in a Fatal Fourway match. In spite of Commissioner Foley’s orders, Triple H and Rikishi soon made their way through the crowd and attacked Austin, Rock and Taker, ending the match in a no-contest. But the makeshift alliance between Rikishi, Angle and the Game didn't last long, as Angle nailed Rikishi with the championship belt! Triple H then clobbered Angle with a chair! The Game left all five men lying in the ring as SmackDown! went off the air.