|Date: December 18, 2005
|Venue: Dunkin’ Donuts Center |City: Providence, Rhode Island
|Attendance: 8,000 |Buys: 320,000
|Brand: Smackdown

|tweet me: @BastionBlogger

Armageddon is upon us and more specifically it is upon Randy Orton. Randy has been haunted over the last few weeks by the man that he burned alive in his own casket, The Undertaker. But Undertaker is now in Randy’s head, haunting him from week to week and he has challenged Orton to a match at Armageddon inside Hell In A Cell. Orton has accepted the match but did ruse The Undertaker into making an appearance last week on Smackdown. Randy appeared to retire in an attempt to get out of his match with Undertaker which drew the dead man out only for it to be a ruse. Randy and his father Cowboy Bob attacked The Undertaker and left him laying with blood pouring from his head. Tonight this epic rivalry comes to a head.

The World Heavyweight Champion is not set to be defended tonight (which annoys me but I believe Batista is carrying an injury). On a Smackdown special a few weeks ago The Big Show defeated Rey Mysterio which resulted in Big Show and Kane chokeslamming Mysterio. Rey would team up with John “Bradshaw” Layfield against Kane and Big Show but JBL left Mysterio who got double teamed by the World tag team champions until Batista made the save. A match has been made between Kane and Big Show and Rey Mysterio and Batista and since then Rey and Batista have beaten MNM for the WWE tag team championships so at Armageddon it will be tag team champions against tag team champions as Raw and Smackdown collide. There is only one title match set for this evening and that will be Juventud Guerrera defending the Cruiserweight championship against the man that has attacked him on Smackdown, newcomer Kid Kash.

The WWE tag team championships were set to be defended by MNM against the winners of a battle royal, Mexicool members Super Crazy and Psicosis. However, because Batista and Mysterio defeated MNM for the titles, they will not be defended any more. The tag team match between MNM and The Mexicools still goes ahead tonight though. A title that may be won tonight is the United States Championship by Booker T. Booker T and Chris Benoit have continued their best of 7 series and it is currently 3-0 in favour of Booker T. The fourth match in their series is scheduled for tonight and win for Booker T would mean a clean sweep and a new United States Championship. Also tonight John “Bradshaw” Layfield goes one on one with Matt Hardy after they got into a backstage altercation on Smackdown last week and Bobby Lashley wrestles in a handicap match against William Regal and Paul Burchill following singles wins over both men for Lashley.

This will be the first ever Smackdown-only PPV to not have Eddie Guerrero wrestle on.

On Heat before the event Jamie Noble defeated Funaki.

A video package kicks us off hyping the Hell In A Cell match between The Undertaker and Randy Orton tonight. It’s a pretty short video and it’s easy to see what the main event is tonight. Michael Cole then welcomes us to Armageddon 2005, he’s joined by Tazz!

Matt Hardy vs. John “Bradshaw” Layfield

This is a first time PPV singles match between these two men. Interestingly they have been on the opposite side of the ring at an Armageddon PPV before, the very first event in 1999 Bradshaw and Faarooq won a battle royal, last eliminating The Hardy Boyz. Layfield has a 2-0 record at Armageddon PPV’s whilst Matt has a 0-2 record. JBL gets on the mic before the bell and gives Matt Hardy a stiff promo. Layfield is accompanied by his image consultant Jillian Hall. Matt’s music hits and Hardy attacks JBL from behind. He knocks Layfield out of the ring and then dives on to him from the apron before driving the former WWE Champion into the apron and tossing him into the ring. Layfield takes the advantage with a knee to the middle second and then throws Hardy into the topes, hanging him between the top and middle rope. Layfield lays into Hardy with right hands and then pulls his legs as Matt is still stuck in the ropes.

