WWE SmackDown!, 2001

[Vince McMahon addresses the crowd in light of the Alliance declaring war on the WWF]

Vince McMahon:
Allow me to introduce to you the greatest WWF Champion of all time. Allow me to introduce to you the man, who'll lead Team WWF into Invasion. Allow me to introduce you to the man, who'll lead the Undertaker, Kane, Jericho and Angle into Invasion. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Stone Cold Steve Austin! [Austin heads down to the ring] You know Stone Cold, they say that since WrestleMania, you've changed. You maybe have. They say, that since WrestleMania, you've become more selfish than ever before, you've become uncaring. Matter of fact, many individuals feel as all, you've changed so much since WrestleMania, quite frankly you've become a very proficient brown-noser. [Austin reacts] Wait a minute, wait a minute. That's what some people say, they say, you've changed and I think you have changed. As far as the WWF Champion is concerned I think you've changed for the better. But quite frankly, when we approach the single greatest threat to the World Wrestling Federation ever at Invasion, you know, I'm not so sure that, we don't need another change Stone Cold. I mean, quite frankly, the man that I need to lead Team WWF, even though I've appreciated it, is not the Stone Cold Steve Austin who gives me hugs. I don't need the leader of Team WWF, the Stone Cold Steve Austin that... that gives me gifts, cowboy hats and... and Steve you had your wife Debra make me cookies. Steve, I don't need the kind of Stone Cold Steve Austin, that strums a guitar and sings to me to lead me and lead Team WWF into Invasion, that's not what I need, Steve. Dammit, you know what I need? You know who I need? I need the old Stone Cold! I need the Stone Cold Steve Austin who's a beer-swilling, vile-mouth SOB! I need the kind of Stone Cold Steve Austin who don't take no shit from anybody. I need the kind of HELL-RAISING, HELL-RAISING Stone Cold Steve Austin! I need the kind of Stone Cold Steve Austin, who not that long ago that would look at Mr. McMahon and if I parted my hair the wrong way, you would knock me on my ass! That's the kind of leadership I need from you Stone Cold! I need you to lead Team WWF into Invasion, I need the OLD Stone Cold! Are you listening to me, dammit?! Huh? Do you want to knock me on my ass now? Huh? Come on, I can feel it, I know I can feel it can feel it in my guts! COME ON, COME ON, NAIL ME! COME ON, KNOCK ME DOWN! KNOCK ME DOWN! If you want Stone Cold Steve Austin to beat THE LIVING HELL out of Vince McMahon, give me a HELL YEAH! [crowd chants Hell YEAH! in response]

[Austin shrugs his head at Vince and walks out of the ring]

Steve, wait, Steve, wait, Steve, don't leave this ring. Steve? [calls out a Austin leaves] Stone Cold? Stone Cold! I need you! I need you, Austin, to lead Team WWF! I need you at Invasion, Austin! Dammit, Stone Cold, turn around! Come back! Give me a stunner, dammit! [Austin stops, but leaves] Come back! Austin! AUSTIN! GIVE ME A STUNNER! Stone Cold! [drops mic]

[Rhyno attacks Chris Jericho after his match with Hugh Morrus]

Michael Cole:
Wait a minute! Rhyno! Rhyno from The Alliance ambushing, attacking Jericho from behind! Where the hell did he come from?

Tazz:
Well I guess Jericho's mouth will be shut finally.

Cole:
Rhyno, on that steel ramp, [Rhyno suplexes Jericho on the ramp] suplexing Jericho! His back and head, bouncing off that steel!

Tazz:
Shut his mouth, Rhyno! Shut it!

Cole:
Wait a minute! [Rhyno is calling for Jericho to get up] Oh my God! What the hell's Rhyno doing?

Tazz:
Can you feel it Cole? Can you feel it?! [Rhyno charges at Jericho and gores him through the SmackDown! titantron]

Cole:
A Gore!

