| Date: December 15, 2002
| Venue: Office Depot Centre | City: Sunrise, Florida
| Attendance: 9,000 | Buyrate: 335, 000

The end is here. The end of the calendar year that is and with it comes the end before the beginning of the road to Wrestlemania. With Armageddon comes 3 stages of hell and that is the stipulation for the World Heavyweight Title match tonight. Triple H beat Rob Van Dam in a number one contenders match for the World Heavyweight title and so the stage was set for a Summerslam re-match. Eric Bischoff announced the stipulation, stating that the first fall would be a street fight, the second fall a cage match and the third fall (if required) a ladder match. Shawn Michaels has the advantage going into the pay per view after he jumped off a trailer, dropping an elbow on Triple H who he’d laid out in a dumpster.

Kurt Angle is the man with a shot at the WWE Championship. He beat Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero and Edge in a fatal four way to earn his shot at the gold. Brock Lesnar had been suspended after he attacked The Big Show and Paul Heyman but Kurt managed to get Brock un-suspended if he agreed to be in Kurts corner tonight. Whether Brock will show up or not is still to be seen. Also representing Smackdown will be a match between Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero. This feud has been based around the tag team titles and Guerrero clocking Benoit with a belt causing him to lose his match. These two friends battle on pay per view for the first time tonight.

The other match from Smackdown will be Edge vs. A-Train (formerly known as Albert). A-Train (as re-named by Paul Heyman) attack Rey Mysterio after a match with him, putting him on the injured list. Edge would chase A-Train off but later in the night A-Train attacked Edge, essentially taking him out of his number one contenders match. Batista will be making his PPV debut tonight as he takes on Kane. These two men have had their run-ins as of late, mostly with Batista taking the advantage. Batista is now aligned with Ric Flair and this has made him even more dominant than before.

The World Tag Team titles will be defended as Chris Jericho and Christian defend against Booker T & Goldust, Lance Storm & William Regal and The Dudley Boyz. Jericho and Christian have been the victims of humiliation from The Dudley Boyz who stole their gear, leaving them butt naked in front of a capacity crowd. Lance Storm and William Regal go into this pay per view undefeated on Raw which includes a win over The Dudley Boyz. Booker T and Goldust’s rivalry is on-going with Chris Jericho and Christian and so these four teams meet tonight. The Women’s title will also be defended as new champion Victoria defends against Trish Stratus and Jacqueline in a triple threat match. Victoria has had problems with both ladies and messed with the wrong girl when she tried to attack Jacqueline backstage. That match makes up the card.

Before the event, Jeff Hardy beat D-lo Brown on Heat when he pulled the tights.

A video package kicks us off, familiar to Armageddon viewers…..the end is here!! Shots of the world blowing up and general mayhem are mixed with shots of Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Brock Lesnar, Big Show and Kurt Angle. Jim Ross then welcomes us to the show!

Chris Jericho & Christian (c) vs. The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray & D-Von) vs. William Regal & Lance Storm vs. Booker T & Goldust – World Tag Team Championship Match

The Dudley Boyz come out to new music. They’ve fought at the last 2 Armageddon pay per views but are yet to pick up a win at this event. Christian and Jericho defend their tag team titles for a second time on pay per view, Jericho has won at the other 2 Armageddon events, he and Kurt Angle are the only ones to have done so. Jericho has beaten Chyna and Kane at Armageddon before. The Armageddon set is very cool, there’s fire everywhere. Goldust, Booker T and Lance Storm are making their Armageddon debuts tonight. Storm and Bubba Ray Dudley kick off the match and after Regal gets a cheap shot in, Lance takes the advantage. Bubba starts a comeback though, taking out Regal and then shouting “Canadians suck” before splashing Storm. Christian tags in and Bubba tags out to D-Von. The Dudleyz hit a double flapjack on Christian and D-Von gets the first near fall of the night.

