Austin101's- WWE Armageddon 2007 Review:
"TONIGHT! EDGE IS A PITTSBURGH STEELER! Edge has just STOLE ONE...IN PITTSBURGH!!!" -
Micheal Cole (During The End of the Show...)
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WWE Armageddon (2007) was the eighth Armageddon professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (The WWE). It took place on Sunday, December The 16th, 2007 at the Sold Out Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and featured talent from all three brands: Raw, SmackDown!, and ECW. The tagline was
"The Most Devastating Wars Are Fought Over Championship Gold."
-The PPV was a joint-promotion pay-per-view, featuring performers from the Raw, SmackDown, and ECW brands.
-The broadcasters for this show were Raw's Jim Ross and The King for Raw Matches. SD's Cole and JBL for SD matches but was replaced by Tazz when JBL interfered and stopped commentating during the WWE Title match.
-For a DVD extra you get clips of McMahon's Superstar of the year presentation at RAW's 15th Anniversary show.
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The main feud heading into Armageddon on the SmackDown! brand was between Batista, Edge and The Undertaker for Batista's World Heavyweight Championship. At Survivor Series 2007, Edge interfered in Batista's and the Undertaker's Hell in a Cell match, costing the Undertaker the World Heavyweight Championship. He was then given a title shot for Batista's World Heavyweight Championship on the November 30th, 2007 episode of SmackDown! by SmackDown! General Manager Vickie Guerrero, who was his (kayfabe) love interest. Batista looked set to retain his title once again, but The Undertaker interfered resulting the match into a no-contest. Theodore Long returned as Assistant General Manager and booked Batista to defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Edge and the Undertaker in a Triple Threat match at Armageddon.
The main feud on RAW brand was between Randy Orton and the recently returned Chris Jericho over Orton's WWE Championship. Chris Jericho returned to WWE on the November 19th, 2007 edition of RAW, interrupting Randy Orton during Orton's orchestrated "passing of the torch" ceremony. Jericho revealed his intentions to reclaim the WWE Championship in order to "save" The WWE from Orton. He then laid a challenge to Orton with the WWE Championship on the line, which Orton had not accepted. A week later Jericho cost him a match against Ric Flair to further convince him to accept the challenge. After RAW went off the air, Orton accepted the challenge and the match was on between Y2J and Randy Orton at the PPV Armageddon for the WWE Title.
-In a Dark Match before the event Jesse and Festus defeated John Morrison and The Miz.
-Now onto the PPV...............
1) Opening Contest- Rey Mysterio vs Montel Vontavious Porter (c) for the WWE United States Championship
A quick moving opener here between two good workers on the Smackdown! brand.
This is the kind of wrestling I miss when I don't watch PPV's much anymore or SD for that matter. Love Mysterio and his DVD and MVP while I don't see "THE FUTURE" in him I still find him entertaining and the ability to put on a good match with good workers like Benoit or say Mysterio for example, even a pretty decent one with Flair that I saw at the 08 Rumble in the Garden. I even like his entrance music.
I believe I saw someone the other day say that he didn't come to play in this match but Rey did. I agree to an extent it seemed Rey wanted to do more then MVP was able to go for in this one, I noticed some awkwardness in spots and rare slowness but it only took the matches quality down a little.
I was glad these two got some pretty good time to show off those skills in this bout.
Pretty entertaining! Just the way you want to start a PPV event to get the crowd on there feet, so good booking here!
At the end of the match, MVP was counted out after refusing to get back in the ring. As a result, MVP retained the title at 11:29. Mysterio attacked MVP for intentionally getting himself counted out to keep the title, Rey Rey got some revenge.
You know what?
Some people might of thought this was a bullshit ending live on PPV at home or in the arena but I love this. This is a decision you'd see back in the day! I love countouts so a heel retains, how often do you see them tease you with it but then the face catches up and throws him back in before the 10 count. I love that they now are switching it up a little to add some freshness and much needed, well I don't want to say "originality" but it's DIFFERENT, lets just call it that.
Good match to open the show, could of been better with a unique ending!
Pretty good stuff overall!
** 1/2
2) Big Daddy V and Mark Henry (w/Matt Striker) vs CM Punk and Kane
Now a not so good match...to say the least.
I'm not really sure what CM Punk is doing in this match? Perhaps I missed a storyline? Yeah, probably.
A slow moving big man tag match...yawn.