Tazz:
YEAH!

Cole:
A Gore! A Gore through the screen!

Tazz:
Y2J just got Gored into the next millennium! Shut his mouth!

Cole:
Rhyno with that devastating Gore through that video screen, and onto the steel behind, and Jericho grimacing in pain!

Tazz:
That was amazing! I don't hear Jericho yapping now, do I?

Vince McMahon:
Tonight - tonight, the spirit of America...lives...here...in Houston, Texas! On behalf of everyone here in the arena, and a worldwide television audience, we would like to extend our condolences to the victims, and the families and friends of the victims of the terrorist acts that occurred on Tuesday in New York City and Washington, DC. Our nation's leaders have encouraged us to continue to live our lives...the American way...they've encouraged us to practice and exercise our Constitutional rights. And, as such, tonight I believe this is the first public assembly of its size since the tragedy of Tuesday. Make - make NO MISTAKE about what - and make no mistake about the message this public assembly is sending to terrorism tonight. And that message, quite simply, is that we will not live our lives in fear. The citizens of Houston are NOT afraid...the citizens of Texas are, indeed, not afraid...and by God, the citizens of the United States are not afraid! For we are a proud people - proud of who we are, proud of our nation, and damn proud to be Americans!

Crowd:
USA!

McMahon:
And we...and we will fight. We will fight for our families, we will fight for our rights, and we will fight for our great nation. America's heart has been wounded. But her spirit - her spirit shines as a beacon of freedom - a beacon of freedom that never has been, nor ever will be extinguished. The World Wrestling Federation would like to thank each and every one of you here in the Compaq Center tonight. The World Wrestling Federation would like to thank each and every one of you watching on television. We would like to thank you for the honor and privilege of performing before you here tonight.

Edge:
I was actually contemplating whether to do this or not, because I don't know if all of you really care what Edge, or better yet Adam Copeland has to say about this. What else can be said? And I actually contemplated whether this show was the right thing to do. And once I contemplated it, I decided that, as the WWF family, we need to do our job tonight, and our job is to bring smiles to the faces of all your families. And if we can do that, then we've done our jobs, and...this can't be forgotten, it shouldn't be forgotten, and it never will be forgotten...but if we can do that, then this show was the right thing to do. And, I'd just like to send my prayers out to all those affected.

The Rock:
First and foremost, I have to say that I can't fathom or comprehend the pain and the suffering and the anguish that the families and friends of the victims are going through...the workers, working diligently, 24 hours a day - sifting through the rubble and looking for...any remnants of life. It's difficult...to talk about this and I will say that I can't...I couldn't imagine what it must be like to be there, I couldn't imagine, I couldn't imagine if my own family were there. I, ah, I will offer my condolences and certainly say that everyone is in my heart and in my prayers, and I umm - I just wanna say to everyone out there, again to the families and friends of the victims and everyone involved is to...just stay strong. Stay strong.

Chris Jericho:
To be quite honest, I'd like to, I'd rather be in New York City going through the rubble and seeing what I could do to help right now...but since I'm not, maybe - maybe we can help in a different way - maybe we can begin with ourselves, and maybe we can learn from this and become a more peaceful nation and a more peaceful race in the long run. Umm...by being a little bit nicer to each other. I think it's one thing that we've learned from this is that we never know what's gonna happen tomorrow, in the next five minutes, in the next ten minutes. And maybe above everything else, ah, you know, maybe tonight, you know, hug your loved one a little bit harder, or give him or her an extra kiss. Be a little big nicer to a stranger on the street. Be a little more kind, a little more gentle. Um, like I said, if anything else. that our fate and our destiny lies in our hands now...

