March 20, 2003 - SmackDown Live from Louisville, Kentucky

The show opens with the camera panning across the enthusiastic crowd in the Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky. The atmosphere is electric as the fans cheer loudly, holding up their signs and eagerly awaiting the night's action. The camera then cuts to ringside, where Michael Cole and Tazz are seated, ready to call the action.

Michael Cole kicks things off, "Ladies and gentlemen, we are live from the Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky, just 10 days away from WrestleMania! And right now, we've got the WWE Champion, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, standing in the ring, looking like he's got a lot on his mind after what went down on RAW this past Monday."

The camera cuts to the ring where Zlatan Ibrahimovic stands, dressed in his street clothes, with the WWE Championship resting on his shoulder. The crowd erupts in cheers as they see their champion, and Zlatan raises the microphone to his lips, his expression serious yet composed.

Zlatan begins, his voice calm but authoritative, "So, I assume everyone in the locker room saw RAW this past Monday. But for those of you who missed the episode, allow me to fill in the blanks."

The crowd quiets down slightly as they listen intently. Zlatan continues, "This Monday, I decided to pay a little visit to RAW, and let's just say things got… interesting. Chief Morley tried to play tough guy, The Rock thought he could blindside me, and Eric Bischoff—well, he decided it was a good idea to throw me out of the building after I made my point."

The fans boo at the mention of Bischoff's actions, clearly on Zlatan's side. Zlatan pauses, a small smile playing on his lips as he hears the crowd reacting, before continuing with his summary.

"So, here's the short version," Zlatan says, his tone sharp and confident. "I showed up, I shut Morley and The Rock down, I saved Trish from getting her head bashed in, and then I got escorted out by Bischoff's rent-a-cops. And trust me, it's going to take a lot more than that to keep me quiet."

The crowd starts to chant "Ibra! Ibra!" echoing throughout the Freedom Hall. Zlatan lowers the microphone and listens, letting the chants wash over him, his expression softening slightly as he takes in the support from the WWE Universe.

Michael Cole, commenting on the scene, says, "Listen to this crowd, Tazz! The fans here in Louisville are firmly behind Zlatan, and they should be! He's been taking care of business on both RAW and SmackDown!"

Tazz nods, adding, "No doubt, Cole. Zlatan's proven time and again why he's the WWE Champion. He doesn't back down from anyone, and he's not afraid to step up and take action when he needs to!"

Zlatan raises the microphone again, addressing the fans with a slight grin, "You know, it's moments like this that remind me why I do what I do. But let me tell you all something—this is just the beginning. WrestleMania is right around the corner, and Brock Lesnar is going to find out exactly why they call me the Lion of Rosengård."

The crowd erupts once more, their chants of "Ibra!" growing even louder as the anticipation for WrestleMania continues to build. Zlatan stands tall in the ring, WWE Championship gleaming on his shoulder, as he soaks in the energy from the crowd, ready to continue his journey to the grandest stage of them all.

Zlatan, standing confidently in the middle of the ring, continues, "So, earlier tonight, I had a little conversation with our SmackDown GM, Stephanie McMahon. She personally assured me that there will be no more outside interference from RAW until after WrestleMania. And you know what? I'm fine with that. Because, you see, I did exactly what I set out to do on RAW."

The crowd listens intently as Zlatan smirks and continues, "I took The Great One out for a little ride past Jabroni Drive, through Know Your Role Boulevard, and checked The Rock into the SmackDown Hotel, where I laid the smackdown on his bald, candy ass all over RAW!"

The fans explode with cheers, fully backing Zlatan's words, chanting "Ibra! Ibra!" louder than ever. Zlatan is about to continue his promo, riding the wave of fan support, when suddenly, Kurt Angle's theme song, "Medal," blares through the arena speakers. The crowd's cheers quickly turn into a chorus of boos as Kurt Angle appears at the top of the entrance ramp, microphone in hand.

The familiar "You Suck!" chants fill the Freedom Hall, directed at Angle, who seems unfazed by the hostile reception. He struts down the ramp with that confident, almost smug look on his face, pausing momentarily to soak in the crowd's disdain.

Michael Cole, from the commentary desk, chimes in, "Oh boy, here comes Kurt Angle, and he looks like he's got something to say, Tazz!"

Tazz replies, "Of course he does, Cole. You know Kurt Angle never misses an opportunity to put himself in the spotlight."

