Smackdown!

Atlantic City, New Jersey
July 11, 2002

The Rock returned to World Wrestling Entertainment on the July 11 episode of SmackDown!, which emanated from Atlantic City, N.J.!

The show opened with a WWE Tag Team Championship Match, as Hollywood Hulk Hogan and Edge defended against former champions Billy & Chuck, who were accompanied by Rico. Billy & Chuck double-teamed Edge, until he was finally able to make the tag to the Hulkster! Hogan cleaned house, and soon went for the legdrop on Billy, but Rico grabbed Hogan's leg. Edge speared Rico off the apron into the barricade, but Billy then hit a fame-asser on Hogan. Billy went for the pin, but Hogan kicked out and "Hulked up!" Moments later, Edge speared Chuck, and Hogan hit the big boot and legdrop on Billy for the pin and the successful title defense!

Undertaker was in the parking area, waiting for the arrival of The Rock. He was approached by John Cena, who Taker was scheduled to team with later in the night against Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle. Taker asked Cena if he'd ever met Rock, and Cena said no, so Taker told Cena that Rock was a punk, and when the People's Champion arrived, Taker would show him what he did to punks. Cena told Taker it would be an honor to have him as a partner tonight. Taker told Cena to head to Mr. McMahon's office and ask if Vince gave a damn about the tag match. Taker said he was gonna kick Rock's ass tonight, and that Cena better leave before he kicked his ass too! Cena walked away, as Taker kept up his watch for The Rock.

Footage was shown from earlier in the day of Torrie Wilson in a bikini shoot on the beach in Atlantic City. As she posed with a beachball, she was approached by Molly Holly, who asked why they weren't shooting her instead, since she is the WWE Women's Champion. Molly said that Torrie may be the winner of the "Golden Thong Award," but if she wanted to win a real award, then she should meet her in the ring for the Women's Championship on SmackDown! Torrie accepted the challenge, saying she had a special pose for Molly - and she started to remove her bikini top as Molly stormed away!

In the parking area, WWE officials were trying to convince Undertaker to leave the area before The Rock arrived. Agent Fit Finlay told Undertaker that Mr. McMahon was on his way, and Taker said he didn't care. Suddenly, a limousine pulled up, and Taker made a beeline for it. The Undisputed Champion opened the limo door, but it wasn't Rock - it was Angle and Jericho. Angle said that Taker was holding his championship. Angle poked fun at Undertaker for tapping out last week, and Taker said it was Angle who got pinned last week. Angle said his tap came before Taker's pin, and therefore superseded it. Taker said he was still the champion. Jericho suggested that Taker change his name from "Undertaker" to "Undertapper," and Taker then slapped Jericho and started brawling with Angle! Agents separated the superstars, as did Mr. McMahon, who was irate about the brawl. Vince told Taker he would get The Rock tonight, but implored Taker to get him inside the arena.

Moments later, an angered Taker marched into the locker room, where he saw Cena. Taker asked Cena why he hadn't helped him against Angle and Jericho, and Cena reminded Taker that he'd told him to go away. Taker said he'd just gotten double-teamed by Angle and Jericho, and he needed to know that Cena had his back for their match tonight. He reminded Cena that Cena had been here two weeks, while he'd been here 12 years. Cena said yes, he would have Undertaker's back.

The WWE Women's Championship was on the line as Torrie Wilson challenged Molly Holly. Molly soon locked up Torrie's legs, and rolled her over into a pinfall combination for a successful title defense.

Backstage, The Rock arrived to the arena to a huge ovation!

In tag action, Reverend D-Von and Batista took on Randy Orton and Mark Henry. Prior to the match, footage was shown from earlier in the day of Orton and Henry, with Orton saying that his partners in weeks past had let him down, but he knew the World's Strongest Man wouldn't let him down. But Batista would nail Henry with a spinebuster and pin him to win the match.

Hogan and Edge were hanging out in their locker room, ready to head to a casino. Edge told Hogan that holding the Tag Team Championship with him was a dream come true. Hogan said it was cool when thousands of Hulkamaniacs were cheering his name, and it was just like his match with The Rock at WrestleMania. The Rock then approached the men and congratulated them on winning the Tag Team Championship. Edge invited him gambling, and he said he was up for that, but first, he had some business to take care of in the ring. Hogan continued talking about WrestleMania, extending the truth as he told the story, as Rock teased him from behind. Edge told Hogan that "Mr. Nanny" was totally better than "The Scorpion King!"

