WWE Armageddon was a 2008 professional wrestling event put on by World Wrestling Entertainment. It was the 10th and final Armageddon event, the 12th and final event of 2008 and the 228th event overall in the alternate WWF timeline. Emanating from the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, the main event was a Fatal Fourway match for the World Heavyweight Championship between The Undertaker, Kane, Batista & Vladimir Kozlov. Other matches on the card included a WWE title match between Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton, a Last Man Standing match between Chris Jericho and Triple H, and an Intercontinental Title rematch between Mr. Kennedy and John Bradshaw Leyfield.
Prelude[]
The Undertaker had defeated his brother Kane in a brutal fight at Survivor Series in order to regain the World Heavyweight Championship. However, The Phenom could hardly rest on his laurels, as he was immediately faced with three challengers for his newly won belt. Kane had a guaranteed rematch, which he attempted to exercise on a Smackdown "Champion's Special" Edition, only for the match to be interrupted by Vladimir Kozlov, who laid out both the Brothers of Destruction. The Moscow Mauler was then confronted by Batista, who was tired of waiting for his title opportunity, and was hell bent on taking out anyone who stood between him and the World Heavyweight Championship. Smackdown General Manager Theodore Long thus set up a Fatal Fourway match at Armageddon with the title on the line.
Jeff Hardy had finally achieved his dream of becoming WWE Champion at the Survivor Series, albeit with help from a returning Triple H. However, his dreams were immediately challenged by the also returning Randy Orton. The former champion reminded the Charismatic Enigma that he had been the one to crush his dreams one year earlier, and that he was back to do it again. While Hardy granted Orton a title shot, Randy was also faced with ongoing issues between he and his Legacy teammates, who had essentially dropped the ball in the Brand Supremacy Survivor Series match, allowing Rey Mysterio to become the sole survivor. Despite this, Legacy appeared to finally get on the same page in the weeks leading up to Armageddon, putting the newly crowned champion at a definite numbers disadvantage.
Triple H had made his surprising return during the WWE Championship match at Survivor Series, shocking everyone there, but especially the man who had injured him several months earlier (in kayfabe), WWE Champion Chris Jericho. In fact, Triple H's arrival caused Jericho to nearly abandon the match altogether, and Y2J later blamed The Game for costing him the title. Triple H later clarified that was exactly his purpose, and that he had returned from injury for two reasons: to regain the WWE Title and to make Jericho's life "a living hell." Triple H challenged Jericho to a Last Man Standing match at Armageddon, intending to beat the former champion within an inch of his life.
John Bradshaw Leyfield had parlayed his sneak attack on Mr. Kennedy during the 6 on 6 Survivor Series match into an opportunity at the Intercontinental Title the following week on Raw. With taped up ribs and partially concussed, Kennedy was no match for the Wrestling God, who easily dispatched the champion and won his first IC Title in the process. Kennedy took a couple of weeks to heal up, returning on an episode of Raw to claim his rematch and seek revenge against the Texan.
Event[]
Coming Soon...
Results[]
No. | Results | Stipulations | Time |
---|---|---|---|
Pre-Show | William Regal w/Sheamus d. Rob Van Dam by Submission | Singles Match | 12:01 |
1 | The Hart Dynasty [Tyson Kidd & DH Smith] w/Natalya (c) d. The Brian Kendrick & Ezekiel Jackson by Pinfall | Tag Team Match for the WWE Tag Team Titles | 11:49 |
2 | Beth Phoenix & Mickie James d. LayCool [Layla El & Michelle McCool] by Pinfall | Diva's Tag Team Match | 7:39 |
3 | Shelton Benjamin (c) d. Montel Vontavious Porter by Pinfall | Singles Match for the WWE United States Title | 14:20 |
4 | Rey Mysterio d. CM Punk & The Big Show by Pinfall | #1 Contenders Triple Threat to the World Heavyweight Championship | 10:27 |
5 | The Colons [Carlito & Primo] d. Legacy [Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase] (c) by Pinfall | Tag Team Match for the World Tag Team Titles | 8:20 |
6 | JBL (c) d. Mr. Kennedy by Pinfall | Singles Match for the WWE Intercontinental Title | 11:43 |
7 | Triple H d. Chris Jericho | Last Man Standing Match | 15:30 |
8 | Jeff Hardy (c) d. Randy Orton by Pinfall | Singles Match for the WWE Championship | 14:00 |
9 | Batista d. The Undertaker (c), Kane & Vladimir Kozlov by Pinfall | Fatal Fourway for the World Heavyweight Championship | 12:17 |
Aftermath[]
Due to his victory in the triple threat match, Rey Mysterio would go on to challenge new World Heavyweight Champion Batista at the Royal Rumble, while Chris Jericho would earn his rematch against Jeff Hardy by avenging his loss to Triple H. DiBiase's inadvertant interference in the WWE Title match would continue the dissension amongst the members of Legacy, as that faction began to feud with one another.