Angle stops halfway down the ramp, raising his microphone to speak, but the "You Suck!" chants are so loud, he has to wait a moment before he can be heard. He smirks, finally speaking over the noise, "Zlatan, Zlatan, Zlatan… You think you're such a big deal, huh? You think you're the toughest guy around just because you embarrassed The Rock on RAW?"

The crowd continues to boo, but Angle presses on, "Well, let me remind you of something, Zlatan. I've been a champion here more times than you can count! I'm an Olympic Gold Medalist, a multiple-time WWE Champion, and unlike you, I don't need to talk big. I just go out there and prove it, time and time again!"

Zlatan, still standing in the ring with the WWE Championship on his shoulder, raises his microphone, his expression cool and confident, ready to respond to Angle's challenge. The tension between the two Superstars is palpable, and the crowd is buzzing with anticipation, knowing that this confrontation could explode at any moment.

Zlatan, with a smirk on his face, raises his microphone to respond. "Kurt, Kurt… you always were a loudmouth who never seems to learn when to keep it shut," he begins, drawing cheers from the crowd. "Yes, you may have been a multiple-time WWE Champion, but that was then, and this is now. Besides, you're not the only one around here who can back up what they're saying."

Zlatan pauses, his grin widening. "And I think these fans here have something they'd like to say to you about… spoons."

Almost on cue, a loud and mocking "Spoon! Spoon!" chant begins to echo throughout the Freedom Hall, growing louder and louder. Kurt Angle's face flushes with embarrassment and frustration, the memory of the infamous "spoon incident" fresh in everyone's minds. It was a humiliating moment when Kurt had accidentally stumbled into the Divas' locker room and, in a rare moment of humiliation, was being hit with spoons as the Divas taught him a lesson in respecting their privacy — a moment orchestrated by Zlatan's mind games as zlatan switched the door signs letting Angle think it was zlatan's locker room.

Angle's frown deepens as the crowd continues to chant, clearly enjoying the reminder of his embarrassing past. He waits for the noise to die down before raising his microphone, his tone sharp and irritated. "You think that's funny, Zlatan?" he snaps, trying to regain his composure. "Well, I'm glad you're so amused. But let me remind you of something else… I beat you last week, in my hometown of Pittsburgh! And that win qualifies me for a WWE Title shot."

The crowd reacts with a mix of boos and cheers as Angle continues, "Now, I could've waited to cash in that shot after WrestleMania, on SmackDown, or at the pay-per-view after. But that would feel like I'm just picking up the scraps. So, I decided to go straight to Stephanie McMahon's office and make a valid argument about why I deserve to be in the WWE Title hunt."

Zlatan raises an eyebrow, clearly curious but unfazed. Angle smirks, seeing he has Zlatan's attention. "And you know what? Stephanie agreed. So, at WrestleMania, it's not going to be a singles match for the WWE Title. Oh no… it's going to be a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship!"

The crowd gasps, and then a mix of cheers and boos fill the arena, the realization of the stakes setting in.

Angle continues with a confident grin, "That's right, Zlatan! It'll be Brock Lesnar… versus Kurt Angle… versus Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the WWE Championship! Oh, it's true… it's damn true!"

Michael Cole, on commentary, reacts with shock, "A triple threat match for the WWE Title at WrestleMania?! This changes everything!"

Tazz, clearly excited, adds, "Whoa! This is huge, Cole! Now, we've got three of the biggest names in the WWE going at it for the title on the grandest stage of them all!"

Zlatan stands in the ring, the WWE Championship still draped over his shoulder, his expression shifting slightly as he absorbs this new information. The stakes for WrestleMania have just been raised even higher, and he knows he's in for the fight of his life against two of WWE's most formidable competitors. The crowd is buzzing with anticipation, sensing that this confrontation is far from over.

Zlatan, with a confident grin, responds, "A Triple Threat Match for the WWE Title at WrestleMania? Fine by me, Kurt. But if there's one fact that hasn't changed… it's that you still suck."

The fans explode into cheers, chanting along with Zlatan, "You suck! You suck!" as the familiar chant echoes throughout the Freedom Hall. Kurt Angle's face tightens in frustration, clearly not amused by Zlatan's words or the crowd's reaction.

Zlatan continues, relishing the crowd's support. "And let's not forget, Kurt, in our head-to-head matches… the score is Zlatan: 3, Kurt: 2. Which means, you're not as good as you claim to be."

