Smackdown!

Sacramento, California
June 20, 2002

SmackDown! exploded from Sacramento, CA, with just hours remaining until a new King of the Ring is crowned this Sunday live on Pay-Per-View.

Fittingly, 2000 King of the Ring winner Kurt Angle walked down to the ring. Angle scowled for several moments before saying that he knows people have been laughing at him. He said he's noticed how people snicker and point at him when he walks by, but Angle said this was no laughing matter. What he was about to say was extremely difficult. "I'm bald, and I've been wearing a wig," he said.

Ever since Edge shaved his head at Judgment Day, his hair simply hasn't grown back despite using Rogaine. Footage ran of Hollywood Hulk Hogan ripping off Angle's wig last week. A furious Olympic Hero said he is no joke. He attacked Hogan saying the Hulkster looks like he's 100 years old, can't move, and dresses in red and yellow boas. Angle said he would prove on Sunday that Hogan is a joke. He promised to embarrass Hogan at King of the Ring. He said he would make Hogan cry in front of millions of fans, and he would make him tap out. Angle said he wouldn't stop until Hogan's ankle was broken. Most of all, Angle promised, he would break Hogan's spirit. 

The crowd roared as Hollywood Hulk Hogan appeared at the top of the entrance ramp. The Hulkster came down and faced Angle in the ring where he tore his shirt off. Hogan said that the biggest joke will be this Sunday at King of the Ring when this 100-year-old man kicks Angle's Olympic ass! Hogan threatened to take Angle's wig off again right there. Angle dared him to try it. The two men came to blows, and Hogan gave Angle a boot and was about to tear off Angle's wig before the gold medallist delivered a low blow and fled the ring!

Rikishi took on Christian in the evening's first match. Rikishi took down Christian with a huge belly to belly slam, but Christian was able to come back. He tried to hit the Unprettier, but Rikishi pushed him away and nailed a huge facebuster. Rikishi went for the pin, and although Christian had his foot on the rope, the ref counted to three! Lance Storm suddenly came down and complained to the referee to no avail. While Christian threw a tantrum outside the ring, Rikishi danced in celebration!Later, Lance Storm took the mic and said that the referee's decision was not an innocent act of incompetence. Storm said the same thing happened to him last week. Storm said a pattern was developing, one of prejudice toward Canadian athletes. It isn't just WWE officials who are prejudiced, Storm charged, but the American athletes in the locker room were the same. Storm said that the Americans have been screwing Canadians every chance they get. He said that each and every fan is prejudiced, too. Storm said the rest of the world hates America, and rightly so. "America sucks!" Storm screamed before walking out.

Backstage, a nervous Mark Loyd stumbled through an interview attempt with Triple H. Triple H tried to help him out, asking Loyd's question for him. Triple H said that at King of the Ring, he would get back what is his: the WWE Undisputed Championship. Triple H took over the interviewer's role again, asking about his own match that night with Billy. The Game said he and Billy went back to a time in DX when his opponent was known as Mr. Ass. Now that he thinks about Billy's relationship with Chuck, maybe people still call him that. Triple H said he had warned Billy last week to not come to the ring or else he'd get smashed in the face with a sledgehammer. Triple H said he was ready to do whatever he had to do. The Game told Loyd that he did a great job before exiting.

In the locker room, Nidia watched as Jamie Noble laced up his boots. Nidia said that she was so happy that Jamie was going to beat Billy Kidman that night and go on to waste The Hurricane at KOR. That would make her very happy, and when she's happy, she'll make sure Noble is happy too. Noble said he would become the new Cruiserweight Champion. Nidia said that when Hurricane showed up, she'd have his mask waiting for it. She lifted her skirt to reveal Hurricane's mask strapped to her midsection!

Noble came to ringside with Nidia, who wore The Hurricane's cape over her shoulders. Billy Kidman soon arrived and the match got underway in a hurry. Noble came out strong, initially trying to get Kidman to submit to an armbar. Kidman slipped out of the hold and slapped a kick to Noble's temple. Moments later, Noble nearly got a pinfall following a powerbomb. 

The two agile competitors went back and forth from there. Noble climbed the top rope and launched a full body press from the top rope, but was clobbered by a dropkick from Kidman. Kidman then climbed to the top turnbuckle for a Shooting Star Press, but Nidia knocked him off his feet. Noble ended the match by dropping Kidman right on his head and getting the pinfall. After the match, Nidia slipped off Hurricane's mask and slapped it on Noble, then the two locked in a passionate kiss. Suddenly, the arena went dark, and when the lights came back on, The Hurricane was standing in the ring behind Noble! The Hurricane chokseslammed him and angrily took back his mask!

Billy, flanked by Chuck and Rico, came to the ring for his showdown with Triple H. The two men brawled outside the ring, where Rico got in a cheap shot on The Game. As Triple H chased after the stylist, Chuck stepped in and leveled the Cerebral Assassin with a clothesline. He shoved Triple H back into the ring, where Billy dismantled his opponent. The Game managed to come back, but thanks to some interference, Rico snuck in and delivered a kick to the face! Still, Triple H managed to hit the Pedigree on Billy and pick up the win! The celebration was short, though, as Undertaker stormed in and began attacking his King of the Ring opponent. Triple H fought back, and Angle raced in with a steel chair but ended up smacking the Undertaker before The Game got away. Rage filled the Undertaker's eyes as Angle pleaded innocence, then slunk away. Backstage, Stacy was looking for something to wear when Dawn Marie came upon her. Dawn said that Mr. McMahon had entered her into next Tuesday's Divas Undressed competition. Nearby, Torrie took off her robe to reveal an amazing two-piece outfit! Dawn and Stacy sneered in disgust.

