Smackdown!

Calgary, Alberta
May 30, 2002

Billy & Chuck challenged Rico & Rikishi for the Tag Team Championship as the May 30 episode of SmackDown! kicked off from the Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada! Early on, Rikishi had Chuck in place for a Stink Face, but Rico was about to attack his own partner from behind to prevent it -- until Rikishi turned around and caught the stylist! From there, the double-team began on Rikishi, as Billy & Chuck took control. Rikishi was able to fight the men off, and even fought off his own partner, who tried to attack him on several occasions! Rikishi squashed Chuck with a sit-down splash, and then kicked Rico in the face, causing Rico to fall right onto Chuck. Rico was able to pin Chuck for a successful title defense! Billy & Chuck were irate with Rico after the bout, as Rikishi did a celebratory dance on the stage!

Backstage, Hollywood Hulk Hogan arrived to the arena.

Footage was shown from earlier in the day of Torrie Wilson wishing Maven good luck in his match -- by giving him a big kiss on the lips! Maven said maybe tonight would be his lucky night, and she said yes, maybe it would! As the two walked away, an irate Tajiri was seen spying on the duo!

Next up, Maven battled Christian. Maven was dominating the match and was preparing to go up top, possibly to put the match away. But with Christian distracting the ref, Tajiri ran down and kicked Maven in the head! Christian then nailed the Unprettier for the pinfall!

Mr. McMahon was talking on his cell phone discussing Chris Benoit. The SmackDown! owner said that since Benoit was inactive, he could be on whichever show he wanted, even though the Wolverine had been drafted by SmackDown! Vince said he wasn't a fan of the arrangement. As he spoke, Dawn Marie entered his office, saying she was a paralegal at his law firm. She said she had some papers for him to sign, and although Stacy usually tells her not to bring papers to him directly, since Stacy was away hosting the Tough Enough 2 finale, she figured she would drop them by. As she showed Vince the papers, the SmackDown! owner got a good look at her cleavage and short skirt, and invited her to sit down for a bit while they reviewed the papers. As Vince was about to review the papers (and Dawn Marie), Chris Jericho barged in, complaining about having to face Faarooq on SmackDown! Y2J said he was still so beat up from Hell in a Cell that he didn't understand why Vince had put him in the match. He suggested that Vince was taking advantage of him. Vince said he knew what kind of a competitor Jericho was, and being that Triple H had a match, he didn't want to see The Game outdo Jericho. Jericho then left the locker room, and Mr. McMahon refocused his attention to Dawn Marie, who said she had all night!

After a break, Y2J battled Faarooq. The former APA member took advantage of a weary Jericho, using his power to dominate the former Undisputed Champion. But Y2J rallied back, soon taking the turnbuckle pad off one of the corners. Jericho continued to bend the rules, choking Faarooq with tape. He soon hit a bulldog on Faarooq, but the former WCW Champion moved when Y2J went for the Lionsault. Faarooq planted Jericho with a spinebuster for a two-count. Faarooq went charging at Jericho, but Y2J moved, and Faarooq went head-first into the exposed turnbuckle. Jericho then knocked Faarooq down and pinned him for the victory.

Marc Loyd interviewed Hollywood Hogan. He asked Hulk about what happened last Thursday. Hogan said it was a turning point in his life. He said he knew his time as a full-time competitor was drawing to a close, and all he wanted to do was bow out with some dignity. But he said Vince ruined his moment, and that he could take his contract and shove it! Hogan said he was going to retire -- just not now. He said he'd rearranged his priorities. He said as much as winning the WWE Title meant to him, there was something else that meant just as much -- a one-on-one confrontation with Vince McMahon! He promised to tear Vince's black heart out if it ever happened.

As Hogan spoke, Vince approached him. Vince tore off his jacket and screamed at the Hulkster. Suddenly, Kurt Angle snuck up behind the Hulkster and cracked him in the back of the head with a pipe. Hogan was out cold!

