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ARMAGEDDON BY THE NUMBERS

Introduction

On paper Armageddon looks as though it could be a really solid pay per view.  There are a ton of high profile important matches, most with big names.  On the other hand, looks can be deceiving.  On to the show…

Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho

I was excited for Jericho ’s return and I think Orton has done as much as he can within his character to get people into the feud.  Orton has had tremendous PPV bouts over the year and I don’t expect anything less than what we’ve got before.  Jericho has only wrestled twice so far upon his return and some say they weren’t impressed.  However, his match with Umaga was well built and executed well.  When Jericho hit the Walls at the 15^th anniversary of RAW show, the crowd went nuts. All in all I think it should be a good contest but maybe not a great one and I don’t see the title changing hands.

3/5 Savage Elbows

HHH vs. Jeff Hardy

At first this match seemed like it was being thrown together and for what reason I wasn’t sure as we already had Batista, Jericho , Edge, Undertaker and Orton headlining the show.  This sort of reminds me of Summerslam when Booker T and HHH faced off.  To high profile guys trying to make lemonade as it were.  But then, something changed.  This match became about the #1 contendership to the WWE title.  That made it important and people want to see it.  So much so, that I think at the end of the day, more people may buy this PPV for this match instead of the 2 main events.  WWE should keep that in mind after looking at their buy rates when all is said in done.  I am sure many will want to blame Jericho if the PPV doesn’t get bought, or applaud him if it does, when in fact it is this match that actually may be determining that. This match could go either way as far as who gets the win. 

4/5 Savage Elbows

Finlay vs. The Great Khali

More than anything else I think people are just tired right now of the “bring down the monster” gimmick that Khali has had to do for his entire WWE run.  I am glad they didn’t have Hogan completely lay out Khali on RAW as then Finlay would have looked like an afterthought and Finlay should never be looked at that way as he is arguably the best in ring performer in the WWE right now.  This match leads a lot to be desired.  Finlay will topple the evil giant in the end and a certain translator may get rocked in the melee. Don’t be surprised if we get a Khali face turn ala Andre and Bobby Henan.

2/5 Savage Elbows

MVP vs. Rey Mysterio

After the best feud of this year finally gets to the point where Matt Hardy is going to take the United States championship from the evil MVP…Hardy gets hurt and Mysterio gets popped into the feud.  There are good things here, MVP and Mysterio are fantastic in ring performers and will undoubtedly steal the show.  The other good thing is that Hardy will be back and at no time has MVP lost his feud with him.  I don’t see the US title changing hands for two reasons; one, Rey doesn’t need the title around his waist and two, this thing with Hardy has to continue.  MVP will cheat to win the match and retain the gold.

5/5 Savage Elbows

Mickie James vs. Beth Phoenix

This match is going to surprise you I guarantee.  These two women are very good wrestlers and will show it to you on a grander stage.  I think James is going to steal the win and the Women’s title and I think it is going to be quick.

4/5

Shawn Michaels vs. Mr. Kennedy

There has been a strong build up for this contest and Kennedy has been either hot or cold during all of it.  That goes for Shawn Michaels as well as I don’t think either of them have given us everything they can.  I am not sure if it is just coming off the screen badly or if they just don’t care about the match.  However, Michaels ALWAYS delivers on PPV and it will be no different here.  The thing is that I expect Michaels to win because he usually does, especially when the match is not over a major feud or a major title, but the right thing to do here is to cement Mr. Kennedy with a big win over the human highlight reel.

3/5

CM Punk and Kane vs. The Twin Towers 2007

Big Daddy V and Mark Henry are just an awesome tag team.  I have been saying for years that the world’s strongest man and Mable should be a team.  The thing is that somehow instead of doing the right thing with Henry and V and putting them in a tag division that needs their star power, they have basically inserted them into the ECW world title picture yet not ever moved forward with that.  WWE has the chance to make the tag division great again.  They should be putting these two against Rhodes and Holly or Morrison and The Miz for a tag title shot.  They also could make Matt Striker the next Bobby Henan out of this combo if they waned to.  I think this match is going to be a train wreck but it won’t be the in-ring performers’ fault.  Creative is going to drop the ball on this one.  Punk and Kane will win.

1/5 Savage Elbows

Undertaker vs. Edge vs. Batista

I have no idea why UT didn’t win the championship in hell in a cell.  I don’t know why Batista has held the championship as long as he has.  I really have no idea why WWE would be so disgusting in deciding to have Vicki be in a love storyline at all, let alone one with Edge.  I hope this match is less than 30 seconds long.  I want Edge to come in spear the both his opponents, nab the title, raise it in victory and then proceed to do the right thing for his character and the business and dump Vicki right then and there.  Now I know none of the above will happen, that’s just the “mark” in me dreaming. As a smart fan my bet is the match closes the show, is the longest in the entire card and so on.  However, I do believe Edge will win the World title.

3/5 Savage Elbows

Total Savage Elbows for the card: 24/40

In Closing

This isn’t the PPV to buy.  Save your money for the Royal Rumble.  You aren’t going to see many title changes I would guess or at least nothing expected.  When you wake up on Monday morning Edge will have the world belt, Orton will have the WWE belt and who knows which diva will be holding the strap.  Jeff Hardy or HHH will be number one contender, I really don’t know which.  What I do know is both would have pretty compelling storylines leading to the Royal Rumble and possibly Wrestlemania 24.  If the H wins we get another chapter in the running HHH/Orton storyline.  If Hardy wins, it will be about the man fulfilling his dream.  At the Royal Rumble we will see where all this goes.  If you have to choose between watching the beginning, the middle and the end of the movie, watch the end.