Disclaimer: I do not own WWE.
SmackDown: 12/7/2001
SmackDown was live at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama. Just three days after the most shocking episode of RAW is WAR in history - and just 10 days before Invasion airs live on Pay-Per-View.
As the show began, Mr. McMahon tried to convince the Undertaker to be a part of Team WWF, saying that he had given Taker what he wanted - a match against Shane McMahon and Diamond Dallas Page on SmackDown! Mr. McMahon even said he had given Taker Kurt Angle as a partner. Taker said a deal's a deal, and then Vince asked Taker how Sara was. Taker told Vince never to bring her name up again, and not to screw with him, because someone was going to go for their Last Ride on SmackDown!
Jim Ross joined Michael Cole for commentary on SmackDown!, as Tazz had his hands full as part of the new WCW/ECW entity.
WCW owner Shane McMahon's theme music suddenly rang throughout the arena, and the Boy Wonder headed to the ring, flanked by all the stars of WCW! For the first time in months, Shane was booed as he began addressing the crowd. He vowed that WCW would show its dominance on SmackDown! when he and DDP took on Angle and Taker.
Shane bragged about how he and his troops shocked the world on RAW. He again promised that the WCW/ECW combination would kick the World Wrestling Federation's ass at Invasion.
Shane said he couldn't take all the credit, however - and he then introduced Paul Heyman and the new owner of ECW, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley! Paul and Stephanie headed to the ring with the stars of ECW. The ECW and WCW stars embraced in the ring, as did Shane, Stephanie and Paul.
Heyman said it was common knowledge that Vince McMahon had stolen all of ECW's concepts and attitude to become the success he was. He said Vince also took ECW's stars and cable deal, which ultimately ran them out of business. So Paul said if Vince was going to take everything from Paul, then he was going to take everything from him - his children!
Paul admitted that he had been the mole all along, giving Shane all the information he needed to steal WCW! Paul said that wasn't enough; he also wanted to take the one constant in Vince's life - Stephanie! He did so by seducing Stephanie with the power of becoming ECW owner!
Paul told Vince the same thing that Vince once told his father - get out of the way, or get squashed! He told Vince they would take what they wanted at Invasion.
Heyman then handed the microphone to Stephanie, who told Paul that he could call her "boss." Stephanie said that together, she and Shane had the power to run the Federation out of business! Stephanie said that she and Shane were better than Vince, simply due to evolution - children were stronger, smarter, faster, and generally outlived their parents.
She said that she and Shane just couldn't wait for Vince to die. She said they were too impatient, so they decided to join forces to run Vince out of business forever.
William Regal and Tajiri watched the segment backstage, and Regal talked about how there wouldn't even be a sports-entertainment industry without Vince McMahon. Regal then told Tajiri - a former ECW star - that Tajiri's decision to stay with the Federation was the right decision. He promised Tajiri he would go a long way, and then asked Tajiri if there was anything he could do to thank him. Tajiri said he wanted to do commentary on SmackDown with Ross and Cole! Regal told Tajiri that he had a lovely speaking voice, and sent Tajiri to the commentator's table with his blessing!
Stone Cold Steve Austin and Debra walked into a very tense Mr. McMahon's locker room. Vince said he was down in the dumps about the invasion and about his kids turning against him. Austin said that Vince still had him. Stone Cold said he had something that would erase all Vince's problems. He told Vince he'd be right back with the answer to all Vince's problems.
Tajiri joined Ross and Cole at ringside to provide color commentary, and the Japanese Buzzsaw didn't seem to know much English - but he did know the term "Business is about to pick up!"
The opening match on SmackDown was an interpromotional battle, as ECW's Tazz took on Hardcore Holly.
Prior to the bout, Tazz stared menacingly towards the commentary table - the very table he had occupied for the past six months. Tajiri called the bout a "slobknocker!" Tazz won the bout after a Tazzmission, and after the bout, Tazz went over to the announce table and attacked Tajiri, locking him in the Tazzmission!
