Smackdown!

Indianapolis, Indiana
May 3, 2001

SmackDown! opened with the announcement that, at Judgment Day on May 20, Stone Cold Steve Austin will defend his World Wrestling Federation Championship against the Undertaker, and Chyna will defend the Women's Title against Lita!

The Dead Man himself walked down to the ring as SmackDown! kicked off from Indianapolis! The Taker carried a chain to the ring -- no doubt an equalizer since Kane was not at the arena, having suffered a severe elbow injury at the hands of Stone Cold and Triple H on RAW IS WAR. The Taker talked about his title shot at Judgment Day, and said he'd be proud to take the title from the Rattlesnake.

But being that Judgment Day is still about two weeks away, Taker said his immediate concern was SmackDown!, reclaiming his yard, and earning some payback. He said that he and Kane were beaten down on RAW by the Two-Man Power Trip, and he'd be damned if he was going to let that happen again. Taker said that tonight, the pain and suffering would begin -- and he would make the Game and the Rattlesnake famous!

Taker said that Kane wasn't worried about a broken arm, since Kane had half his face burned off in a fire a long time ago. The Dead Man promised that his brother would get revenge down the line, but tonight, he would earn some payback. Taker then reminded the Power Trip that he was the one who lit the fire that burned Kane's face -- and if he had done that to his own brother, Taker asked them to imagine just what he would do to them!

The Undertaker then called out the Power Trip -- but out came Vince McMahon, brandishing a smile from ear to ear. The Federation chairman said he was sorry to hear about Kane, and he asked the Taker if Kane had received Stone Cold's get-well card. Mr. McMahon said probably not, since the Rattlesnake wasn't going to send one!

Mr. McMahon said he was glad Kane was gone, and then asked Taker who the hell he thought he was, calling out the Power Trip. Mr. McMahon promised that in that very ring on SmackDown!, the Undertaker would face someone who has a big score to settle with the Dead Man. The Federation chairman said that until the Taker faced that man later in the night, the Dead Man had to get the hell out of McMahon's ring. The Taker said that if McMahon wanted him out of the ring, he'd have to get him out of it himself! He said that what he doesn't get, he takes. Mr. McMahon said he'd take it all right -- right up the wazoo!

The first match on SmackDown! was for the Intercontinental Championship, as Triple H defended his title against the man he won it from -- Jeff Hardy. Matt Hardy and Lita accompanied Jeff to the ring, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley seconded the Game, and Stone Cold came to ringside to provide color commentary for the bout. A few minutes into the bout, the Undertaker came through the crowd and attacked Stone Cold from behind! The Taker chased the Rattlesnake from ringside.

Back in the ring, the Game pinned Jeff following a Pedigree -- but instead of celebrating his win, Triple H immediately ran backstage to help his partner.

Backstage, Taker looked for Austin, but he was ambushed by the Rattlesnake. But the Taker recovered -- and tossed Stone Cold through a plate glass window, shattering it! As Taker was escorted away, Mr. McMahon and Triple H found Austin in a bloody heap, cluctching his eyes and screaming that he couldn't see!

Moments later, the Rattlesnake told a trainer that he couldn't see a thing out of his left eye. Triple H suggested that he may have glass in his eye -- and the trainer immediately called for an ambulance.

Next up, X-Pac took on Raven. Despite attempted interference by Albert and Justin Credible, Raven reversed an X-Factor into a DDT for the win. After the bout, Albert downed Raven with a Baldobomb.

Backstage, EMTs wheeled Austin to a waiting ambulance, as the Rattlesnake screamed that he didn't deserve this. The Game got in the ambulance with Austin and screamed at the driver to leave for the hospital -- but the driver was the Undertaker! The Dead Man pounded on Triple H and Mr. McMahon, and then layed it in to a prone Rattlesnake! Finally, the Taker was escorted away, and Austin and the Game left for the hospital.

Moments later, Debra arrived to the arena.

As Kurt Angle looked for Chris Benoit backstage, he ran into a make-up woman, and told her that if she saw Benoit, she was to tell him right away.

In the McMahon/Helmsley locker room, Vince and Stephanie were talking about all the night's events when Debra walked in. Mrs. Austin said she couldn't find her husband anywhere, and she asked if something was wrong. Mr. McMahon tried to calmly tell her the news, but Stephanie spilled the beans! The Federation chairman said he would get Debra a ride to the hospital, and also told her that the Undertaker was still in the arena, if she wanted to get his side of the story.

