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TABOO TUESDAY REPORT
by Buck Woodward
Taboo Tuesday opened with a video putting over the various matches of the card. They referred to the Jim Ross situation in the video, saying that "One man's redemption is now another man's battle" and showed Batista. Obviously, the video was put together in the last 24 hours.
Todd Grisham is manning the "Taboo Tuesday Control Center", which is a few computers set up on a stage.
The Smackdown vs. Raw match is first, with all the Smackdown talent assembled together with Theodore R. Long backstage. Matt Hardy came in first, with Rey Mysterio second. JBL finished third, Christian was fourth, and Holly was fifth. JBL acted annoyed at the result.
Edge & Chris Masters, with Lita vs. Matt Hardy & Rey Mysterio.
Lita got on the mic before the match, saying that "her man" (Edge) was not wrestling tonight. Edge said it does nothing to further his career to beat Hardy or Rey. Edge said he doesn't care about Raw, or about what the fans want. Edge said he only cares about himself. Edge then brought out his replacement, Gene Snitsky.
Snitsky & Chris Masters, with Lita vs. Matt Hardy & Rey Mysterio.
Masters attacked Rey & Matt from behind as Snitsky came out. Masters gave Rey a vertical suplex for a two count. There are two referees for the match, one from Raw and one from Smackdown. Snitsky tagged in, but Rey rolled him in a small package. The referees were arguing with each other over the speed of their respective counts. Snitsky slammed Rey for a two count, then tagged in Masters, who gave Rey a backbreaker, and pushed down on his chin to add pressure to it. Rey battled back, ducked a clothesline and went for a bodyscissors, but Masters stumbled with it, then lifted Rey and threw him to the mat. Masters put Rey in a chinlock, but Rey elbowed out and caught him in a tilt-a-whirl headscissors.
Hardy got the hot tag, and started going at it with Snitsky, hitting a flying forearm, and dropkicking Masters in the legs to knock him off the apron. Hardy went for a Side Effect, and after some struggling, Matt hit it for a two count. Matt went for a Twist of Fate, but Snitsky shoved it off. Snitsky missed a boot in the corner, and crotched himself on the top rope. Matt gave him a DDT off the second rope, but Masters ran in to break it up. Hardy went for the Twist of Fate on Masters, but Masters shoved it off, and Snitsky caught Matt with a boot to the face. Masters tagged in, and they worked over Hardy in a corner. Masters gave Hardy a double underhook suplex for a two count, then drove his knee into Matt's back and applied a surfboard.
Hardy fought out of it, and slugged it out with Masters before Hardy was floored with a clothesline. Snitsky tagged in and gave Hardy a vertical suplex for a two count. Snitsky worked over Hardy with an overhead wristlock. Snitsky gave Hardy a spinebuster, but Hardy grabbed the ropes to break up the count. Snitsky gave Hardy a catapult into the bottom rope. Masters tagged back in, and stomped Matt before putting him in a front facelock. Hardy elbowed Masters as he went for a charge, and Hardy followed with a second rope clothesline. Masters trapped Hardy's leg and tagged Snitsky, who knocked Rey off the apron, then slammed Hardy. Snitsky dropped an elbow on Hardy for a two count.
Snitsky whipped Hardy across the ring, but Hardy caught him with a double boot to the face. Hardy jumped off the second rope, Snitsky caught him, but Hardy floated over and gave Snitsky an inverted DDT. Hardy made the hot tag to Mysterio, who gave Masters (who also tagged in) a springboard senton, a springboard bodypress off the middle rope, and a dropkick to the face. Snitsky came in, and Rey went for a tornado DDT on him, but Snitsky threw Rey into Masters, and Masters put him in the Masterlock. Rey kicked off the turnbuckles, so they fell to the mat with Rey on top. The Smackdown referee started to count Masters down, but the Raw referee stopped him. While they argued, Hardy came in and knocked Masters and Snitsky to the floor. Hardy and Rey then hit Snitsky and Masters with top rope dives to the floor.