Vince and Debra talked backstage, and the Federation owner questioned what Stone Cold would do to change the face of Invasion. Suddenly, Austin walked into the locker room - with a guitar! Stone Cold said that violence wasn't the answer to their problems. He said that since he was a kid, whenever he had a problem, his dad would break out the guitar and sing a few songs, helping him to forget about his problems. He said he wanted to sing to Vince and help solve his problems! Austin started singing "Kumbaya," but the owner didn't seem to feel any better! Stone Cold then sang a variation of Queen's "We Are the Champions," called "I Am The Champion!" Again, the owner didn't seem to be feeling any better!
Next up was the Bladewolf vs Lance Storm.
In the arena, Lance Storm's theme hits and the ECW star makes his way down the ring towards the ramp. Storm was quick to enter the ring and looked confident in his chances at winning tonight.
OOOOOOWHOOOOOO!
'Oh, ah, ah, ah, ah! Get up, come on get down with the sickness!'
Down with the Sickness by Disturbed played to a loud pop from the fans and out comes the Bladewolf with his baseball bat in hand. Bladewolf had a dark glare on his face as he stared down at Storm before making his way down the ramp towards the ring.
Bladewolf takes off his coat and slides into the ring, bat in hand... AND STORM WAS QUICK TO ATTACK!
'Ding! Ding! Ding!'
Bladewolf dropped the bat as Storm landed lefts and rights, forcing Bladewolf to cover up before he shoved Storm back and Storm ran at Bladewolf again... BUT GETS TAKEN DOWN WITH A SPEAR!
Bladewolf jumps to his feet with a primal roar as the crowd cheered. Bladewolf grabs Storm, sets him up into the vertical suplex position... AND HITS THE WOLF'S FANG! HE HOOKS THE LEGS! ONE! TWO! THREE!
'Ding! Ding! Ding!'
Down with the Sickness plays as Bladewolf gets to his feet and picks up his baseball bat and goes to leave but pauses and looks back at Storm, then looks at the bat, before he walks towards Storm... AND STARTS ARRACKING HIM WITH THE BASEBALL BAT!
Bladewolf eventually stops and tosses the bat aside before he grabs Storm, lifts him onto his shoulders... AND HITS THE FURY OF THE WOLF!
Bladewolf rolls out the ring and picks up the baseball bat before making his way up the ramp and goes backstage.
Backstage, Austin continued serenading Vince, with his rendition of "Camptown Ladies Sing that Song." Kurt Angle then entered the dressing room, and Stone Cold accused Kurt of being jealous of his relationship with Vince, and being jealous of the fact that he could sing! Kurt said he thought he could carry a tune, and Austin gave him the guitar. Just before he was about to play, Austin coughed loudly! Angle then tried again, and sang, "Jimmy Crack Corn!" Austin grabbed the guitar as Vince left the locker room, and Stone Cold told Angle he was pathetic.
Mike Awesome went up to the Federation's seamstress and told her he wanted new tights - tights which had "Awesome" written down the sides of both legs!
Watching on from another dressing room, Edge & Christian said that they were the only ones in sports entertainment who reek of awesomeness, and that Awesome's tights should actually have "chumpstain" written down one leg, and "dorkzilla" written down the other!
Vince McMahon was in his office, and before him were the WWF superstars that made team WWF. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, the Undertaker, Kane and the Bladewolf.
"Now gentlemen..." Vince said as Austin has a staredown with Undertaker while handing his guitar to Angle. "We're here to discuss team WWF. I'd like to hav eyour undivided attention. So-" Angle plays the strings on Austin's guitar, causing the WWF Champion to snatch the guitar and toss it onto the couch while giving Angle a glare.
"What were you saying?" Austin asked Vince.
"this is the most serious threat the World Wrestling Federation has ever known." Vince said. "And you Bladewolf, Kane-"
"Kane." Austin said.
"Undertaker-" Vince continued
"Undertaker." Austin added after Vince.
"We do have a deal." Vince said.
"We got a deal." Austin looked at Undertaker.