Christian tags in Regal who gets hit with a clothesline from D-Von. Regal and Storm have won 7 tag team matches in a row on Raw so Jim Ross keeps telling us. D-Von tags Goldust but Regal nails him with a clothesline. Christian tags himself in and continues the damage on Goldust. Christian tags in Jericho who hits some jabs on Goldust. Goldust catapults Jericho out of the ring and then suplexes him back in. It’s a tough match to call this one, it could go to any of the four teams. Jericho knocks Goldust down with a forearm and then tags out to Christian. No sign of Booker T in this match yet. Goldust hits Christian with an inverted atomic drop and a clothesline for a two count. Goldust tags in Bubba Ray Dudley and they both hit Dusty Rhodes style bionic elbows on the tag champs.

The Dudleyz hit the Wassup drop on Christian. Jericho and Christian are currently the only champs in he WWE to have successfully defended their titles on a pay per view. All hell breaks loose with all 8 men going at it until they all disperse. The Dudleyz hit 3D on Christian but Regal tagged himself in. Lance Storm comes off the top and hits a legdrop on D-Von and then there’s an absolute botch and some confusion. Ok, referee Nick Patrick confirms that Regal pinned Bubba Ray and so The Dudley Boyz are eliminated. Goldust then quickly rolls up Regal and William Regal and Lance Storm are eliminated.

So we’re down to Chris Jericho and Christian against Booker T and Goldust. Goldust hits a butt bump on Jericho and then lays into him in the corner. Goldust tags out to Booker T who gets into the match for the first time. Booker hits some chops on Jericho and a roundhouse kick for a two count. Booker T and Jericho has been an on-going feud for a couple of months ever since Booker called Jericho a sucka. Booker tags out to Goldust and Jericho tags out to Christian. Christian chokes Goldust and then ducks a clothesline to send Goldust out to the outside. Goldust has been great in the rig since his return, he can still go. Back in the ring and Christian stomps away at Goldust before locking on an abdominal stretch. These two teams back at No Mercy. Christian tags out to Jericho who hits some of his dancing jabs to Goldust but Goldust knocks him down with a clothesline. Christian makes sure Goldust can’t make the tag which allows the tag team champs to double team Goldust whilst Booker complains to the referee.

All 3 Armageddon pay per views have had multi man tag team matches. The Dudley Boyz and Christian have been in all three. Goldust hits a sidewalk slam on Christian and then finally tags out to Booker T! Christian tags Jericho but it’s all Booker T. He takes Jericho down with a forearm and Christian down with a big kick. Booker T hits a sunset flip but only for a very close 2 count. Jericho hits some knife edge chops and then goes for the walls of Jericho but Booker T rolls him up for a 2 count. Booker goes for his scissors kick but Jericho avoids it and locks on the walls of Jericho! Goldust saves his partner with a bulldog and then Christian goes up top with a tag title belt. Goldust crotches him on the top rope and Booker goes up top but Jericho crotches him. Jericho goes for a superplex but Booker shoves him off and hits a missile dropkick for a two count.

Jericho hits a bulldog on Booker T and then goes for the lionsault which Booker T gets out of the way of. Jericho lands on his feet and Booker hits him with a flapjack before executing the spin-er-oonie! He then hits the scissors kick on Jericho but the referee was out of place so Booker only gets a 2 count. Jericho then nails Booker with a tag team titles belt whilst the referee is distracted and then nails the lionsault but Booker kicks out! Jericho runs at Booker with the title belt but this time Booker hits him with the Book End! He hooks the leg and gets the 3! Booker T and Goldust win the match and the World Tag Team titles! There’s an emotional celebration from the two men. I hope this means more comedy skits. Coach does a post match interview with Booker where Booker says that Goldust isn’t the weak link.

Rating: 6.75/10

Josh Mathews is backstage asking Brock Lesnar if he’s going to be in Kurt Angle’s corner tonight. Brock says he’ll be making an impact.

