RAW — MAY 3, 2002: OPENING SEGMENT

The glass shatters, but the reaction in the arena is starkly divided. A massive wave of boos mixes with begrudging cheers as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin walks out in a leather vest, holding a microphone, his face cold and arrogant. He steps into the ring, kicking the ropes, soaked in the heat of a crowd that hasn’t forgiven him for his actions on April 1st.

Stone Cold Steve Austin: “Go ahead and boo. See if I give a damn. You’re looking at the undisputed, undefeated number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world today. I look at the rankings, and I see my name at the top. I look at the history books, and I see who I’ve put down. Hisoka? Beaten. The Rock? Beaten twice. Ryu? Dropped him. Randy Orton? Left him in a pool of his own sweat. There is nobody left at the top of the mountain because Stone Cold cleaned it out!

So now it’s May, and we’re looking at the next Premium Live Event. Everybody out there on the internet, all you pathetic fans in the arena, you’re all chanting one name. You think you’re smart. You want me to pick Hulk Hogan. You think the ‘Icon’ deserves a shot because he’s running around with the USA Championship.

Let me tell you something about Hulk Hogan—he’s an old nostalgic relic living on past glory. I don’t wrestle for nostalgia, and I sure as hell don’t take charity cases. You people are calling me desperate? You’re saying I’m afraid of a rematch with The Rock, just because I smartened up and gave him Mick Foley last month? I’m not afraid of anybody. And to prove it, I didn’t pick Hogan. I went down the list, and I picked a real killer. At Judgment Day, Stone Cold is sharing the ring with the man who holds the UFC Heavyweight Championship… VADER!”

The arena erupts in confusion and anger. Chants of “We want Hogan!” and “You’re a coward!” echo through the stadium. Austin simply smirks, drops the mic, and flips off the crowd as his music plays, cementing his status as the most despised, calculating heel in the WFC.