Moments later, the sold-out crowd rose to its feet, as finally, The Rock came back to Atlantic City! The crowd chanted "Rocky! Rocky!" as the People's Champion paced in the ring. Rock said he was hyped, and wanted to do something very special. Rock said he wanted to sing a song for Atlantic City, but it had been brought to Rock's attention that there was a better singer than The Rock in Atlantic City tonight - Busta Rhymes!

Busta got into the ring with Rock to a huge ovation, and People's Champion called him the Undisputed Champion of Hip-Hop. Rock said Busta was in "Halloween: Resurrection," and he asked if Busta got killed in the movie, since, as Rock said, "they always go after the brother first!" Busta smiled, and said he lays the smack down on their candy ass!

Rock suggested that they sing a song for Atlantic City, and the people cheered! Busta started singing about Atlantic CITY, and the girls with their big … but Rock cut him off, saying he couldn't use such language on SmackDown!, only in pornos! Rock said he had a more personal song in mind, and that since Atlantic City was famous for things including the boardwalk, maybe they should sing, "Under the Boardwalk." Rock sang, "Under the boardwalk, we'll be looking at the sky; under the boardwalk, we'll be eating some pie." Busta added, "Under the boardwalk, we're together at last; under the boardwalk, Rock and Busta whooping ass!" Rock thanked Busta, and the rap star left the ring.

The People's Champion then said it was time to get down to business. He said in two weeks, he would have his chance to take the WWE Undisputed Championship. He said Undertaker had no idea what kind of problems he would have after Rock took his title. He told Undertaker that if he had something to say, to just bring it!

Instead of Taker, however, out came Kurt Angle to the ring. Angle said Rock's absence had messed up his sense of reality, but the reality is that Undertaker isn't the one he would have to worry about at Vengeance - it was him. Angle said he'd been on a roll lately - first making Hulk Hogan tap out at King of the Ring, and then making Undertaker tap out last week on SmackDown! He said at Vengeance, he would make Rock tap as well. Angle then looked at Busta, and said if "Puff Daddy" wanted a piece of him, he would make him tap as well! He asked Rock what he thought about that.

Rock asked who in the blue hell Angle was! Rock said Angle reminded him of someone, saying he looked kinda like Kurt Angle, but a lot different. Rock questioned if Angle was wearing a new cologne, like "Calvin Klein Donkeynuts," and also asked what the "A" on Kurt's chest stood for - and the crowd had a choice idea, which they chanted at the Olympic hero! Rock then figured out what was different about Angle, and sang, "Somebody got a haircut!"

Rock calmed an irate Angle down, saying the haircut looked good. He then called Angle "Dr. Evil!" Angle said it was real cute, but he had bad news for Rock - Rock is yesterday's news! Angle said he was the new No. 1 man in WWE. Angle said SmackDown! was now Kurt Angle's show. Angle said Rock thought he was so great because he won a Teen Choice Award. Angle said teens love him, and line up around the block to get his autograph. Angle asked Rock if he knew how much a Kurt Angle autograph went for, and Rock said yes - and he then put his pinky below his mouth and said, "One million dollars," a la Dr. Evil!

Angle said he thought Rock would have grown up a little bit, but he hadn't. Angle said Rock was lucky he had a match tonight, but suggested that they meet one-on-one next week on SmackDown! Angle said he knew Rock could sing, but next week, he would make him tap. Rock took off his sunglasses so he could look Angle in the eye, and agreed to the match. Rock added that the people in Atlantic City hadn't paid their hard-earned money to watch him kick Kurt's ass next week - he wanted some action tonight! Angle said the fans would have to wait - but Rock started punching the Olympian! Rock then captured Angle in the ankle lock - and Kurt tapped out to his own move! Taker then came down and chokeslammed both Angle and Rock! Taker talked smack to Rock before heading back to the locker room.

