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The Stink Face also served as a finishing move at times, as wrestlers became
physically ill from the maneuver, forcing them to leave the ring and thereby losing via count out.
The Stink Face became known as the most repulsive move in the World Wrestling
Federation, and this humiliating maneuver became very popular with the fans.[35]
In May 2000, fan favorites Rikishi and Too Cool feuded withEdge,ChristianandKurt
Angle, culminating in a victory atJudgment Day.[36]After winning theIntercontinental
ChampionshipfromChris Benoiton the June 22 episode ofSmackDown!,
[37]Rikishi qualified for the2000King of the Ring tournament. On June 25, at King
of the Ring, he defeated Benoit in the quarterfinals andVal Venisin the semis.
Both opponents hit him with a steel chair after losing, weakening his shoulder and helping Kurt Angle defeat him in the final.
[38]Stemming from Venis' attack, Rikishi faced him on July 6 and lost the title
afterTazzhit him with a television camera.[37]They rematched in asteel
cageatFully Loaded. In this match, Rikishi climbed the cage and, in an allusion
toJimmy Snuka, splashed Venis from the top. Rikishi soon lost the match after Tazz again hit him with a camera.[39]
On the October 9 episode ofRaw,CommissionerMick Foleyused a
slip of the tongue from Scotty 2 Hotty to implicate Rikishi as the person who had
run overStone Cold Steve Austinalmost a year earlier atSurvivor Series, the night
after Rikishi debuted in the WWF. Rikishi admitted it, claiming it was to allow his
cousinThe Rockan opportunity for stardom, insisting thatBuddy
Rogers,Bruno Sammartino,Bob Backlund,Hulk Hoganand Austin – "The
Great White Hope" – had always beenpushed, at the expense of Samoan
wrestlers likePeter Maivia,Jimmy Snuka,
Samu, Yokozuna and The Rock. Rikishi thenturnedheel.
