Raw is War
Fresno, California
October 24, 2005
Making their case for Taboo Tuesday
October 24, 2005
This wasn’t the special referee WWE Champion John Cena had in mind.
With original guest ref Mick Foley incapacitated at the hands of Carlito, none
other than RAW GM Eric Bischoff stormed down the ramp dressed in black and
whites stripes. Referee Bischoff immediately broke up Cena’s FU finisher attempt
on Angle, perhaps costing Cena the match. Bischoff then did his best to
quick-count Angle to victory, but The Champ wouldn’t let it happen.
With Cena battling furiously to deal with two very different adversaries,
eventually the door opened for Angle to cinch in the ankle lock. Despite referee
Bischoff screaming, “You will tap!” Cena defiantly shook his head and reached
for the ropes to force a break. But Bischoff instead grabbed Cena’s outstretched
arm and forced it down into the mat in a “tapping” motion. Bischoff chose to
interpret that act as Cena tapping out to the submission hold and called for the
bell, signaling Angle as the official winner of the non-title match.
Cena hobbled in disbelief as the Olympic gold medalist celebrated up the ramp.
Then, in a WWE.com Unlimited exclusive, Bischoff declared that there would be no
rest for the weary Cena: Next week on RAW, “The Champ” will be forced to face
Shawn Michaels.
Michaels is known as “The Main Event.” In the Monday Night RAW opener, he made
his case for headlining Taboo Tuesday with a huge Triple Threat victory over Big
Show and Kane. The match served as a successful showcase for HBK in front of the
voting public that will decide which Superstar will join John Cena and Kurt
Angle in a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship on Nov. 1. If Michaels
can capture the fans’ vote, it will be familiar territory as he was voted into
last year’s Taboo Tuesday main event despite being injured.
The RAW Triple Threat Match turned when Big Show absorbed a metal-denting chair
shot from Kane that went undetected by the referee. HBK followed up by
delivering “Sweet Chin Music” to both opponents. Michaels then covered the
largest athlete in the world to pick up the win.
The intensity of the match was evident early, as Big Show’s forehead was busted
open right off the top. He bled throughout the match, oftentimes fighting off
both adversaries. Big Show used his size and strength to great effect —
including gorilla pressing Michaels to the outside and even hitting a superplex
— until Kane seemingly snapped, tossing chairs into the ring and then leveling
Big Show with the fourth one. When Show went down, Kane took to the top rope,
only to receive a superkick on the way down. Big Show recovered enough to reach
his feet, only to be blasted by a second Michaels superkick.
The next match was scheduled to be Triple H against Viscera, but Ric Flair
wasn’t waiting until its conclusion to get his hands on “The Game.”
As Triple H made his way down the ramp, Flair jumped him from behind. The former
best friends then brawled until being broken up by a swarm of WWE officials.
Afterward, “The Nature Boy” begged WWE’s fans to vote for a Steel Cage Match
when Ric Flair faces Triple H at Taboo Tuesday. It will be up to the fans to
decide if the match is One Fall to a Finish, a Submisison Match or a Steel Cage
Match. Clearly, Flair wants to get Triple H in the most brutal environment
possible.
In another event with Taboo Tuesday ramifications, SmackDown Superstars invaded
RAW in retaliation.
JBL provided a distraction from the parking lot area, taunting Chris Masters and
goading him into leaving the ring area. Falling for “the oldest trick in the
book,” Edge was then caught unaware as Rey Mysterio emerged from the crowd.
Mysterio hit a springboard drop kick that sent Edge to the outside. That left
Lita vulnerable for a 619!
Before the SmackDown attack, Edge and Masters berated each potential Taboo
Tuesday opponent. (Edge & Masters will face two out of a possible five SmackDown
Superstars on Nov. 1.) Edge and Masters took turns mocking SmackDown voting
options JBL, Matt Hardy, Rey Mysterio, Christian and Hardcore Holly. Which two
will get their chance to shut Edge and Masters up? Only WWE’s fans will decide.
While the fans hold all the authority at Taboo Tuesday, they were powerless and
both Stephanie and Mr. McMahon mocked them this week on RAW.
First a Stone Cold appearance was teased. But instead of Steve Austin driving
the pickup truck, Stephanie McMahon emerged from the vehicle with a Stone Cold
hat and a couple beers.
Stephanie announced that Stone Cold will not be at RAW this week, despite
Jonathan Coachman repeatedly calling him out. One thing is certain: Stone Cold
will be at Taboo Tuesday, and if he can beat “The Coach” in a fan-selected
confrontation, Jim Ross will get his job back. If Coachman somehow wins, then
Stone Cold will join J.R. on the unemployment line.
Mr. McMahon later entered the ring to announce his “big surprise,” which turned
out to be “footage” of Jim Ross’ colon surgery. Words cannot describe the
“graphic” video that followed. Video will be available on WWE.com soon.
Also, The Hurricane hung Rosey out to dry during their tag team match against
Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch. Rosey was left to fend for himself as an unmasked
Gregory Helms stood in street clothes at the top of the ramp. Eventually, Rosey
succumbed to the World Tag Team Champions’ “Sweet N Sour” tandem finisher.
After the match in a WWE.com Unlimited exclusive, Helms called Rosey a joke whom
he carried for two years. He added that from now on, the only person he’s going
to help is himself.
Matches
Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey
Mickie James def. Victoria
Shawn Michaels def. Big Show and Kane (Triple Threat Match)
Kurt Angle def. John Cena (non-title; Mick Foley as guest referee)
Triple H vs. Viscera (never got
underway)