Armageddon (2002)

Infobox Wrestling event
name=Armageddon (2002)


promotion=World Wrestling Entertainment
brand=Raw
SmackDown!
date=December 15 2002
venue=Office Depot Center
city=Sunrise, Florida
attendance=9,000cite web|url= http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/armageddon.html#2002|title=Armageddon 2002 results|accessdate=2008-01-31|publisher=Pro Wrestling History]
lastevent=Survivor Series (2002)
nextevent=Royal Rumble (2003)
event=Armageddon
lastevent2=Armageddon (2000)
nextevent2=Armageddon (2003)

Armageddon (2002) was the third Armageddon professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It took place on December 15 2002 at the Office Depot Center in the Ft. Lauderdale suburb of Sunrise, Florida and featured talent from the Raw and SmackDown! brands.

The main match on the Raw brand was a Three Stages of Hell match for the World Heavyweight Championship between champion Shawn Michaels and Triple H. The first match was a Street Fight, which Triple H won after performing a Pedigree.cite web|date=2002-12-15|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/history/2002/mainevent/|title=Triple H defeated Shawn Michaels in a Three Stages of Hell Match to win the World Heavyweight Championship|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-01-31] The second match was a Steel cage match, which Michaels won by pinfall after jumping off the top of the steel cage onto Triple H through a table. The third and final match was a Ladder match, which Triple H won after retrieving the belt suspended above the ring. The predominant match on the SmackDown! brand was The Big Show versus Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship. Angle won the match and the WWE Championship after pinning Big Show following interference from Brock Lesnar.cite web| date=2002-12-15|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/history/2002/results/|title=Armageddon 2002 results|publisher=WWE| accessdate=2008-01-31] cite web|url=http://www.hoffco-inc.com/wwe/ppv/ppv/arm02.html|title=Armageddon 2002 results|accessdate=2008-01-31|publisher=hoffco-inc] One of the primary matches on the undercard was Chris Benoit versus Eddie Guerrero, which Benoit won by forcing Guerrero to submit with the Crippler Crossface.cite web| date=2002-12-15|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/history/2002/results/|title=Armageddon 2002 results|publisher=WWE| accessdate=2008-01-31] cite web|url=http://www.hoffco-inc.com/wwe/ppv/ppv/arm02.html|title=Armageddon 2002 results|accessdate=2008-01-31|publisher=hoffco-inc]

Background

The main feud heading into Armageddon on the RAW brand was between Shawn Michaels and Triple H, with the two feuding over the World Heavyweight Championship. At SummerSlam, the pay-per-view four months before Armageddon, Shawn Michaels defeated Triple H in an Unsanctioned Street Fight, pinning him with a jackknife roll-up.cite web|date=2002-08-25|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam07/history/2002/results/|title= SummerSlam 2002 results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-01-31] cite web| date=2002-08-25|url= http://www.wrestleview.com/news/1030330115.shtml|title=SummerSlam results - 8/25/02|publisher=WrestleView |accessdate=2008-01-31] Three months later at Survivor Series, Michaels won an Elimination Chamber match, last eliminating Triple H, to win the World Heavyweight Championship.cite web|date=2002-11-17|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2002/results/|title= Survivor Series 2002 results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-01-31] cite web|date=2002-11-17|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news/1037591979.shtml|title=Survivor Series results - 11/17/02| publisher= WrestleView|accessdate=2008-01-31] On the December 2 edition of "RAW", Triple H defeated Rob Van Dam in a number one contenders match, winning a World title match against Michaels at Armageddon.cite web|first=Brad|last=Jennette|date=2002-12-02|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/30571/411s-WWE-Raw-Report-12.02.02.htm|title=411's WWE Raw Report 12.02.02|publisher=411mania.com|accessdate=2008-02-02] cite web|date=2002-12-02|url=http://pwwew.net/tv/raw/021202.htm|title=December 2, 2002 RAW results|publisher= PWWEW.net|accessdate=2008-02-02] cite web|date=2002-12-02|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/021202.html|title=December 2, 2002 RAW results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-02-02] The next week on "RAW", RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff announced that the World title match at Armageddon would be a 2 out of 3 falls match. He said the first fall would be a Street fight, the second fall would be a Steel cage match, and that the third fall would be a Ladder match.cite web|first=Brad| last=Jennette|date=2002-12-09|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/30574/411s-WWE-Raw-Report-12.09.02.htm| title=411's WWE Raw Report 12.09.02|publisher=411mania.com|accessdate=2008-02-02] cite web|date=2002-12-09|url=http://pwwew.net/tv/raw/021209.htm|title=December 9, 2002 RAW results|publisher=PWWEW.net|accessdate=2008-02-02] cite web|date=2002-12-09|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/021209.html|title=December 9, 2002 RAW results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-02-02]