Back in the ring, Rey went for a sunset flip on Masters with a Matt clothesline assist, but Masters kicked out. Rey went to bounce off the ropes, but Snitsky tripped him. Masters gave Rey an over the shoulder backbreaker into a suplex, but couldn't get the pin. The match broke down with all four men getting in. Snitsky was sent out of the ring, and Rey and Hardy double teamed Masters with a sequence of 619, Twist Of Fate and Springboard splash by Rey for the pin at the fourteen minute mark. The announcers put over the controversy from the fall not being counted earlier.
Winners: Matt Hardy & Rey Mysterio.
Backstage, they did a bit where Mick Foley and Maria had their luggage mixed up, with Maria wearing the Mankind mask, and Foley holding a piece of lingerie. Maria gave Foley his mask back, and because she is Maria, she gave Foley the bra and panties she was wearing (off camera) as well, thinking they were his.
Eugene & Jimmy Snuka vs. Rob Conway & Tyson Tomko.
Jimmy Snuka beat out Duggan (second) and Kamala (third) to get in the match. Eugene started out with Tomko, with Tomko slamming Eugene at the start. Eugene called for a test of strength, then would switch hands as Tyson tried to lock up. Eugene ducked under a punch by Tomko, and Snuka hit a chop from the apron. Eugene slammed Tyson, then teased tagging Snuka, but Conway ran in and hit Eugene from behind. Tomko hit Eugene on the mat a few times, then tagged in Conway, who choked Eugene in a corner. Conway dropped an elbow for a two count, then complained about the count. Conway hit a standing dropkick, then tagged in Tomko, who gave Eugene a powerslam for two.
Conway tagged in and put Eugene in a rear chinlock. Eugene fought out and hit some headbutts to the gut, but Conway delivered a knee to the head, then took a shot at Snuka on the apron. Tomko and Conway took Eugene to their corner and worked him over, but Eugene rallied, ducking a Tyson boot to the face (Tomko crotched himself on the top rope) and giving Conway a clothesline. Eugene made the hot tag to Snuka, but he was soon double teamed. Eugene came back, and Tyson was knocked out of the ring. Eugene and Snuka took turns headbutting Conway, then Eugene gave him the Rock Bottom. Jimmy Snuka, taking his time, hit Conway with the Superfly Splash for the pin at the six minute mark.
Winners: Eugene & Jimmy Snuka.
Tyson Tomko attacked Snuka after the match, but Hacksaw Duggan and Kamala ran in for the save, with Duggan giving Tomko the three-point stance clothesline, and Kamala following it up with the big splash.
Carlito came to the ring, then they announced that Mankind (Cactus Jack second, Dude Love third) had won the fan voting. They then showed a video package on the Carlito-Foley feud.
Carlito vs. Mankind.
Makind had on a shirt and tie, sweatpants and sneakers, along with the leather mask, so I guess this is the "Corporate" version of Mankind. Carlito went right at Mankind at the bell, hitting a standing dropkick and hitting some punches. Mankind came back with a back elbow and raked his nails across Carlito's back. Mankind hung Carlito in the Tree of Woe and hit a double sledge to the chest. Foley catapulted Carlito into the second rope, then hit a baseball slide kick, sending Carlito to the floor. Mankind gave Carlito a neckbreaker on the floor, then grabbed a chair. Foley stalked Carlito around ringside, but Carlito gave him a drop toe hold, and Mankind fell into the steps, hitting himself with the chair as a result. Carlito gave Foley a dropkick on the floor, and Foley hit the back of his head on the edge of the steps.
Carlito rolled Foley into the ring and got a two count, then pounded him with right hands. Mankind fought back, but Carlito gave him a Russian legsweep for two. Carlito gave Foley a version of a back suplex, then applied a rear naked choke. He turned it into a sleeper, and got on Mankind's back, but Mankind flipped him off. The two men charged into each other with simultaneous clotheslines. Mankind sat up, and yanked some chunks of hair from his head (like the old days). Mankind then pounded Carlito down in a corner with punches and forearms, then delivered a running knee. Mankind hit the Cactus Clothesline, sending them both over the top rope and to the floor. Mankind then delivered the elbowdrop off the apron to the floor on Carlito. Mankind rolled Carlito back into the ring for a two count. Mankind kicked Carlito in the gut and hit a double underhook DDT. Mankind then pulled out Mr. Socko (who had a Carlito-style afro). Mankind applied the Mandible Claw, and Carlito submitted at the seven minute mark.
