Armageddon (2002)

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Armageddon
Office Depot Center
Attendance9,000[1]
Buy rate335,000[2]
Pay-per-view chronology
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Armageddon chronology
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2003

The 2002 Armageddon was the third

Office Depot Center in Sunrise, a suburb of Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was the first Armageddon held since 2000
, in turn being the first Armageddon held under the WWE name after the promotion had been renamed from World Wrestling Federation (WWF) to WWE earlier in May that year. It was also the first Armageddon held after the introduction of the brand split.

The main match on the Raw brand was a

undercard was Chris Benoit versus Eddie Guerrero, which Benoit won by forcing Guerrero to submit with the Crippler Crossface
.

Production

Background

In December 2001, the then-

Office Depot Center in Sunrise, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.[4][5] The third event in the Armageddon chronology, the 2002 event was the first Armageddon held under the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) name, as in May, the promotion was renamed from WWF to WWE.[6] It was also the first Armageddon to be held after the introduction of the brand extension in March, where the promotion divided its roster between the Raw and SmackDown! brands where wrestlers were exclusively assigned to perform.[7] The 2002 event featured wrestlers from both brands.[4][5]

Storylines

Triple H set to face Shawn Michaels for the World Heavyweight Championship in a Three Stages of Hell Match

The main

Sweet Chin Music.[12][13] On the December 9 episode of Raw, Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff announced that the match between the two at Armageddon would be a Three Stages of Hell match, where the first fall would be a street fight, the second fall would be a steel cage match, and the third fall (if necessary) would be a ladder match. Later on that night, after Triple H defeated Jeff Hardy, Triple H and Ric Flair attacked Hardy until Michaels came out to fend off both men. Moments later, Flair informed Michaels that if he did not pass the torch at Armageddon, Triple H would "kill him", taking the most coveted trophy in the business from him. Towards the end of the show, Michaels attacked Triple H and Flair with a shovel outside the arena. Michaels then hit Triple H with a trash can, causing him to fall into a dumpster. Shortly after, Michaels climbed to the top of a trailer and jumped onto Triple H.[14][15]

The main feud on the

no contest when Heyman interfered. Afterwards, Lesnar came to the ring, gave Big Show an F-5 and then chased Heyman backstage until Heyman took off in a limousine.[10][11] On the November 28 episode of SmackDown!, McMahon suspended Lesnar for ignoring her orders twice the previous week. Later that night, Lesnar would still come out and hit an F-5 on Big Show through the announce table, then once again tried to go after Heyman until McMahon brought officers out to get Lesnar out of the arena. On the December 5 episode of SmackDown!, Angle defeated Edge, Chris Benoit, and Eddie Guerrero in a fatal four-way elimination match to become the number one contender for the WWE Championship at Armageddon.[16][17] Shortly after the match ended, Big Show, accompanied by Heyman, came out and chokeslammed Angle.[16][17] On the December 12 episode of SmackDown!, Angle interrupted Lesnar's autograph session to inform Lesnar that he would get his suspension lifted if Lesnar helped him defeat Big Show at Armageddon, with Lesnar saying he would think about it. However, McMahon informed Big Show and Heyman that Lesnar's suspension had been lifted. Later that night, Big Show and A-Train
defeated Angle and Edge in a tag team match when Big Show pinned Angle after Heyman distracted him.

Event

Other on-screen personnel
Role: Name:
English
commentators
 Jim Ross (Raw)
Jerry Lawler (Raw)
Michael Cole (SmackDown)
Tazz
(SmackDown)
Spanish commentators Carlos Cabrera
Hugo Savinovich
Interviewer
 Jonathan Coachman
Ring announcer Howard Finkel (Raw)
Tony Chimel (SmackDown)
Referees Charles Robinson (Raw)
Nick Patrick (Raw)
Earl Hebner (Raw)
Jim Korderas
(SmackDown)
Brian Hebner
(SmackDown)
Mike Chioda (SmackDown)
Jack Doan (Raw)
Mike Sparks (SmackDown)
Chad Patton (Raw)

Preliminary matches

The event unofficially began with a

Goldust. Jericho and Christian started the match off with the Dudley Boyz, though both Booker T and Goldust and Storm and 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 Storm and Regal; Goldust pinned Regal after a Director's Cut, which made the match even at two-on-two. The final elimination came when Booker T hit a Book End on Jericho, which allowed Booker T to pin him and get the win for his team. As a result, Booker T and Goldust became the new World Tag Team Champions.[18][19]

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 delivered 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.[18]

Eddie Guerrero, who faced off against Chris Benoit

The third match was between Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero. In the match, Benoit whipped Guerrero down and applied a reverse chinlock. Guerrero managed to get out of the hold, as he kicked Benoit in the midsection. 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-forth action between Benoit and Guerrero, Benoit forced Guerrero to submit to the Crippler Crossface.[18]

The fourth match was between

Batista (with Ric Flair). Kane and Batista locked up in the middle of the ring and Batista took the upper hand over Kane, as he delivered 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 delivered the Batista Bomb on Kane and grabbed the pinfall.[18]

The fifth match was for the

Clothesline and Victoria hit Stratus with the Women's title belt, which resulted in Victoria pinning Jacqueline and retaining the title.[18]

Main event matches

Big Show for the WWE Championship
.