"Would you shut up?" Undertaker snapped at him.
"Stone Cold, and you, Kurt." Vince continued. "And whether we like it or not, whether we like each other or not, it doesn't matter."
"It don't matter." Austin repeated.
"Because we're going into InVasion." Vince said.
"InVasion." Austin repeated.
"We're going into this, with both WCW and ECW breathing down our necks!" Vince said.
"Breathing down our necks! They're breathing down-!" Austin slapped Undertaker's chest but trailed off after seeing the glare he was being given by the Undertaker.
"you do that again, you're gonna pull back a nub." Undertaker warned him. Austin saw Angle smirking a bit and smacked him on the chest in response. Bladewolf was seen smirking a little and shaking his head.
"Now dammit!" Vince growled. "Lets get together! We've got to have leadership here, we have to unify we have to function as one unit, otherwise we'll break apart, they'll pick us apart out there!"
"Pick us apart." Austin repeated.
"Now I want a commitment from each and every one of you that we're gonna have unity, we're going to support each other." Vince said.
"Support each other." Austin repeated.
"And more than anything else in the world, at InVasion, we will kick WCW and ECW's collective ass! Do I have your word on that? Vince asked, pointing to Bladewolf who nodded, then Kane who nodded, then to Undertaker.
"Why don't you just let my brothers and I handle this?" Undertaker asked.
"Because three men can't do it. It's five on five." Vince said.
"Five on five!" Austin repeated.
"What are you gonna do with this?" Undertaker gestured to Angle and Austin.
"And the risks are just too great." Vince finished.
"I'm in!" Austin said. "Count me in! Count him in too!" Austin gestured to Angle at that last part.
"Alright, together, as the old expression goes: United we stand..."
"Divided we fall." Austin finished for Vince.
"Let's stand tall, let's stand tall just for once for the WWF." Vince said.
Moments later, Mr. McMahon strutted to the ring, and introduced the fans to the greatest Federation Champion of all-time and the man who will lead Team WWF into Invasion - Stone Cold Steve Austin!
Mr. McMahon said that people were saying that since WrestleMania, Stone Cold had changed drastically, even becoming a brown-noser. Vince said he agreed with that, and maybe it was for the better. But Vince said he needed another change heading into Invasion. He said the man he needed to lead Team WWF was not a Steve Austin who gives him hugs, gives him gifts, or strums a guitar. Vince said he wanted the old Stone Cold - the one who was a beer-swilling, foul-mouth S.O. B., who don't take no s**t from anybody, who raised hell every night and who would knock Mr. McMahon on his ass!
Mr. McMahon asked Austin if Stone Cold heard what he was saying, and he begged Austin to knock him down! He asked the crowd if they wanted Austin to beat the hell out of him, and the crowd said "Hell yeah!" But Austin shook his head no, and simply walked out of the ring with his head down. McMahon asked him not to leave, as he needed him to lead Team WWF at Invasion. But despite Mr. McMahon's pleas, Austin would not even turn around as he left, even as the Federation owner begged for a Stunner!
During the break, Stone Cold and Debra left the arena.
Moments later, an upset Mr. McMahon left the arena to find Austin and try and talk some sense into him. Kurt Angle stopped him as he was leaving, asking the Federation owner if he would stay for his match, but Vince said he needed to find the Rattlesnake to lead Team WWF. Angle said that he would lead Team WWF, but Vince said he wanted to talk some sense into the Rattlesnake, and to bring back the old Stone Cold.
In a battle of ECW vs. WWF, Rhyno battled Kane. Rhyno picked up a huge upset win, pinning Kane with a roll-up thanks to a fast-count by WCW referee Nick Patrick.
In the commissioner's office, Regal made a match for Invasion between Tajiri and Tazz. Earl Hebner then walked into Regal's office, and Regal asked how Hebner could allow Nick Patrick to cost Kane his match against Rhyno.
Regal told Hebner to go to Patrick's locker room and challenge him to a match at Invasion - and to bring some of his referee friends with him!