Hardy becomes free and JBL gives him a big clothesline on the outside. Nobody has wrestled as many PPV matches as Matt Hardy without main eventing. The last 3 PPV’s have been a Raw-only, a Smackdown-only and an dual brand show and the only PPV Hardy has wrestled on is the Raw show! Back in the ring and Bradshaw hits some big right hands and then boots Matt in the face. Layfield hits multiple elbow drops and continues to stomp away at Hardy. Matt gets back into it with a swinging neckbreaker for the first near fall of the night. JBL is first up and hits a shoulder block and more right hands and forearms. Hardy fights back but JBL hits him with a thumb to the eye and then some big right hands in the corner. JBL pops Hardy on the top rope but Hardy fights him off and hits a moonsault for a two count. Layfield takes off the top turnbuckle from one of the corners and then whips Hardy into it before hitting him with a clothesline in the corner and then a clothesline from hell! JBL hooks the leg after flipping someone off and gets the three for the win. Average match, nothing spectacular. Pretty stiff in parts and a fairly lackluster ending.

Rating: 5/10

We see some footage from Smackdown with Melina seducing Batista and then Batista and Rey Mysterio winning the WWE Tag Team championships from MNM.

Melina is backstage when Super Crazy and Psicosis turn up and say they’ll cancel the match tonight if she does to them what she did to Batista. She isn’t impressed.

We’re shown some footage from the Hell In A Cell match between Mankind and Undertaker at King Of The Ring 1998.

The Mexicools (Super Crazy & Psicosis) vs. MNM (Joey Mercury & Johnny Nitro)

This is a first PPV match between these two teams and Armageddon debuts all round. Mercury and Nitro are of course joined by Melina. Psicosis starts the match against Joey Mercury and we get a bit of chain wrestling. Mercury knocks Psicosis down but misses with an elbow drop. Mercury tags in Nitro who gets a Japanese arm drag and then a traditional arm drag. Nitro hits a forearm and then Psicosis misses with a dropkick in the corner. Mercury tags in and heads up top but Psicosis sees him coming, hits him with a right hand and then a spinning heel kick knocking Mercury out of the ring. Nitro sees to Mercury and Psicosis flies out at both men. The referee stops Super Crazy from doing the same so Crazy leapfrogs the referee and takes out both members of MNM. Back in the ring and Psicosis heads up top but Melina pulls him back down, crotching him on the top rope. Mercury smashes Psicosis into the top turnbuckle and then hits a snapmare before tagging in Nitro who hits an elbow drop.

Nitro tags in Mercury who kicks Psicosis in the back of the head and then applies an inverted chinlock. Mercury breaks the hold but then takes Psicosis back down with a clothesline. Psicosis hits both members of MNM with elbows and a head scissors. Mercury stops Psicosis from tagging in his partner and then tags in Nitro who hits a legdrop to the back of Psicosis head. Psicosis is yet to make a tag in this match. Nitro takes a cheap shot at Super Crazy knocking him off the apron. Nitro hits a side suplex to Psicosis for a two count. Nitro applies a front face lock which Psicosis rolls through and gets out of. Nitro tags in Mercury who hits a powerslam to Psicosis and then goes to the middle rope but Psicosis sees him coming and lifts his boot. Mercury sees the boot coming but Psicosis hits him with an enzeguri! Psicosis then tags in Super Crazy who hits both members of MNM with hiptosses, clotheslines and dropkicks! Super Crazy looking to go undefeated on 3 PPVs, equalling Max Mini’s record.

All hell breaks loose as all four men go at it. Nitro smashes Psicosis into the barricade on the outside. Super Crazy goes up top and hits a moonsault to Mercury but Nitro breaks it up. Super Crazy then walks into a snapshot from MNM! Mercury hooks the leg and gets the 3. MNM with the big win tonight in an entertaining matchup.

Rating: 6.75/10

JBL and Jillian Hall are backstage in the WWE instant access room for WWE.com.

Booker T and Sharmell are backstage excited for their match tonight. Kristal arrives to interview Booker T and Sharmell isn’t happy. Sharmell is carrying a broom and says that tonight it’ll be a clean sweep.

There’s a video package next for Chris Benoit and Booker T’s match.

