Smackdown!

Houston, Texas
April 18, 2002

Just 72 hours before Backlash, the April 18 episode of SmackDown! emanated from the Compaq Center in Houston!

The show opened with a six-man match-up, as Rikishi, Al Snow and Maven took on Albert and the Tag Team Champions -- Billy & Chuck. The champs were accompanied to ringside by their stylist, Rico. Rikishi soon dragged Rico into the ring and gave Rico and Chuck an avalanche. He was then going to give the duo a Stink Face, until Albert met Rikishi with a vicious kick. Shortly thereafter, Rico assaulted Snow with a spinning heel kick, but Maven went up top and hit a flying bodypress onto Chuck for the win!

Backstage, Mr. McMahon's new personal assistant -- Stacy Keibler -- knocked on Hollywood Hulk Hogan's locker-room door. As she waited for him to answer, she dropped the cap to her water bottle, and as she bent over to pick it up, Hogan opened the door to quite a sight! Stacy informed the Hulkster that Mr. McMahon wanted to see him in his office right away. Hogan said he would follow Stacy!

In his locker room, Billy Kidman watched footage of Shawn Stasiak's interview from RAW, calling it the stupidest thing he had ever seen! The Hurricane then approached, and said that watching the footage made him glad they were on SmackDown!, instead of RAW! The two then focused their attention on their upcoming tag match against Tajiri and Chavo Guerrero Jr. on SmackDown! Kidman said he felt like something was missing. Hurricane wondered what was the Cruiserweight Champion and owner of one of the finest shooting-star presses in the world could possibly be missing. What's up with that? Kidman said it bothered him that he had a Cruiserweight Title match against Tajiri at Backlash, and no one cared. Kidman then said it was great to be in Houston -- and the people cheered! Hurricane then whispered to Kidman, and Kidman said it was great to be in the great state of Texas -- and the people cheered again! Hurricane then whispered again, and Kidman said it was great to have Hurricane for a partner -- but this time, the crowd didn't cheer! Kidman said he would give the people something to talk about. Hurricane agreed -- and said he couldn't wait to see the Astros win the World Series! Again, the crowd roared!

Vince McMahon was on the phone in his office when Hogan and Stacy entered. Vince said Hogan looked good, and Stacy agreed, saying that Hogan had huge arms -- almost as big as Mr. McMahon's arms! Vince sent Stacy to get him some water, and then asked Hogan if he believed in deja vu. Vince said he'd experienced the groundswell of support from fans for Hogan before. Vince said Hogan was on a huge roll -- a tidal wave of admiration. Vince said nothing could stop that kind of momentum. Vince said the feeling was the same as just before the birth of Hulkamania, when Hogan became champion for the first time. Vince said he couldn't help but wonder if everything was happening all over again, if it was possible that Hogan could walk out of Backlash as Undisputed Champion. Vince asked if Backlash would be the rebirth of Hulkamania, questioning if Hogan could do as he did before and lead the Federation into a new era of popularity and prosperity. Vince said that this Sunday, Hogan would come face-to-face with his own destiny. Vince asked if it was perception or if it was reality. He asked Hogan, "Whatcha gonna do this Sunday at Backlash when reality comes down on you?" Hogan simply stared Vince down.

In tag action, Tajiri -- accompanied by Torrie Wilson, still decked out as a geisha -- teamed with Chavo Guerrero Jr. against Kidman and The Hurricane. The bout was a high-flying, fast-paced battle, with four of the premier cruiserweights in sports entertainment displaying their skills. Tajiri yelled at Torrie several times throughout the bout. Ultimately, Tajiri nailed Hurricane with a huge kick to the head and pinned him for the win. After the bout, Tajiri also nailed Kidman with a kick to the head, knocking the Cruiserweight Champion down! Tajiri then grabbed a microphone and verbally abused Torrie, yelling at his girlfriend in Japanese!

On the stage, Marc Loyd welcomed "The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry for an interview. Loyd asked what feat of strength Henry would be performing on SmackDown!, and Henry pointed to a car near the stage. Henry said he would lift the side of the car! Loyd said some of the superstars had been betting for and against Mark -- and Henry said he didn't care; he just wanted to show that he was the World's Strongest Man! He said it was time to get it on.