Big Daddy V was terribly slow in this one especially when beating down on Kane.
Henry is always slow in general so that tag team is like a recipe to cure insomnia. Kane and CM Punk is an odd pairing, but gotta love how faces always love faces and heels love heels for no spedivic reason!
The finish (thank god) didn't come fast enough but it eventually came!
Big Daddy V pinned Punk after a Samoan Drop at 10:33.
BORING.
It wasn't the worst match of all time but certainly not enjoyable or good..for me.
3/4*
3) "The HeartBreak Kid" Shawn Michaels vs Mr. Kennedy
We've all seen Shawn Michaels take on young talents. Lets see he took on Randy Orton in a feud in 03. He took on RVD in late 02. He took on Edge a few years back, Chris Masters a couple of years ago. They usually put this show stopping veteran in matches with youngsters because he can make a name out of them. Do they go over? No, probably not. But just being in the ring makes them known, a presence, helps them out and makes them aware, they pay there dues like he did. I don't get bent out of shape when Shawn doesen't job to the young guys for that very reason.
I loved this match.
It was a lot better then I thought it was going to be, to tell you the truth. It started off kind of slow and kind of how I figured it was going to be.
Then all of the sudden Kennedy really impressed me with his ruthless attack of Shawn's back. He used good in ring psychology to try and take apart HBK's back with a back braker, among many other moves to try and injure the weak area of Shawn's body.
I also liked how Michaels sold the back much like at Bad Blood 2004 when he gets up fast.
I liked this one a lot for sure, I'll say that about a few matches tonight. This one, no doubt.
In the end Michaels pinned Kennedy after Sweet Chin Music at 15:16.
This was pretty great all things considered!
***
4) Triple H vs Jeff Hardy -The Winner Gets a Shot at the WWE Title At Royal Rumble 2008
The Game and Jeff Hardy, this should be pretty interesting.
From some of the Raw's I saw I noticed they were partners for a bit and both babyfaces or tweeners, but babyfaces is a safer bet.
Triple H is of course a master at focusing on a body part and wearing it down.
Through a lot of the match The Game dominated Hardy and tried to take him to school to speak. Both of these guys have been in the business for long periods of time but Triple H had accomplished more and wanted to prove to Jeff that it should be him going to get the shot at the title. He tried to bring his A game, but Hardy was all jacked up and wanted to prove to Hunter he was worthy. An underdog story like Jeff against Taker in the ladder match, or against HHH on SD in 01 in the match he won. Jeff brings the extra bit of energy when facing the big dogs. I really enjoy him in singles competition, he has had good matches with Jericho and HBK this year or last year, and he had a great one with Jericho at No Way Out back in 2003. So he worked real well with Hunter on this night as the pace to this one was excellent and fast. Any time it slowed down it was for good reason as the two tried to wrestle a smart match but the momentum often shifted making it hard for one person to completely dominate at a given time.
This of course made the climax more suspensful as you didn't really know who had the upperhand enterting the ending of the match.
I really had a good time watching this one for sure!
The end came when Jeff Hardy pinned Triple H after reversing a Pedigree attempt into a Jackknife roll-up at 15:23 to win a WWE Championship match at the 2008 Royal Rumble. HUGE WIN! The fans go crazy as well, a lot of them anyway....
One of Jeff's biggest wins since beating The Game on Smackdown in 2001 for the IC Title in a huge upset! Jeff would go on to lose to Orton but still a big win and a good push in the right direction.
Pretty tremendous, match of the night.
*** 1/2
5) Finlay (w/Hornswoggle) vs The Great Khali
Don't like Hornswoggle and I don't want to know anything more then I already do. Being Mr. McMahon's son...wow. Good thing they changed that up. He's like Eugene. Never found him funny, not once but the WWE will never let it go and continue to shove this guy down your throat, as A FACE! It's always worse when the guy they shove down your throat is a face. If it's a heel it's a lot more tolerable.
I went into this Contest knowing it'd probably suck but I wanted to watch how it would go about anyway because I really like Finlay. I really like what he's still capable to do at his age. I liked him in WCW, I like his training abilities and I like him here in the WWE, and I met him at a House Show in 06 around the time I stopped watching for good, a very nice person and a tremendous wrestler.
I DON'T like Khali for obvious reasons but his size is certainly an attraction. But so is my Dick, and are we going to make my Dick a world champion just because it's an attraction? Didn't think so. That's a different story for a different day though.