Chris Benoit vs. Booker T – Match 4 in the best of 7 series for the United States Championship

If Booker T wins this match then it’ll be a clean sweep and Booker T wins the United States Championship. It’s the second PPV match between these two men, Booker T won the first which was at Survivor Series last month. Chris Benoit has a 2-0 record at Armageddon PPV’s whilst Booker T has a 2-1 record. Sharmell gets her own entrance. Benoit has new tights tonight. The two men lock up and then Booker leaves the ring, The crowd are definitely behind Benoit in this match. Benoit hits a go-behind and wrestles Booker T to the mat. It’s a slow start to this match as Booker takes Benoit down with as hammerlock takedown. Benoit reverses the hammerlock and attempts the lock on the crippler crossface but Booker T gets to the ropes quickly and slides out of the ring. Chris Benoit looking to be the first babyface to win tonight. Back in the ring and Benoit hits a legsweep and then looks to apply the sharpshooter but Booker T kicks him off. Benoit hits another leg drag and then works away at the left knee of Booker T.

These men both battled for the World Heavyweight Championship in the 2003 and 2004 Wrestlemania main events respectively. Booker T hits some knees to the middle section of Chris Benoit and then a reverse elbow. Benoit fires back with some chops of his own but Booker hits him with a knee to the gut and then a suplex where Booker lost his balance for a second there. Booker T gets a near fall. Benoit hits a German suplex and then misses with an elbow drop. Booker suplexes Benoit onto the top rope and then hits him with running knee, knocking Benoit off the apron. On the outside the two men exchange chops and Booker then throws Benoit into the ring post. Back in the ring and Booker hits a snapmare and then a dropkick for a two count. Booker applies an abdominal stretch whilst driving his elbow into the abdomen of Benoit. Booker T was in the main event of last years Armageddon PPV. Benoit gets out of the abdominal stretch with a hiptoss and both men then take each other down with clotheslines. Both men get to their feet and Benoit hits a German suplex and then a belly to belly suplex.

Chris Benoit hits “the three amigos” which Eddie Guerrero used to hit. Benoit follows that up with three consecutive German suplexes before heading to the top but sharmell distracts him which allows Booker T to crotch Benoit on the top and then try for a superplex. It looks like Benoit was going to counter the superplex into a German but Benoit slips and falls to the mat. Booker T then hits a missile dropkick off the middle rope for a two count. Sharmell hits Benoit with a low blow and Booker T follows it up with his trademark scissors kick! The crowd don’t like that! Booker is slow to make the cover and Benoit kicks out! Booker then attempts the book end but Benoit counters it into a crippler crossface! Booker T gets to the bottom rope to break the hold. Benoit hits three consecutive German suplexes and then heads to the top again before diving off with a flying headbutt. Benoit makes the cover and gets a two count.

Benoit looks to lock on the crippler crossface but Booker T rolls through and takes out the referee! Benoit then locks on the sharpshooter and Booker T taps out! But the referee doesn’t see it! Sharmell gets in the ring and hits Benoit with the broom but it has no affect! Benoit turns his attention to Sharmell which distracts Benoit long enough for Booker T to attack him from behind. Booker T goes for the book end but Benoit rolls through and locks on the crippler crossface! Booker T taps out and this time the referee sees it! Chris Benoit wins the match and claws back a point in their series, taking it to 3-1. Great match between these two men. Really good.

Rating: 8.75/10

MNM are in the instant access room. Melina and Mercury are on their mobile phones. Flip phones, old school.

We’re shown some footage from Armageddon 2000 where Undertaker chokeslammed Rikishi off the top of the cell into the back of a truck. I love that spot.