The fans cheer louder, and Kurt's scowl deepens, his jaw clenched as Zlatan presses on. "I remember when I first came to the WWE, Kurt," Zlatan begins, "you thought of me as this punk kid with a Bosnian accent from Malmö. Now, that's a classic case of stereotyping if I've ever heard one." The crowd responds with a knowing laugh, enjoying Zlatan's playful yet pointed jabs.

"But hey," Zlatan smirks, "at least I still have a full set of hair." He pauses for dramatic effect, and the crowd begins to chuckle, sensing where he's going with this. "Ladies and gentlemen," Zlatan continues, his grin widening, "allow Zlatan Ibrahimovic to present to you… the Olympic Bald Eagle… Kurt Angle!"

The crowd bursts into laughter and immediately starts chanting, "You're bald! You're bald!" over and over, pointing at Kurt Angle, who looks absolutely livid, his face flushed with anger.

Michael Cole, laughing on commentary, says, "Oh my, Tazz! Zlatan just went there! He's completely mocking Kurt Angle!"

Tazz, trying to contain his laughter, adds, "I don't think Kurt's ever been called the Olympic Bald Eagle before, Cole, but I don't think he's a fan of the new nickname!"

Kurt Angle's frustration is evident as he paces back and forth on the ramp, trying to block out the chants and regain his composure. Zlatan, still standing in the ring with the WWE Championship over his shoulder, smirks at Angle, clearly enjoying the reaction he's provoked.

Angle finally raises his microphone, but the crowd's "You're bald!" chant drowns him out for a moment. He grits his teeth, visibly seething, knowing he's been outwitted by Zlatan in front of the entire WWE Universe.

Zlatan, maintaining his confident demeanor, gestures to the crowd, urging them to keep the chant going, knowing he's firmly in control of this verbal exchange. The atmosphere in the arena is electric, and everyone knows that this rivalry just got even more personal.

Kurt Angle, with a sarcastic smirk, responds, "Very funny, Zlatan. Absolutely hilarious. A real barrel of laughs, aren't you? But your jokes won't save you come WrestleMania. I'm going to take that WWE Title from you, and you're looking at a four-time WWE Champion… oh, it's true!"

Zlatan, unimpressed, bobs his head dismissively and shoots back, "If you're so confident that you're going to win at WrestleMania, why don't you put your money where your mouth is right here, right now?" Zlatan drops the WWE Championship and the microphone, inviting Kurt to a fight.

Michael Cole's voice rises with anticipation, "Uh oh! Could this be a preview of WrestleMania?"

Tazz, just as excited, adds, "You're damn skippy, hippy! Looks like Ibra and Angle are about to throw hands!"

Kurt Angle, not backing down, drops his microphone, and both former WWE Tag Team Champions step forward, trash-talking each other with intensity. The crowd is on its feet, and the tension boils over as they begin to slug it out, trading hard right hands.

Michael Cole exclaims, "Here we go! This is a preview of WrestleMania!"

Angle, a master of mat wrestling, quickly goes for a leg takedown and manages to lock in the Ankle Lock on the WWE Champion. Tazz shouts, "Ankle Lock, Cole! Looks like Angle is sending a message to the champ about what's going to happen at WrestleMania!"

But Zlatan, showing his resilience and agility, quickly reverses it, countering into the Malmö Bridge, his signature bridged Sharpshooter submission move. Michael Cole calls out, "And Zlatan counters with the Malmö Bridge! Zlatan has it locked in!"

Zlatan expertly applies the Malmö Bridge, putting intense pressure on Angle's back and legs, but before he can fully capitalize, Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin, the WWE Tag Team Champions and members of Team Angle, rush down the ramp to save their captain.

Cole yells, "Wait a minute, here come Haas and Benjamin, heading to the ring to save the captain of Team Angle!"

Seeing the interference, Zlatan releases the hold and quickly takes down both Haas and Benjamin with powerful clotheslines. The crowd erupts in cheers as Zlatan stomps a mudhole on Haas in the corner. Benjamin tries to save Haas, but Zlatan sidesteps, causing Benjamin to collide with Haas in a splash.

Zlatan quickly follows up with a spinebuster on Benjamin, but this brief distraction allows Kurt Angle, who has now collected a steel chair from ringside, to slide back into the ring. Angle sneaks up from behind and lands a low blow on Zlatan, causing him to drop to his knees in pain. Angle then smashes the steel chair across Zlatan's back with a sickening thud.

