I was sure I wasn't going to be able to catch Taboo Tuesday, since I was supposed to be out of town until Sunday. My situation changed though, and I found myself home, ordering the Raw PPP at 10:00 on Wednesday night, and watching it this morning. I did want to see this one as I thought it would be good. I've made that mistake before however, so thinking I'd not get to see it I made myself feel better by saying that I probably wouldn't miss much - Taboo Tuesday could certainly fall into the abyss that the others have lately. I'm glad I was home and I'm glad I was wrong. I thought Taboo Tuesday was a really good show! Maybe I'd been disappointed so much lately that this program just seemed to be good without that actually being the case, but I don't think so. So here, for what they're worth, are my reflections on the matches given to us on the first fan interactive pay-per-view, Taboo Tuesday.
Shelton Benjamin beat out fourteen others, getting the nod from the fans to face Chris Jericho for the Intercontinental Championship. I thought this was a good way to start off the night, and quite liked this match. While Benjamin is still considered to be green in the squared circle, he did a nice job here and gave a good accounting of himself. Never underestimate the power of Y2J to carry the younger athletes through, and Jericho was his usual accomplished self. I had thought that no matter whom Chris faced he would retain the belt, but I was sure wrong on that one - it was Benjamin who had his hand raised after the bell rung. What looked to be a tense moment ended up being good sportsmanship when Y2J grabbed the belt away from Shelton, then placed it over Benjamin's shoulder and shook the hand of the new Intercontinental Champion. Whether scripted or not, this gesture is always a nice touch that seems to be appreciated by the fans.
The Fulfill Your Fantasy Battle Royal for the Women's Championship saw Trish Stratus trying to keep her title as Jazz, Nidia, Gail Kim, Molly Holly, Victoria, and Stacy Keibler came gunning for her. All of the women were dressed as schoolgirls, which was what the majority of the voters had wanted. Nice try girls, but Trish kept her hands on the Championship one more time.
Kane faced off against his nemesis Gene Snitsky, with Lita accompanying Kane to ringside. I know this is supposed to avenge the death of their baby boy, but seeing Lita come down with Kane just seemed wrong to me. Viewers got to choose between a lead pipe, a steel chair or a chain for the weapon to be used here, and the chain won out. I really thought that The Big Red Machine would wipe the ring with Snitsky, but it was absolutely the other way around. Then I remembered that Kane is making the movie The Ice Scream Man, and his beat down made perfect sense after the fact. I had forgotten about that. Problem is, now we will have to be subjected to Snitsky, and I don't think I'm ready for that on a continuous basis. I'd rather watch Kane sitting around while he waits to tape a scene for his movie. That would be less painful. Too bad we didn't get to vote on that!
Eugene faced off against his Uncle Eric, and I just loved this from start to finish. Maybe I was ready for comic relief, but I thought the whole thing was really funny. Eugene got the win, and it was then that we found out what stipulation the viewers wanted. The choices? Loser wears a dress, must be a servant for the winner, or has his head shaved. The latter won by a landslide, but Coach really tried to help Eric out here by saying that another stipulation won. "No Chance in Hell" that would happen! Vince McMahon strutted his way to the ring and announced that Eugene would do the honors. Let the shearing begin! Since most say that McMahon either colors his hair or wears a toupee, or both, it was great when he called Bischoff a "lying son-of-a-bitch!" when he realized Eric's hair was dyed. It was pretty obvious to me that Bischoff had let his hair grow out some without dying it, so that when his hair got cut, the little bit that was left was all one color, albeit grey. Now he has that Billy Bob Thornton look. But back to Coach - Vinnie Mac wasn't done with him. Since he tried to change things, the head of the WWE announced that the dress that was at ringside was Coach's size. Yep, he had to wear it the rest of the night. I wonder if he'll have it on next week, too? I just thought this was really entertaining and from the look on McMahon's face, he got a kick out of it too.
