Smackdown!

Orlando, Florida
June 21, 2001

Just 72 hours before the 2001 King of the Ring, SmackDown! aired from Orlando, Fla.!

The 2000 King of the Ring -- Kurt Angle -- headed to the ring as the show kicked off! Just three days before he faces Shane McMahon in a street fight, and just three days before he seeks to repeat as King of the Ring, your Olympic hero addressed the allegations that he was getting too cocky by calling himself a superhero. Angle said he was indeed super, and was indeed a hero! Angle said that even though Shane McMahon could fly, Shane was nothing but a mere mortal.

Angle said he was talking to his good friend Shaquille O'Neal -- who used to play basketball in Orlando, before he left the city and won back-to-back titles, as Angle intends to do at King of the Ring! As the crowd booed, Angle talked about how great it would be to repeat as King of the Ring. He said he was thrilled to be in the final four with Edge, Christian and Rhyno -- his buddies. But he said that King of the Ring was a grown-up thing, and he was a man playing with boys.

Angle then tried to correct himself -- but before he could, out came Edge & Christian! Kurt said he meant to say in a world of boys, he was a man who likes to beat them! As the Olympian again struggled to correct himself, Christian said that Kurt was indeed a man and a superhero, but most importantly, Kurt was a dork! Edge called him dorkimus maximus!

Edge said that he and Christian didn't make it this far to face Kurt -- they made it this far to beat him! Edge said that even if Christian lost to Kurt in the semifinals, he would shut Kurt's whiny superhero ass up once and for all in the finals!

Christian took exception to that, asking Edge why he wouldn't be able to beat Kurt in the semis. Christian promised to beat Angle, and then Edge in the finals.

Angle then called Edge & Christian a couple of ungrateful snot-nosed punks! Kurt said that E&C were nothing before they met him, and that he made them what they are today! The Olympic hero demanded an apology or else he would do something he would regret -- and Kurt added, "See this finger? See this thumb? See this fist? You better run!"

Suddenly, out came Rhyno, the fourth and final participant in the King of the Ring tournament this Sunday on Pay-Per-View. Rhyno said that E&C didn't need Angle, and never did. Rhyno said that he, Edge & Christian would make damn sure that Angle didn't repeat -- and Rhyno then gored Edge! A melee broke out, with E&C on the receiving end of most of the punishment. Angle & Rhyno stared each other down as the segment ended.

Back in the parking area, the Undertaker and Sara awaited the arrival of Diamond Dallas Page.

Prior to his match against the Big Show, Spike Dudley asked Molly Holly to remain backstage, so as to avoid any problems. She agreed, and then gave him a kiss for good luck before he went to the ring!

Spike was put up against the Big Show in a no-disqualification match as punishment for challenging Stone Cold Steve Austin on Monday's episode of RAW IS WAR, and Spike was clearly overmatched in the battle of David vs. Goliath. But Spike showed no fear against the 7-foot-2, 500-pound monster, even hitting the Dudley Dogg at one point! But just moments later, Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley -- taking advantage of the no-DQ stipulation -- ran to the ring and gave Spike a 3-D, allowing Big Show to chokeslam Spike and pin him for the win!

In the parking area, a limo pulled up to the arena, and the Undertaker went right for it. But it wasn't DDP -- it was Vince McMahon, who swore that he had nothing to do with Page's actions. He promised the Taker that he would get security to keep DDP out of the arena, which the Undertaker said was unacceptable! Taker said that if DDP came to the arena, he was to be allowed in, or else Vince would pay!

In six-man action, Kane and the Hardy Boyz took on X-Factor. As the match began, it was announced that X-Pac would challenge Jeff Hardy for the Light Heavyweight Championship this Sunday at King of the Ring. The six men tore into one another, and in the end, it was Kane and the Hardys who stood tall, as Kane nailed X-Pac with a chokeslam and Jeff followed up with a Swanton Bomb for the pin.

