 One of the featured preliminary matches was between Ric Flair versus Triple H for the WWE Intercontinental Championship . On the October 3 episode of Raw , WWE Homecoming , Triple H returned after a four @-@ month hiatus . He took part in a match , teaming up with Flair , who was a fan favorite during Triple H 's absence , to take on Chris Masters and Carlito . The duo defeated Masters and Carlito ; after the match , Triple H turned on Flair and hit him with a sledgehammer . The following week , Triple H explained his actions , saying he saw that Flair had become mediocre when he was spat at and when he won the Intercontinental title . Triple H continued to say that he needed to end Flair 's career so his memories of Flair would not be tarnished . On the October 24 episode of Raw , a singles match was scheduled between Flair and Triple H at Taboo Tuesday , in which the fans would be given the opportunity to choose the type of match they compete in . The choice of the matches were a regular match , submission match , or a Steel Cage , a match where the ring is surrounded by walls of steel , for the Intercontinental title . 