Stacy found Mr. McMahon and said she can't wait for King of the Ring because The Rock is going to be there. Mr. McMahon said he was surprised by The Rock's announcement and isn't sure what he's going to do. Suddenly, Taker broke in and roared in anger about Kurt Angle hitting him with a chair. Taker said he wanted Angle in a singles match on SmackDown! Mr. McMahon said he couldn't do that. Taker said he wasn't asking, he was telling the owner that he was taking on Angle that night, Mr. McMahon said if it meant that much to him, he had the match. 

In a King of the Ring Quarterfinal Match, the Big Valbowski faced Chris Jericho. Jericho worked into position for a Lionsault, but Valbowski wisely moved out of the way. Val then catapulted Jericho face first into the turnbuckle and followed with a spinebuster. Val quickly tried to execute a rollup, but Y2J squirmed out of the way. While bouncing off the ropes soon after, Jericho collided hard with the referee, knocking him down. Jericho used the opportunity to bring a steel chair into play, but Val kicked it away and nailed a powerbomb. Y2J couldn't be pinned, though, and he soon latched on the Walls of Jericho. The Big Valbowski had no choice but to tap.

Backstage, Hardcore Holly found Test preparing for their match. Hardcore told Test that they both knew what was on the line in their match. Hardcore said he isn't taking it lightly. Test said he would know how serious he is when he was kicking Hardcore's teeth down his throat.

Kurt Angle paced nervously in Mr. McMahon's office, asking why the boss allowed Taker to bully him into a match that night. Mr. McMahon said he figured that with Angle's impressive ability, this might be the best way for both men to gear up for King of the Ring. Stacy asked if Angle is afraid of Taker. He huffily denied that he is. He then said that he would be picturing that Taker is Hulk Hogan. He said he would do the same thing to Taker that he planned to do to Hulk Hogan; break his ankle. Angle stormed out as Mr. McMahon, who obviously hadn't planned for this, demanded that he come back.

Hardcore Holly grappled for a spot in the KOR Tournament Semifinals next. Hardcore powerslammed Test, who kicked out at two. Test got back into the game by crashing a hard clothesline into his opponent. Test went for the pumphandle slam soon after, but Hardcore maneuvered out of it. Test then tried an aerial attack, but Hardcore dropkicked him in midair. Test got back up and managed to connect on the pumphandle slam, but Hardcore somehow kicked out! He only delayed the inevitable, though, as a boot to the face allowed Test to advance in the KOR tournament. After stepping out of the ring, Mark Loyd caught Test, who said that he would beat Brock Lesnar Sunday and become the New Big Thing!In his office, Mr. McMahon told agents Fit Finlay and Johnny Ace that he is concerned about the main event. He said he wasn't sure what would happen when Taker and Angle clashed, but he wanted to protect the two for their King of the Ring matches on Sunday. He told John to get Taker, and Fit to get Kurt and he would talk to them both. He then turned to Stacy and said he would see her back at the hotel. She left after the boss gave her a going away kiss.

Marc Loyd found Chris Jericho. Y2J said that he would defeat Rob Van Dam at King of the Ring and face the winner of Test vs. Brock Lesnar. Y2J said Sunday means everything to him because the KOR winner this years gets a title shot at SummerSlam. Jericho said he would win the King of the Ring tournament and then regain the Undisputed WWE Championship!

Angle and Taker arrived in Mr. McMahon's office. He told them that the situation had gotten out of hand. He said the fans were looking for good clean competition. He told them he didn't want to see them bust each other up. He told the two to do the right thing and shake hands. They both refused and soon got into a war of words, then came to blows with Mr. McMahon caught in the middle! The two had to be separated.

The Undertaker and Kurt Angle got the chance to settle their business in the ring next. After the Undisputed Champion roared to the ring on his motorcycle, the action kicked off. Angle managed to grab Taker in the ankle lock early, but the Dead Man grabbed the ring ropes to break the hold. Angle then tried a belly to back suplex, but Taker kicked out at two. 

Angle took off a turnbuckle cover to reveal the steel coupling beneath. Taker mounted an assault, but took a belly-to-belly suplex. A pumped-up Angle attempted an Angle Slam but was denied. Taker began to take over control. He chopped Angle with a guillotine leg drop off the ring apron and continued to beat his opponent outside the ropes. Back in the ring, Taker tried for a chokeslam, but Angle turned an amazing counter and ended up with Taker in the ankle lock! Angle jerked at Taker's foot in an attempt to snap the bone, but Taker managed to twist out of the move and hit a chokeslam! Suddenly, Triple H ran down to the ring and distracted Taker. Angle took advantage by rolling up the Dead Man in a schoolboy rollup and getting the pinfall! Triple H and Taker traded blows, while Hulk Hogan stormed in and beat around Kurt Angle. Taker dropped Hogan with a chokeslam, but fell victim to a Triple H Pedigree! SmackDown! closed with The Game standing tall amidst several hurting superstars.