WWE Smackdown Flashback Report
April 25, 2002 - 10 yrs. ago
Taped 4/23 in Peoria, Ill.
Report Originally Published: PWTorch Newsletter #703

-Hosts: Michael Cole and Tazz...

-Hulk Hogan walked to the ring for a promo. It was tough to tell, but it seemed like the crowd noise was sweetened during post-production. Hogan offered to give Triple H a rematch later in the show, which led to Triple H coming out and joining him in the ring. Triple H said Hogan earned his respect at Backlash, which is why he shook his hand. Vince McMahon came out and refused to allow the rematch to take place, explaining that Triple H didn't deserve it because he attacked Undertaker on Raw. Vince announced that Triple H would have to wrestle Chris Jericho later in the show with the winner facing Hogan next week.

-Backstage, Billy, Chuck, and Rico met with Tajiri and Torrie Wilson about their upcoming six-man match.

(1) Al Snow & Maven & Billy Kidman beat Billy & Chuck & Tajiri. Late in the match, Maven and Snow removed the trunks of Billy & Chuck, revealing their thong underwear. Instead of simply putting their trunks back on, Billy & Chuck ran backstage, leaving Tajiri to be pinned by Kidman after the Shooting Star Press. Afterward, Snow and Maven put on the trunks and acted like Billy & Chuck.

-Backstage, Vince McMahon introduced Stacy Keibler to Randy Orton and said Orton would be receiving a tryout match later in the show. Vince left the room. Stacy flirted with Orton until Vince returned and accused Orton of trying to take advantage of Stacy. As a punishment, Vince booked Orton in a match against Hardcore Holly.

-Backstage, Mark Henry bent a frying pan after other wrestlers made bets on the stunt. Christian got upset and attacked Henry.

(2) Randy Orton beat Hardcore Holly with an Oklahoma Roll.

-Backstage, Kurt Angle told a photographer about his new t-shirt, indicating that he was planning to debut it later in the show. Meanwhile, Edge could be seen listening to the conversation in the background.

-Angle walked to the ring to unveil his new t-shirt, which was covered. Edge walked out and told Angle that he wanted to see the shirt. Angle removed the cover of his shirt, only to find that Edge had replaced his shirt with a "You Suck" t-shirt.

(3) Mark Henry beat Christian with a bearhug.

-Backstage, Marc Lloyd interviewed Jericho.

-A video aired of Rock and Michael Clarke Duncan hyping the "Scorpion King."

(4) Kurt Angle & Albert (currently Lord Tensai) beat Edge & Rikishi. In the end, Albert hit the Baldo Bomb on Rikishi for the win.

-A shot aired of D-Von collecting money from fans in the crowd. Suddenly, a man stole his offering tray and tried to run, but D-Von caught him. D-Von beat up the unidentified man and left him lying before telling the crowd that stealing is a sin.

(5) Chris Jericho beat Triple H to earn a title match on next week's Smackdown. This match was given a lot more time than usual. In fact, the show even took a commercial break during the match. Shots aired of Vince and Stacy watching the match on a backstage monitor. Undertaker showed up uninvited in Vince's dressing room and the show cut to break. Later, Taker walked to ringside and distracted Triple H. Jericho capitalized by rolling up Triple H for the win. After the match, Jericho and Taker attacked Triple H until Hogan ran out for the save.

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

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