Winner: Mankind.
Backstage, Eric Bischoff was on the phone complaining about Theodore R. Long when Vince McMahon walked into his office. Vince said he was looking forward to the Raw vs. Smackdown match, and asked if it happened yet. Eric started to whine about it, and Vince ripped into Bischoff for having Raw lose a match on their own PPV. Bischoff started to make excuses, and Vince shut him down, saying Bischoff wasn't the man that once competed with him. Bischoff asked what Vince was going to do about Long "cheating". Vince said he wasn't going to "change his diapers" anymore, and told Bischoff he needed to take care of it himself by showing some "creativity". Vince then wished Bischoff luck in the other Smackdown vs. Raw match tonight, Batista vs. Coach.
The main event voting results were revealed. Shawn Michaels came in first, then Kane, then Big Show. Backstage, Show shook Michaels' hand, but Kane didn't. As a result, Kane & Big Show get the tag title shot.
World Tag Team Champions Trevor Murdoch & Lance Cade vs. Big Show & Kane.
Show and Kane attacked the champions on the floor as they argued about who would start the match. Murdoch got rolled into the ring, and immediately got frustrated as he was trapped between Kane and Show. Murdoch shoved Kane, and Kane decked him, then worked him over with punches and elbows in a corner before choking him. Kane hit Murdoch with a clothesline in a corner, but when he went for a second, Murdoch got the boot up. Murdoch hit a clothesline and tagged Cade, but soon Kane was pounding him. Big Show tagged in and kept up the pounding of Cade, including chops in the corner. Show stomped Cade down in a corner, then hit another chop. Show kicked Cade in the face, but Cade raked his eyes and tagged Murdoch. Murdoch threw some kicks and elbows, but then tried to whip Show across the ring. Show put on the brakes and chopped Murdoch.
Murdoch begged off, and Show headbutted him. Show chopped Murdoch down and stepped on him, then tagged in Kane. Kane choked Murdoch in a corner, but Murdoch poked him in the eyes. Cade tagged in, and Kane sort of caught him with a boot to the gut. Kane went to the top rope, but was distracted by Murdoch. Cade went for a superplex, but Kane blocked it and shoved him down. Murdoch then shoved Kane off the top rope and he fell to the floor. Murdoch and Cade then hit Sweet N' Sour (clothesline/chopblock combo) on Kane on the floor. In the ring, Murdoch put Kane in a surfboard variation, but Kane backed him into a corner to break it up. However, it was Murdoch's corner and he tagged in Cade. Murdoch and Cade hit a reverse atomic drop/neckbreaker combo, but Kane sat up. Cade went for a clothesline, but Kane grabbed him by the throat. Murdoch came in for a double backdrop, but Kane kicked Murdoch and punched Cade, then tagged Big Show. Big Show headbutted both men, then piled them in a corner. He went for a avalanche on both, but Murdoch moved and Cade took the brunt of it. Kane gave Murdoch a top rope clothesline, then knocked him out of the ring. Big Show and Kane gave Cade a double chokeslam for the pin at the eight minute mark.
Winners and new World Tag Team Champions: Big Show & Kane.
Big Show and Kane hugged in celebration. Todd Grisham came out to interview both the new champions. Murdoch got on the apron and complained about the loss, and Show dragged him into the ring. Show and Kane gave him a double chokeslam as well.
Backstage, Coach bragged to Goldust and Vader about how he slapped Batista on Raw last night. Coach said that if they get through Batista, there is no limit to how far they can go together. Coach boasted that he would go on and eventually become the first announcer to become WWE Champion.
Todd Grisham brought the WWE Divas, wearing robes, out to the Taboo Tuesday Control Center. They confirmed that Trish Stratus' Women's Title is on the line tonight. Lingerie won, then Leather & Lace, then Cheerleaders outfits. The Divas then left to go change.
A video package on the events leading to Jonathan Coachman vs. Batista was shown.
Jonathan Coachman, with Goldust & Vader, vs. Batista.
They had podiums and an arm wrestling table at ringside. Goldust made his entrance first, then Vader, then Jonathan Coachman. Coach had a T-Shirt that said "I'm the Coach, the voice of the people" on the front and "I talk, you listen" on the back. The voting was then revealed before Batista came out. Street Fight won, with 91% of the vote, with verbal debate second (6%) and arm wrestling last (3%). Batista then made his entrance.
