The time had come for SmackDown to get extreme.
Mick Foley was already in the ring when the show started. He didn't want to waste any time on his quest to stop ECW from returning. He was handed a microphone by Michael Cole.
"I'm going to get straight to the point, because I don't have a lot of time to fix this. I didn't come here tonight representing Raw. I also didn't come here to promote a new book I'm writing. I'm here for something much more serious.
I'm sure by now you've all heard the news. Vince McMahon and Paul Heyman got together, and starting next month, Extreme Championship Wrestling is supposed to come back to life."
The live crowd reacted positively to this announcement. The cheers quickly turned to boos as Foley continued speaking.
"However, I'm afraid that I just can't let that happen. My name is pretty synonymous with extreme style wrestling, and to me, that means that I have a responsibility to the future generations of this business. It's my job to tell them not to destroy their life like I did. I'm kind of like the former drug addict who goes to high schools telling the youth of America not to do dope. Only my drug was hardcore wrestling, and I refuse to sit back and let other great athletes get hooked on the same destructive, stupid things that hurt me!
I'm going to stop this so-called hardcore revolution. And I'm going to stop it tonight. I'd like to ask the Dudley Boys to come out here, so that hopefully I can reason with them."
The Dudleys did come out from the back. However, they weren't the usual Dudleys. These Dudleys wore tie dye. They came out to "This is Extreme" by Harry Slash and The Slashtones instead of their WWE theme. They were accompanied by Paul Heyman. Truly, these Dudley Boys were extreme once again.
The trio entered the ring together. They angrily stared down the outnumbered Foley. It was then that the sound of another theme song stopped things before they could even get started. Theodore Long came out with a microphone in his hand.
"Now hold up, playas. I don't know if you've all forgotten where you are, but that's a SmackDown ring you're standing in! That means that you boys are in my house, you feel me? The only man large and in charge right now is Theodore Long, and I've got something to say.
Mick Foley, you'll like this news. The Dudley Boys aren't going to be a part of any new ECW. Paul Heyman might've gotten them on board verbally, but both of them are under contract to SmackDown! I never let them go, and they ain't leaving. You better believe that!"
The crowd reaction to Long's announcement was mixed, and they were definitely the only ones undecided on the issue. Paul Heyman reacted to the news by going to ringside. He took a microphone from ring announcer Tony Chimmel and gave Long a very clear response.
"Excuse me? I don't think I heard you correctly. I thought you said that the Dudleys were the property of SmackDown. 'Under contract' I believe were your exact words. Theodore, I think you've forgotten just who you're talking to. You see, contracts mean NOTHING to us! WE'RE EXTREME!"
A small ECW chant went up in the crowd.
"We do what we want, when we want! The Dudley Boys aren't going to play by your rules anymore. They WILL be part of ECW, because they QUIT SmackDown, effective immediately! You can sue us. You can fine us. We don't give a damn! ECW is going to be bigger, and better, than ever before! "
Mick Foley cut Heyman off.
"You see? This is exactly what I'm talking about. Dudleys, extreme wrestling isn't what you should be doing with your careers. You're better than that. Are you really going to give up big pay days at big arenas to bleed inside small bingo halls? You have a very bright future here on SmackDown, and you're willing to throw it all away on empty promises from this damn check bouncer!"
Insulting their new boss was enough to set Bubba and D-Von off. They beat harshly on Foley's body like the skilled tag team they were. The hardcore legend tried his best to fight back, but couldn't take the double team of the half-brothers. Soon Foley wasn't just beaten down, but bloody as well. It appeared his mission was already over.
That's when Kurt Angle made the save.
As Teddy Long shouted encouragement from the top of the ramp, the Olympic champion rushed to ringside. He grabbed Foley's foot as he was bounced off the ring ropes by the Dudleys. Angle yanked the bloody ex-hardcore legend from the ring and headed backstage with him, jawing with the Dudleys the entire way.
The SmackDown announce team was very confused to say the least.
"Why the hell was Kurt Angle helping Mick Foley?"
It was another unanswered question.