Teddy Long is out with Palmer Cannon. Long is happy that Smackdown beat Raw at Survivor Series and thanks all the fans. Palmer Cannon then says that he has a special surprise for the fans before introducing Santa Claus. Some Christmas music hits with a bit of Nunzio’s music too. Santa walks out with Nunzio dressed as an elf. I can only assume that Santa is Vito. Hard to tell though. Nunzio has a box of candy cane but hands out coal. Satan gets on the mic and says that that’s how they do it in New York. Definitely Vito. So who’s coming out, The Boogeyman or Lashley? Nunzio says he wants a shot at the tag team championships. Or a shot at the cruiserweight title. Palmer then says that he has a present for them. Boogeymans music hits and out comes The Boogeyman! Vito throws Nunzio into Boogeyman who throws Nunzio into the ringpost. Boogeyman then hits Vito with a pumphandle slam. Boogeyman then opens up Santa’s sack and it’s full of worms which he throws everywhere.

There’s a video package for Randy Orton and The Undertaker. I’d be surprised if this match is up next.

Kristal is backstage with Randy Orton and Cowboy Bob. Randy says that he is the legend killer and tonight The Undertaker will be the one that retires.

Bobby Lashley vs. William Regal & Paul Burchill

Paul Burchill makes his PPV debut tonight. Regal has a 1-1 record at Armageddon PPV’s. Paul Burchill starts the match for his team and Lashley throws his across the ring. Lashley then pulls Regal into the ring before hitting both men with clotheslines. Regal hits a cheap shot to Bobby which allows Burchill to take advantage and knock Bobby out of the ring where Regal throws him into the ringpost. Back in the ring and Burchill hits a senton for a two count and then applies a chinlock. Lashley throws Burchill off him and so Burchill tags in Regal. Regal hits an exploder suplex and then tags Burchill back in. Burchill hits a big knee drop off the top rope for a one count. Burchill tags in Regal. Lashley hits a belly to belly suplex on Regal who tags back out. Lashley hits a back body drop and a belly to belly suplex on Burchill and then Regal runs in so Lashley hits him with a running powerslam.

Lashley hits Burchill with a flapjack and then a dominator which is enough for the three! Bobby Lashley wins a big handicap match tonight! It was a short match with a very quick pace to it. A good win for Lashley though.

Rating: 3.75/10

Josh Mathews is in the friendly tap which is a pub owned by Tim White on Rhode Island. Mathews wishes Tim a Merry Christmas but Tim doesn’t say enough, just sips away at drinks. Mathews brings up a shoulder injury that Tim White sustained in a hell in a cell match. We see the footage and then go back to Josh Mathews who can barely get a word out of Tim White. White says that the match was the worst thing that ever happened to him. His wife left him, his family don’t talk to him and he never sees his friends ever more. Mathews wishes Tim White a white Christmas but Tim pulls a shotgun out from under the bar and walks off camera with it before a shot can be heard. Mathews looks disgusted and the fans boo. A little bit distasteful so close to Eddie Guerrero’s death.

Juventud (c) vs. Kid Kash – Cruiserweight Championship Match

Juventud is no longer a Guerrera apparently. This is the only title match of the evening. It’s a PPV debut for Kid Kash whereas Juventud looks to equal Max Mini’s PPV record of 3 matches and 3 wins. Juventud attacks Kash before the bell but Kash hits some right hands. Juventud hits a running dropkick and then some right hands and chops. Juventud hits a boot and a tilt-a-whirl headscissors before hitting a standing hurricanrana for a two count. Juventud applies an armbar and then throws Kid Kash out of the ring before flying out at him. There’s a few boring chants as Kid Kash throws Juventud into the ringpost twice. Back in the ring and Kid Kash smashes Juventud arm into the ring post and then stomps away at the champion. Kash hits a powerslam for a two count. Kash hits some stiff right hands and then applies an armbar, driving his knee into Juventud’s face as he does. Kash works stiff. Kash runs Juventud shoulder-first into the ring post a couple of times. Kash hits a chop but Juventud reverses an Irish whip and follows it up with a clothesline.