The match wasn't terrible here, but definately slow like I figured it to be. Some alright spots and Finlay did about as good as he could of with what he had and the story the match presented in the time they got to work.
In the end Finlay pinned Khali after Hornswoggle hit Khali in the groin with a shillelagh and Finlay hit Khali in the head with another shillelagh at 6:02. The right guy won at least.
Decent at best, but not good at all.
*
6) Randy Orton (c) vs Y2J Chris Jericho for the WWE Championship
Here we go.
I even watched the build up to this match on RAW!
That's a big deal for me if you don't already know because I barely watch any WWE these days!
But I saw Jericho's come back it interested me and the 15th Anniversary also interested me. The only thing I was rather dissapointed in with Jericho's comeback is not the haircut, it's not his catchphrases, it's the fact he doesen't look to have that drive he used to in the mid-late 90's. I remember him saying in an interview in 2002 he had done it all in the business and now was just satisfied going out there and just being there. I think as a Pro-Wrestler you always need that hunger to want to achieve more or else what's the point? I think Benoit still had the desire as he showed a lot of passion and story telling in his matches to his final day, same with Eddie. Jericho still might, I haven't seen some of his best work since he's returned for instance the match with HBK at Judgment Day 08. However, some people on these forums and other forums were talking about Y2J as if he was an Austin or a Rock in there prime coming back to save the WWE and get them consistently in the 4's. Some person said 5's for a couple shows! Are you kidding me? Since he's been back the ratings have dropped to the low 3's (not because of him though) and even the high 2's some weeks, it's a disaster ratings wise.
But Jericho if he shows that passion, that drive and people realize he is WHAT He is and that is Chris Jericho, not Steve Austin, not The Rock then he'll be fine.
This match was a let down to some and I just have to wonder what they expected? Yes, Jericho is a good worker but it's his first PPV match back in two years give the guy some time to get his legs moving. I did but this match had its impressive moments and it had its head scratching moments as well. It was pretty good.
In the end, the matches result came when Randy Orton was disqualified after John "Bradshaw" Layfield interfered and kicked Jericho's head at 15:05. So as a result, Orton retained the WWE title. The fans are pissed. Jericho wins by DQ but no championship. Cue mid-card status for Mr. Second Coming into a meaningless feud (from what I saw) with JBL. Orton could of added to his credibility with a nice win but at the same time I guess this result doesen't make one of these two look weak so DECENT booking....I guess.
I've seen some people say they love this match while I've seen others call it terrible. I'm not going to say it's terrible or even bad for that matter but for what I was expecting, I was expeting more. They did get there time to work but not all of the match caught me and pulled me in. I found myself TRYING to get interested in the match more then them telling me a story and that is always a bad sign, especially considering I had absolutely nothing on my mind at the time I was watching it. I don't know, perhaps on another viewing I will change my mind but for not it gets a rating of "pretty decent (for them) to good" rating. ** 3/4 should be fair for this attraction!
** 3/4
7) Beth Phoenix (c) vs Mickie James for the WWE Women's Championship
Mickie gets a shot at Beth's title here. They added some Ladies to this division I see?
Pretty good overall was this match...
I mean, it was nothing special but at the same time it had its moments, some impressive moves by both ladies.
In the end Beth Phoenix pinned Mickie James after a Delayed Fisherman's suplex at 4:44 to retain the Women's title.
It's good to see the WWE is trying to improve this division after some on and off time with it.
It's never going to be an easy task but if you have a female match on a PPV card it's always better when there's two actual wrestlers going at it rather then divas like Hemme or Ashley, that's certain. Don't mind the odd segment or bikini contest or interview here and there but when they start taking up valuable PPV time is where I get mad.
This was a pretty good match but your average diva match on a PPV between two good workers.
* 3/4
8) Main Event- Edge vs Batista (c) vs The Undertaker in a Triple Threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship
First of all...I love how they showed Edge pretend to be a camera man at the Survivor Series in 2007! WOW. That looked funny as hell and pretty original for the WWE, good video package there. Makes me want to see that event morw but of course I'm waiting for the Survivor Series Anthology to own all of those events before I watch and review them here. Just like I'm waiting for the Summerslam Anthology before I watch and review those but those will come in just a few months and the reviews I have to do in the mean tile will take me enough time before I get to them.