In Mr. McMahon's locker room, the Federation chairman was on the phone when Stone Cold Steve Austin entered his locker room.

McMahon quickly hung up, and Austin asked Vince about the ultimatum he gave him on RAW -- him or Linda. He asked Vince if he had made up his mind. The chairman said he was still thinking about it, but he said Austin probably could predict which way he would go. Austin said he had a present for the chairman -- and gave him a hunting bow! Stone Cold even gave Mr. McMahon his hat! The chairman was taken aback by the whole situation!

In the parking lot, Taker and Sara continued to wait for Diamond Dallas Page.

As Tajiri watched footage of his RAW match against Rhyno, he was approached by Commissioner William Regal. Regal said he hoped Tajiri didn't blame him for his loss Monday night. Suddenly, Taka and Funaki came in his office and asked for matches against Stone Cold Steve Austin, and then against Jeff Hardy. Regal refused both, and Tajiri and Taka nearly got into a physical altercation!

Mr. McMahon was playing with the hunting bow when Stone Cold and Debra walked in. Debra was holding a stack of homemade cookies. Vince said the cookies were delicious, and Austin said they tasted like crap, and he liked to skim them across the river! Austin then yelled at his wife for putting too much sugar on the cookies!

The final four participants in the King of the Ring tournament met in tag action next, as Edge & Christian took on Rhyno and Kurt Angle. Rhyno was able to gore both Edge & Christian, and Angle took advantage, pinning Edge to score the win for his team.

After the bell, Shane McMahon snuck into the ring and nailed Angle in the head with a kendo stick before security could chase the Boy Wonder away.

Austin then went back to Mr. McMahon, and the chairman again thanked him for everything. Stone Cold then gave Mr. McMahon a framed and autographed picture of the two men shaking hands at WrestleMania! Austin said that the two of them were like the old song -- "That's What Friends Are For."

Perry Saturn and Terri were in Commissioner Regal's office, where Regal told Saturn he was giving him a Hardcore Championship match against Test on SmackDown! Regal asked Saturn what he had to say for himself, and Saturn responded, "Doggies eat applesauce to save the ozone layer!" Regal got a smile on his face, and told Saturn that Test was going around telling people that doggies eat kumquats to save the ozone layer! Saturn got defensive, insisting that doggies eat applesauce! You're welcome!

The sounds of broken glass filled the arena, and out came the World Wrestling Federation Champion, Stone Cold Steve Austin! The Rattlesnake stared down Michael Cole, smacked his headset off, and yelled at the announcer for what he had been saying about him. Apparently, Cole had said that he didn't like Stone Cold's chances in the Triple Threat match at King of the Ring, and had also said that Austin hadn't been the same since selling his soul to the devil. Austin asked Cole if he was calling Mr. McMahon the devil.

Austin then told Cole to stand up, and said he was going to whip Cole's ass for talking smack about Austin's friend Mr. McMahon. The Rattlesnake began slapping Cole around, and demanded that Cole never say another word about Vince McMahon. Austin put the microphone to Cole's mouth and demanded that Cole say, "Yes sir, Stone Cold," which Cole did. Austin called Cole pathetic, and beat the announcer down with swift punches and kicks, even standing on Cole's head!

During the commercial break, Austin decided that he hadn't had enough, so he returned to the ringside area and assaulted several cameramen and technicians, before laying the boots into Cole one more time! Cole had to be stretchered out of the arena. Jim Ross came to ringside to provide play-by-play with Paul Heyman for the remainder of SmackDown!

Moments later, Stone Cold went looking for Mr. McMahon backstage to tell him what he had just done, but the Federation chairman was nowhere to be found.

Next up, Test defended the Hardcore Championship against Perry Saturn, who was accompanied to ringside by Terri. In the end, kumquats emerged victorious over applesauce, as Test pinned Saturn to retain his title following a boot to the face. During the course of action, Saturn had found a mop at ringside, and he refused to let go of it after the match.

The Undertaker and his wife, Sara, walked backstage when they ran into Kane.