Kid Kash tries a leapfrog but Juventud catches him only to hurt his own arm. Kash slams Juventud into the mat for a near fall. Kash hits a shoulderbreaker for another two count. Juventud hits some right hands but Kash catches him with a boot and a slam. Kash then goes up to the top rope and executes a moonsault but Juventud gets his knees up. Juventud fires up and hits half a dozen chops, a reverse elbow and a clothesline. Juvi then hits a big kick to the side of Kid Kash’s face for another near fall. Kid Kash goes up to the middle rope but Juventud sees him up there and hits him with a standing hurricanrana off the top! That was impressive. Juventud makes the cover but Kid Kash gets his foot on the bottom rope. Juventud hits an enzeguri for a near fall. Juventud hits a northern light suplex and looks for the Juvi driver but Kid Kash counters it and attempts his brainbuster finisher but Juventud counters that into a Juvi driver! He hooks the leg but Kid Kash kicks out!

Juventud goes to the top and attempts a 360 leg drop but Kid Kash gets out of the way. Kid Kash then hits his “dead level” brainbuster and hooks the leg for the three! Kid Kash wins the match! Kash has a look of Owen Hart about him. Big win for Kid Kash in a fairly average match. The crowd weren’t into it.

Rating: 4/10

Bobby Lashley is in the instant access room.

There’s a video package for Batista and Rey Mysterio against Kane and The Big Show next.

Batista & Rey Mysterio vs. Kane & The Big Show

It’s Smackdown’s tag team champions against Raw’s tag team champions. I would have preferred to see a World Heavyweight Championship match. Kane has a 1-3 record at Armageddon PPV,s Big Show a 2-1 record, Batista 2-1 and Rey Mysterio 1-0. Batista actually beat Kane in 2002. This is Batista’s fourth consecutive PPV and he’s not defended the World Heavyweight title at the last three. It’s also Mysterio’s fourth PPV in a row. Big Show and Kane have wrestled on three in a row. Batista starts the match with The Big Show. Big Show throws Batista across the ring. Batista hits a kick and some right hands before hitting two clotheslines which don’t knock Big Show down. Show throws Batista in the corner but Batista hits a boot and then a shoulder block to take Big Show down. Batista then runs into the boot of The Big Show who then tags in Kane. Batista hits Kane with a suplex for a two count. Kane hits an uppercut and a sidewalk slam before going up to the top but Batista gets up to his feet and throws Kane down to the mat.

Batista tags in Rey Mysterio who hits a couple of legdrops on Kane for a one count and then a moonsault for another one count. Mysterio hits some kicks which Kane doesn’t sell and then some right hands. Kane shoves him off and then Mysterio struggles to take Kane off his feet. Mysterio hits a springboard dropkick which sends Kane onto the middle rope but Kane realises where he is and scarpers to the outside. Batista takes Kane down with a clothesline and then throws Kane back into the ring. Mysterio dropkicks Kane onto the middle rope again and bounces off the opposite ropes but Big Show drags him out of the ring and rams him into the ringpost. Big Show then tosses Mysterio back into the ring over the top rope where Kane lays into him. We’ve never had a PPV match between Kane and Mysterio due to them always being on different brands. Kane tags in Big Show who hits a big chop to Mysterio. Big Show tags Kane back in and he attempts a chokeslam but Mysterio counters it into a bulldog. Both men go down and Big Show takes a cheap shot at Batista.

Kane and Big Show set Mysterio up for a double chokeslam but Batista gets back in and breaks it up, spearing Kane. Batista then hits a spinebuster on Kane and then clotheslines Big Show out of the ring, going over with him. Batista sends Big Show into the announce table whilst in the ring Mysterio hits Kane with a 619 and then attempts the west coast pop but Kane catches him and hits Mysterio with a chokeslam for the three! Wow, I’m surprised! Kane and Big Show win the match tonight, beating the Smackdown team on the Smackdown show.

Rating: 5.25/10

There’s some footage from the first Hell In A Cell match between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker at Badd Blood 1997.