The WWE Undisputed Championship was on the line as the Undertaker defended against Randy Orton. Prior to the bout, Taker said he was the champion, and tonight would be an example of why he is the greatest champion of all time. He said he was sure a lot of people wondered why he was giving a title shot to a rookie. Taker said as WWE Champion, it was his duty to demonstrate to the fans why WWE is the land of opportunity. He said tonight, a third-generation competitor would get a shot at the title, and he couldn't think of a better place than a city full of wrestling history and tradition. Taker called Calgary the championship city of the world, and said there was no better place to defend his title.

As the bout began, Taker extended his hand, and Orton shook it, with no incident. Orton was able to build some momentum early in the bout, even knocking Taker to the outside, and leaping over the top rope onto his foe. Back in the ring, Orton scored a near-fall, and Taker then took advantage and began picking apart the rookie. The champion took the turnbuckle pad off one of the corners and continued his attack on the youngster, throwing him around like a rag doll. Orton fought back, but Taker quickly regained the momentum.

The champion scored with a DDT, but picked Orton up as the ref's count reached two. He slapped Orton around, humilating him. He tried sending Orton into the exposed corner, but Orton reversed, sending Taker back-first into the exposed turnbuckle! Orton followed up with a modified Rocker Dropper for two. He then went up top and hit a cross body for another two-count. But Taker quickly regained the advantage, nailing a big boot. But Orton kicked out at two, shocking the champion! As Taker yelled at the ref, Orton snuck up from behind and rolled up Taker for another two. An irate Undertaker then chokeslammed Orton and pinned him to retain his title.

After the bout, Taker continued his assault. He locked the rookie's head in a steel chair -- but before he could do any more damage, Triple H came out to attack the champion! The Game downed Taker with a knee and knocked him from the ring. He then grabbed a microphone and said if Taker was really all about opportunity, then he should give him a shot at the WWE Undisputed Championship!

Reverend D-Von was saying a prayer backstage when he was approached by Lance Storm, who asked if he heard confession. Storm said to forgive him for he had sinned. He said it was sin worse than blasphemy or adultery -- he said his sin was that he was Western Canadian! D-Von said it was a dirty, nasty sin, but he forgave Storm. As Storm walked away, he walked right into Deacon Batista, who was holding the collection box. D-Von said his sins would only be forgiven for a price. Storm dropped a coin in the box and walked away, and D-Von commented that Storm was pretty cheap!

In tag action, Cruiserweight Champion The Hurricane and Billy Kidman took on Tajiri and Chavo Guerrero. As always, the cruisers put on a action-packed bout, including a top-rope Shooting Star Press to the outside by Kidman! That maneuver took out both Tajiri and Chavo. Hurricane then tossed Tajiri back into the ring and signaled for the chokeslam. But suddenly, his music rang out, and another mysterious note appeared on the Trons -- "You're wondering who I am, well this is just a peek, the mystery will be over, when I reveal myself next week." A picture then came on the Trons of Hurricane with someone next to him -- but the someone was obscured. As Hurricane tried to figure it out, Tajiri snuck up behind him and nailed him in the head with a huge kick. Tajiri then picked up the pinfall on the Cruiserweight Champion.

Next up, Triple H took on Test. The Game took control early on, but Test soon took advantage of Triple H's weakened state from Hell in a Cell to gain momentum. Lance Storm came out to the ramp to distract Triple H. Test tossed The Game to the outside, where Storm met him with a superkick. Test went for the pump-handle slam, but Triple H reversed into a neckbreaker. Triple H planted Test with a spinebuster, but Storm distracted the ref as The Game went for the cover. Triple H went after Storm, but Storm hung The Game up on the top rope. Triple H then walked into a pumphandle slam, which allowed Test to score a two-count. Test went for the big boot but Triple H ducked and went for the Pedigree. But Triple H caught Storm climbing to the top rope, letting go of the Pedigree and tossing Storm into Test. Test again went for the big boot on Triple H, but The Game again ducked, and this time, Test nailed Storm right in the face! Triple H then again went for the Pedigree, but Undertaker ran down. The Game chased him from the apron, only to be met by a big boot. Test then pinned Triple H for the upset victory!

