Smackdown! May 3, 2001

In the Taped in Indianapolis, IN

Opening Promo Time w/ The Undertaker

• Undertaker wants to cut to the chase. He told Vince a few weeks ago that his contract did not include a no-compete clause. Either he gets a shot at the World Wrestling Federation Title tonight in Indianapolis or he walks. Maybe he’ll sign with somebody in Japan, maybe he’ll help an upstart promotion get some pub or maybe he’ll just sign a contract with Shane McMahon and be the face of the WCW faction here in the  WWF.
• Vince is out. He’s tired of being told what to do. You want a shot tonight, fine, you got it. But if Taker does not beat Steve Austin tonight, he will sign a new WWE contract. That contract will include a no-escape clause. Which means no matter how awful Vince makes his life…he can’t leave.
• Taker accepts and we have a WWF Title match tonight.

COMMERCIAL

Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Hardy

• 5 minute match
• Hardy ducks a clothesline and gets a couple of quick rights and the leap of faith.
• Hardy sets up for the swanton but it hits knees.
• Angle Slam finishes it.
• After the match, Angle locks in the AnkleLock until Matt makes the save.

Backstage, The Undertaker is meeting with his brother Kane. He wants him to watch his back tonight.

COMMERCIAL

Steve Austin wants to know what the hell Vince is doing. He didn’t come prepared to wrestle tonight. He doesn’t even have his knee brace. Vince says he had no choice. He can’t allow The Undertaker to sign with Shane and give them a sense of power. Doesn’t Austin understand that the more superstars that go to WCW, the more power Shane has. He’s gotta nip it in the bud. Austin wants to make sure this doesn’t have anything to do with the Stunner he hit Steph with on Monday. Vince says it does not, but he does not approve of Austin’s actions on Monday. He hasn’t always agreed with Steph, but he did not want to see her hospitalized.

Non-Title Match: X-Pac vs. Test

• 6 minute match
• The Big Show makes his way out to ringside.
• Test takes control and hits the pump-handle powerslam on X-Pac near the ropes right in front of Show.
• Justin distracts the ref which allows Big Show to reach through the ropes with a right hand for Test.
• Test is groggy and X-Pac hits the X-Factor for the upset win.
• After the match, Show chokeslams Test.

In the back, Triple H arrives with a sledgehammer and an angry look on his face.

COMMERCIAL

In the back, The Hardys discussing the earlier match with Angle when Shane McMahon walks in. He thanks the Hardys for their help on Sunday…though they were a little later than he would have liked. He is a little confused though. He thought they had a deal. Jeff says they never said they had made up their minds and a guaranteed contract from the WWF seemed the safe way to go. Shane says he’s surprised to hear how concerned the Hardys are about safety. Awkward Silence. Shane shakes it off and says it’s cool…he wishes The Hardys luck in their future endeavors. They shake hands.

Elsewhere, Vince is on the phone with Linda. Linda says that something needs to change. Their are too many people with power in the WWF. All four McMahons, Regal, Foley..it’s too many chiefs. Some time soon decisions will have to be made to make the WWF a more disciplined environment. Vince says for once they agree.

COMMERCIAL

The Holly Cousins vs. Edge & Christian

• 7 minute match
• Match spills out of the ring several times and is generally out of control.
• Benoit and Jericho are shown watching on monitors in the back.
• Holly mis-communication leads to Edge pinning Bob after a reverse X-Factor.

The Coach is standing outside Triple H’s locker room. He’ll attempt to talk to HHH next.

COMMERCIAL

Coach does attempt to speak with Triple H. But Hunter doesn’t have much to say. He does slam Coach’s head into the wall though, so that’s a message of some sort.

Promo Time with Vince McMahon

• At Judgment Day there will be a special match. You see Vince and his wife Linda will never agree on the direction of the World Wrestling Federation so a decision had to be made. At Judgment Day both he and his wife will select a WWF Superstar to represent them and what the superstar represents is 25% of the creative control in the WWF. Yes, whoever loses that match will have no control in his Federation. This will put him one step closer to complete control, with just his two ingrate children standing in his way. This Monday on Raw both participants will be revealed.

COMMERCIAL

WWF Hardcore Title: Rhyno (c) vs. Matt Hardy

• 8 minute match
• Good long hardcore match with lots of near-falls.
• They fight into the backstage area and end up right near William Regals office.
• Matt sets up the Twist of Fate and Regal comes out of his office and hits him in the back of the knee with what appears to be a walking stick.
• Rhyno gores him into the wall and gets the pin.

COMMERCIAL

WWF Light-Heavyweight Title: Dean Malenko (c) vs. Scotty II Hotty

• 6 minute match
• Another hotly contested match-up.
• Scotty posts himself on a blind charge. Malenko mounts him on the top rope and hits the super gut-breaker for the win.

In the back, Steve Austin and Vince McMahon are discussing current events when Triple H kicks in the door and attacks Austin. He beats on Austin very good until security is able to make the scene and escort Hunter off the grounds. Cole wonders how Austin can beat the Undertaker now?

COMMERCIAL

World Wrestling Federation Title Match: Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) vs. The Undertaker

• 7 minute match
• Ref Bump
• Taker looks for the Last Ride. Vince McMahon in with a chair to the back. Taker no-sells and goozles McMahon. Austin crushes him with the chair. Vince revives the ref who makes the pin. Austin Wins.
• Taker does the zombie sit-up and is bleeding.

Fade to black…