Next up, Rikishi took on Test. Christian and Lance Storm provided color commentary for the match, offering their anti-American views. Rikishi had Test in place for a Stinkface, but Christian got up on the apron, distracting the Phat Man. The referee told Christian to get down, as Storm ran into the ring, but Rikishi caught him with a savate kick. Test then grabbed Rikishi and hit him with a thunderous pumphandle slam! Rikishi kicked out of the pinfall attempt, and caught Test with a savate kick. He went for the Banzai Drop on Test, but Test got his knees up. But Rikishi soon hit a Samoan drop and pinned Test for the win. After the bout, the Canadian trio gang-attacked the Phat Man, until Edge and Hogan ran down for the save, cleaning house!

Mr. McMahon and Stacy Keibler were cuddling backstage, and Stacy said she was getting a little hot. She took Vince's jacket off, and said she was going to take his shirt off. He said if she was going to take his shirt off, he was going to take her dress off! But before they could do so, Chris Jericho walked in, asking Vince if he'd seen what Hogan, Edge and Rikishi had just done to the Anti-Americans. He suggested that Hogan & Edge should be forced to defend their titles against Storm and Christian. Vince said he too wanted to see Edge & Hogan defend against Christian & Storm, and said such a match should take place at Vengeance. He asked Jericho if he would step aside from his singles match against Edge so the Tag Title Match could take place, and Jericho said he would, since Vince said he would make it up to him. Jericho called Vince a genius, and Vince said he was currently a horny genius, and he excused Jericho so he could get back to Stacy!

Footage was shown from earlier in the day at a local casino, as Jamie Noble, Nidia and Tajiri enjoyed the all-you-can-eat buffet. Noble talked about how the WWE Cruiserweight Championship meant everything to him, saying it was his ticket to a better lifestyle. He said as long as he was champion, he would never be poor again.

Next up, Noble and Tajiri - accompanied by Nidia - took on The Hurricane and Billy Kidman. Although Nidia made her presence known more than once, the intense, fast-paced match-up saw Kidman pick up the pinfall on Noble after a top-rope spinebuster!

Rock was pacing backstage when Marc Loyd ran up to him, surprised he was still here. Rock told "Coach" that he had sure changed since the last time he was here, having shrank and become white! Loyd introduced himself, and Rock asked who in the bluest of blue hells was Marc Loyd! Rock then asked who the guy was behind Loyd, and when Loyd turned around to look, Rock grabbed the microphone and shoved him away!

Rock then addressed the people, saying you're damn right he's still here. He said after what happened earlier, as long as Taker and Angle were still in the building, he wasn't going anywhere. He said the clock was ticking for Undertaker's reign as champion. Rock said he'd done some gambling earlier in the day in Atlantic City. He said he'd played a slot machine called "Vengeance," and three Brahma Bulls had come up! The People's Champion told Taker and Angle to have their little tag match on SmackDown! He said he'd be here and he'd be waiting while Marc Loyd was masturbating off-camera! Rock then looked at Loyd and told him to stop doing that! Rock said he wasn't going anywhere - if you smell what The Rock is cookin'!

A Rey Mysterio Jr. commercial aired, proclaiming that the sensation was headed to SmackDown! in two weeks!

The main event on SmackDown! pitted Undertaker and John Cena against Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle. Taker downed Jericho with a boot and was about to go for the Last Ride, but Angle snuck up on the champion and hit the Angle Slam! Y2J went for the pin, but Taker kicked out. Angle and Jericho double-teamed Taker, but Taker hit a double clothesline on the men. Taker tagged in Cena, who knocked Angle from the ring, and nearly pinned Jericho after a spinebuster. Jericho went for the Lionsault, but Taker caught him with a right hand, and Cena rolled Jericho up for the pinfall! Jericho was incensed after being pinned by the rookie, attacking and brutalizing the youngster.

Jericho threw Cena from the ring, and then Taker kicked Jericho from the ring! Angle snuck up behind Taker and gave him a German suplex. Angle snared Taker in the ankle lock, but Taker reversed. Taker set Angle up for the Last Ride, but Angle escaped and went for a suplex. Taker reversed the suplex into a dragon sleeper, and Angle tapped. But as Taker held the move, The Rock ran down and attacked him. Rock drilled Taker with a Rock Bottom, but Angle then attacked Rock from behind. The People's Champion regrouped and downed Angle with another Rock Bottom. Rocky stood tall as SmackDown! went off the air!