WWE Taboo Tuesday - DVD

.../> In October 2004 the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) decided to create a ground breaking wrestling event. An event in which the fans would decide on opponents, stipulations, weapons etc on the card via the internet. This lead to frantic voting on WWE.Com (in which I participated), and some really interesting result, and for once critic couldn’t argue that WWE wasn’t delivering what fans wanted to see.

The DVD, as with all WWE ...
...a DQ match but the WWE have provided a chain in which the combatants can batter each other with, this was voted for in favour over a steel chair and a lead pipe. The story leading up to this match is particularly distasteful; in brief Kane forced a sexual relationship with Lita, which got her pregnant. When she was pregnant Gene attacked Lita, and she miscarried. Thus setting up the would be father against the baby killer, in the match that likely ... more

Taboo Tuesday 2004 Review

Taboo. The word can mean several things. Say the word taboo to a off license and the owner will hand you a bottle of fruit flavoured vodka. Say the word taboo in a toy shop and you will be shown a highly successful board game. The word taboo actually means something a bit risqué, or something that you shouldn’t really say.

In October 2004 the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) decided to create a ground breaking wrestling event. An event in which the fans would decide on opponents, stipulations, weapons etc on the card via the internet. This lead to frantic voting on WWE.Com (in which I participated), and some really interesting result, and for once critic couldn’t argue that WWE wasn’t delivering what fans wanted to see.

The DVD, as with all WWE DVDs, is released by Silvervision and is available from their site currently. It should hits the shops in early march and is available to pre-order from some websites already. The DVD is certificate 18 due to the violence in the feature, although I would let anyone above the age of 15 watch it as it’s not any bloodier or violent as Saving Private Ryan or Rocky. It has a retail price of £17.99, which is probably worth it but still quite a lot. The DVD comes in a regular box, but with quite a cool front cover of a computer screen with a title in.

The PPV was held at the Milwaukee centre in Wisconsin and was on October 19th 2004. Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler do the commentary for this PPV, who are pretty good.

Now for the matches:

Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Jericho for the WWF IC Title
Both these men are very good wrestlers, and so I was pleased when this match was announced. Chris Jericho nearly always has a good match, and Shelton Benjamin has had quite a singles career in 2004. The bout starts with a lot of amateur style takedowns that Benjamin is infamous for, leading to an outside brawl. Three minutes into the match and the near falls have began already, with Jericho’s tight offence showing why he has been the IC champion this year, although in my opinion he deserves the world title. Shelton is bursting with energy as the match draws to finish, and you can really see his desire to win the title. This is a good start to the PPV, with an unexpected finish.
Rating: 7.5/10

High School Attire Diva Battle Royal
Trish Stratus vs. Gail Kim vs. Victoria vs. Nadia vs. Stacey Keibler vs. Jazz
vs. Molly Holly
The women look very sexy in their high school outfits, chosen by the general public, well that is all apart from Molly Holly who looks like a prude in her ugly long dress. I’m not a huge fan of battle royals, they tend just to be a series of matches with no actual wrestling moves and rely on punching and kicking. And this match is not exception, for the most part it’s just wild kicks and strikes leading to eliminations, although to be fair they do it well. The eliminations are mostly very good over the top rope affairs, but still the match is limited because of its stipulation.
Rating: 7/10

Kane w/ Lita vs. Gene Snistky in a Chain Match
The rules of this bout are simply, it’s a DQ match but the WWE have provided a chain in which the combatants can batter each other with, this was voted for in favour over a steel chair and a lead pipe. The story leading up to this match is particularly distasteful; in brief Kane forced a sexual relationship with Lita, which got her pregnant. When she was pregnant Gene attacked Lita, and she miscarried. Thus setting up the would be father against the baby killer, in the match that likely offended many fans whom had been through the trauma of said situations such as rape or miscarriage.
The bout starts with a struggle for the chain, Kane is on form with his offence and Snistky is also wrestling well. Right from the get go the chain is used effectively, and in a variety of creative ways. The match is intense, although not as intense as it should be considering the supposed reasons that Kane has to want revenge on Gene. An outside brawl leads to the use of a steel chair (which removes the interactive subplot point of the match somewhat) and Kane spewing up blood all over the ring after having his neck crushed in a shocking manevours, which involved his neck and the rim of the steel chair being jumped onto off the top rope. This is an ok match, but after a couple of minutes seems to drag more than it should.
Rating: 5.5/10

Hair vs. Hair Match
Eugene vs. Eric Bischoff
In a hair vs. hair bout the loser must have his head shaved as the stipulation of losing; a humiliating process that always creates fan interest, and sparks a couple of cheap laughs from the audience. The match starts with a sneak attack from Bischoff on Eugene, the wrestler who pretends to have learning disabilities, and takes the early advantage. Eugene goes really angry quicker than normal, and leads an aggressive assault on the GM of Raw. A super long airplane spin on Bischoff is pretty funny, as is the mock Hulk Hogan leg drop that finishes the comedy bout off, in less than 3 minutes. This match is far too short to really be rated, but it’s a disappointment especially for fans who wanted to see the Bisch get pasted.
Rating: 4/10

The segment after this in which Eric Bischoff has his hair cut and shaved by Eugene, and Coach, Bischoff’s right hand man and smarmy suck-up, wears a dress is pretty funny. The expressions on both men’s faces are great as they realise what they have to go through, and is overall very entertaining.