Here we are with Edge the challenger, he's had some title runs though in the past couple years and he wants back the gold.
We have Taker who had the title earlier in 2007 but lost it due to injury so no doubt he wants the Gold back from Batista.
We have the Champion Batista who is more over with the fans now then he was at the beginning I'd imagine. Smarks can tend to dislike him at times and he's never been much of a draw but I can see he has improved big time in the ring which is always good. He's always had the look that's for sure now if he can add all the dimensions and pieces to the puzzle he's a big time player. Working with other good talent can only help his cause though and that's clearly what's happening in this match.
I really don't like the whole Edge/Vickie thing which is a huge reason I barely (maybe 3% of the time) tune into Smackdown! I'm not kidding when I say 3% either it actually might even be less because I can't remember the last time I even watched Smackdown to be honest. I barely watch Raw as it is but all this reviewing has sparked some interest in me that wasn't there before as if I'm missing some good matches and I probably am.
Either way I still appreciate Edge and always have. I think he was a great babyface back in 2001, and an excellent HEEL from late 2004 to right now even though I haven't liked him with Vickie from what I've seen. Still a tremendous wrestler, an entertaining promo guy, a fellow Canadian and a worthy champion for sure. I was very happy when he won the big won. Could he do it again tonight?
He would. This was a pretty fun match although it didn't go as long as it could have. Most WWE Triple Threat's are known for going a long time if they're a fast paced main event for the championship but this one was a little different from that timing standpoint. Do I think they could have added more? Sure. But EVERY single match out there PROBABLY could of added a little more. Maybe not the five star classics we all know and love but hell, if you want to dig deep and look at it closer perhaps you can find something. So in saying that they absolutely could have stretched this out or added more big spots in this matchup however I liked it just as it was. I was entertained the entire time and that's what matters at the end of the day.
Solid wrestling for the beginning half by all three guys with counters here and there, and in the second half we had many near falls and some signature moves where you might have figured that the end was coming soon. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE SPOT where Edge goes outside the ring and when Taker's got that leg choke hold on Batista near the ropes Edge goes outside the ring and RINGS THE BELL. LMFAO...the fans all boo as they think it's a shit ending and so quick but then they realize it was Edge as the camera zooms in on him and he runs off to hide...his face was on the tron I'm guessing which is how the fans knew. This was clever, another original move sort of reminds me of Brian Pillman in the Austin/Taker match for the WWF Title at Cold Day in Hell In Your House in 1997 on Austin's DVD. Great match there and a funny thing when Pillman had the bell. This was hillarious in this paticular instance though as Edge ducked down beside the ring apron trying not to be seen by Taker and Batista but they both saw him do it and the match continued right along. Taker went to see what happened after he dropped the hold and from behind Edge got the best of it as his plan worked and he hit the spear on Taker! 1...2...and Taker kicked out. Edge's face is always so priceless when he doesen't get the three, him Angle and Austin have my three favourite shocked or pissed off or in Angle's case crybaby faces when they don't get the three count they were hoping for. It's just awesome stuff! Of course many other series of signature moves and near falls happen during this time that don't lead to the eventual win just yet.
It should be noted that during the match, the Major Brothers impersonated Edge and distracted Undertaker and Batista. I'm not sure if this was there first ever appearance but it was definately one of them if not THE, Cole and Tazz didn't seem to know who they were exactly. Either way they helped out Edge in the end and to my knowledge they're still around somewhere today!
This was a really entertaining match here.
Taker has put on some great ones with Dave, and Edge. I'd like to see more of both, especially the ones with Edge as I've ordered Backlash 2008 to see at least ONE of there matches and I'll be getting WM 24 this week finally to see one.
In this match the chemistry was still there as there were many enthralling sequences.
A lot of compelling action to keep up with in this bout as the pace was relatively fast for three bigger men, as you might expect though given it's a triple threat, and those rarely dissapoint!
Pretty short and sweet.
If given more time perhaps could of been a *** 1/2 - *** 3/4 type match but this one was still solid and I liked it.
In the end Edge pinned Batista after a Tombstone Piledriver from Undertaker at 13:00 minutes and Edge is the NEW CHAMPION. I believe this was his third title win, 2nd with the World Title on Smackdown! Remember I haven't watched much so I could be wrong but he celebrates with the gold and Cole acts like he just killed somebody like always. God, Cole was annoying this PPV event.
