RENE DUPREE VS. UNDERTAKER

 To open the show Theodore Long booked an 8-man tournament, with the winner getting the WWE Championship match against John “Bradshaw” Layfield at WrestleMania 21. If Batista chooses to challenge for the WWE title too, then the match will be a triple threat. It’s clearly done on-the-fly (in kayfabe) because check out these brackets.

1.     Rene Dupree vs. Undertaker

2.     Kurt Angle vs. Rey Mysterio

3.     Booker T vs. Eddie Guerrero

4.     Orlando Jordan vs. John Cena

The winners of 1& 2, and 3&4 face in the semi-finals, with winners obviously advancing to the finals at No Way Out.

  Before the match we get a look at some of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2005, The Iron Sheik, Bob Orton Jr. Paul Orndorf, Jimmy Hart and Nikolai Volkoff. Can you tell this was the year they based it around Hulk Hogan and the early WrestleManias?

Rene Dupree makes his way out with FiFi and waves the French flag as he enters the ring. The fans hum along with Undertaker’s theme as he makes his way out, fresh off his casket match with Heidenreich (which I reviewed Here) Rene is shook as Undertaker brings the lights up.

 

Tazz and Michael Cole are on commentary for this match.

 

RENE DUPREE VS. UNDERTAKER

(#1 Contender to the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 21)

Tournament Quarterfinal

WWE Smackdown (3^rd February 2005)

  The bell rings before Rene Dupree is even in the ring. They lock up and Undertaker grabs a headlock. Dupree sends Undertaker off the ropes but is knocked out of the ring with a shoulder tackle.

  Rene Dupree waits until 6 to get back in the ring and locks up with Taker again. He gets a wristlock.Reigns and Jindrak make their way down to the ring as Undertaker counters into his own wristlock and drops Dupree with a shoulder block. He keeps his eyes on the spectators as he sends Dupree’s hand into the top turnbuckle and we go to a commercial break. As we return Undertaker hits the Old School and traps Dupree’s arm before dropping with a reverse STO. Undertaker covers and Mark Jindrak puts Dupree’s foot on the rope to break the pin. Rene Dupree is sent into the corner and walks out into a sidewalk slam as Cole goes over the brackets of the tournament. Undertaker hits an elbow drop, but he keeps watching Reigns and Jindrak, so he hesitates before the second, allowing Dupree to roll out of the way. Dupree sends Undertaker over the top to the floor, but Taker gets back to the apron and hits a jawbreaker on the top rope to Dupree.Jindrak tries to run interference but gets goozled, as does Reigns. Rene Dupree blindsides Undertaker with a baseball slide dropkick, which gives Jindrak the chance to pounce with stomps. Luthor Reigns joins in and Rene Dupree has the referee’s attention in the ring.

  Rene Dupree goes out to hit Undertaker with right hands and sends Undertaker’s head into the ring apron before getting back in the ring. Rene Dupree breaks the referee’s count by going back to the apron and the ax handle attempt is caught by Undertaker. Undertaker rams Rene Dupree into the ring post and rolls him in the ring in position for the leg drop on the apron. Michael Cole is determined that we never forget the casket match, and I know I mentioned my review but it’s optional to click. I only do those matches for completion reasons (although there is a lot.) Undertaker connects with a right hand in the corner but misses the running boot. Rene Dupree starts kicking at Undertaker’s leg and gets a running start to chop Taker down with a kick to the knee. Dupree cannonballs on Undertaker’s ankle and puts him in a toehold. Undertaker fights his way up with right hands, body shots from Undertaker on his knees, he gets the uppercut but Rene Dupree knocks him down with a dropkick. Dupree covers but only gets 2. Rene Dupree strikes first as they’re back on their feet.

  Undertaker strikes hardest though, knocking Dupree back into the corner with right hands, Dupree reverses the irish whip but is met with a boot to the face, Rene Dupree catches Taker with a powerslam and covers for another 2 count. Dupree measures up Undertaker for an elbow drop and a fist drop before celebrating with a French Tickle, Undertaker sits up and gets to his feet, hammering Rene Dupree with right hands and sending him off the ropes into a back body drop. Undertaker runs through Dupree with a clothesline and is looking for the Chokeslam but Rene Dupree knees Undertaker in the gut. Undertaker is sent off the ropes but hits the DDT and sits up again. He hits the Chokeslam on Rene Dupree and puts him in the triangle choke. Luthor Reigns gets on the apron, drawing Undertaker’s attention. Mark Jindrak brings Dupree to the floor, Undertaker turns back around and sees what’s going on, moving to the floor himself. He knocks down Reigns and Jindrak but Rene Dupree catches him from behind. Undertaker sends Rene Dupree into the ring steps Mick Foley style as the referee gets to counting 6.

  Luthor Reigns grabs Undertaker’s ankle and stops him getting in the ring as the referee counts both Dupree and Undertaker out.

RESULT: DOUBLE COUNT OUT (No one advances)

I call bullshit on the finish. There have been heels that swipe an arm in the ring and it breaks the count, the referee could have called it off. Rene Dupree looked good through the match and although there was no real doubt he wasn’t advancing the odds being stacked against Undertaker added a bit of interest to the match. [**] 3.75/10

Michael Cole is confused at who advances for the shot at JBL from this result as Undertaker hits a Tombstone Piledriver on Rene Dupree, that narrowed it down slightly going into commercials.