Angle, now standing over Zlatan, talks trash with a malicious grin, "You think you're the Lion? Well, I just tamed you!" He grabs Zlatan's ankle again and applies the Ankle Lock, wrenching it violently as Zlatan writhes in pain.

Suddenly, Brock Lesnar's music hits, and the crowd roars with excitement. Tazz exclaims, "Oh man, here comes the pain, baby!" Lesnar rushes down the ramp at full speed, sliding into the ring.

Angle quickly exits the ring, not wanting any part of Lesnar in his current state. Charlie Haas tries to intercept Lesnar but gets taken out by a massive clothesline for his efforts. Lesnar then goes after Angle, who is circling the ringside area, avoiding being caught in Lesnar's crosshairs.

Haas, having recovered, hits Lesnar with a low blow from behind, bringing "The Next Big Thing" to his knees. Angle sees the opportunity and grabs a crutch from ringside, smashing it over Lesnar's head, stunning him.

With Lesnar dazed, Angle slides back into the ring. He sets the steel chair up in the center, then drags Lesnar to his feet. With a burst of strength, Angle lifts Lesnar and hits an Angle Slam onto the steel chair, the impact echoing through the arena.

Michael Cole, shocked, shouts, "Angle Slam on the steel chair! Kurt Angle is making a statement!"

Not finished, Angle applies a clutch, placing his knee into Lesnar's midsection, further adding insult to injury. Meanwhile, Haas, who has helped Benjamin back to his feet, begins to stomp on Zlatan. Haas and Benjamin then set up the WWE Champion for a double-team move. Haas go behind Zlatan locking in a waist lock as Shelton whack zlatan in the chin with a super kick which then leads to Haas plant Zlatan with a German suplex, leaving the WWE Champion laid out. With both Zlatan and Lesnar down, Angle, Haas, and Benjamin stand tall. Kurt Angle picks up the WWE Championship belt and hoists it high above his head, sending a clear message about what he intends to do in 10 days at WrestleMania.

Michael Cole, his voice filled with concern, says, "Kurt Angle standing tall over both Zlatan and Brock Lesnar… is this a preview of what's going to happen at WrestleMania?"

Tazz, with a hint of excitement, replies, "I don't know, Cole, but Angle has just sent a huge message to both the WWE Champion and 'The Next Big Thing.' This Triple Threat Match is going to be off the charts!"

The show fades to black with Angle, Haas, and Benjamin celebrating, holding the WWE Title high as the crowd buzzes with anticipation for the showdown at WrestleMania.

XXXX

After the commercial break, SmackDown returns with a replay of the chaotic brawl that unfolded just moments ago. The screen shows the intense showdown between WWE Champion Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kurt Angle, highlighting the turning points of their confrontation.

Michael Cole's voice is heard over the footage, "We're back on SmackDown, and what a scene it was just a few moments ago! Kurt Angle may have gained the upper hand tonight, just 10 days before the Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania!"

The replay cuts to Zlatan and Angle exchanging right hands in the middle of the ring, escalating the tension. Tazz adds, "Oh, it damn sure escalated, Cole, when Ibra and Angle started throwing hands at each other! But just as Angle was in a tough spot, in came the cavalry—Team Angle, Haas, and Benjamin, rushing down to ringside."

The footage shows Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin charging into the ring, only for Zlatan to fight them off with clotheslines and a spinebuster, temporarily gaining the upper hand. Tazz continues, " But credit to Ibra who saw them coming and gave the Tag Team Champions some serious trouble, but it provided the opening that the Captain of Team Angle needed!"

The screen shows Kurt Angle sneaking up from behind Zlatan with a low blow, then delivering a brutal chair shot to the WWE Champion's back, followed by the Ankle Lock. Michael Cole comments, "And that's when Kurt Angle took control, delivering that vicious low blow and the chair shot before locking in the Ankle Lock!"

The replay continues, showing Brock Lesnar's heroic rush to the ring to even the odds only for a moment as Lesnar occupied of getting Angle who avoided him at ringside where Haas who had a recovered from clothesline hit a low blow. Angle used a crutch he took from ringside to strike lesnar on top of his head. Michael Cole notes, "Brock Lesnar tried to come to Zlatan's aid, and for a moment, it worked! But then Angle, with help from Haas, made sure Lesnar was brought down, using that steel chair and a crutch to his advantage."