Lita:
Uh, I really - I don't know what to say about something so...devastatingly evil...uh, that could even make a difference to anyone, so, um...I try to delve below, I've got, you know, this layer of numbness over me and I try to discover the emotions that I have and they're, you know, sadness, anger, fear, help- helplessness, it's like all in one, you know, and so we start to look for answers. I mean, who would do something like this? Why? What are they trying to accomplish? You know, it's...we don't understand. We start to watch...and we get some of the suspects, and the motives, you know, for an event like this, and...but what I wanna know, what do the answers solve? It doesn't change anything that's happened. And, um, you know, I've watched the TV ever since Tuesday morning like I'm sure everyone else has, and um...the only thing that's changed is become more of a reality, and um...all I can say is I've never felt anything like this, um, personally or on a national level. Um, I can't...um, I would never have the audacity to say that I do know what to do in a situation like this. Um, but on a personal level, whenever I have a problem, large, small of any level, it always begins with stopping everything and taking a deep breath. So tonight I hope the entertainment that we provide for you can help you kinda relax and get your mind off things, just for a short time so that you can relax, maybe start to take that first deep breath.

Tazz:
Ahh, besides the Pentagon and the plane that went down outside of Pittsburgh, and all the bomb scares in New York, it's scary for me right now, to be here in Houston and be this far from my family, my parents live in Staten Island, um, my wife and son, I'm just worried, you know, because of all these bomb scares, and I just wanna be there to protect them and be there with them and I'm not - I gotta do what I gotta do and I'm here and I miss her and I miss my son, and ah...these people who are responsible for this - you know, they're gonna pay, and they're gonna pay hard. And I don't know who it was, the president or one of these Senator people, they said you know, we're gonna bring 'em to justice. Well to me that's a load o' crap. Don't bring 'em to justice, bring 'em down - to their knees, to their stomach - until they're not breathing. You gotta fight force with force, and that's just what they did, and...I don't know when I'm going home...but it'll be in New York, that's where my home is, and I can't wait to go home, uh...I don't know what home looks like now, so...

Bubba Ray Dudley:
The one thing I did wanna say is that there's an old saying, "that which does not kill us makes us stronger." And yes, a lotta people died, but you can't kill America, and you can't kill American spirit. And somebody's gonna pay for this, and I hope it's soon, and...

Bradshaw:
You know, I have heard and I have seen the cowardly acts that have happened before. The extermination of Jews by some maniac in Germany. The bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City by some maniac. And now some maniac has attacked America - attacked innocent men, women and children...husbands, fathers, parents...all because of some religious belief, or some other motive that he has, these people had nothing, absolutely nothing to do with you. We're running this show tonight because we're gonna show you that you cannot break, you cannot even bend the fiber, the backbone of the United States of America. There's gonna be some critics. There's gonna be some critics that wonder why we run this show. I wanna make this perfectly clear: go to hell. We're doin' this show because we love America. This is all we have to give you for tonight is this, is this evening. If I had to, I'd give my life, readily, for this country. I have relatives who have done that, who are buried overseas, who are buried in many different places. I would do the same thing 'cause I love this great country. George W. was one of the greatest governors of the state of Texas - it's time he become - it's time he will become a great president. You guys who are out there, we're gonna find your ass. We're gonna make whatever country's hiding you into a stinking parking lot. God bless this country - God bless this great state I live in, and God rest the sorry son of a (beep) that did this. We will find you.

Kurt Angle:
I just wanna say that my heart, my thoughts and my prayers go to the victims and their families. And you know, all my life I've always wanted to do something special to be considered an American hero. And after winning the Olympic gold medal at the Olympics, some people would consider me to be an American hero. But after watching this terrible tragedy - now I know who the true American heroes are. They're the police officers and the firemen, and the doctors and nurses, and the paramedics, and all the people that stretched out their arms to help the victims and their families. They're the true American heroes. THEY deserve a gold medal. Or better yet...they earned the right to be called Americans. It's true.

