Smackdown

Card Information:
 Held in: FREEMAN COLISEUM
Location: TEXAS, UNITED STATES
          on October 2005 at 8:00pm

Interview:
Game Time...
Click here to see highlights.

Triple H opens the show with words of wisdom for Terry Funk and Chris Benoit,
only for Benoit himself, and Christian to make appearences.


Cactus Jack pinned William Regal with the Double Arm DDT in 0:09:08.
Rating: *** 1/2
(Cactus Jack retained the WWE Intercontinental Championship.)

Looking for revenge over the post tag match attack by Cactus a few weeks back,
William Regal attempted to take home the IC title here tonight, but was unable
to hold down a brutal Cactus Jack, who retained the gold.


[Taboo Tuesday Tournament - Round 1]:
Steve Austin defeated Kane by countout in 0:09:45.
Rating: ** 1/4

Austin got the victory, as Kane was counted out for the second show running. As
Austin left ringside, Kane stuck around, and soon fell victim to an attack from
AJ Styles and Raven.  The tag team champions continued to double team the Big
Red Machine, until the gong of the Undertaker sounded, and the Dead Man came 
to rescue his brother.


Interview:
Words from Edge...
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Edge outlines his desires to be the biggest star in the business.


Val Venis pinned Edge after a fisherman suplex in 0:11:13.
Rating: *** 1/2

Val sneaked out the victory over Edge, leaving Edge shocked and frustrated.


[Taboo Tuesday Tournament - Round 1]:
Shawn Michaels pinned Booker T with the Sweet Chin Music in 0:10:47.
Rating: *** 1/2

Michaels picks up the victory over Booker T, and he goes on to face Stone Cold
on Smackdown next week.


Interview:
Benoit vows revenge...
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Chris Benoit is ready to make Christian pay for his actions.


Luther Reigns pinned Charlie Haas with the Roll Of The Dice in 0:08:55.
Rating: ** 3/4

Reigns makes his Smackdown debut, putting down the former tag champion Charlie
Haas.


Triple H, Ric Flair and Christian defeated Chris Benoit, John Cena and The Rock
 when Flair defeated Cena when Cena passed out in the Figure-Four Leglock in
           0:28:01.
Rating: *** 1/4
Click here to see highlights.

A victory for Triple H, Flair and Christian, as the Nature Boy made Cena pass
out to the pain of the Figure 4.  Christian left quickly, not wanting to leave
himself open to a cheap shot from the Game or Flair, as they celebrated the
win.



Card rating: *** 1/4


Match observations: 

While Benoit ended up on the losing side tonight, it was his partner John Cena
who was defeated.  Rumour has it that Cena is very interesting on trying his
luck with Flair once again, this time in a one on one environment.  A match at
No Mercy may well be on the cards for those two.

It may also be a No Mercy meeting for Edge and Val Venis, despite the apparent
objections from Edge.  He has made it clear that he feels he's a class above
Venis, but the Big Valbowski somewhat silenced his former partner tonight by
pinning his shoulders to the mat.  Expect an update on this situation on Raw
next week.

Also next week, we will see the two semi-finals in the Taboo Tuesday tournament
to take the final place on the WWE Title ballot.  Ken Shamrock will go one on
one with Batista on Raw in the first semi final, while Smackdown will rock with
Shawn Michaels versus Stone Cold Steve Austin in the second, which is sure to
be an adrenaline fuelled classic.  The two winners will square off at No Mercy
for the spot on the ballot.

From what we can also gather after tonight, a tag title match has been signed
for No Mercy, as AJ Styles and Raven defend their gold against The Undertaker
and Kane.  The Brothers of Destruction failed in their first attempt to win the
tag gold, but things may well prove to be different next time.

Next Show: Raw