Kane promised his brother that if DDP were to bring any of his buddies from WCW, Kane would have his brother's back. The Dead Man said he appreciated it.

Stone Cold was still looking for Vince McMahon backstage, and he asked a technician where Vince was. The technician responded that he thought Vince had left the building, and Austin said that was impossible, since Vince wouldn't have left without telling him good-bye!

The Undertaker and Sara headed to the ring to a huge ovation, and the Dead Man asked who in the hell Diamond Dallas Page was! Taker promised to beat the hell out of Page the first chance he got. Taker questioned DDP's motives for stalking his wife.

Taker then explained why DDP wasn't famous -- because he sucks! He said that Page didn't deserve to be in the World Wrestling Federation, because Page was a half-ass talent working for a second-rate company which had gone out of business. The Undertaker promised to make Page's wish come true -- he said he would make him famous!

The Dead Man talked about his Decade of Destruction, and promised to add DDP's name to the top of the list of stars he'd made famous, by giving Page the biggest ass-kicking he had ever given anybody!

Taker challenged DDP's manhood for not showing up on SmackDown!, and then begged him to show up at King of the Ring. Suddenly, Page appeared on the OvalTron, live from the Undertaker's ranch. He gave Taker and Sara a guided tour of Taker's home.

Page even laid down on the Undertaker's bed, as the Dead Man seethed in anger! DDP said he would see Undertaker at King of the Ring -- and he begged him to make him famous!

During the break, Stone Cold entered Mr. McMahon's locker room to find the cookies, picture, hat, and bow and arrow lying on the couch, with Mr. McMahon nowhere to be found. Austin took the stuff back for safe keeping until he saw the chairman again.

Next up, Tajiri -- accompanied by Commissioner Regal -- took on Taka. Prior to the bout, Taka told Tajiri that Tajiri that Tajiri's portrayal of Japanese stereotypes was insulting. He told Tajiri that he might serve tea, but Taka and Funaki served evil! Funaki added, "Indeed!" Tajiri would knock Taka loopy with a powerful kick to the head for the pinfall, much to Commissioner Regal's delight.

Lilian Garcia talked to Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley, just moments before their Tag Team Championship match against Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho. D-Von said they didn't have to explain their actions against Spike, and Bubba said that they didn't care about Spike anymore, and that the Tag Championship was their one focus. He told Benoit & Jericho not to focus on King of the Ring, but instead to prepare for the Dudley Boyz.

The main event on SmackDown! was the Tag Team Championship match, as Y2J and the Wolverine defended against the Dudley Boyz, who have held that title on three occasions in the past.

D-Von soon set up a table on one side of the ring, and Y2J did the same on the other side of the ring! The match was packed with near-falls, as Jericho hit the Lionsault, Benoit hit the diving headbutt, and the Dudleys hit the 3-D.

D-Von and Jericho wound up on the announce table, where D-Von picked Y2J up and was about to powerbomb him onto a table -- but Jericho instead backdropped D-Von, who went flying through the table! With the ref distracted by the action outside the ring, Benoit got the Crossface on D-Von in the ring, but Stone Cold ran down and walloped Benoit in the head with the Federation Championship! A groggy Bubba Ray then slithered over and covered Benoit to win the Tag Team Championship!

As Stone Cold walked away, he ran into Mr. McMahon, who informed Austin that he had been with Michael Cole, who had threatened to sue the Federation for what happened earlier in the evening. McMahon said he had talked Cole out of it, but Cole was still thinking about suing the Rattlesnake -- and if so, Mr. McMahon insisted it was coming out of Austin's wallet! McMahon then told Austin the chairman would not be at King of the Ring, and when Austin went to hug McMahon, McMahon stopped him, and issued an ultimatum to the Rattlesnake -- retain the title at King of the Ring, or else their relationship was through! As McMahon walked away, a dejected Stone Cold thought about the ramifications of that statement, as SmackDown! went off the air.