The main feud on the SmackDown! brand was between The Big Show and Kurt Angle, with the two battling over the WWE Championship. The previous month at Survivor Series, Big Show defeated Brock Lesnar to win the WWE Championship, pinning him after a chokeslam on a steel chair. On the December 5 edition of "SmackDown!", Angle defeated Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, and Edge in a Fatal Four-Way match to become number one contender to the WWE Championship at Armageddon.cite web|first=Brendan|last=Johnston|date=2002-12-05|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/30572/411s-WWE-Smackdown-Report-12.05.02.htm|title=411's WWE SmackDown! Report 12.05.02|publisher=411mania.com|accessdate=2008-02-03] cite web|date=2002-12-05|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/smackdown/021203.htm|title=December 5, 2002 SmackDown! results|publisher=PWWEW.net|accessdate=2008-02-03] cite web| date=2002-12-05|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/021205.html|title=December 5, 2002 SmackDown! results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-02-03] Shortly after the match ended, Big Show, accompanied by Paul Heyman, came out and chokeslammed Angle. The next week on "SmackDown!", Big Show and A-Train defeated Angle and Edge.cite web|first=Brendan|last=Johnston|date=2002-12-12|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/30575/411s-WWE-Smackdown-Report-12.12.02.htm|title=411's WWE SmackDown! Report 12.12.02|publisher=411mania.com|accessdate=2008-02-03] cite web|date= 2002-12-12|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/smackdown/021212.htm|title=December 12, 2002 SmackDown! results|publisher=PWWEW.net| accessdate=2008-02-03] cite web|date=2002-12-12|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/021212.html|title=December 12, 2002 SmackDown! results|publisher= Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-02-03] Towards the end of the match, as Angle was preparing to apply the ankle lock on The Big Show, Heyman distracted him, which allowed Big Show to hit a chokeslam for the win.

Event

The event unofficially began with a dark match between Jeff Hardy and D'Lo Brown. Hardy pinned Brown after a Diving Crossbody and hooking the tights for leverage.cite web|first=Rick|last=Scaia|url= http://www.oowrestling.com/recaps/ppv/20021215.shtml|title=Armageddon 2002 results|accessdate=2008-01-30|date=2002-12-15| publisher=Online Onslaught] cite web|url= http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/armageddon02.html|title=Armageddon 2002 results|accessdate=2008-01-30| publisher=Online World of Wrestling] The first match of the event was a Fatal Four-Way tag team match for the World Tag Team Championship between Chris Jericho and Christian, Lance Storm and William Regal, The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von), and Booker T and Goldust. The World Tag Team champs Chris Jericho and Christian started the match off with the Dudleys, though both Booker T and Goldust and Lance Storm and William Regal were involved early and often. The first team to go were the Dudley Boyz; Bubba Ray was pinned by Regal, after a Top rope leg drop by Storm. The second elimination was of team Storm and Regal; Goldust pinned Storm after a Director's Cut, which made the match even at two-on-two. The final elimination came when Booker hit a Book End on Jericho, which allowed Booker to pin him and get the win for his team. As a result, Booker and Goldust became new World Tag Team champions.cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/30445413211231|title=Booker T and Goldust's first World Tag Team title reign|accessdate=2008-01-30|publisher=WWE]

The second match was between Edge and A-Train. A-Train started the match and dominated Edge as he gave him a slam the corner, which was followed by a shoulder block. A-Train tried another slam on Edge, but Edge countered and tossed A-Train out of the ring. A-Train gained the advantage once more, when he catapulted Edge right into the ropes and nearly decapitated him, A-Train then got Edge in the headlock in the middle of the ring, but Edge dropped down and hit a DDT to break free. Edge then took the upper hand as he got up and knocked A-Train down with a spinning heel kick, which was followed by a facebuster from the middle rope. The match came to an end when, A-Train was disqualified for hitting Edge with a chair. As a result, Edge won the match. Afterwards, Edge hit A-Train with a chair seven times.cite web|url= http://www.pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/december/2002.htm|title=Armageddon 2002 results|date=2002-12-15|accessdate=2008-01-31|publisher=PWWEW.net]

