Featuring:
Batista
Undertaker
Edge
Chris Jericho
Randy Orton
Mr. Kennedy
Shawn Michaels
Kane
CM Punk
MVP
Big Daddy V
Mark Henry
Finlay
DVD Release Date: January 15, 2008
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 180 Minutes
The Event
Ar-ma-ged-don – [ahr-muh-ged-n]
– noun
1. the place where the final battle will be fought between the forces of good and evil (probably so called in reference to the battlefield of Megiddo. Rev. 16:16).
2. the last and completely destructive battle: The arms race can lead to Armageddon.
3. any great and crucial conflict.
It seems fitting that all three of those definitions fit the bill for the WWE’s last PPV of the year, Armageddon. The Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on December 16, 2007 is where it took place most recently and the WWE looked to close out the year with a bang. Things looked great on paper going into the event, but that doesn’t always guarantee a fantastic show. But with the WWE getting rid of New Year’s Revolution, it let Armageddon finish things out without having to worry about another PPV right around the corner.
A lot of grudges and even some friendships were going to be tested this night as so many superstars hoped to finish 2007 on a high note. Batista looked to end this year with the World Heavyweight title around his waist but the Undertaker and a returning Edge didn’t think that was a foregone conclusion. Chris Jericho had also returned after a two year hiatus and immediately went after the WWE Champion Randy Orton in hopes of saving the wrestling fans from having to see any more of him.
Friendships would also be tested on this night as Jeff Hardy and Triple H had formed a strange bond to one another ever since working together and winning their Survivor Series match even though the odds were stacked against them. They had saved one another in recent weeks from being destroyed at the hands of Umaga and other foes, and it seemed as if each had found themselves a new ally. But it is all about the gold and when a number one contender’s spot is on the line; all’s fair in love and war.
~ United States Championship Match: MVP (c) Vs. Rey Mysterio – I hate Rey Mysterio and have grown to love MVP. The guy has held the US title forever it seems and is only getting better. They put on a really good match though that is fast-paced and has a lot of near falls but it is all ruined when the horrible ending throws everything right out the window.
~ CM Punk & Kane Vs. Big Daddy V & Mark Henry – One quick agile guy, one big agile guy, and two gigantic dudes that move slower then molasses. Don’t expect a lot of technical stuff going on here is all I have to say. Oddly enough though there is a good bit of back and forth action between the two teams and with Henry and Big Daddy V having the option of tagging out so not as to have to spend too much time in the ring at a time, it works. It’s pretty good for the brawl it ends up being.
~ Shawn Michaels Vs. Mr. Kennedy – Kennedy is proving his own with each and every match he has. Michaels has nothing left to prove, but it’s still impressive that he can go out there night after night and perform after so long in the business. These two put on an absolutely great display of wrestling and show what a four to five star match should be like. And the odd part is that as good as this match is; they would go on to put on an even better one on the New Year’s Eve edition of Raw. One can only hope that there is a long line of matches from these two still to come.
~ Winner Gets A WWE Championship Match at Royal Rumble: Triple H Vs. Jeff Hardy – These two new friends had to face off with one another because there was no choice if they wanted to one day be WWE champion again. Hardy has come a long way since tagging with his brother and Triple H has come a long way from his “blue blood” days. Hardy and Trips just can make anyone they face look great in the ring and pitting them against one another is sheer brilliance. Witness the power, quickness, agility, and overall intelligence from these two men in a second straight great match on this PPV.
~ Finlay Vs. Great Khali – I like Finlay and hate Khali, but it’s not like there is much to this match anyway so don’t expect a lot.
~ WWE Championship Match: Randy Orton (c) Vs. Chris Jericho – It seems rather pointless to waste Jericho’s return first feud on Orton considering the WWE never had intentions of it really going anywhere. Jericho doesn’t seem like he has los t a single step in the two years he was out of the ring while Orton only shows that he is no fluke. They work great against one another and this match was well on its way to being a classic until an awful ending made it seem like a complete and total insult to both wrestlers. I’ll admit that it set up a great feud for Jericho that I’m looking forward to, but come on now. You’ll notice that even the crowd was incredibly pissed.
~ WWE Women’s Championship Match: Beth Phoenix (c) Vs. Mickie James – Finally a wrestling match between the two best women wrestlers in all of the WWE. The only problem is that they were barely given any time at all to showcase what they can truly do. Still, it’s a good match and one that I hope we see a lot more of in the future. Not only are they the two best women wrestlers, but also two of the hottest.
~ Triple Threat Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Batista (c) Vs. Edge Vs. Undertaker – This is the second best match on the entire card right behind Michaels/Kennedy. Not because it was a great wrestling match, but strictly for entertainment value. It was nice not seeing another Batista/Undertaker match so throwing Edge into the mix helps a lot. Let’s also not forget that this match ended in a bit of controversy as the referee seemingly needs to get his eyes checked. The Rated R Superstar has a lot of tricks up his sleeves and decided to pull them all out here in hopes of gaining back his title. A really great match that needs to be seen to be believed.
The Video
The event is shown in 1.33:1 Full Screen format and the WWE keeps its streak alive with great looking DVDs. Things are bound to get even better now that the WWE is going to HD, but this looks just fine with no pixilation anywhere to be found.
The Audio
The event is heard in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and there was a slight bit of static during some of the pyro, but nothing too noticeable.
Special Features
Raw 12/10/07: Mr. McMahon Names The Greatest Superstar in Raw History – This really had nothing to do with much of anything dealing with the PPV except it showed some of the big names destroying the boss. It was the ending to the three-hour Raw showcasing the fifteenth anniversary of the show.
Trailers – The Legacy Of Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Best Of Raw 15th Anniversary
The Inside Pulse
Armageddon isn’t a perfect PPV by any stretch of the imagination, but it does its job well and entertains. There are four must-see matches along with a couple fillers that do a good job of keeping you entertained without dragging on. The one problem is the horrible endings a lot of the matches finished with. Sometimes there just isn’t anything as bad as watching a great wrestling match for twenty minutes that tells a fantastic story and then seeing it end in a count-out or disqualification. It may set up future feuds and matches, but it takes away from the overall quality of the wrestlers’ hard work. I’d suggest a rental here if you didn’t purchase the PPV because you may only end up wanting to see it once through and let’s face it, the special features suck. One little clip that lasts all of two minutes and has virtually nothing to do with the PPV. Nice work WWE. Still, they accomplished their intentions of finishing off 2007 in a big way, and the end is here. Now onto the Royal Rumble.