The sixth match of the night was for the

Big Show (with Paul Heyman) and Kurt Angle. Angle was taken down by Big Show, but countered and got Big Show in a head-scissors lock. 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 delivered a missile dropkick from the top rope, but Big Show kicked out of the pin. After back and forth action between the two (including some interference by A-Train against Angle), Angle pinned Big Show after interference from Brock Lesnar, who delivered the F-5 on Big Show, thus making Angle the winner of the match and the new WWE Champion.[18][20]

The main event saw

2 X 4 wrapped in barbed wire, which he then lit 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.[18][21] 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-forth action between Triple H and Michaels, Michaels scored the second fall, after he Splashed Triple H through a table off the cage.[18] 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 four stacked tables on the outside.[18][21]

Aftermath

While the 2002 event featured wrestlers from both Raw and SmackDown!, the following year, Armageddon was held exclusively for the Raw brand.[22]

Results

No.Results
Three Stages of Hell match for the World Heavyweight Championship
* Stage 1: Street Fight (won by Triple H)
* Stage 2: Steel Cage Match (won by Michaels)
* Stage 3: Ladder Match (won by Triple H)
38:33
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match
H – the match was broadcast prior to the pay-per-view on Sunday Night Heat

Tag Team elimination match

Elimination Wrestler Team Eliminated by Elimination move Time
1 Bubba Ray Dudley The Dudley Boyz William Regal Pinned after a roll-up 5:23
2 William Regal Lance Storm and William Regal Goldust Pinned after a scoop powerslam 5:32
3 Chris Jericho Chris Jericho and Christian (c) Booker T Pinned after a Book End 16:43
Winners: Booker T and Goldust (New World Tag Team Champions)

References

  1. ^ a b "Armageddon 2002 results". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on February 22, 2008. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. ^ "WWE Pay-Per-View Buys (1993-2015)". Wrestlenomics. March 25, 2020. Archived from the original on September 24, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  3. ^ Martínez, Sebestián (December 11, 2020). "Jim Ross reveals why WWE did not celebrate the 2001 edition of Armageddon". Solo Wrestling. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  4. ^
    World Wrestling Entertainment. December 15, 2002. Archived
    from the original on February 19, 2008. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ a b "Armageddon 2002 results". Hoffco Inc. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. World Wrestling Entertainment Corporate. May 6, 2002. Archived from the original
    on January 19, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2008.
  7. World Wrestling Entertainment Corporate. May 27, 2002. Archived from the original
    on October 17, 2014. Retrieved July 13, 2008.
  8. World Wrestling Entertainment. August 25, 2002. Archived
    from the original on January 1, 2008. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  9. ^ "SummerSlam results – 8/25/02". WrestleView. August 25, 2002. Archived from the original on February 13, 2008. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  10. ^
    World Wrestling Entertainment. November 17, 2002. Archived
    from the original on February 23, 2008. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  11. ^ a b "Survivor Series results – 11/17/02". WrestleView. November 17, 2002. Archived from the original on February 13, 2008. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. 411Mania. Archived
    from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
  13. ^ "December 2, 2002 RAW results". Online World of Wrestling. December 2, 2002. Archived from the original on February 9, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
  14. ^ Jennette, Brad (December 9, 2002). "411's WWE Raw Report 12.09.02". 411Mania. Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
  15. ^ "December 9, 2002 RAW results". Online World of Wrestling. December 9, 2002. Archived from the original on February 9, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
  16. ^ a b Johnston, Brendan (December 5, 2002). "411's WWE SmackDown! Report 12.05.02". 411Mania. Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2008.
  17. ^ a b "December 5, 2002 SmackDown! results". Online World of Wrestling. December 5, 2002. Archived from the original on February 20, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2008.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Armageddon 2002 results". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 18, 2008. Retrieved January 30, 2008.
  19. World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived
    from the original on January 5, 2008. Retrieved January 30, 2008.
  20. World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived
    from the original on February 19, 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2008.
  21. ^
    World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived
    from the original on February 19, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
  22. ^ "Armageddon (2003) Venue". WWE. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  23. World Wrestling Entertainment. December 15, 2002. Archived
    from the original on February 19, 2008. Retrieved January 31, 2008.

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Armageddon_(2002)&oldid=1199145019"