Quoted By:
The team split while Rikishi was sidelined with an eardrum injury in March.
He returned on the May 3SmackDown!and fought The Undertaker to no-contest.
On the nextRaw, he turned face once again and gave the Stink Face toStephanie McMahonafter she distracted him, and cost him a non-title match with Austin.
On May 20, atJudgment Day, he injured his shoulder in the opening bout withWilliam Regal, which caused him to miss much of the year and the entireInvasionangle.
Rikishi returned on December 6, 2001, delivering a Stink Face toVince
McMahonand solidifying hisfacestatus. Upon theWWF Brand Extension, Rikishi was drafted to theSmackDown!brand.
AtJudgment Day, he facedBilly and Chuckin a "secret partner" match.
His partner turned out to beRico,BillyandChuck's stylist. Despite Rico's best efforts to unfairly help Billy and Chuck, Rikishi and Rico won the match and became theWWE Tag Team Champions.[45]
Rico would later cause Rikishi to lose the titles back to Billy and Chuck in a rematch on the June 6 episode ofSmackDown!.[46]
In early 2002,Hulk Hoganwas booked to face Rikishi in Hogan's first match back since leaving the WWF to go to rivalWCWin the 1990s.
Hogan won the match, but Rikishi was able to deliver aStink Faceto Hogan after the conclusion of the match.[47]
Rikishi was not featured much in late 2002 and early 2003.
He feuded withJohn Cena,Bill DeMott, andThe Full Blooded ItaliansonSmackDown!.
The return ofRoddy Piperled Rikishi to challenge him as Piper had hit Jimmy Snuka with acoconutyears ago onPiper's Pit.
AtBacklash, Piper's protegeSean O'Hairedefeated Rikishi after Piper got hit with a coconut by Rikishi giving O'Haire time to hit the Widowmaker on Rikishi.
[48]Rikishi eventually formed a tag team with Scotty 2 Hotty, and the duo defeated theBasham Brothersfor theWWE Tag