As the bell rang, Coach was on the apron, and Vader & Goldust were in the ring with Batista. Batista went back and forth, slugging both men, until they went to the floor to regroup with Coach. Goldust and Vader got back in the ring, and cornered Batista, then pounded him down with Coach offering encouragement from ringside. Batista fought back, kicking Goldust away and giving Vader shoulderblocks in the corner. Batista tackled Goldust, hit Coach as he tried to come in, then went to suplex Vader. Before he could get him up, Goldust came in with a kendo stick and blasted Batista in the back. Coach grabbed the belt off a camera man, and with Vader and Goldust holding him down, Coach whipped Batista. Coach had them turn him around, but Batista kicked away Vader and shoved off Goldust. Batista knocked down everyone, including Coach. Batista grabbed the belt, whipped Vader, then Goldust, then whipped Coach. Batista tripped Vader (I think it was a spinebuster attempt), gave Goldust (who had grabbed a chair) a spinebuster, then gave Vader a spinebuster. Batista picked up Coach, then slapped him. Batista gave Coach a Batista Bomb for the pin at the four minute mark.
Winner: Batista.
Todd Grisham interviewed Shawn Michaels backstage, pointing out that HBK has been voted into the main event at Taboo Tuesday two years in a row. Michaels said he was going to show why he is the "Showstopper", when Kurt Angle walked in on the interview. Angle said the he and Michaels don't like each other, but neither wants Cena to be champion after tonight. Angle said they should join together, take Cena out, and then they can settle the issue of who is the "best in the business" between themselves. Michaels said he would "think about it" and Angle said he'd better "think good".
"Fulfill Your Fantasy" Lingerie Battle Royal For The Women's Title
To be eliminated, you have to be thrown out of the ring (not over the top rope) and have both feet touch the floor. The Divas were wearing wrestling boots with their lingerie. Trish and Victoria paired off at the start, and were fighting on the ropes at the start. Mickie James pulled Trish down when it looked like she was in trouble. Trish and Mickie James dumped Maria over the top rope first. Candice went for a headscissors choke over the ropes on Ashley. But she celebrated after releasing it, and Ashley knocked her off the apron to the floor, eliminating her. Victoria gave Trish a spinning side slam. Mickie James and Ashley tried to eliminate Victoria, but she held on and fought her way back in. Victoria catapulted Ashley over the top rope and to the floor, eliminating her. Victoria gave Mickie James a spinning side slam. Trish went after Victoria giving her a spinning headscissors. Trish and Victoria fought on the apron, with Trish almost eliminated, but Mickie James made the save again. Victoria clotheslined Mickie James. Trish matrixed under a Victoria clothesline, but Victoria dropped her weight on her. Victoria went for Trish again, but James made the save again. Mickie James charged Victoria, driving both of them through the ropes and to the floor, eliminating both of them at the six minute mark.
Winner: Trish Stratus.
The announcers put over how Mickie James sacrificed herself so Trish could win. Todd Grisham tried to interview Trish at ringside, but James grabbed the mic and started gushing over how great Trish is and how Trish "kicked Victoria's butt". James spent so much time on the mic praising Trish, they ran out of time for the interview before Trish could talk.
A video package on the events leading to Triple H vs. Ric Flair was shown. Steel Cage won the voting, with Submission Match second and regular match third.
Intercontinental Champion Ric Flair vs. Triple H, Steel Cage Match.
Match can end via pinfall, submission or escaping the cage. Triple H came out first, and stood on the top rope as Ric Flair made his entrance. Ric Flair chopped Triple H at the start, let out a "Whoo!" then delivered some more chops. Triple H fired back with punches, but Flair returned fire with punches and chops, sending Triple H to the mat. Triple H reversed a whip and delivered a jumping knee. Triple H choked Flair down in a corner with his boot, but Flair started throwing chops and punches again. Triple H reversed a whip and hit a spinebuster. Triple H picked Flair up off the mat and threw him headfirst into the cage. Flair was busted open, and Triple H drove him head first into the mesh again. Triple H gave Flair a snap mare, then hit a kneedrop to the bloody head of Flair.
