FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN: HISOKA INTERVIEWS GOKU

LOCATION: DENVER, COLORADO

DATE: APRIL 27, 2001

The final stop before Backlash is here! The high altitude of Denver is nothing compared to the soaring tensions in the locker room. Shane McMahon is in the producer’s chair, and his sense of humor is all over the show.

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[[ THE INTERVIEW: THE KID SENSATION & THE CREEP ]]

The show opens with a bright, upbeat theme… and then the camera cuts to a makeshift set in the middle of the ring. Goku is sitting on a stool, swinging his legs, while Hisoka stands next to him holding a pink, glittery microphone.

HISOKA: (Licking his lips, leaning uncomfortably close to Goku) “Mmm… the fans want to know, little one. You are so… small, yet you carry such a… heavy presence. At Backlash, you face Ryu for the Cruiserweight Title. Tell me… does your heart beat faster when you think about his… Hadou? Does it make you want to… burst?”

GOKU: (Grinning, completely oblivious to the creepiness) “I’m just excited! Ryu is super strong! I’ve been training really hard, and I even found a place that serves 20 bowls of ramen in 10 minutes! Hey, do you want to spar? You have a really weird vibe, but you look like you know some tricks!”

HISOKA: (Giggling into the mic) “Oh… I have many tricks, Goku. But I’m saving my… best ones… for a very special occasion. Back to you, JR.”

JIM ROSS: (Sounding like he wants to quit) “I need a drink. A large one. Why is this happening? Shane, if you’re listening, please… send out a wrestler. Any wrestler.”

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[[ THE MIDCARD: THE MEAT GRINDER ]]

As requested, the midcard was a display of “Gatekeeper Dominance.”

• HAKU and RILE absolutely dismantled two local developmental prospects in under three minutes.

• THE BIG SHOW walked out, gave a “Chokeslam” to a hopeful rookie before the bell even rang, and just walked back to the locker room.

• The message is clear: If you aren’t signed, stay out of the ring. The “Golden Age” of prospects is being met with a wall of WWF muscle.

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[[ THE MAIN EVENT: THE MASTERS’ CLINIC ]]

MATCHUP: KEN MASTERS (USA) vs. THE BRITISH BULLDOG (UK)

THE STORY:

The Bulldog is still fuming over his loss to Ryu at Clash at the Castle. He thinks these “Street Fighters” are a fluke. He challenged Ken, thinking the American was the “weaker” of the duo.

THE MATCH:

Buldog starts out incredibly strong. He uses his power advantage to keep Ken in a prolonged vertical suplex, holding him up for a full 20 seconds to show off. He’s playing to the crowd, mocking Ken’s “flamboyant” red gi.

THE TURNING POINT:

Bulldog goes for the Running Powerslam, but he takes a split second too long to taunt the front row. Just like his fight with Ryu, his overconfidence is his undoing. Ken flips out of the slam, lands on his feet, and immediately connects with a Shoryuken (Rising Dragon Punch) to the chin!

Unlike Ryu’s bloody war, Ken stays clean. He’s faster, more precise. He follows up with a Tatsumaki Senpukyaku (Hurricane Kick) that sends the Bulldog staggering into the ropes. Ken finishes him off with a lightning-fast roll-up, bridge included.

RESULT: KEN MASTERS wins via Pinfall (12:30).

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[[ POST-MATCH ANALYSIS ]]

JOE ROGAN: “Did you see that?! Ken didn’t even break a sweat! Bulldog is a legendary powerhouse, but he’s fighting like it’s 1992. These guys—Ken, Ryu, Goku—they aren’t ‘wrestlers’ in the traditional sense. They are combat specialists. They wait for you to make one mistake, and then they delete you.”

TASS: “Bulldog looked like he was winning, Michael! He had him! But he just had to stop and pose! You can’t pose against a guy who can punch a hole through a brick wall!”

MICHAEL COLE: “The Street Fighters are 2-0 against the British Bulldog. The learning curve is over. They have officially adjusted to the WWF ring.”

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[[ SMACKDOWN SCOREBOARD: THE GO-HOME SHOW COMPLETE ]]

FIGHTER	RECORD	STATUS
KEN MASTERS	1-0	Proved the ‘Street Fighter’ style is no fluke.
BRITISH BULLDOG	LOSS	Likely headed for a breakdown.
GOKU	READY	Completely unfazed by Hisoka’s weirdness.