The Undertaker vs. Randy Orton – Hell In A Cell match

This is the third singles match between these two men. They are tied at one a piece going into this one, Undertaker own at Wrestlemania 21 and Randy won at Summerslam 2005. In terms of Armageddon records, Undertaker has a 0-2 record at the event whilst Orton has a 1-0 record after his win over Rob Van Dam in 2003. Undertaker chases Orton around the ring in the early going as Orton tries to get away from the dead man. Back in the ring and Undertaker applies a headlock which Orton gets out of so Undertaker knocks him down. Orton hits a dropkick and a back body drop before running into Undertakers boot. Undertaker then throws Orton out of the ring before laying into him with right hands and a headbutt. Nobody has main evented as many PPV’s in WWE history than The Undertaker. Nobody has wrestled as many PPV matches or won as many either. Back in the ring and Orton hits some right hands but Undertaker fires back with some rights of his own. Undertaker drives his boot into the throat of Randy and then pulls him into the ring post.

Undertaker hits Orton with a big right hand on the apron and then a boot. Orton tries to crawl away but Undertaker grabs him and stomps him in the chest. Undertaker then drives Orton into the ring steps and grabs a steel chair from under the ring. Undertaker smashes the chair into the skull of Orton which busts Ortons face open. Undertaker then hits Orton with a shot to the abdomen with the chair and a stiff, painful looking shot to the face with the chair. Undertaker rubs Ortons face into the side of the cell as Randy’s father looks on. Orton manages to find a steel chair from somewhere but before he can use it, Undertaker smashes him into the ring steps. Undertaker then grabs the chain and chokes Orton with it. He then throws Randy into the side of the cell again. Undertaker grabs the ring steps but Orton is up and fights Undertaker off before he can use the steps. Orton grabs the steps but Undertaker hits a big boot! Undertaker then taunts Bob Orton. Undertaker gets up on the apron but Orton hits him with an RKO from the inside of the ring!

Orton smashes the steel steps into Undertakers face and then rubs Undertakers forehead into the side of the cell. Randy chokes Undertaker with the chain which Undertaker stops with a headbutt. Randy then smashes a steel chair over Undertaker head for a two count. Undertaker rolls outside and drags Orton out with him before throwing Randy into the side of the cell and following it up with a running knee. Back in the ring and Undertaker hits a slam and then heads to the top where he walks across the top rope but then misses with an elbow drop as Orton rolls out of the ring. Orton then pulls out a table and slides that into the ring. Undertaker exits the ring but Cowboy Bob pulls on Undertakers hair until Undertaker fights both men off. Cowboy Bob is busted open now. Randy powerslams Undertaker into the side of the cell and gets a near fall for his efforts. Back in the ring and the two men slug it out until Undertaker hits a huge clotheslines for a two count.

Undertaker hits his old school axe handle from the top rope and then his inverted facebuster/DDT move for a near fall. Undertaker hits snake eyes, a running boot and a leg drop for a two count. Undertaker then hits a chokeslam for a two count. Randy just getting his foot on the bottom rope. Undertaker hits an Irish whip but then misses with a big boot in the corner. Orton takes advantage and hits a low blow with the steel chain before laying into Undertaker with right hands. Orton then lays Undertaker across a table set up in the middle of the ring before going up top and diving down on Undertaker with a huge splash for a near fall. Orton disposes of the table and then hits some more right hands on his opponent. Undertaker sets up for the last ride but Orton manages to nip down, attempts a clothesline but Undertaker ducks and Orton nails the referee! Orton then hits an RKO on Undertaker but the referee is down! Charles Robinson runs out and gets in the cell but so does Cowboy Bob Orton! Robinson makes the count but Undertaker kicks out at 2.