Triple H raked the head of Flair across the cage, then rammed him into the steel again and again. Triple H got a running start and avalanched Flair, who was between the ropes and the mesh, forcing Flair headfirst into the cage again. Triple H pounded Flair's wound with punches, then mocked Flair with a "Whoo!" before delivering a kneedrop. Flair tried to fight back with a punch, but Triple H drove him into the cage again. Triple H then waved at Flair, and started to climb out of the cage. Flair climbed up after him, and the two fought on the top rope, with Flair hitting some punches. Triple H responded with headbutss and punches, but Flair kept chopping. Both men fell, simultaneously getting crotched on the top rope. Flair fell to the mat, while Triple H started to climb again, but then stopped when he pulled a piece of chain that was on the top of the cage (presumably part of the support beam of the cage) off into his hand. Triple H went for a top rope fistdrop with the chain, but Flair got a boot up and caught Triple H in the face. Flair gave Triple H a shinbuster and went for a Figure Four, but Triple H, the chain still wrapped around his hand, punched Flair for a two count.
Triple H hit a fistdrop with the chain, and Flair screamed "Jesus Christ!" in pain. The referee took the chain away from Triple H, to the boos of fans, and handed it through the door to another ref at ringside. Triple H hit Flair with some punches, working him over in the corner. Flair flopped in the ring, and Triple H hit a knee to the back of the head. Flair screamed "Oh God!" as Triple H mocked Flair with a "Whoo!" and a strut. Triple H put Flair in a figure four leglock, and Flair said "You mother f***er, I'll kill you" as he screamed in pain. Triple H punched Flair while keeping him in the figure four. There was a brief "Nature Boy" chant. Flair started spitting at Triple H, gave him a middle finger and said "F*** you", then reversed the figure four and they rolled into the ropes. Triple H got to his feet, mocked Flair again, then went for a figure four, but Flair kicked him off and into the cage. Triple H was now busted open. Flair got up, lunged at Triple H, and bit into his forehead.
Flair, revitalized, threw Triple H into the cage, and started punching and chopping him. Flair threw Triple H face first into the cage again, and Triple H was bleeding a gusher. Flair raked Triple H's face across the cage and rammed him into it repeatedly. Flair hooked his fingers into Triple H's wound, then punched him. Flair chopped him against the cage, then gave him a delayed vertical suplex. The crowd was rallying behind Flair now, and Flair gave Triple H a kneedrop. Flair picked up Triple H and hit a series of chops and punches, then gave Triple H a chopblock to the leg. Joey Styles pointed out that it was the same leg Triple H suffered a torn quad in. Flair punched at the leg, then gave it another chopblock. Flair dropped an elbow to the leg, then stomped it. Flair screamed "Now!" and kicked Triple H in the face. Ric Flair then put Triple H in the figure four leglock. Triple H screamed in the hold, and his shoulders went down for a two count. Flair gave Triple H a middle finger, and dragged the hold back into the middle of the ring. Triple H's shoulders went down for another two count. Triple H reached up and pulled the referee on top of them in order to break the hold.
Flair gave Triple H a kneedrop to the bad leg, then climbed to the top rope. Triple H went to grab him, but Flair raked his eyes, then hit a forearm off the rope for a two count. Flair let out a "Whoo!", then gave Triple H a low blow. Triple H crumbled to the mat. The door was opened, and Flair crawled halfway out, but Triple H grabbed his boot and dragged him back in. Flair grabbed a steel chair as Triple H pulled him in, but Triple H saw it and stepped on the chair, crushing Flair's hand. Triple H picked up the chair and went to hit Flair with it, but Flair grabbed Triple H in a Testicular Claw. Flair chopped Triple H, maintaining his grip. Flair went for a backdrop, but Triple H put on the breaks and went for the Pedigree, but Flair backdropped him onto the steel chair. Flair blasted Triple H with three chairshots to the head. Flair then crawled out of the cage at the twenty five minute mark for the win.
Winner: Ric Flair.
A bloody Ric Flair walked off triumphant, as Triple H slowly got up in the ring with the help of two referees. There was applause for Triple H as the referees helped him down the aisle.
WWE Champion John Cena vs. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels.