Edge vs. A-Train

A-Train is the new name for Albert. He has new music to go with the new name which features a train noise. This seems like a bit of a step down for Edge but maybe A-Train is main event bound? It is a first time singles meeting between these two men on pay per view in case you were wondering. A-Train takes Edge down using his big powerful frame in the early going. Edge dives off the middle rope but A-Train catches him. Edge nips down and dropkicks A-Train into the middle turnbuckle. The fight goes to the outside where Edge rams A-Train into the ring post. Back in the ring and Edge takes A-Train down with a chopblock and follows it up with a legdrop for the first near fall of the match. A-Train hits a powerslam for his first near fall of the match.

A-Train hits big right hands and knees to drop Edge to the mat. He then slingshots Edge into the middle rope for a two count. A-Train applies a chinlock which Edge gets out of with a jawbreaker. Edge hits some chops, right hands, clothesline and a forearm to knock A-Train down. Edge hits a spinning heel kick and a facebuster for a two count. This is A-Trains first Armageddon appearance. Edge has wrestled at all 3 events. Edge goes up top slowly but as he dives off, A-Train hits him with a pump kick which looked pretty brutal. A-Train makes the cover but Edge kicks out. A-Train goes outside and grabs a chair but Edge hits him with a baseball slide and a high cross body for a two count. That chair is still sat by the ropes. A-Train hits the Baldo Bomb which Edge kicks out of. A-Train grabs the chair but the referee tries to take it off him allowing Edge to hit A-Train with a spear. Edge makes the cover but A-Train kicks out.

A-Train grabs the steel chair and smashes it into Edge’s knee! The bell rings, it’s a DQ win for Edge. A-Train then gets the chair dropkicked into his face before Edge picks up the chair and leathers A-Train with it repeatedly!

Rating: 4/10

Paul Heyman is backstage with Big Show who is worried about Brock Lesnar tonight. Heyman calms Big show down.

Chris Benoit vs. Eddie Guerrero

This match could be the show stealer. It’s the first one on one WWE pay per view match between these two best friends. There’s no WWE Tag Team title match tonight as a result. Michael Cole reckons the winner of this match will be in line for a WWE title shot. Benoit applies a wrist lock in the early going and it looks like this match will have plenty of tight chain wrestling. Eddie hits some big chops in the corner and the two men look at each other like they absolutely hate one another. Guerrero applies a headlock but Benoit gets out of it and hits a back body drop before applying a chinlock. Both of these men fought and picked up wins at the last Armageddon event in 2000. Guerrero gets out of the chinlock and applies a short arm scissors. Benoit breaks it up by getting Guerrero up on his shoulder and dropping back.

Benoit hits some chops  but Guerrero hits some of his own before hitting a snapmare and applying a chinlock with his legs. There’s a bit of a “boring” chant. Benoit gets out of the hold but gets sent out of the ring. Eddie goes up top and dives to the outside, taking Benoit out. Guerrero is so good. Back in the ring and Guerrero works away at Benoits left knee. Benoit manages to create some distance and then hits 5 consecutive German suplexes. Benoit then heads to the top for his trademark headbutt but Guerrero starts to stir. Benoit nips down, which I’ve never seen before, and hits Eddie with another 3 German suplexes! Benoit goes for a powerbomb but Eddie nips down before hitting 3 German suplexes of his own. Eddie hits a vertical suplex and then the frog splash! He hooks the leg but Benoit kicks out! Eddie spears Benoit and both men go sprawling to the outside.

Referee Brian Hebner keeps Guerrero away from Benoit which allows Chavo to run down and smash Benoit with his tag team title. Eddie pulls Benoit back in the ring and hooks the leg but Benoit kicks out! Guerrero hits a drop toe hold on Benoit and then locks on the Laso from El Paso but Benoit quickly gets to the ropes. Benoit hits a big powerbomb and then heads to the top but Chavo gets involved again only for Benoit to fight him off. It gives Eddie enough time to meet Benoit at the top but Benoit fights him off too. Benoit finally manages to hit his diving headbutt but Eddie manages to roll Benoit over and lock on the Laso from El Paso again! Benoit counters it and attempts the Crippler Crossface which he locks on! Eddie taps out! Benoit beats Guerrero tonight in a good match.