It was also another reason to watch Raw next week.
Mick Foley was already in the ring when the show started. He didn't want to waste any time on his quest to stop ECW from returning. He was handed a microphone by Michael Cole.
"I'm going to get straight to the point, because I don't have a lot of time to fix this. I didn't come here tonight representing Raw. I also didn't come here to promote a new book I'm writing. I'm here for something much more serious.
I'm sure by now you've all heard the news. Vince McMahon and Paul Heyman got together, and starting next month, Extreme Championship Wrestling is supposed to come back to life."
The live crowd reacted positively to this announcement. The cheers quickly turned to boos as Foley continued speaking.
"However, I'm afraid that I just can't let that happen. My name is pretty synonymous with extreme style wrestling, and to me, that means that I have a responsibility to the future generations of this business. It's my job to tell them not to destroy their life like I did. I'm kind of like the former drug addict who goes to high schools telling the youth of America not to do dope. Only my drug was hardcore wrestling, and I refuse to sit back and let other great athletes get hooked on the same destructive, stupid things that hurt me!
I'm going to stop this so-called hardcore revolution. And I'm going to stop it tonight. I'd like to ask the Dudley Boys to come out here, so that hopefully I can reason with them."
The Dudleys did come out from the back. However, they weren't the usual Dudleys. These Dudleys wore tie dye. They came out to "This is Extreme" by Harry Slash and The Slashtones instead of their WWE theme. They were accompanied by Paul Heyman. Truly, these Dudley Boys were extreme once again.
The trio entered the ring together. They angrily stared down the outnumbered Foley. It was then that the sound of another theme song stopped things before they could even get started. Theodore Long came out with a microphone in his hand.
"Now hold up, playas. I don't know if you've all forgotten where you are, but that's a SmackDown ring you're standing in! That means that you boys are in my house, you feel me? The only man large and in charge right now is Theodore Long, and I've got something to say.
Mick Foley, you'll like this news. The Dudley Boys aren't going to be a part of any new ECW. Paul Heyman might've gotten them on board verbally, but both of them are under contract to SmackDown! I never let them go, and they ain't leaving. You better believe that!"
The crowd reaction to Long's announcement was mixed, and they were definitely the only ones undecided on the issue. Paul Heyman reacted to the news by going to ringside. He took a microphone from ring announcer Tony Chimmel and gave Long a very clear response.
"Excuse me? I don't think I heard you correctly. I thought you said that the Dudleys were the property of SmackDown. 'Under contract' I believe were your exact words. Theodore, I think you've forgotten just who you're talking to. You see, contracts mean NOTHING to us! WE'RE EXTREME!"
A small ECW chant went up in the crowd.
"We do what we want, when we want! The Dudley Boys aren't going to play by your rules anymore. They WILL be part of ECW, because they QUIT SmackDown, effective immediately! You can sue us. You can fine us. We don't give a damn! ECW is going to be bigger, and better, than ever before! "
Mick Foley cut Heyman off.
"You see? This is exactly what I'm talking about. Dudleys, extreme wrestling isn't what you should be doing with your careers. You're better than that. Are you really going to give up big pay days at big arenas to bleed inside small bingo halls? You have a very bright future here on SmackDown, and you're willing to throw it all away on empty promises from this damn check bouncer!"
Insulting their new boss was enough to set Bubba and D-Von off. They beat harshly on Foley's body like the skilled tag team they were. The hardcore legend tried his best to fight back, but couldn't take the double team of the half-brothers. Soon Foley wasn't just beaten down, but bloody as well. It appeared his mission was already over.
That's when Kurt Angle made the save.
As Teddy Long shouted encouragement from the top of the ramp, the Olympic champion rushed to ringside. He grabbed Foley's foot as he was bounced off the ring ropes by the Dudleys. Angle yanked the bloody ex-hardcore legend from the ring and headed backstage with him, jawing with the Dudleys the entire way.
The SmackDown announce team was very confused to say the least.
"Why the hell was Kurt Angle helping Mick Foley?"
It was another unanswered question.
It was also another reason to watch Raw next week.