Armageddon (2005)

Armageddon
Promotional poster featuringBatista
Promotion	World Wrestling Entertainment
Brand(s)	SmackDown!
Date	December 18, 2005
City	Providence, Rhode Island
Venue	Dunkin' Donuts Center
Attendance	8,000
Buy rate	320,000
Pay-per-view chronology
←Previous Survivor Series Next→ New Year's Revolution
Armageddonchronology
←Previous 2004 Next→ 2006

The 2005Armageddonwas the sixthArmageddonprofessional wrestlingpay-per-view(PPV)eventproduced byWorld Wrestling Entertainment(WWE). It was held exclusively for wrestlers from the promotion'sSmackDown!brand division.The event took place on December 18, 2005, at theDunkin' Donuts CenterinProvidence, Rhode Island.

Themain eventwas aHell in a Cellmatch betweenRandy OrtonandThe Undertaker,which Undertaker won bypinfallafter performing aTombstone piledriver.One of the predominant matches on thecardwas an Interpromotionaltag team matchbetweenWWE Tag Team ChampionsRey MysterioandWorld Heavyweight ChampionBatistaandWorld Tag Team ChampionsBig Show and Kane.Big Show and Kane won the match after Kane pinned Mysterio following achokeslam.Another primary match on the undercard wasBooker TversusChris Benoitin the fourth match of their "Best of 7"series for the vacantWWE United States Championship.Benoit won the match after forcing Booker tosubmitwith theCrippler Crossface,thus earning his first victory in the series.

Production

Background

Armageddonwas established in 1999 asWorld Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE) Decemberpay-per-view(PPV) and was held every year except in 2001.The 2005 event was held on December 18 at theDunkin' Donuts CenterinProvidence, Rhode Island.It was the sixth event in the Armageddon chronology. Like the previous year, the 2005 event featured wrestlers exclusively from theSmackDown!brand.

Storylines

The event featured sixprofessional wrestling matcheswith different wrestlers involved in pre-existingscriptedfeuds,plotsandstorylines.Wrestlers were portrayed as eithervillainsorfan favoritesas they followed a series of tension-building events, which culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. All wrestlers (aside from the one interpromotional match) belonged to theSmackDown!brand – astoryline divisionin which WWE assigned its employees to a different program, the other beingRaw.

The main event at Armageddon was fought in aHell in a Cellmatch stipulation betweenThe UndertakerandRandy Orton.The buildup to the match began atWrestleMania 21,where The Undertaker defeated Orton, aRawsuperstar at the time, in anInterpromotionalmatch.On the June 16 episode ofSmackDown!,during the third annualWWE Draft,a mock sports draft lottery in which wrestlers switched programs, Orton was drafted to the SmackDown! brand. At the August pay-per-view event,SummerSlam,Orton defeated The Undertaker, where hepinnedhim after performing anRKOfollowing interference from his father,"Cowboy" Bob Orton.This led to aHandicapCasket matchbetween Undertaker and Orton and his father atNo Mercy.At the event, Orton and his father defeated Undertaker, and set the casket, which Orton locked Undertaker in, which was scripted to be on fire. The proceeding month, atSurvivor Series,the Undertaker returned and attacked several SmackDown! superstars following a 5-on-5Survivor Series matchbetween Raw and SmackDown!. Orton, who won the match for SmackDown!, was able to escape the attack. Then, on the December 2 episode ofSmackDown!,Undertaker called Orton to face him inside Hell in a Cell at Armageddon, which was made official.

The pay-per-view event featured the buildup of a rivalry among twotag teams,a group of at least two wrestlers. The two groups wereBatistaandRey MysterioversusBig Show and Kane.On the November 11 episode ofSmackDown!,an InterpromotionalStreet Fightmatch was scheduled between Batista andEdge.Edge, who earlier in the night, pleaded to Batista not go through the match. Batista, however, declined to cancel the match.Outside the arena, General ManagerTheodore Longwas outside talking to Raw General ManagerEric Bischoff,who had just arrived to the show. As Long and Bischoff were talking,Chris Mastersshowed up and grabbed Long from behind and placed him in afull nelsonsubmissionhold, which he calls the Master Lock.After the assault on Long, Bischoff and Masters got into a limousine and drove away from the arena. Rey Mysterio,Matt Hardy,andJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield(JBL) got into JBL's limousine and followed Bishoff and Masters. Inside the arena, Kane and the Big Show showed up andchokeslammedBatista.The chokeslam resulted in Batistalegitimatelyinjuring his back.On the November 21 episode ofRaw,one of WWE's primary television programs, SmackDown! superstars, Batista, Randy Orton, JBL, Rey Mysterio, andBobby Lashley,arrived to the show's arena. The Raw superstars met the SmackDown! superstars and a brawl broke out between both rosters. The fight led to Kane and the Big Show to double chokeslam Batista on top of a car, which was scripted so that Batista could attend to his injury.On the November 25 episode ofSmackDown!,Batista was scheduled to defend hisWorld Heavyweight Championshipagainst Orton in aNo Holds Barred match.Batista retained his title after the Raw roster showed up to the arena and began a fight with the SmackDown! roster. Kane and the Big Show double chokeslammed Batista into the announcer's table.

Event

Other on-screen personnel

Role:	Name:
Englishcommentators	Michael Cole
	Tazz
Spanish commentators	Carlos Cabrera
	Hugo Savinovich
Ring announcer	Tony Chimel
Referees	Nick Patrick
	Charles Robinson
	Jim Korderas
	Brian Hebner

Pre-show

Prior to thepay-per-view,Jamie NobledefeatedFunakionSunday Night Heat.