The third match was between Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero. In the match, Benoit whipped Guerrero down and got Guerrero in a reverse chinlock. Guerrero managed to get out of the hold, as he kicked Benoit in the mid-section. Guerrero got Benoit down on the mat and locked him in a head-scissors. Benoit countered the move and got Guerrero in a hold, but Guerrero was able to get the rope, to break the hold. After back and fourth action between Benoit and Guerrero, Benoit forced Guerrero to submit to the Crippler Crossface.

The fourth match was between Kane and Batista (w/Ric Flair). Kane and Batista locked up in the middle of the ring and Batista took the upper hand over Kane, as he hit Kane with a shoulder block. Batista then picked up Kane and slammed him, but Kane was able to drive his elbow onto him. In the match however Kane stopped Flair's interference. Kane slammed Batista into the turnbuckle, which was followed by a big boot to the face. The match came to an end when, Batista hit the Batista Bomb on Kane and grabbed the pinfall.

The fifth match was for the WWE Women's Championship between Victoria, Trish Stratus and Jacqueline. Victoria ran down to the ring, but was quickly tossed out of the ring. In the ring, Jacqueline took the advantage, as she hit a sweep kick on Victoria. Mid-way in the match, Jacqueline and Victoria double-teamed Trish Stratus and hit a suplex on her. Victoria proceeded, as she hit a sidekick on Stratus and went for the pin, but Jacqueline interrupted the pinfall. Victoria was then tossed out of the ring. Stratus then took the advantage and hit a head-scissors on Jacqueline. However, Victoria pinned Jacqueline after Stratus hit a Clothesline on Jacqueline and Victoria was able to hit Stratus with the Women's title belt, which resulted in Victoria retaining the title.

The sixth match of the night was for the WWE Championship between The Big Show (w/Paul Heyman) and Kurt Angle. Angle was taken down by the Big Show, but countered and got Big Show in a head-scissors lock. Angle battled back as he hit Big Show with a sidewalk slam. Angle got Big Show in a Sleeper Hold and got him down to the mat, but then Big Show reversed the hold and flipped Angle to the mat. Angle fought back and kicked Big Show in the face and then he went up to the top rope. Angle hit a missile dropkick from the top rope, but Big Show kicked out of the pin. After back and fourth action between the two (including some interference by A-Train against Angle), Angle pinned Big Show after interference from Brock Lesnar, Lesnar hit the F-5 on Big Show, thus making Angle the winner of the match and new WWE Champion.cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454140131|title = Kurt Angle's third reign as WWE champion| accessdate=2008-02-01|publisher=WWE]

Triple H challenging Shawn Michaels for the World Heavyweight Championship was the main event. The first fall of the match was a Street fight. Michaels and Triple H battled inside and out of the ring. Triple H tried to suplex Michaels over the ropes and through the table, but Michaels countered and suplexed Triple H right back into the ring. Michaels was gearing up for the Sweet Chin Music, however Triple H caught Michaels and twisted Michaels' knee. Triple H focused on Michaels knee, throughout the match. In the street fight, Triple H lit a piece of wood on fire, with the flames provided on the stage. However, Michaels countered Triple H's attack and nailed him right in the face with the flaming board, which resulted in Triple H’s forehead being busted open. However, Triple H picked up the first fall as he pinned Michaels after a Pedigree.cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldheavyweight/30445414311|title =Triple H's second World Heavyweight title reign|accessdate=2008-02-02] The second fall was a Steel Cage match. In the match, Triple H catapulted Michaels into the wall of the cage, which was followed by Triple H grinding Michaels head into the side of the cage. After back and fourth action between Triple H and Michaels, Michaels scored the second fall, after he Splashed Triple H through a table off the cage. The third and last fall of the night was a Ladder match. Michaels grabbed a ladder in which resulted in him dropping the ladder on Triple H's back which was quickly followed by Michaels suplexing Triple H on the ladder. The match concluded with Triple H retrieving the World Heavyweight title, after he pushed Michaels off the ladder, which resulted in Michaels crashing through stacked tables on the outside.

Results

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References

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/history/2002/ Official Armageddon 2002 website]