Rating: 7/10

Stephanie McMahon is backstage wearing a very short skirt. Paul Heyman walks in and isn’t happy with Brock Lesnar being in Kurts corner tonight.

Video package next for Torrie Wilson and Dawn Marie.

Now we find out what happened in the hotel room with Dawn Marie and Torrie. Hmmm an extra match from the Smackdown brand or this, difficult one. I’m waiting for the “look at Dawn”, “look at Al” comments from Cole and Tazz. Dawn Marie and Al Wilson are out first. Dawn Marie talks for a while, not really saying anything and then announces that Torrie isn’t here tonight. She cues the footage which starts from the very start. And then it gets into what we didn’t see before. Torrie necking a glass of champagne and then Dawn feeding her a strawberry. Dawn then takes Torrie’s jacket and skirt off before taking off her own robe. The two then kiss. Dawn (in the ring) asks the truck to pause the footage. Al Wilson doesn’t want to watch any more. Dawn agrees not to show anymore and then takes Al off back to their hotel room.

Shawn Michaels is shown warming up backstage.

Kane vs. Batista

This is a pay per view debut for Batista. He comes to the ring accompanied by Ric Flair. Kane has wrestled on the other 2 Armageddon pay per views, beating X Pac and losing to Chris Jericho. Kane is the first man knocked down, courtesy of a clothesline from Batista. Kane hits a swinging neckbreaker and then clotheslines Batista out of the ring. Back in the ring and Kane hits a powerslam and an elbow drop for a near fall. Kane has main evented the last two pay per views he’s wrestled on, albeit in losing efforts. Batista drops Kane on the top rope and then hits him with a spear for a two count. Ric Flair shouts at the referee as Batista hits a suplex for a two count. Kane hits some big right hands and a clothesline before attempting another one but Batista sidesteps it and throws Kane out of the ring.

Kane drops Batista on the top rope and then no sells a Ric Flair attack. It distracts Kane long enough for Batista to hit him with a clothesline. Back in the ring and Kane hits a big boot and a sidewalk slam before going to the top and attempting a clothesline which Batista avoids. Batista then goes for the Batista bomb but he sort of drops Kane in a botch. Kane then low blows Batista and goes up top, hitting the big man with a clothesline. Ric Flair distracts the referee to stop him from making the count. Kane goes for a chokeslam but Batista elbows him away and hits a spinebuster for a two count. Kane then hits a chokeslam and Ric Flair once again gets up on the apron. Kane pulls Flair inside the ring and lays into him with right hands and a big boot. That distracts Batista long enough for him to boot Kane and hit him with the Batista Bomb which earns him the win. Batista wins on his pay per view debut in a pretty shocking match.

Rating: 3.75/10

Kurt Angle is backstage and bumps into Funaki and Shannon Moore. He asks them wear Brock Lesnars locker room is and they point down the corridor.

John Cena’s music hits and out comes John Cena and B². Cena cuts a rap on the crowd and the two leave.

Video package next for the Women’s title match.

Victoria (c) vs. Trish Stratus vs. Jacqueline – WWE Women’s Championship Match

Victoria can become the only person on the roster to have successfully defended her title on PPV with a victory here. She rushes to the ring but Jacqueline chucks her right back out. Who knew Jacqueline was still on the roster? Jacqueline and Victoria slug it out on the outside and then back in the ring where Jackie sweeps her legs and pins her for a two count. I have a feeling they haven’t been given much time as there is a very fast pace here. Trish goes for Stratusfaction on Jacqueline but Victoria makes sure it doesn’t happen. Victoria then hits a superplex on Trish but Jackie rushes in and covers Trish only for Victoria to break it up. Jacqueline hits a head scissors on Victoria and then the two challengers double team the champion before Jackie throws Trish out of the ring. Trish comes back in off the top with a cross body on Jackie. Jackie rolls through for a near fall and then kicks Victoria out of the ring.

