In January 2001, Rikishi won a Fatal Four Way match on "SmackDown!" for the #30 spot in the 2001 Royal Rumble match involving Rock, Undertaker and Kane, after he pinned this latter. There, he eliminated The Undertaker, and was soon eliminated by The Rock. Haku returned to the WWF in the Rumble, and he and Rikishi formed a tag team and feuded with The Brothers of Destruction, The Dudley Boyz then The Hardy Boyz. The team split while Rikishi was sidelined with an eardrum injury in March. He returned on the May 3 "SmackDown!" and fought The Undertaker to no-contest. On the next "Raw", he turned face once again and gave the Stink Face to Stephanie McMahon after she distracted him, and cost him a non-title match with Austin. On May 20, at Judgment Day, he injured his shoulder in the opening bout with William Regal, which caused him to miss much of the year and the entire Invasion angle.