Stone Cold Steve Austin:
I don't have anything philosophical to say or anything that's gonna change the world. I just know that I was given an opportunity to speak about what's happening, so all I have to offer is my opinion...and...and my opinion, what I think is the people who did this are a buncha complete cowards. Ah, my heart goes out to anybody that lost loved ones in this whole ordeal. And uh...I think that tonight, by going back to work with the World Wrestling Federation, I think it's...uh...I think it's the thing to do. It feels strange, and I've had this uh, I've had this bad feeling come over me ever since this whole thing has happened and it doesn't seem like I can shake it. But uh, as a person, and I think as a country I think we have to shake it. We have to mourn the losses of the people that we knew, but we have to, uh...we have to get back - we have to get the gears rollin' again, and that's what we're here to do tonight. Uh, what happened this past Tuesday was the worst thing that I've ever seen in my life, and I hope that I never ever see anything like this again, except, to the people that when we find out who did this get a payback, because they deserve a payback, and they deserve exactly what they have comin'...

Booker T:
I just wanna give my condolences to everyone who had, you know, who was involved, you know, everybody who was on the flights, you know, all the - all the firemen, all the policemen who...as soon as the thing happened, they rushed in there to help someone, they just wanted to save someone and to lose their own life is - is tragic, but those guys, in our eyes, in history is always gonna be remembered as - as heroes. That's the way I feel about 'em, and...for something like this to happen here in America, you know, it's givin' everybody uncertainty...it's, you know, can we go out of our houses, and you know it's kinda crazy right now but I know it's gonna make us stronger, it's gonna pull us together, it's gonna make us a better people...

Stephanie McMahon:
A few years ago, some people tried to destroy my family. They attacked my father's reputation, they attacked my mother's reputation, and they attacked the World Wrestling Federation. They tried to rip us apart...but all they did was make my family stronger. And that's exactly how America feels right now. Because on Tuesday, America was attacked. Because America is a united nation. And together, we stand strong. I am incredibly proud to be an American citizen, and I will stand up for my rights and my freedom.

Albert:
Waking up on the morning of Tuesday, September 11th, to turn the TV on, to see the tragedy that took place left a feeling of disgust in the pit of my stomach. Never before have I ever seen nor heard of something so tragic. My only hope is, once again, America can pull together and overcome this tragedy. And we pray for the victims, the families who have lost their loved ones, to the people who are helping save people who may still be alive, and that swift justice is brought to the cowards - the faceless cowards that perpetrated this. God bless America and I truly hope that we can overcome this.

[Kurt Angle has interrupted Stone Cold Steve Austin's match with Tajiri]

Kurt Angle:
You know, Austin? When you threw my gold medals over that bridge a few weeks ago, you threw a piece of America into that water and I will never forgive you for that! Nor will I forgive you for what you tried to do to me tonight. Now I see you for who you truly are. You're a desperate man Austin. You don't wanna face me for the WWF title this Sunday at Unforgiven. Because when you look at me, when you look into my eyes, LOOK AT MY EYES! You know that I am the one man that in your mind, in your heart, and deep down in your soul, can beat you! And this Sunday at Unforgiven, I will walk out of my hometown the WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION CHAMPION! OH IT'S TRUE! IT'S DAMN TRUE! And I promise you that I will have no forgiveness for you!