Great match but like I said, would of liked it to be longer.
***
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Final Rating for WWE Armageddon 2007 = 6.5/10
This WAS infact a very good PPV overall. I picked this up today with the expectations of witnessing a decent PPV and basically that is what I got here. A little bit better then decent actually as there weren't too many bad matches on the show just a couple that were average or below. Some pretty good matches that kept me entertained for the bulk of the broadcast and that is absolutely vital when I watch a PPV I just bought. Makes me have confidence that I'll be able to at least ENJOY the show the next time I view it. I've been buying DVD's from the last couple of years since I haven't kept up as much plus I want more to review and I'm glad this show made the cut. I was impressed with some of the work, paticularly Kennedy/HBK, The Triple Threat Main Event and HHH/Hardy although some other matches were fine as well. This is a 6.5/10 and borderline 7, pretty good event for sure, I'd reccomend this if you can find it fairly cheap or want it in your collection like I did! Good stuff!
Feedback appreciated as always if you want to discuss.....
Up Next From Austin101: "-WWF Raw is War 1999 (January Week 1-January 4th)"
--------"Next Reviews In Order":--------
Complete Listing:
-WWF Raw is War 1999 (January Week 1-January 4th)
-WWF Raw is War 1999 (January Week 2-January 11th)
-WWE No Way Out 2007
-WWF Raw is War 1999 (January Week 3-January 18th)
-WWE Vengeance: Night Of Champions (2007)
-WWE WrestleMania 24 (Arrives June 11th)
-WWF Raw is War 1999 (January Week 4-January 25th)
-Individual Set (Bret Hart)
-WWF Raw is War 1999 (February)
-Individual Set (The Undertaker:Tombstone)
-WWF Raw is War 1999 (March)
-WWE Backlash 2007
-WWE Backlash 2008
-WWF Raw is War 1999 (April)
-Individal Set (Brian Pillman)
-WWF Raw is War 1999 (May)
-Individual Set (Ric Flair: Ultimate Collection)
-WWF Raw is War 1999 (June)
-Individual Set (Eddie Guerrero)
-WWF Raw is War 1999 (July)
-Individual Set (Chris Benoit)
-WWF Raw is War 1999 (August)
-Individual Set (Mick Foley: Hits and Misses)
-WWF Raw is War 1999 (September)
-Individual Set (HBK Heartbreak and Triumph)
-WWF Raw is War 1999 (October)
-Individual Set (Jake the Snake Roberts)
-WWF Raw is War 1999 (November)
-Individual Set (Hulk Hogan)
-WWF Raw is War 1999 (December)
-Individual Set (Rey Mysterio)
-WWF Raw is War 2001 (January)
-Individual Set (The Rock's New One)
-WWF Raw is War 2001 (February)
-Individual Set (The Four Horsemen)
-WWF Raw is War 2001 (March)
-Individual Set (McMahon)
-WWF Raw is War 2001 (April)
-Individual Set (John Cena: Word Life)
-WWF Raw is War 2001 (May)
-Individual Set (Ultimate Warrior)
-WWF Raw is War 2001 (June)
-Individual Set (Ric Flair's new Defenitive Collection)
-WWF Raw is War 2001 (July)
-Individual Set (Mr. Perfect)
-WWF Raw is War 2001 (August)
-Individual Set (Rise and Fall of ECW)
-WWF Raw is War 2001 (September)
-Individual Set (Bloodsport: ECW's most violent matches)
-WWF Monday Night Raw 2001 (October)
-Individual Set (RVD: One of a Kind)
-WWF Monday Night Raw 2001 (November)
-Individual Set (Taker: This is my Yard)
-WWF Monday Night Raw 2001 (December)
-Individual Set (Rowdy Roddy Piper)
-Ladder Match Review (Match talk and ratings)
-WCCW DVD Review (Doc and Matches)
-AWA DVD Review (Doc and Matches)
-Cage Matches Review (Match talk and ratings)
-IC Title Match Review (Match talk and ratings)
-Raw 15th Anniversary Review (Matches and Segment Reviews)
-Greatest Stars of the 80's (Match talk and ratings)
-Monday Night War DVD (Match talk and ratings with Doc review)
-Best of Starrcade Review (Match talk and ratings)
-Summerslam Anthology (all 20 reviews to Summerslam's)
(stay tuned...)
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Official WWE DVD Help/Discussion/Review Thread II
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