After the bout, a deranged Undertaker stood over Triple H, abusing him with punches, and cementing his message with a massive chokeslam. Taker was about to leave, but instead he grabbed a chair and cracked The Game over the head! The WWE Champion continued his assault with the chair as referees ran down to try to break up the chaos. But Taker would not relent, repeatedly popping Triple H in the head with the steel chair.

Edge was backstage getting ready for his cage match with Kurt Angle when he was approached by The Big Valbowski. Valbowski asked Edge to promise to take Kurt's wig off, and Edge said he would do so. Edge said Angle was trapped in the cage with him and had nowhere to go.

Marc Loyd interviewed Kurt Angle. Loyd asked about what Edge had just said, and also started to show footage of Kurt getting his head shaved at Judgment Day, but Angle abruptly cut off the footage. Angle said that he would do tonight what Edge couldn't do at Judgment Day -- he would humiliate his opponent.

The main event on SmackDown! pitted Kurt Angle against Edge in a Cage Match, in what was deemed the "rubber match" between the two. Angle was still donning a wig, after being shaved bald at Judgment Day. Edge went for a spear on Angle, but the Olympian moved, and Edge flew head-first into the cage! That allowed Angle to take control, but Edge fought back valiantly. Edge went up top and flew onto Angle. Angle downed Edge with successive German suplexes and scored a two-count.

Angle went to escape the cage, but Edge brought him back in. Angle tossed Edge into the cage repeatedly, and viciously layed into Edge, who was soon busted wide open. Edge slingshotted Angle into the cage and scored a near-fall. A bloody Edge gained momentum, but Edge soon went for a tackle and Angle moved, and the ref was knocked out.

Angle tried climbing out of the cage, but Edge caught him and suplexed him off the top rope. It was then Edge's turn to climb out of the cage, but Angle grabbed his leg and hit a low blow. Angle then gave Edge an Angle slam off the top rope!

Angle was the first to get back to his feet, and he climbed out of the cage and dropped to the floor. But there was no ref to see it -- allowing Hulk Hogan to run down and beat the living hell out of Kurt! Hogan abused Angle, and then tossed him back into the ring, and the match continued!

Hogan screamed at Edge to get up, and both superstars were soon back on their feet. Edge nailed Angle with a spear, but Angle kicked out at two. Hogan got into the cage and ripped off his shirt. He threw Angle into the cage and then exited. Edge went for the Edge-ecution, but Kurt reversed into the Angle Slam -- but Edge kicked out at two! Kurt went for a spear on Edge, but Edge got out of the way, and hit Kurt with the Angle Slam for a two-count!

Angle trapped Edge in an ankle lock, but Edge countered, driving Angle into the steel cage. Edge then trapped Angle in an ankle lock of his own, but Kurt countered out of that. Edge tried to get to the door, but Angle hung him up on the ropes. Angle went for the door, but Edge held on for dear life as Hogan closed the door.

With Edge still trapped in the ropes, Angle tried climbing out of the cage. But Edge finally escaped the ropes and caught Angle. Angle fell from the top of the cage - crotch-first onto the steel door! Edge then grabbed Angle's "natural hair" and tried pulling Angle back in, which he did. Angle fell from the top rope back into the ring, with Edge still on the top turnbuckle. As Angle ran towards him, Edge nailed him with a breath-taking top-rope spear! Edge then pinned Angle to win a scintillating Cage Match!

After the bout, Hogan got into the ring and went after Kurt. He tossed the Olympian into the cage a few more times and then motioned that he would remove Kurt's hairpiece. But Angle raked Hogan's eyes and left the cage, sneaking back to the dressing room. Hogan congratulated Edge on a huge win as SmackDown! went off the air!