WWE Tag Titles
Chris Benoit and Edge vs. La Resistance (Rob Conway and Rene Dupree)
Edge starts the match with tonnes of aggression, laying into Rob Conway big style. La Resistance have a tighter offence than usual, and blend well as a team. Benoit doesn’t appear very fired up, and is not at his best, but thankfully for the majority of the time Edge is in the ring. Well, that is until Edge leaves the bout, frustrated at not being in the main event against Triple H for the world title, leaving Benoit to fend off La Resistance by himself. The end of the match is good, with Benoit fighting to the bitter end, slapping a cripple crossface (his signature move) onto Dupree. This is a good bout, in which Edge turns a corner as a heel, but it is let down by a unbelievable ending which damages the reputation of the WWE Tag Titles.
Rating: 7.5/10

Christy vs. Carmella in a Laundrette Pillow Fight
In the summer of 2004 WWE ran a program similar to Popstars or Pop Idol but for wrestling valets who were female. Each week they would come out, strut their stuff and bitch about each other, with a contestant being eliminated each week. It was tedious stuff, and a waste of valuable wrestling time in many fans opinions, and it certainly wasn’t family entertainment (Carmella called one girl a “cum guzzling slut” one week for instance). It came down to Christy and Carmella in the finals, with Christy picking up the victory, and the prize money of $250,000. Not satisfied with coming second Carmella challenged her to a match on WWE PPV. That’s right, WWE has decided to treat it’s viewers to more rubbish with non-wrestlers on a wrestling show.
The token eye candy match starts with the women stripping down to their very brief briefs, which is sure to offend some women. The action in the ring is absolutely dreadful, and not a single wrestling move is executed. This is a abysmal match, that lasts less than 2 minutes and is a total waste of time.
Rating: 2/10

WWE World Heavyweight Title
Shawn Micahels vs. Triple H
So for the, what seems like, hundredth time the paying audience is treated to HBK facing Hunter for the World Title. Back in the Summer the WWE hosted Bad Blood at which these two men met, and WWE promised it’s viewers that it would be the match to end all their matches, the ultimate match! Who says WWE can’t keep its promises.
Shawn Michaels is in no condition for the match. He literally limps to the ring, and instead of going full at it from the start, delves into a bit of psyching his opponent out to waste time. Shawn’s offence, when he gets started, is weaker than normal due to his injury, but Triple H’s old school style is pretty strong, although does come across quite slow and sluggish. A long figure four leg lock submission hold is an excellent mid-match point, and put the bout finally back on track for the men, leading to the action picking up (even with Shawn’s awful hand chops). A super kick from HBK to HHH followed by a run in by Edge seals the end to this bout, one of the best old school type bouts either man has had for years. But the question has to be asked, does that style fit in the modern WWE product? I think so personally, but the match suffered from being over done and their umpteenth rematch.
Rating: 7.5/10

Steel Cage Match
Randy Orton vs. Ric Flair
In a normal steel cage match there is only one way to win, escaping! A steel cage of 15ft high made of steel mash is placed outside of the ropes and surrounding the ring, entrapping the combatants inside the structure. Usually to escape you have to either climb over the top, or muster up enough strength/ buy enough time to make it out of the door situated in the far corner (it sounds far easier than it actually is). For some reason though, in this cage match pin falls also count and so you can win the match via pin fall.
Before the match begins the viewers at home and at the arena are treated to quite possibly the best promo video I have ever seen, documenting the feud between Randy Orton and Ric Flair which dances on the thin line between hatred and respect. Flair comes down to the ring in his old attire looking ready for the action, as he steps into the cage. I love cage matches, there’s something about them which just gets me pumped up and in the mind for a good wrestling bout. The action starts fast with Orton and Flair really going at it, Flair’s aggressive streak is really on display here, as he breaks every rule in the book which results in Orton being a bloody mess in no time. Although there is not much technical or mat wrestling taking place, the action is intense and bloody, with the only low point of the bout being when Flair’s trunks fall down and expose his arse to the whole world. Be warned this match is very violent, and justifies the 18 certificate it has gained, for example when a chair makes it’s way into the ring the action gets nasty. An RKO (Randy Orton’s finisher move) and a pinfall later this match is over. This is a very good cage match, and is Flair’s best match for years.
Rating: 8.5/10

The extras on the DVD are pretty poor to be honest. You are only give 4 bonus features. Firstly you are treated to a 3 minute Taboo Tuesday advert which to be honest is pretty damn good. It is really well produced and has lots of highlights of past events and superstars. Compared to this, the TV ad which lasts 30 seconds is abysmal, as is the short interview/ promo from Shelton Benjamin who really shouldn’t speak on the mike as he tries to be funny but just isn’t. The final bonus on the disc is short highlights of the Taboo Tuesday press conference, which again is very short and pretty rubbish. It’s quite a good idea to have footage of this conference but for gods sake make sure its interesting and not just a stream of boring shots. The DVD extras are poorer than normal, usually there are more than one interview and there is nearly always a bonus match. Why the WWE didn’t include matches that had aired on Raw around the time of the event such as Shawn Michaels, Edge, and Chris Benoit vs Triple H, Batista, and Ric Flair, or Chris Jericho vs. Triple H, is beyond me. Its things like this that really frustrate me with the WWE!

This DVD is fairly average if I am honest. There is no one really awesome match, but a selection of good ones and above average ones sprinkled with some shocking bouts in between. The interactive side of the show seemed to work really well, and created some interesting matches and stipulations, but I worry thinking about how rigged the polls could have been, but I guess that is a fact we will never know. This DVD is well produced and easy to navigate through, as is the case with nearly all WWE DVD, but is let down severely by the lack of extras the DVD has. Having said all that, this is one of the better PPVs of the year, and although it is a long way off being an essential purchase, if you wanted to buy a DVD from 2004 this is a heck of a lot better than a lot of the other shows available. This DVD with its card is quite appealing, but lacks substance in the extras sections and during the show itself.

 

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