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I'd be surprised if that fluid wasn't transmission fluid. Tranny fluid is often a pink or red color but might look orange. The good thing about that paper towel that you photo'd is that the fluid is not black, which would indicate that your transmission is on its last legs.
If I am right about that being tranny fluid (and there's an even chance that I'm not) the next question is where did it come from? I think that there are some recirculation tubes for this stuff as well as a breather somewhere. I read about somebody having a backfire in their engine and some of their hoses blowing off (may have been that "pop' that you heard.)
Check again to see if there are any hoses disconnected or if you can see any open holes or nipples where a hose should connect to. Check the bottom of the motor as well, particularly around the transmission casing. Also try to determine where the fluid spray came from using some of the "blood spatter" tricks off of CSI, LOL.
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