Henry walked over to the car, and as he did, several superstars approached the car, including Test and Faarooq. The two men argued, and it didn't seem that Test trusted that the car was legitimate. Test tried to lift the car himself but couldn't do it. Test bet Faarooq $100 that Henry couldn't lift the car, and Faarooq told him to put some real money down. Henry then lifted the 4,600-pound car off the ground, much to Faarooq's delight! Test congratulated Henry, and then attacked Faarooq, even throwing him onto the hood of the car! The other superstars had to separate the two men!

Moments later, it was announced that Test and Faarooq would meet one-on-one on SmackDown!

The sounds of "Voodoo Child" filled the arena, and Hollywood Hulk Hogan headed to the ring, receiving a huge ovation from the Houston crowd! The "Hogan" chants began, as the Hulkster said that Hulkamania was still running wild, without a doubt! Hogan said he'd heard the word "reality" a lot lately, and said it was reality that he would beat Triple H this Sunday, doing what many said he couldn't do. Hogan said it was reality that after all these years, he would regain the World Wrestling Federation Championship!

Hogan said it was like Vince always said -- perception is reality. Hogan said he never thought he'd be back in the Federation, and never thought 67,000 would cheer for him at WrestleMania, and never thought Hulkamania would run wilder than ever. Hogan said whether Vince called it reality or perception, Hulk was loving every minute of it. Hogan said he used to take the title for granted, thinking it would stick with him forever. But now he said he'd been gone so long that he finally realized what the championship meant, and that this might be his one shot. Hulk said that it might be corny or sentimental crap, but he didn't care, because this is reality. Hogan said he believed in his heart that he could do this, and the Hulkamaniacs believed he could do this. Hogan told Triple H that he better believe he could do this -- and suddenly, Chris Jericho's music filled the arena, and out came Y2J!

Jericho stared down Hogan from the stage, and told the Hulkster to shut his mouth. Y2J said Hogan wanted to talk about reality, and the reality was this -- Hogan was a farce and a joke. He said no matter what the people said, Jericho was not the has-been around here. Y2J said Hogan was the has-been. Jericho called Hogan "grandpa," saying Hulkamania ended the same time that the Rubik's Cube ended, and that it's a travesty that a has-been like Hogan has a title shot at Backlash, and a Living Legend like Y2J doesn't have a match on the Pay-Per-View!

Jericho asked what Hogan had ever done in the World Wrestling Federation. Y2J said he was the first-ever Undisputed Champion in history, until Triple H stole the title from him at WrestleMania. Jericho said for that, he despised Triple H. But Jericho said that he would relish watching Triple H destroy Hogan this Sunday, since at least Triple H had defeated Jericho to win the title. Jericho said since Hogan came back, he'd had a single one-on-one match, and he blew it. Y2J couldn't believe that Hogan still got a title shot after that, and that the people still supported the Hulkster. Jericho said he thought that was garbage.

Hogan told Jericho to shut up, saying he was tired of listening to his crap. He invited Jericho to get in the ring and talk to him to his face. Y2J climbed into the ring and said he'd been waiting to do this for a long time -- but before he could finish his thought, Hogan punched him down! Kurt Angle ran to the ring and he and Y2J double-teamed Hogan, until Edge ran down to even up the odds! Edge and Hogan chased away Angle and Jericho!

Moments later, Vince McMahon yelled at Edge backstage, asking who Edge thought he was. Vince said Edge wasn't even supposed to be here tonight. Vince asked for an explanation -- but actually said he just wanted Edge to get the hell out. Edge got right in Vince's eyes, and said he saw fear in Vince's eyes. Edge theorized that maybe it was fear at what he would do to Angle at Backlash, or maybe it was because he scared Vince. Edge said he would leave for now. Stacy then approached Vince and asked if there was anything she could do for him. Vince said he was feeling aggressive, and he asked Stacy to bring Triple H to his office.

Next up, Test took on Faarooq. Test went for the pumphandle slam, but Faarooq battled out. Faarooq then rolled up Test, put his feet on the ropes, and pinned him for the win -- taking a page out of Test's book! After the bout, an angry Test downed Faarooq with a big boot!

Triple H was reading World Wrestling Federation Magazine back in his locker room when Stacy Keibler approached him. Triple H said he knew Stacy thought he was hot, but she couldn't just barge in and stare at him all the time. Stacy started to talk, and as she did, Triple H took his shirt off. Every time she tried to talk, she just couldn't stop staring at his muscles! Finally, she just rattled off that Mr. McMahon needed him in his office right now! Triple H said Stacy couldn't make him come just by telling him to, then he dismissed Mr. McMahon's personal assistant!