Next up, Lita battled Trish Stratus. Lita pinned Trish following a moonsault, but the big news came moments later, as Stacy Keibler and Torrie Wilson approached the Hardy Boyz backstage and kissed Matt and Jeff! An irate Lita - who watched from the ring - was none too happy after the bout!
The WCW referees were talking in their locker room when the Federation referees entered. Hebner challenged Patrick to a match at Invasion, and Patrick agreed - but said he didn't want to wait until Invasion! The referees then rumbled in the locker room!
In a Hardcore Championship match, Jeff Hardy challenged Mike Awesome. Edge & Christian soon interfered in the bout, giving Awesome the con-chair-to! Moments later, Jeff hit the Swanton and pinned Awesome to become Hardcore Champion, bringing that title back to the World Wrestling Federation!
The Undertaker, Kurt Angle, Kane and Bladewolf were backstage having a meeting it appears.
"Alright boys, I'm gonna go out there and I'm gonna beat the living hell out of DDP." Undertaker said to Bladewolf and Kane before looking at Angle. "You think you can keep your head out of your ass long enough for us to get that done?"
"Yeah." Angle nodded.
"Alright, shut up." Undertaker casually told him before looking at Kane and Bladewolf. "Listen, you know they're gonna come. Just keep an eye on the backstage-"
"Hold up, hold on a second!" Angle cut in. "Vince and Stone Cold are gone, and whn they're gone, I'm the leader of this team. I should be the captain."
"Captain assclown." Bladewolf smirked.
"Now listen, Bladewolf, Kane, keep an eye out for any WCW or EC-" Angle stopped talking when he saw the glare he was getting from the Undertaker, who clearly did not like Angle interrupting him the way he did. "Alright you can be the leader for tonight. I'll see you out there."
Angle walked away and Bladewolf scoffed. "Wimp."
Undertaker looked at his brothers. "Just keep an eye out backstage, and keep an eye out for each other."
"We got this, big brother." Bladewolf said.
"Alright." Undertaker walked after Angle as Bladewolf and Kane shared a look with their arms crossed.
The main event on SmackDown! was the interpromotional tag-team megawar, as Shane McMahon and Diamond Dallas Page took on Kurt Angle and the Undertaker. An intense and emotional war culminated when Taker gave Shane the Last Ride and Angle locked DDP in the ankle lock. After Taker pulled Kurt off of Page - he wanted to destroy DDP by himself - members of the ECW and WCW roster came out to attack Angle and Taker!
Angle and Taker cleaned house, but suddenly, in ran more WCW and ECW stars! As they attacked Angle outside the ring, Taker delivered a stunning dive from the ring all the way to the outside, taking out many of the stars!
As the beatdown continued on Taker and Angle... THE BLADEWOLF AND KANE CAME RUNNING DOWN THE RAMP! Bladewolf had his baseball bat and struck anything that moved but there was still too much ECW and WCW guys and both Bladewolf and Kane soon found themselves overwhelmed and beaten down like Undertaker and Angle.
Bladewolf tried fighting back... AS BULLETPROOF COMES RUNNING DOWN THE RAMP! JACKAL AND BLOODWOLF WERE BACK! They slide into the ring as WCW/ECW backs off and Bulletproof stares them down... BEFORE THEY DOUBLE SUPERKICK BLADEWOLF! BULLETPROOF HAS JOINED THE ALLIANCE!
Paul Heyman just watched on with a demonic smile as the ECW and WCW stars demolished the four members of Team WWF. The ECW and WCW stars stood over the fallen Federation Superstars as ECW music blared in the arena, as SmackDown went off the air...
Man, the Invasion storyline started off with a big at the beginning, didn't it? But then as the end of it was approaching, it just seemed to get tiring. I mean, by the time Survivor Series was rolling around, everyone in the storyline just seemed so tried of doing it and wanted it over with.
Though I think 9/11 also had an affect on several wrestlers, and I may do an off screen chapter about that since George/Bladewolf lives in New York City.