Chris Benoit and Edge were challenging the Tag Team Champs La Resistance. These two were in on the choices along with Shawn Michaels as to who would face Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship later in the evening. HBK won out, so Benoit and Edge were to pair up for the chance at the Team title. In my opinion Edge is improving in his effort to be viewed as a heel. His attempt at anger is much better than it has been, and he left no doubt in anyone's mind that not getting to face HHH had him really pe**ed off. He and Benoit were able to co-exist for a while, but eventually Edge walked out on Chris, leaving him to be double-teamed by La Resistance, as he got in his car and drove out of the building. But this is The Rabid Wolverine we are talking about, and he has a deadly Crippler Crossface. No one, two, three, just a tap out by Robert Conway, and like it or not, Edge is now one half of the NEW Tag Team Champions! Benoit is amazing to me. I loved hearing the cheers for him. I have always liked him and appreciated his work, and this solid performer will do anything asked of him and pull it off. He has many critics, but I am not among them, as I think he is an exceptional talent. It will be interesting to see what happens with he and Edge, but this is the first chapter of a story line that at least could be interesting.
Carmella and Christy had a Lingerie Pillow Fight that took longer to get ready for than to actually have. They changed clothes behind see-through (kind of) screens, and they milked this to the max. The pillow fight produced a quick win for Christy. Terrific, now they have all those damn feathers to clean up!
The World Heavyweight Champion Triple H faced the fan favorite HBK. Great match here, mainly because of how it was wrestled. Nursing a legitimate injury with impending surgery later this week, Michaels promised to give his heart and soul, and did just that. It was a no-brainer that he would not win this, not in his present physical condition, but I don't think anyone cared. I know I didn't. It was fascinating to me watching these two true superstars of the sport work each other perfectly. HHH knows how to deliver each punch exactly where he wants it, and Shawn did all he could do and more. I loved the Edge interference just when it appeared that HBK might actually win - yet another chapter for the story line. (So much for leaving the building, huh?!) Was Shawn selling the injury a bit more than the actual pain he was feeling? Maybe. After all, isn't this is sports entertainment in the first place? But I watched his face as he was being helped to the back. Regardless of how he felt in the ring, as he was being assisted out I'd place a bet that his look of pain was real. I hope that Shawn Michaels will be back with us soon - veteran or not it is too early for me to think of not seeing him in the ring again.
As if we hadn't seen enough, Randy Orton had a go at the legend, Ric Flair in a super match. The match could have been Falls Count Anywhere, Submission Match, or a Steel Cage Match. The cage won, and Orton and Flair pounded and bloodied each other from post to post. There was one funny moment when Randy grabbed Ric by the tights to keep him from climbing out of the cage, and pulled those tights down quite a bit. It was a full moon for Flair, until referee Earl Hebner deftly pulled them up again as Ric was laying face down on the mat. Comedy aside, both men took a beating and were busted open, and this contest could have easily gone either way. But it was the young Mr. Orton who reigned supreme. The finish decided, there was another moment that was similar to that in the Y2J / Benjamin contest, only more so. The two shook hands and hugged, Randy raised the arm of Flair, and they stared at each other with what appeared to be a look of respect from both parties. What a great way to end a really good PPV.
Wow, all this writing on only one subject - Taboo Tuesday. But we are left with many questions. Now we are missing Kane and Michaels. Jericho lost the Cruiserweight Title - will they use him now to help the company further while at the same time elevating him once more? I'd like that. Is the Flair and Orton feud over? And what will Ric do with regard to Evolution? Who will be Triple H's next real challenger? Will Benoit and Edge be able to work together? There are many queries here that can lead to some good story lines to pursue. I look forward to it.
Finally, sorry this column is so late. My PC decided to take a dump when I was ready to post yesterday. I have another laptop, but it didn't want to work either. I won't bore you with details. The column's late, but here it is.
Be safe and God Bless,
Barb.
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