Kurt Angle:
My name is Kurt Angle. And I'd like to answer some questions I've been getting from you fans ever since last Monday night. Questions like, "Why?" "What were you thinking?" "How could you do this to your country?" Well, let me assure all of you I'm still your Olympic hero. I'm still an American hero. I'm still everything that makes this country great, and you know why? Because I'm a winner! And with Survivor Series coming up, I started to think, who else is a winner? Who do I want on my side when everything's on the line? Well, let's see. Undertaker? He's been here forever, and what has he accomplished? I've done more in two years than he's done in a decade. Kane? Kane's not a winner. He's a follower. A guy who lets the man who burned him as a child lead him around on a leash? Just pathetic! Chris Jericho? Rock? Please! Those are the two most egomaniacal, self-absorbed jerks in the history of the business. I'm supposed to put my career in the hands of these four? I don't think so! There's only one man, one man who I can trust to get the job done. There's only one man who typifies everything this country should be. A role model to anyone who wants to be a winner. And that man is Stone Cold Steve Austin. Think about it. No Mercy, SummerSlam, King of the Ring, Judgment Day, to name a few. And oh yeah, WrestleMania after WrestleMania after WrestleMania. Does Austin cheat? Yes. Does he play fair? No. When it's all on the line, does he get the job done? Oh hell yeah! And that's who I want on my team. I feel safe putting my career in his hands. We may not be the best of friends, but the man backs up what he says. He is without a doubt, the toughest S.O.B. I've ever faced. And the bottom line is, the guy knows how to win. Because people, as much as I love my country, and I do, I love my job. And I'll be damned if I'm going to put my job in jeopardy by teaming with some WWF losers. And any of you people would do the same thing. In fact, how dare you people be upset with me! Hey, I didn't lie. I never said I wasn't defecting. I still have my intensity, my integrity, and my intelligence. [camera zooms out revealing Shane McMahon and Stone Cold Steve Austin standing side-by-side by Angle] And now that I'm on the side of Stone Cold Steve Austin and Shane McMahon, I know I'll be employed after Survivor Series. And you fans will still get to see your Olympic hero for a long, long time. Oh, it's true. It's damn true.

Shane McMahon:
Very good. [shakes Angle's hand] Very good.

Stone Cold Steve Austin:
I'm proud of you.

Angle:
Thanks. [pats Austin's WWF Championship]

Austin:
Don't touch.

Paul Heyman:
In just a few moments, at my leisure, I'm gonna call Vince McMahon out to his ring in front of his public on a television show that's owned by his grand company. At least, that is, until this Sunday at Survivor Series. I know how much you people appreciate what Shane and Stephanie and I have done. How Shane and Stephanie and I have stood up to the tyranny of Vince McMahon. And the way it is ladies and gentlemen is quite simple: the World Wrestling Federation will die this Sunday. But don't blame me for that. It's not my fault. I'm not the one who ruined everything that was accomplished by Stone Cold Steve Austin.

[The Rock has teased Vince McMahon about kissing Jim Ross' and Trish Stratus' butts, only to be treated at the sight of Rikishi]

Michael Cole:
[as Rock holds down Vince] I think Rikishi's gonna give it to him!

Jim Ross:
Give it to him! Give it to him!

Jerry Lawler:
No, don't! [As Rikishi raises his mawashi to ensure Vince gets the full stinkface] He's a billionaire! HE OWNS THIS COMPANY! [screams as Rock shoves Vince's face up Rikishi's ass]

Jim:
Oh Lucifer's lips on the biggest ass in the WWF! Oh hell yeah! [stands up as Jerry Lawler blows a raspberry and Rock lets go of Vince] Thank God, Thank God! THERE IS... THERE IS A GOD IN THIS WORLD!!

The Rock:
The Rock says, On behalf of the millions, [crowd follows up "and Millions!"] the Vince McMahon Kiss-Your-Ass Club is officially closed, IF YOU SMELLL, WHAT THE ROCK IS COOKING!

Jim:
How does it feel to be humiliated? How does it feel to be humiliated in front of the whole damn world?!! How do you like that?!?!

Jerry:
I think, I think Vince knows what Rikishi ate for dinner! [makes mock cough]

[Austin has just beaten up Booker T at the Green Frog and brought him to the counter]

Stone Cold Steve Austin:
[hearing police sirens; leaves] Price check on a jackass!!!

Booker T:
[sprawled at the foot of the checkout line; cries] I'm gonna get you, I'm gonna get you... [weeps]

[Back at the arena skybox, Ric Flair is laughing at Vince]

Ric Flair:
[to Vince McMahon] I think I told you you'd enjoy the show. [slaps Vince at the back before he leaves]