Undertaker hits a couple of boots on Randy and then the last ride! Undertaker covers Orton but Cowboy Bob pulls the referee out of the ring and takes him out with a right hand! Undertaker then goes after Cowboy Bob and smashes him into the side of the cell and there’s blood everywhere. Undertaker motions for the tombstone and sets up for it but Randy counters it into one of his own, hitting Undertaker with it in the middle of the ring! Orton makes the pin but the referee is a second too late getting back into the ring and Undertaker sits up! Orton hits Undertaker with right hands until he can sit up no more but Undertaker grabs Randy by the throat! Cowboy Bob gets back into the ring, distracting Undertaker so Orton goes for na RKO but Undertaker pushes him away. Undertaker then grabs the urn and smashes both Ortons with it before hitting Cowboy Bob with a tombstone! Undertaker hits Randy with a tombstone and the referee counts the 3! Undertaker wins the match! Undertaker climbs up on top of the cell and poses with his urn as the show comes to a close.

I think I’ve seen too many hell in a cell matches as of late, I’m getting a bit bored of them. This one picked up at the end but it was nothing spectacular.

Rating: 6.5/10

And that was Armageddon 2005. 7 matches, as is common with any show featuring a big gimmick main event. Like most Smackdown brand PPV’s this was nothing spectacular. The opener between JBL and Matt Hardy was pretty average but it didn’t have a lot of heat going into the match so it wasn’t expected to be a classic. Layfield is having a decent enough post-WWE champion run having got wins over Rey Mysterio and now Matt Hardy on PPV. Layfield is still arguably the top heel on Smackdown, along with Orton, so it’s worthwhile keeping him hot whilst they have a babyface champion. Matt Hardy continues to have a fairly torrid time of it since returning to the company. I can’t see this going any further now, it was just a way to get both men on the card. MNM beat The Mexicools in an enjoyable match. Two very talented teams put on a showcase here. MNM won the match so that keeps them in contention for the tag team titles. The Mexicools didn’t have a great night following a decent push for the three men. I can see them floating around the tag team and cruiserweight division in the immediate future.

Chris Benoit and Booker T really showed how it was done tonight. The two men put on a fantastic match with great psychology. I’m glad these two men are being given the opportunity to showcase their talents and outside of the Hell In A Cell match it was far and away the longest match of the night. And it was far and away the best. Benoit wins the match and scrapes back a victory but it’ll be knowing that Booker T still only needs one more win. I think this’ll go the distance and end at the Royal Rumble. Bobby Lashley is an up and comer with a big upside. He got a huge win tonight in a handicap match over Regal and Burchill. They’re teeing Lashley up for big things but it’s a slow burner and that’s absolutely fine. Give it another six months and he’ll be ready for the likes of JBL and Booker T. I just worry about his lack of charisma at the moment. Kid Kash beat Juventud as it looks like the Cruiserweight title moves in a new direction. There isn’t much of a division at the moment so it’ll be interesting to see who steps forward as a contender. Not a good night for the Mexicools.

Big Show and Kane beat Batista and Rey Mysterio which really surprised me. I think in 2005 nobody really cares about wins for Kane and Big Show. Batista, as well as the likes of John Cena and Randy Orton, is the future of the company and Smackdown has a lot invested in Batista so I’m really surprised that he and Mysterio lost. Maybe Kane and Big Show have a long tag team title reign in store and they’re seen as more of a solid unit whereas Batista and Mysterio will go back to singles competition before long. Undertaker then beat Randy Orton in the main event. I think this will put an end to the feud that has raged through most of 2005. It was a bit of a blood bath and Cowboy Bob will be gone not long after this show due to testing positive for hepatitis, which isn’t ideal in the bloody match we’ve just seen. This loss won’t affect Orton much and I can see him going up against Batista at Wrestlemania.

Overall Rating: 57.14/100 (ranked 102nd out of 188)

Match Of The Night: Chris Benoit vs. Booker T
Worst Match Of The Night: Bobby Lashley vs. William Regal & Paul Burchill
Surprise Of The Night: Big Show & Kane beat Batista and Rey Mysterio
Worst Booking Of The Night: Big Show & Kane beat Batista & Rey Mysterio
Superstar Of The Night: The Undertaker
Armageddon 2005 Will Be Remembered For: The Hell In A Cell match