Sharmell interviewed Hardcore Holly, asking his thoughts before he stepped into the ring with Diamond Dallas Page. He said his first thought was whipping DDP's ass, and his second thought was DDP flat on his back, and asking how DDP liked him now. DDP then approached Hardcore and started smiling. DDP said he was smiling because Holly was an irritable bully who liked to intimidate people, and that Holly was starting to piss him off. DDP said that was a good thing.

That match was up next, as the former WCW Champion took on the Tough Enough 2 trainer. DDP went for the Diamond Cutter, but Holly caught him with an incredible dropkick to the face, and then pinned Page for the win. After the bout, Holly went to punch DDP, but Page ducked, and nailed Holly with the Diamond Cutter!

Kurt Angle was warming up for his match backstage when he was approached by Chris Jericho. Y2J told Angle that what happened earlier was a disgrace, but he was almost glad that it happened, because it gave them even more of a reason to beat up Triple H and Hogan tonight, and it gave Angle even more of a reason to beat Edge at Backlash. Jericho said Angle would put Hogan in the ankle lock tonight and suck the life out of him -- and Angle threw a fit, saying he didn't suck! Angle said he was a hero, dammit!

Vince and Stacy were in Vince's office, and the Federation chairman asked where Triple H was. Stacy said The Game was on his way. When Triple H arrived, Vince dismissed Stacy. Vince talked about how he admired that Triple H went to hell and back to become champion, but asked if The Game was capable of driving a spear into the heart of Hulkamania this Sunday at Backlash. Vince said if Triple H was not, Hogan would be on both SmackDown! and RAW, but Triple H would be the exclusive property of SmackDown!

Organ music filled the arena as D-Von Dudley walked to the ring, clad in a priest's outfit. D-Von was introduced as Mr. McMahon's spiritual advisor. He told his "congregation" that he had come to them as a humble servant of the man above, and told them to testify. Two weeks ago, a prophet named Vince McMahon had come to him and told him to leave the World Wrestling Federation to find himself. D-Von said he not only found himself, but also found the man above. D-Von said he'd also found redemption and peace of mind.

D-Von thanked the prophet that showed him that light -- a wealthy and powerful man named Vince McMahon. D-Von said Vince was the savior of the World Wrestling Federation. D-Von said as he looked out at the fans, he saw nothing but lost souls. He said he was the man who could bring the people redemption.

D-Von said the people of Houston needed saving, and they needed a man like Vince, his personal benefactor. D-Von said he and Vince could show the people the light if they let him. D-Von said he and Vince were the strong, and the people were the weak. He promised that they would show the fans the light. D-Von said the man above had put his feet on solid ground, and would do the same for the fans.

D-Von then said the sermon was over, and as he walked back to the locker room, he held out a collection plate, which the fans filled with money!

The main event on SmackDown! pitted Hollywood Hulk Hogan and Undisputed Champion Triple H against Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle. As the match began, it seemed that Hogan and The Game were on the same page -- quite a change from last week's SmackDown!, when the two came to blows. Jericho and Angle isolated the Undisputed Champion, until Triple H finally got the tag to Hogan!

The Hulkster was a house afire, and soon hit Angle with the big boot. But when he went for the legdrop, Jericho pulled him from the ring and knocked him into the steel steps. Y2J then grabbed a steel chair and knocked the referee from the ring. The Game gave Jericho a DDT, and then slugged it out with Angle. Triple H went for the Pedigree on Angle, but Y2J broke it up. The two men went to work on The Game, and Jericho grabbed the chair and went to hit Triple H -- until Hogan knocked Jericho down! Hogan then went to hit Angle with the chair, but Angle ducked and the Hulkster hit Triple H!

Angle and Jericho double-teamed Hogan, and Angle went to hit Hogan with the chair. But Edge came out of nowhere, speared Angle and chased him away from the ring! Hogan "Hulked up" and nailed Jericho with the big boot and the legdrop -- but Triple H snuck up and walloped Hogan over the head with the steel chair! The Game held his Undisputed Championship high in the air and stared at the unconscious Hogan as SmackDown! went off the air!