Smackdown!

University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota
June 7, 2001

The June 7 episode of SmackDown! kicked off from the University of North Dakota with news that Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho would defend the Tag Team Championship later in the night against Stone Cold Steve Austin and Mr. McMahon!

SmackDown! opened with a King of the Ring qualifying match, as the defending King of the Ring -- Kurt Angle -- took on Hardcore Holly. At one point, Angle went for a moonsault -- the same move he used to break Holly's arm last June! But this time, Holly got his knees up. Moments later, however, your Olympic Hero finished off the "Big Shot" with the Angle slam to advance to the King of the Ring tournament for the second year in a row!

An irate Undertaker paced backstage as his brother, Kane, watched on. Taker then left the locker room, saying he was going to wait for Shane McMahon -- who Mr. McMahon had implicated as his wife's stalker on RAW IS WAR.

Stone Cold Steve Austin then marched to the ring, and the World Wrestling Federation Champion said that after everything he'd done for the sports-entertainment industry, he did not deserve to have the crowd throw trash at him. Austin said he was no ordinary superstar, and that he was beyond being a legend and an icon. The Rattlesnake said he was a World Wrestling Federation god!

Austin talked about having sold more merchandise, more tickets and more Pay-Per-Views than anyone in the history of the business. But the Rattlesnake said that as successful as he was, he was still in a bad mood tonight. Stone Cold said he was thinking back to the May 21 RAW, when Triple H cost him the Tag Team Championship in what Austin called an act of selfishness. Austin said he deserved to once again be one half of the Tag Team Champions. Austin promised that he and Mr. McMahon would win the Tag Championship on SmackDown! because they deserved it, and because there was no one who could stop them.

Backstage, Spike Dudley and Molly Holly were about to have their first kiss, when Perry Saturn came over and stuck his head between them! Spike and Molly each kissed Perry on the cheek, before opening their eyes and realizing what they had done! Saturn mumbled for a bit, and as Spike and Molly walked away, Saturn screamed, "You're welcome!"

In his locker room, Mr. McMahon spoke on the phone, and promised the person on the other end that he and Austin would win the Tag Team Championship. Suddenly there was a knock on the door, and William Regal and Tajiri entered. Regal sent Tajiri out of the room, as he had some very important news for the Federation chairman. Regal told Mr. McMahon that the "WCW 1" limo was circling outside, and security was making sure that Shane could get nowhere near the arena. Mr.

McMahon said to let Shane in -- because the Undertaker no doubt had some questions for the Boy Wonder!

In a match for the Light Heavyweight Championship, Jeff Hardy challenged Jerry Lynn. A high-flying affair ended when Jeff scored the Swanton Bomb and pinned Lynn to become the new Light Heavyweight Champion!

Next, more footage aired of the Undertaker's wife, Sara, from the mysterious stalker.

As the Undertaker waited in the parking lot, the "WCW 1" limo pulled in. Taker opened the door, looking for Shane. Instead, he found someone else -- who was unseen by the camera -- who he told to come back some other time to become famous. Taker then walked away from the limo and continued looking for Shane.

Elsewhere, Spike and Molly were about to kiss again when Tajiri accidentally crashed into Spike, spilling his popcorn everywhere! Tajiri screamed at the couple in Japanese, and Spike and Molly decided to go somewhere a little more private.

In his locker room, Stone Cold Steve Austin told Debra that it was eating him up to see Benoit and Jericho as the Tag Team Champions. He promised that he and Vince would win the championship on SmackDown!

Former tag-team partners -- and former best friends -- met up next for the Intercontinental Championship, as Kane defended against X-Pac. Albert and Justin Credible tried to interject themselves into the bout, but Kane fought them off.

At one point, the Big Red Machine flew from the top rope to the outside, taking out X-Pac and Albert! Kane retained his title, pinning X-Pac after a powerbomb. After the bout, all three members of X-Factor attacked the Big Red Machine. Kane fought off X-Pac and Justin, but then Albert planted Kane with a monstrous Baldobomb!

Chris Jericho was getting dressed when Mick Foley entered his locker room and apologized for what happened on RAW. Foley said he felt like it was his fault that Y2J wasn't the Federation Champion, and he gave Y2J a copy of "Foley is Good" as an apology gift. Jericho told Mick not to worry about it, and he politely asked Mick to stay out of his matches, because when he became Federation Champion, he wanted to do it on his own.

Commissioner William Regal then sauntered to the ring. The commish said he was in a foul mood, because he said the Federation had been disgraced by Mick Foley on RAW. He said Foley almost caused a huge tragedy -- namely, Austin losing the Federation Championship.

Regal reminded Foley that Foley was no longer the commissioner -- Regal was. Regal demanded to be treated with respect. He said he was a man of honor, and a man of honor should not have his throat violated by a "bloody tube sock." Regal said he was a far better commissioner than Foley ever was, and that William Shakespeare would be turning over in his grave if he knew Mick Foley was a No. 1 best-selling author.