Moments later, Debra entered the Taker's locker room and confronted him, saying her husband had better be OK. Taker said that this had nothing to do with her, and Debra slapped the Taker! The Dead Man said that Debra hit just as hard as her husband, and he told her to go tell Austin so! Debra then left for the hospital.

Without his gold medals, Kurt Angle headed to the ring to meet Hardcore Holly. Hardcore carried a glass of milk with him to the ring, and asked Kurt, "Got medals?" A few minutes into the bout, Chris Benoit's music came on, and the Wolverine came out to the stage -- carrying Angle's medals! Benoit's presence was a distraction to Angle, who soon threw Hardcore out of the ring and went after the Wolverine! But Holly chased Angle down and brought him back to the ring. Angle soon regained the advantage and went for the ankle lock, but as he was cinching it in, Benoit got a microphone and told Angle that if he was looking for his medals, they would be right around the Wolverine's neck!

A distracted Angle was then rolled up and pinned by Hardcore Holly! An irate Angle then went for Benoit, but the Wolverine was already gone!

Hand in hand, Mr. McMahon and Stephanie walked to the ring. Mr. McMahon asked the fans what was wrong with them -- Kane kicks Stephanie, and they cheer. Taker throws Stone Cold through a window, and they cheer. Mr. McMahon asked the crowd where their morals were, and he promised that they wouldn't be cheering when Taker met his mystery opponent, who had a grudge to pick with the Dead Man.

Suddenly, the Undertaker appeared on the stage, and started walking to the ring! Mr. McMahon demanded that the Taker stop, but the Dead Man got in the ring! The Federation chairman said that this wasn't Taker's yard, it was his ring! Vince then reminaded the Undertaker that he's Vince McMahon, dammit -- and the Taker clocked the chairman with a huge right hand, knocking him out cold!

The Undertaker then told a petrified Stephanie to tell Vince -- once he woke up -- that the Dead Man had reclaimed his yard!

At the hospital, Coach interviewed Triple H about Stone Cold's condition. An incensed Game said that Austin's eye was in terrible shape, and that the Rattlesnake might never see again. Triple H also said that after tonight, the name "Dead Man" might be more than just a nickname.

Moments later, Mr. McMahon iced down his jaw backstage.

He promised Stephanie that the Undertaker would pay later in the night, when he met the mystery opponent.

In a three-on-two Handicap Match, Matt Hardy and Chris Jericho took on Edge, Christian and Rhyno. During the bout, Eddie Guerrero came to ringside and attacked Edge! That left Edge as easy prey for the Twist of Fate, as Matt and Chris picked up the win!

Stone Cold was then shown arriving at the arena -- his left eye heavily bandaged!

Jerry Lynn -- who won the Light Heavyweight Championship this past Sunday on HEAT -- made his first title defense, taking on Grand Master Sexay. An action-packed match ended when Lynn rolled up Sexay to retain his title -- but Lynn had his feet on the ropes when he did so!

Stone Cold paced in the McMahon/Helmsley locker room, and Mr. McMahon asked him to calm down. Austin said he wouldn't calm down, since he was blind in his left eye! Stephanie then asked where Triple H was, and Austin said he had been arrested at the hospital for raising too much hell. Austin said Undertaker would pay, and thet he didn't deserve this, and the Rattlesnake then grabbed a chair and left the locker room.

Moments later, Mr. McMahon talked to someone behind a door -- clearly the mystery opponent for the Undertaker. He told the man not to forget about what Undertaker had done to him, and to destroy the Dead Man.

The Undertaker then headed to the ring for SmackDown!'s main event, and put his chain on one of the turnbuckles. Mr.McMahon told the Dead Man that Austin was back from the hospital, and then introduced Taker to his mystery opponent -- Rikishi! The 420-pounder was still angry about having been thrown off the top of Hell in the Cell by the Undertaker last December at Armageddon!

The two super-heavyweights battled it out, and Taker soon planted Rikishi win a chokeslam! Suddely, Stone Cold came to ringside with a chair -- so Taker grabbed his chain! Austin made a bum rush for the ring, but Taker swung his chain at him, and the Rattlesnake stayed away. Taker then grabbed a chair and viciously assaulted Rikishi, the same way Austin and Triple H attacked Kane on RAW! The Rattlesnake and the Dead Man stared each other down as SmackDown! went off the air!