Jackie hits an elbow on Trish and then goes to the top but Stratus hits her with her trademark hurricanrana. Trish hits some big kicks on Victoria and then a neckbreaker on Jacqueline. Victoria drops Trish with a kick and then heads to the top but Jacqueline pushes her out of the ring. Trish then hits Jackie with the chick kick and makes an absolute meal of the pinfall which Victoria breaks up. Trish hits a splash on Jackie and as she makes the pin, Victoria nails her with the Women’s Championship! She pulls Trish out the ring and pins Jacqueline and that’s enough for the three. Victoria retains her title in a fast paced match up.

Rating: 5.75/10

Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar are talking backstage and Kurt is doing his best to stir the shit with Lesnar and Heyman. Angle wants Lesnar in his corner tonight. Brock doesn’t give a straight answer so Kurt puts a tape in, showing the ending to Lesnars match with Big Show at Survivor Series.

Video package next for Kurt Angle and The Big Show, featuring Brock Lesnar.

The Big Show (c) vs. Kurt Angle – WWE Championship Match

These two men have met once in a singles match on PPV before. That was back at Backlash 2000 and it was Big Show who got the win that night. Kurt has won his two previous matches at Armageddon, winning the Armageddon Hell In A Cell in 2000 and beating Steve Blackman in 1999. Big Show beat The Big Boss Man back in 1999. Kurt starts the match trying to out-wrestle Big Show. Show uses his strength to keep Angle at bay. Big Show was dressed as Hulk Hogan last time he wrestled Kurt on PPV. Show dumps Angle out of the ring, right on top of Paul Heyman. Show checks on Heyman so Kurt dumps Show out of the ring. Show gets back in the ring and dumps Angle out. Show then brings Kurt back in the ring by way of a hiptoss and then chokes him with his boot before hitting him with a suplex for a two count.

Kurt hits some right hands but Big Show hits him with a sidewalk slam for a two count. Between them these two men have been in all three WWE Championship matches at Armageddon. Big Show hits the final cut on Angle for another two count. No sign of Brock Lesnar yet in this one. Big Show locks on a bear hug but Kurt gets out of it by biting Big Show. A win for Kurt would mean that he is the only man to have own on all 3 Armageddon PPVs. He jumps on Big Shows back and applies a sleeper. Angle hits a tornado DDT and both men stay down. Kurt is up first and he hits a dropkick to the knees of Big Show and then a running boot. Angle heads to the top and knocks Big Show down with a missile dropkick for a two count. Big Show Irish whips Kurt who jumps up to the top and hits a moonsault for a two count.

Big Show hits Angle with a clothesline and then attempts a powerbomb but Angle nips down and hits the Angle Slam! Kurt makes the cover but Show kicks out. Kurt pulls down the straps and goes for the ankle lock but Big Show grabs him by the throat and attempts a chokeslam but Angle rolls through it and this time locks on the ankle lock! Big Show kicks out of it, kicking Angle into the referee, knocking both of them down. Heyman then throws a chair into the ring but he tosses it too far and it looks nearer Kurt. Angle picks up the chair and Big Show punches it away but Angle nails him with it the second time. Kurt makes the pin but Show shoves him off and into the referee. Angle locks on the ankle lock and Big Show taps out! But the referee is down. A-Train then shows up and hits Kurt with a big backbreaker. Heyman seems shocked that A-Train showed up.

Big Show and Kurt Angle get up and Big Show hits the chokeslam on Angle! The crowd then cheer as Brock Lesnar shows up and hits Big Show with an F5! Lesnar then chases Heyman to the back and Kurt crawls over to Big Show, makes the cover and gets the 3 count! Kurt Angle wins the match and becomes a 3 time WWE Champion! Somewhat surprising. This can only be leading to a Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar dream match. Probably best to save it for Wrestlemania though.

Rating: 6.5/10

Rob Van Dam is at The World and he predicts Shawn Michaels to beat Triple H tonight. I was expecting him to be cut off by a Randy Orton update.

Video package next for Triple H and Shawn Michaels.