Angle punched Michaels out of the ring at the bell and went to work on Cena, pounding him with punches. There was a "Cena" chant. Michaels got on the apron and Angle knocked him off. Cena hit Angle with a back elbow, then knocked Michaels off the apron. Cena gave Angle a suplex, but Michaels broke up the cover. Michaels went back and forth, kicking and punching both men. Angle went for a back suplex, but Michaels shifted his weight and landed on top, but Cena broke up the cover. Angle went on offense, going back and forth between opponents. Angle kicked away a backdrop from Cena, but charged and Cena backdropped him to the floor anyway. Michaels went after Cena in the ring, hitting a chop and ramming him into the turnbuckle. Cena reversed a whip, and Michaels gave Angle a baseball slide as he was trying to get back in the ring. Michaels went back at Cena, floating over a slam and shoving him into Angle. Angle gave Cena a German suplex, then one for Michaels. Angle gave Cena an overhead belly to belly suplex, then gave one to Michaels. Angle went for the Angle Slam, Michaels blocked it, Angle went for the Ankle Lock, Michaels kicked it away and Angle almost fell into an FU, but Angle escaped. Cena blocked a superkick attempt by Michaels. Angle went for a sunset flip on Cena, but Michaels gave Cena a flying bodypress as he was doing it for two. This is nonstop spots so far.
Michaels and Angle began beating down Cena, with Michaels acting like he was going along with Angle's plan from earlier. Michaels and Angle threw Cena shoulder first into the ringpost. Cena fell to the floor. Angle went after Cena, ramming him into the steps, while Michaels cleared off the Spanish Announcers table. Angle and Michaels gave Cena a gourdbuster through the table. With Cena down, Michaels and Angle began exchanging chops on the floor. Back in the ring, Michaels gave Angle a powerslam for a two count. Angle reversed a whip by Michaels and hit a back elbow. Angle hit Michaels with a kneelift, rammed him into a turnbuckle, then worked him over with punches and forearms. There was a "Angle" chant from some fans. Angle gave Michaels a vertical suplex for a two count. Angle put Michaels in a bodyscissors and rubbed his forearm across Michaels' face, then applied a chinlock. Michaels rolled so Angle's shoulders were on the mat, but Angle kept moving at the two count to avoid being pinned. There was a chant for Cena, who was still down on the floor. Michaels turned his body in towards Angle and broke free with punches.
Michaels and Angle got to their feet, and Michaels hit some chops, but Angle grabbed an overhead belly to belly suplex. Angle rammed Michaels into a corner and set him up on the top turnbuckle. Angle went for a superplex, but Michaels punched him down off the ropes. Michaels went to stand on the top rope, but Angle ran up the ropes and hit a second rope Angle Slam for a two count. Angle pulled the straps down, but Cena ran in and hit Angle with a series of shoulderblocks and clotheslines. Cena clotheslined Angle from the ring, then backdropped Michaels and whipped him hard into the corner, flipping him. Cena hit a backsuplex into a powerbomb. Cena did the "You Can't See Me" but Angle tripped him from the outside. Angle dragged Cena from the ring and threw him into the crowd. Michaels hit Angle with a slingshot senton on the floor. All three men were down on the floor.
Michaels and Angle got in the ring. Michaels hit a flying forearm and did a kip up. Michaels stayed on offense, slamming Angle and chopping Cena as he came in. Michaels gave Cena a flying forearm, then kipped up again. Angle grabbed Michaels and gave him a belly to belly suplex, sending Michaels over the top rope and to the floor. Angle boasted about what he had done, and Cena grabbed Angle in a back suplex. Cena went for the FU, but Angle floated over into a sunset flip and grabbed the ankle lock. Cena struggled in the hold, and the crowd went nuts. Cena tried to roll out, but Angle kept it on. Cena crawled for the ropes, but Angle dropped down, adding a leglace to the move. Shawn Michaels went to the top rope and gave Angle an elbow drop, just as it appeared Cena was about to tap. Michaels hit Angle with the Sweet Chin Music superkick. Angle crumbled to the mat, and Cena scooped up Michaels and hit him with the FU for the pin at the sixteen minute mark.
Winner: John Cena.
Cena, limping, stood up triumphant, then slumped back down to the mat to end the show.
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