[2001-01-11-WWF-SmackDown] The Rock vs The Undertaker vs RIkishi vs Kane

[soup23]

Vince starts off SmackDown with a promo. Vince says he had nothing to do with Austin being screwed out of the title on Raw. Vince says he was just as shocked as the crowd was. Vince verbally reprimanded HHH for his actions. Vince lays down their back and forth rivalry and says it will end right now. Vince has ordered a 24 hour between those two. He has strongly suggested that neither appear tonight in the interest of safety. Vince says Austin is possessed with becoming champion. In the interest of fairness, Vince will consider placing Austin in the 30 man Royal Rumble. Vince says that the #1 contender is HHH and he will face Angle at the Rumble. Cole is outraged at this. Vince is trying to get them both on video hookup but unfortunately only HHH took him up on the offer.  Here is HHH and Stephanie on the screen. Vince says he didn’t condone HHH’s actions on Monday. HHH says truth be told he wouldn’t change a damn thing. Austin just when you thought your problems have disappeared, HHH is back and badder than ever. HHH says this will be over when he says so and when he is happy. He will be happy when Austin is sitting on his bed in Texas and has a halo holding his broken neck. Steph says that HHH was justified in his actions because of what Austin did to her. HHH then turns his attention to Angle. HHH says he is still champion because HHH has allowed it.

Taker has a promo where he spits out chew and talking about the four way tonight. He says that greatly increases his chances of winning the Rumble because he can see who is weak or who is strong. He calls the ring his yard and says whether he is #1 or #30, the safe bet is on him.

Kurt promo setting up the Rumble match. He is not phased to face HHH or Stephanie McMahon and announces Trish as his manger for the match at the Rumble.

Stone Cold interrupts a Dudleys/Jericho vs Edge/Christian/Benoit match about a minute in and slams a chair on whoever is in his way. He calls out Vince. Vince walks out and Austin tells him to stop right there. Austin demands that Vince put him in the Rumble. Austin also has some stern words from HHH.

Vince goes into his office and Trish is there. Vince is upset that Trish volunteered to be in  Angle’s corner. Trish says shes been bad and she deserves a spanking. Vince’s face at this is ridiculous. Vince rubs his hands and prepares for the spanking as the door closes.

Finally, our main event match starts. Kane and Rikishi are the first two to enter and brawl during Taker’s entrance. Taker joins them and Rock has to rush down to get into the fray. Rock and Kane are focused on in the ring and Rock takes a bump outside of the ring from a Kane punch. Rikishi and Taker then enter and like usual, Taker dominates him. After two minutes or so, Rikishi smartens up and does pull Taker off of the Old School and gets some offense on Rock. Taker pulls Rock out on a pinfall and they face off now. Taker has nasty cut above his eye. Rikishi hits Kane with the ringbell and has Taker and Rock in stinkface position. Kane has recovered and pastes Rikishi with a chair but Taker breaks that up. Big series of moves culminating in Rock hitting the Rock Bottom on Kane but again Taker breaks it up.  Taker and Rock are fighting on the outside and Rikishi squashes Kane and wins. Rock and Undertaker slug it out more until Kane sits up and chokeslams Rock. He gives Taker one as well. Kane ends the show by giving one to Rikishi to complete the trifecta. Fun match. ***1/4 (6.3)

[AstroBoy]

This was about as fun as this was going to be.  They did a great job with the interplay between all four guys and the different pairings kept things moving at all times without stagnating.  Rikishi winning is a good call as none of the others need that edge heading into the Rumble.

***