Shawn Michaels (c) vs. Triple H – 2 out of 3 falls match for the WWE Championship

This is the second one on one PPV meeting between these two men. Shawn Michaels won the previous contest at Summerslam but now the stakes are much higher. Triple H has Ric Flair out with him. It’s an Armageddon debut for Michaels whereas Triple H has main evented the last 2, losing in the hell in a cell in 2000 and beating Vince McMahon in 1999. Michaels chooses to mock Flair before the bell which gets a mixed reaction from the crowd. Flair doesn’t like it and referee Earl Hebner ejects Flair from ringside. Triple H throws Michaels out of the ring but Michaels skins the cat and the two men slug it out until Shawn sends Triple H to the outside. The first fall is a street fight so Triple H pulls a trash can from under the ring. Michaels jumps to the outside and Triple H gets out of the way and then drops his former best friend on the barricade.

It’s 5 years since Shawn Michaels wrestled on a non big 4 PPV. That was a DQ loss to Ken Shamrock at In Your House: D-Generation X. Michaels takes down Triple H with a double axe handle and then sets up a table. HBK attempts to suplex Triple H through the table but Helmsley blocks it. Michaels smashes Triple H into the ring steps and then rolls him back into the ring. Shawn then comes off the top with a trash can but Triple H gets his boot up. Michaels hits a cross body off the top but Triple H rolls through it for a near fall. Triple H sets up a second table next to the first and then attempts to suplex Michaels through them but Shawn reverses it and gets a near fall. Triple H hits a high knee and then goes to work on Shawn Michaels back. He sets up a chair in the middle of the ring and then tries to hit a backbreaker on Michaels on the chair but Michaels reverses it and hits Triple H with a backbreaker on the chair.

The fight goes back to the outside where Michaels rams Triple H into the side of the ring. Back in the ring and HBK smashes Triple H with a trash can lid and then attempts sweet chin music but Triple H grabs the leg and hits some sort of forceful leg breaker. Helmsley then wraps Michaels leg around the ring post. This match has had a very slow pace to it so far. Triple H applies a figure four leg lock and keeps Shawn in it for quite a while until Michaels reverses it. Triple H breaks the hold and then whacks Michaels with a trash can lid but only for a two count. Triple H lays into Shawn Michaels all the way up the entrance ramp. At the top he grabs a 2×4 wrapped in barb wire. He weighs up hitting Shawn Michaels with it and then decides to set it on fire using the elaborate set. Michaels kicks the 2×4 out of his hands and then swings it into Triple H’s face! A “holy shit” chant breaks out as Michaels lays into Triple H who is now busted open.

Back in the ring and Shawn Michaels smashes Triple H with a trash can lid. Michaels sets up a chair but Triple H drop toe holds him right into it and then takes him down with a DDT. Michaels gets up but Triple H hits him with a chopblock and then a Pedigree! Triple H hooks the leg and gets the 3 count! Triple H wins the first fall.

The steel cage lowers around the ring as Triple H continues to lay into Shawn Michaels. He leathers Shawn Michaels with a trash can and then throws him into the side of the cage. Michaels manages to throw Triple H into the side of the cage a couple of times but he’s looking worse for wear now. He hits a Lou Thesz Press and some big right hands but Triple H is first up and immediately climbs the cage. Helmsley nearly gets all the way out but Michaels gets on top of the cage with him. Ric Flair is back at ringside looking up at Michaels and Helmsley who slug it out. Triple H tells Flair to set up another table at ringside, which he does, on top of the others. Flair sets up another table but Michaels gets back into the ring, pulling Triple H in with him. Michaels comes off the top rope with a flying elbow and then motioned for sweet chin music. Flair gets inside the cage and Michaels lays into him.

Michaels grabs a chair and leathers both Flair and Triple H. Flair’s bleeding, standard. Michaels hits sweet chin music on both men but instead of making the cover or escaping the cage, Michaels sets up a table in the cage. He lays Triple H across the table and then heads to the top of the cage and drops down with big splash to get the 3 count. Shawn Michaels win the second fall.

