The March 28, 2002 episode of WWF SmackDown was a historic broadcast—the final SmackDown before the brand extension split the roster into Raw and SmackDown . Taped from the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the show featured a star-studded six-man tag team main event: Hollywood Hulk Hogan, The Rock, and Kane versus the nWo trio of Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and X-Pac .
📜 The Backstory: A Rare Alliance
The nWo had returned to WWE earlier in 2002, with Hogan, Nash, and Hall reforming the legendary faction . The group was positioned as a dominant heel force, creating natural enemies across the roster.
The March 28 episode took place just days after the inaugural WWE Draft, where rosters were divided but the split had not yet taken effect—making this one of the final nights where Raw and SmackDown stars could share the same ring . The nWo members (Hall, Nash, X-Pac) were assigned to Raw, while Hogan had been drafted to SmackDown, adding stakes to what was billed as a final confrontation between the two sides .
🎭 The Iconic Pre-Match Promo
Before the match, The Rock approached Hogan in the locker room to discuss their tag team partner for the night: Kane, who was drafted to Raw . Hogan remarked that Kane was “bigger and badder than any dude he’d ever been in the ring with,” while Rock mocked other big men like King Kong Bundy and Kamala before declaring Kane an “ass-kicking machine” .
Then Kane entered—and delivered one of the most unexpectedly comedic promos of his career.
The Big Red Machine, who had rarely spoken since his 1997 debut, mimicked both Hogan and Rock. He told Rock, “It doesn’t matter if you’re ready!”—parroting The Rock’s famous catchphrase. He then flexed his arms Hulk Hogan-style and declared, “Whatcha gonna do when Hulk Hogan, The Rock, and the Big Red Machine run wild on you?” .
Kane even coined the term “Kane-ites” as his fanbase, playfully mocking Hogan’s “Hulkamaniacs” and Rock’s “millions” of fans . Rock and Hogan looked on with amused bewilderment as Kane posed and flexed in full gear.
While this moment was entertaining, some critics later noted it undermined Kane’s intimidating mystique—a “throwaway moment” that played his character for laughs shortly before he was positioned as a serious threat to Triple H’s World Heavyweight Championship .
⚡ The Six-Man Tag Team Match
The match itself was a chaotic, fast-paced affair designed to give the babyface team a decisive victory before the nWo members departed for Raw.
Match Progression:
- Starters: X-Pac and The Rock began the match. Rock controlled early with hip tosses and clotheslines before Hall tagged in .
- Hogan Takes Control: When Hogan tagged in, he methodically worked over Hall with corner punches and his signature leg drop. Nash broke up the pin attempt, leading to a brawl between all six men .
- Kane’s Dominant Finish: X-Pac attempted his signature Bronco Buster on Kane, but the Big Red Machine caught him mid-move by the throat. Kane delivered a devastating chokeslam and pinned X-Pac for the victory .
Aftermath: Following the match, the babyface trio celebrated while the nWo retreated, having suffered a clean loss in what was framed as their final SmackDown appearance .
💪 Kevin Nash’s Injury
During the match, Kevin Nash suffered a legitimate bicep injury that would have long-term consequences. Nash later recalled on his Kliq This podcast:
“I actually tore my bicep in a tag match with Hogan and Kane. Terry [Hogan] turned and I went to short-arm clothesline him, and I just fucking caught a little bit of his chin with my bicep, tore a piece of the tendon.”
The injury kept Nash out of action and contributed to the nWo angle losing momentum in subsequent months .
📺 The Rest of the SmackDown Card
The March 28 episode was stacked with notable matches and segments, as it served as a transitional show before the brand split :
The APA also held a farewell poker party, acknowledging that Bradshaw and Faarooq had been drafted to separate brands .
📊 Significance and Legacy
This SmackDown episode marked a true end of an era. It was the final time the full combined roster would appear on one show before the brand extension created separate Raw and SmackDown rosters . The six-man tag match served as a symbolic passing of the torch moment—veterans Hogan and Nash, alongside established stars Rock and Kane, colliding just as a new generation (including Brock Lesnar, who interfered in the opening match) was about to reshape WWE .
Kane’s comedic promo remains one of the most memorable moments of his career, despite critics arguing it hurt his serious character . The match itself was a fast-paced spectacle that gave the babyface team a definitive win before the nWo’s momentum faded due to injuries and shifting creative plans .