Main card

The first match was a match betweenMatt HardyandJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield(JBL) (withJillian Hall). JBL would have most of the offense for the entire match, since at the beginning of the match, Hardy got caught up, neck first, between the top and middle rope, and stayed there for a little while as JBL proceeded to choke, punch and kick his head in. After attacking Hardy for a few minutes, JBL illegally ripped off a turnbuckle pad, sent Hardy into it and executed aClothesline From Hellfor the win.

In the second match,The Mexicools(Super CrazyandPsicosis) facedMNM(Joey MercuryandJohnny Nitro) (withMelina). Psicosis and Super Crazy performed many high-flying moves, landing a corkscrew as well as a tope con hilo over the referee's back. Melina got involved, tripping up Psicosis and taking away his momentum. MNM used their double teaming tactics to wear down Psicosis, keeping him isolated from making the tag. Once the tag was made, Super Crazy controlled most of the offense for the rest of the match. Melina tried to get involved again, but was sent down for her troubles. Super Crazy executed a moonsault on Mercury, but Nitro broke the pinfall, leading tothe Snapshotfor the win.

In the third match,Booker T(withSharmell) facedChris Benoitin match four of a best of seven series match for the vacantWWE United States Championship.There were multiple chops and suplexes from both wrestlers. They seemed to be a little off their game however, floundering a bit at times. Several Crossface attempts, as well as a low blow/scissor kick combination from Sharmell and Booker all failed to win the match for both wrestlers. With Booker down, Benoit executed aDiving headbutt,only for a near-fall. Benoit once again went for thecrossface,but this time Booker rolled through and hit refereeJim Korderas.Benoit was quick to apply theSharpshooter,forcing Booker to submit but the referee was out. Sharmell came in and hit Benoit with the broom, but that did not affect him. As he was distracted, Booker attacked Benoit, setting up for the Book End, which was reversed into a DDT and Benoit forced Booker to submit with a Crossface for the victory.

In the fourth match,Bobby LashleyfacedWilliam RegalandPaul Burchillin a2-on-1 Handicap Match.Lashley was in control for most of the match. He used theDominatoron Burchill to win the match.

In the fifth match,JuventudfacedKid Kashfor theWWE Cruiserweight Championship.In the end, Kash went for a springboard moonsault, but caught a pair of knees to the midsection. Juventud then executed a huricanrana off the top rope, and executed a Juvi Driver for the two count. Kash countered a front flip leg drop with aDead Levelto win the title.

In the sixth match,WWE Tag Team ChampionsRey MysterioandWorld Heavyweight ChampionBatistafacedWorld Tag Team ChampionsBig ShowandKanein an Interpromotional Tag Team Champions vs Champions match. Each team demonstrated their strength, with Mysterio being the only man out of place. The match evolved into a brawl, with Batista and Big Show wrestling over the broadcast table, as Mysterio executed619to Kane. He went for theWest Coast Pop,but Kane caught him in midair,chokeslamminghim for the win.

Main event

In the main event,The UndertakerfacedRandy Orton(withBob Orton) insideHell in a Cell.During the match, Undertaker hit Orton with a steel chair, bloodying Orton. Orton hit Undertaker with the steel steps, bloodying Undertaker also. "Cowboy" Bob Orton tried intervening, but Undertaker executed a Big Boot, causing the Cell and Bob to collide, causing a laceration. Orton executed a Diving Splash through a table on Undertaker for a near-fall. Orton ducked a punch from Undertaker that caught refereeNick Patrick,bloodying him as well. As referees and EMTs came down, Bob entered the Cell. Orton executed anRKO,but there was no referee to make the count.Charles Robinsonmade the count, but Undertaker kicked out at two. The Undertaker executed aLast Rideon Orton but Bob broke up the pinfall, leading Undertaker to attack Bob. Undertaker attempted aTombstone Piledriveron Orton but Orton reversed into a Tombstone on Undertaker for a near-fall. Bob tried to get involved again but Undertaker attacked Bob. Undertaker hit Bob and Orton with an Urn and executed a Tombstone on Bob. Undertaker executed a Tombstone Piledriver on Orton to win the match.

Aftermath

In the "Best of Seven" series,Booker Tended up winning the vacantWWE United States Championshipon the January 13, 2006 edition ofSmackDowninPhiladelphia,with the help ofRandy Orton.The feud betweenRandy OrtonandThe Undertakerended in theHell in a Cellmatch after the feud ran for about nine months.BatistaandRey Mysterio,who were theWWE Tag Team Championshipholders at the time, lost the title to the team ofMNMafter Batista suffered a legitimate injury in early 2006, sidelining him for up to seven months.Big ShowandKanecontinued to reign as World Tag Team Champions until April 2006.

Results

No.	Results	Stipulations	Times
1H	Jamie NobledefeatedFunaki	Singles match	3:30
2	John "Bradshaw" Layfield(withJillian Hall) defeatedMatt Hardy	Singles match	6:20
3	MNM(Joey MercuryandJohnny Nitro) (withMelina) defeatedThe Mexicools(Super CrazyandPsicosis)	Tag team match	8:50
4	Chris BenoitdefeatedBooker T(withSharmell) by submission	Singles match for the vacantWWE United States Championship Fourth in the best of seven series	20:11
5	Bobby LashleydefeatedWilliam RegalandPaul Burchill	Handicap match	3:30
6	Kid KashdefeatedJuventud(c)	Singles match for theWWE Cruiserweight Championship	9:00
7	Big Show and KanedefeatedRey MysterioandBatista	Tag team match	8:33
8	The UndertakerdefeatedRandy Orton(withBob Orton)	Hell in a Cell match	31:30
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match H – the match was broadcast prior to the pay-per-view onSunday Night Heat

External links

• Official Armageddon 2005 website