The third fall is now a ladder match. Michaels grabs a ladder and sets it up in the corner before throwing Triple H into it. Michaels rams the ladder into Triple H’s face and then just drops it on him. Michaels sets up the ladder, quite far away from the belt and then dives off but Triple H rolls out of the way. There was a nasty thud there. Triple H hits him with a Pedigree and then ascends the ladder but Shawn Michaels pulls him right back down and hits him with sweet chin music sending Triple H to the outside. Michaels climbs the ladder (I don’t fancy his chances here with all those tables set up on the outside). Michaels gets to the top of the ladder but as expected, Triple H pushes it over, sending Michaels crashing to the outside through 3 tables. Triple H then climbs the ladder and grabs the title to win the match and the World Heavyweight Championship.

Rating: 6/10

And that was the final pay per view of 2002, Armageddon. There were 7 matches as opposed to the usual 8, probably because the final match was to go on so long. The show kicked off with a fatal four way elimination tag team match for the World tag team titles. I always like these matches, they’re a lot of fun and make good use of the tag team division. Booker T and Goldust won the titles which seems like the happy ending we all wanted. I feel like they were a lot more entertaining as a tag team 6 months ago but Booker T has been on fire lately so it’s nice to see him get a reward. They appear to be building up Lance Storm and William Regal at the moment so I can definitely see those two teams hook it up at The Royal Rumble before Booker T and Goldust feud with 3 Minute Warning into Wrestlemania. Just my opinion. I think Chris Jericho and Christian will focus more on singles ventures now.

Edge then beat A-Train by disqualification. This was ok. I’m not that fond of A-Train but they seem to persist with him and they haven’t got him more over now than he has been his whole career. Edge is somebody getting a slow push to the top and he’ll be one of the favourites for the Royal Rumble. Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero put on a good match that Chris Benoit won. I think this was the right result, it means Benoit can concentrate on a singles push whilst Guerrero goes back to the tag team division. This match was sort of filler but you won’t find higher quality filler than these two. Batista beat Kane as his push continues. I like Batista with Flair and he is a monster in the mould of Brock Lesnar so I see him being a real force this time next year. Kane is on a poor run at the moment after losing to Triple H at No Mercy, losing in the Elimination Chamber and then losing to Batista.

Victoria retained her Women’s title when she pinned Jacqueline. That was the predictable and right way to go with this. It feels like Jacqueline was only in the match to take the pinfall. Victoria is a decent heel at the moment and Trish is the top face so I think they’ll meet again. There aren’t a lot of babyface women on the roster at the moment outside of Trish and Torrie Wilson and I can’t see the likes of Victoria, Molly Holly or Ivory turning. Maybe Nidia will? Kurt Angle beat The Big Show to become a 3 time WWE Champion. This was unexpected as Big Show has only been champion for a month but I’m a huge fan of Kurt so I’m not against it at all. Kurt has Brock to thank for his win and I can only see Kurt vs. Brock for Wrestlemania. I’m not sure what the point in The Big Show was for all this apart from it turning Lesnar face.

Then in the main event Triple H won the World Heavyweight Championship back from Shawn Michaels. Jobs for the boys? This match wasn’t as good as I would have hoped. Their match at Summerslam was so much better. I actually thought Triple H might have won in 2 falls. Michaels winning the title just seems like a nostalgia trip and although it wouldn’t surprise me if he fights Triple H at Wrestlemania, at this juncture it doesn’t seem likely. Overall this pay per view was pretty hit and miss. It featured a lot of big men like A-Train, Big Show, Batista and Kane and not so many technical/high flyers like Rob Van Dam, Jeff Hardy and Billy Kidman. I definitely think a Cruiserweight title match was needed. On 8 of the last 9 title matches on PPV the titles has changed hands. An average way to end the year.

Overall Rating: 56.78/100 (ranked 78th out of 146)

Match Of The Night: Chris Benoit vs. Eddie Guerrero
Worst Match Of The Night: Kane vs. Batista
Surprise Of The Night: Big Show loses his title after a month
Worst Booking Of The Night: N/A
Superstar Of The Night: Triple H
Armageddon 2002 Will Be Remembered For: Triple H and Kurt Angle winning their respective titles