Wrestling Spoilers & Rumors

With this years Armageddon pay per view is right around the corner, ChampionshipWrestlingOnline takes a look at some of the more memorable matches in the history of the pay per view.

Many in the list are the main events from the offerings featuring the likes of Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, Kurt Angle and Goldberg amongst others. Some of the matches though aren’t from the main event of the evening, with some being memorable for different reasons!

1999: Triple H Vs. Vince McMahon

The end of 1999 saw Triple H determined to establish himself at the top of the WWE food chain. His solution to that was to marry Vince’s daughter Stephanie without her seemingly knowing about it! After seeing the look of horror on his daughter’s face when Triple H played a recording of their wedding on the Titantron, Vince needed to sort out his new son in law in true WWE fashion - a no holds barred match! This match would usher in the “Helmsley-McMahon” era, which gave wrestling fans quality entertainment.

2000: Six Man Hell In A Cell

In 2000 the WWE roster was bursting at the seems with main event competitors. A way to compensate this? Place them all in one match! The main event was the first ever Hell in a Cell match to have six wrestlers, as the then WWE Champion, Kurt Angle faced Steve Austin, Triple H, The Undertaker, Rikishi, and The Rock in a match where the first person to score a pinfall or a submission would be crowned the new Champion. The main event capped off a superb pay per view card, which also featured the likes of Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Kane, Eddie Guerrero, Edge & Christian and The Hardys.

2002: Shawn Michaels Vs. Triple H – 3 Stages Of Hell

2002 was memorable for the fact that Shawn Michaels returned to active competition having not competed since he lost the WWE Championship to Steve Austin back in 1998. Upon his return Triple H would be jealous of his former DX partner setting up a number of meetings between the pair. At SummerSlam, a pay-per-view four months before Armageddon, Shawn Michaels defeated Triple H in an Unsanctioned Street Fight and then three months later at the Survivor Series, Michaels won an Elimination Chamber match to win the World Heavyweight Championship. After the Hear Break Kid had won the Championship Triple H challenged his former friend to a match where each pinfall victory would lead to a different stipulation.

2003: Goldberg Vs. Triple H Vs. Kane

2003 saw Goldberg finally arrive in the WWE, some say it was two years to late, however fans were just glad to see the former WCW Champion back on their television sets once more! Goldberg would win the Chamionship from Triple H and defend it against him at the previous pay per view - The Survivor Series. During that match Kane would get involved, leading to the then general manager of Raw Eric Bischoff announcing a triple threat match to headline the last pay per view of the year.

2004: Kurt Vs. Santa Claus

Armageddon 2004 is not remembered for being the best of pay per views in what was mostly a transitional year for the company, there was room for some festive fun though, in the Kurt Angle invitational match! The Kurt Angle invitational matches would see him issue an open challenge to anybody in the arena, I’m sure on this occasion he didn’t think Jolly old Santa would respond! Kurt Angle didn’t show much seasonal joy to his opponent though, forcing him to submit with the ankle lock.

2005: Randy Orton Vs. The Undertaker – Hell In A Cell

2005 saw Randy Orton determined to end first the Undertaker’s winning streak at Wrestlemania, and then his career to rubber stamp his status as “The Legend Killer”. The pair had a number of bouts, including a Handicap Casket Match at No Mercy, with Orton’s father, Bob Orton his tag team partner. The Orton’s would place the Undertaker into the Casket and set it on fire. When the Undertaker returned to Smackdown, a Hell In A Cell match was arranged to settle their differences.

2006: Tag Team Ladder Match

In 2006 the tag team division saw an unexpected, yet certainly welcomed rise of the tag team division on Smackdown! The brand showcased the likes of Paul London & Brian Kendrick as the Champions, fending off competition from the likes of MNM (Johnny Nitro & Joey Mercury), The Hardys and William Regal & Dave Taylor. The teams all squared off in a ladder match, which is remembered as one which rivals the famous “TLC” match at Summerslam 2000.

2007: Jeff Hardy Vs. Triple H

Jeff Hardy finally began to establish himself as a wrestler with main event credentials at the end of 2007. He would face Triple H in the semi-main event of the evening, with the winner being guaranteed a shot a the WWE Championship at the next pay per view - The Royal Rumble. Jeff Hardy would record a surprise clean victory over Triple H and face Randy Orton in January 2008.