The footage cuts to the decisive moment when Angle hit the Angle Slam on Lesnar onto the steel chair, followed by Haas and Benjamin executing their double-team move on Zlatan, leaving both men incapacitated.

Michael Cole concludes, "With Brock Lesnar laid out by the Angle Slam onto the steel chair and the WWE Tag Team Champions having incapacitated the WWE Champion, Kurt Angle stood tall…"

The shot changes to Kurt Angle triumphantly holding the WWE Title high above his head, standing over the fallen bodies of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Brock Lesnar, with Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin at his side, smiling confidently. The visual sends a powerful message as the camera zooms in on Angle's determined face.

Tazz chimes in, "There's no doubt about it, Cole—Kurt Angle just made a huge statement tonight. If he wanted to send a message to Zlatan and Lesnar before WrestleMania, well, he damn sure did!"

Michael Cole, sounding both concerned and excited, wraps up, "The question now is, can Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Brock Lesnar find a way to respond before WrestleMania? Because tonight, Kurt Angle made it crystal clear that he's ready to do whatever it takes to walk out of WrestleMania as the WWE Champion!"

The screen fades back to the live action, with the crowd buzzing in anticipation for what's to come in the final days leading up to WrestleMania.

XXXX

After "The American Badass" The Undertaker picks up a decisive win over Bill DeMott, the camera quickly cuts to the backstage medical room. Inside, the atmosphere is tense and filled with concern. EMTs and medical staff are bustling around, attending to both Brock Lesnar and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who are clearly feeling the effects of the brutal assault they endured at the hands of Kurt Angle and Team Angle earlier tonight.

Brock Lesnar, sitting on the edge of a medical table, winces as he gingerly touches his ribcage. His face is contorted with pain, and it's clear that his ribs — still not fully healed from the injury he sustained last November at Survivor Series — have been aggravated by the Angle Slam onto the steel chair. The EMTs try to assess the damage, but Lesnar waves them off with a frustrated expression, clearly not one to show vulnerability.

Meanwhile, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, seated next to Lesnar, looks equally battered but far from defeated. His face is a mix of frustration and defiance. As the medical staff tends to his ankle and lower back, Zlatan mutters a few choice curse words in Swedish and Bosnian under his breath, his expression showing just how unhappy he is about the events that transpired.

Michael Cole, back at the commentary desk, chimes in with concern, "Well, folks, as you can see, both Brock Lesnar and the WWE Champion Zlatan Ibrahimovic are feeling the effects of that attack by Kurt Angle and Team Angle earlier tonight."

Tazz, nodding, adds, "Yeah, Cole, this is no joke. Lesnar's been dealing with those rib injuries since Survivor Series, and Zlatan… well, he took a hell of a beating too. Both of these guys are in rough shape, and we're just 10 days away from WrestleMania."

The camera zooms in on Zlatan's face, and the frustration is palpable. He winces slightly as the EMTs check his ankle, but his eyes burn with a fierce determination. "Jävla idiot… prokleti lupeži…" Zlatan mutters angrily, mixing Swedish and Bosnian curses as he runs a hand through his hair, clearly fed up with the situation.

Lesnar, overhearing Zlatan's muttering, smirks slightly despite his pain. "You too, huh?" he grunts, still clutching his ribs. There's a moment of mutual understanding between them — they may be rivals, but tonight, they've been forced into the same corner.

Zlatan nods, his expression softening only slightly. "Yeah… but this isn't over, not by a long shot," he replies, his tone firm despite the pain.

The camera captures the moment of shared frustration and determination between two of WWE's top competitors, both knowing that their paths are destined to collide at WrestleMania, but for tonight, both men are united by a common enemy: Kurt Angle.

Michael Cole concludes, "You've got to wonder, Tazz, how this is going to impact both Zlatan and Brock heading into WrestleMania… they've both been through so much, but they've got 10 days to recover, regroup, and get ready for what promises to be one of the biggest Triple Threat Matches in WWE history."

Tazz nods in agreement, "You know, Cole, you're right. Tonight was a tough one, but these two aren't the types to back down. They've got their eyes set on WrestleMania, and I can't wait to see what happens next!"

The camera slowly pans out, leaving the scene with Zlatan and Lesnar receiving medical attention but both clearly fired up and ready to fight back.