Foley could take no more -- the sounds of screeching tires filled the arena, and the Hardcore Legend headed to the stage! As the crowd chanted "Foley!," Mick called Regal a horse's ass! Mick said that when he was commissioner, the Federation was fun to watch. Foley said he would besmirch Regal in that very ring, right here at the University of North Dakota!

Regal screamed for security to throw Foley out of the arena, and as cops came to the stage, Foley told Regal to have a nice day!

Foley was then escorted out, and Regal said that Foley wasn't good -- Foley was gone!

Shane McMahon was walking backstage when he ran into Test. Test congratulated Shane on the WCW invasion, and Shane asked Test if he had seen the Undertaker. The Boy Wonder said he had a few things to clear up with the Dead Man.

In tag-team action, the Dudley Boyz took on Perry Saturn and Dean Malenko. During the match, Malenko was in trouble, but Saturn wasn't on the apron waiting for a tag -- he was staggering around ringside, and even stopped at the bell table to admire the Dudleyz' sunglasses! The Dudleys soon did the "wassap!" on Malenko, and a confused Saturn put on Bubba Ray's glasses and did the "wassap!" on his own partner! Saturn then grabbed the mic and told D-Von to get the muffins! Saturn then told D-Von "you're welcome," and the Dudleys hit Saturn with a 3-D for the pinfall win!

As Spike and Molly again tried to have their first kiss, Kaientai busted in and broke it up -- because they are evil! Spike and Molly again walked away, looking for some place more private.

Shane was looking for the Undertaker backstage when he ran into Kane. The Boy Wonder asked Kane where Taker was, since he wanted to tell him that he wasn't the one stalking Taker's wife. But before Kane could answer, the Taker ran over and attacked Shane! Kane pulled his brother off the Boy Wonder, and told his brother that he believed that Shane was telling the truth. A dejected Undertaker left Shane alone and punched a wall, obviously irate at not knowing who was stalking his wife.

As the Hardys left the arena, Edge & Christian watched on, disgusted at seeing both Hardy Boyz carrying singles titles. Christian suggested that a singles accolade would be nice, and Edge suggested that winning King of the Ring would be such an accolade. Edge and Christian promised to root each other on in the tournament, and they said they hoped they would meet each other in the finals -- although one could sense a bit of tension between the brothers!

Commissioner Regal entered Mr. McMahon's office and congratulated the Federation chairman on becoming one half of the Tag Team Champions on SmackDown! Mr. McMahon said it hadn't happened yet, but Regal said he guaranteed that they would win the titles!

In a King of the Ring qualifying match, Test took on Edge.

Test looked to have the match won after a pump-handle slam, but Christian put his brother's foot on the ropes, and the match continued. Test then attacked Christian, allowing Edge to surprise Test with a DDT. Edge then pinned Test to advance to the King of the Ring tournament!

The main event on SmackDown! was a Tag Team Championship match, as Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho defended against Stone Cold Steve Austin and Mr. McMahon. But before that match took place, Commissioner Regal came to the stage and informed the champs that before they defended against Austin and McMahon, they would be having a non-title match against the APA! Faarooq and Bradshaw -- who had obviously rented out their services to the commish -- beat the hell out of the champs, but Jericho scored a Lionsault and pinned Faarooq to win the bout!

The champs had little time to celebrate, however. Commissioner Regal came out and forced the champs into another non-title match -- against the Big Show and Rhyno! The 500-pound Big Show and the manbeast Rhyno wore down an already fatigued Benoit & Jericho, and the bout ended in a disqualification when Rhyno attacked both men with chairs! Big Show even hit two chokeslams on Benoit for good measure, and Rhyno assaulted Jericho with a gore!

With Benoit and Jericho lying in the ring in a state of near-unconsciousness, Regal introduced Stone Cold and Mr. McMahon -- and declared that the Tag Team Championship match should begin! Mr.

McMahon tried to score a quick pin on Benoit, but the Wolverine kicked out. Moments later, Benoit locked the Crossface on McMahon, but Austin broke that up. Benoit then hit four German suplexes on Austin, before McMahon broke that up!

The Rattlesnake brutalized both men outside the ring, and hit a top-rope superplex on Benoit. Stone Cold then put Benoit in the Crossface, but Y2J broke it up! Jericho then locked Mr. McMahon in the Walls of Jericho! As McMahon screamed for his life, Austin hit the Stunner on Benoit. The Rattlesnake then hit a Stunner on Jericho, only to be rolled up by Benoit! Benoit grabbed Austin's tights -- much like Austin had done to him one week earlier -- and pinned the Rattlesnake in a successful title defense! A livid Rattlesnake stared down the champs as SmackDown! went off the air!