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Armageddon 2003
By: The TBL Staff
Click here to view this month's PPV
Roundtable participants!
Pre-Prediction Comments:
Joe Balrog:
Hey everyone. I'm usually the bitter one who could give two shits about the upcoming PPV. This PPV is no different for me. I don't know why, but for some reason I'm just not "clicking" with the past couple of PPV events. Maybe this one will be different.
Shawn Stinson:
No time for b.s. I'm in Vegas baby. But here's my breakdown on the matches.
Roland G.:
This isn't exactly the most anticipated card ever, but we'll try to get it right anyway.
Trevor:
There will be no fancy discussion today. Armageddon on Sunday will be a bare-bones RAW presentation with a few possibilities for gems but an otherwise dull presentation, despite strong TV leading into the event.
The Matches
Booker T vs. Mark Henry
Battle of the Sexes
Chris Jericho/Christian vs. Trish Stratus/Lita
Shawn Michaels vs. Batista
Intercontinental Championship Match
Special Guest Referee: Mick Foley
Rob Van Dam vs. Randy Orton
World Tag Team Championship Match
Tag Team Turmoil
World Championship Match
Kane vs. Bill Goldberg vs. Triple H
Booker T vs. Mark Henry
Shawn Stinson
Prediction: Booker T downs Mark Henry
Thoughts:
Chris Vining
Prediction: Booker T by Pinfall
Thoughts: I think I finally figured why Mark Henry has been built up so much. The WWE wants Booker to get a clean win over him to help his credibility. Beating the World's Strongest Man would certainly help Booker.
Eddie
Prediction: Booker T
Thoughts:
Roland G.
Prediction: Booker T
Thoughts: This one is probably the hardest for me to pick - mainly because my gut is telling me to go with Henry. I don't know why - Henry isn't a draw and is a failed bit, but I could easily see them doing something stupid like that. But I'm going with Booker because Orton will need a feud after he beats RVD and Booker is the natural choice. And a Booker vs Orton match at Wrestlemania does have a nice ring to it.
Joe Balrog
Prediction: Doesn't matter
Thoughts: As we look back through the great matches of 2003 - will this match even matter? I repeat my claim about Chris Jericho that I stated above, but this time with respect to Booker T.
Trevor Hunnicutt
Prediction: Booker T
Thoughts: There has been some debate about whether it is good to utilize Mark Henry and Booker T in this environment. It is because that is their job, to use the talent in the way that works best with them, with the program, and for the company, and that’s what they’ve done. WWE has created a good, fundamentally sound feud between Booker T and Mark Henry that has clicked and done something important with Mark Henry, which is not often accomplished.
Return to the Match Listing
Battle of the Sexes
Chris Jericho/Christian vs. Trish Stratus/Lita
Shawn Stinson
Prediction: Stratus and Lita win when Jericho lets Trish pin him
Thoughts: And heck, who wouldn't want to be pin by her?
Chris Vining
Prediction: Trish and Lita - with The Sensei of Mattitude V Oonnneeee-uuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! help.
Thoughts: Matt Hardy hates Christian and will interfere in the match. He will take Christian and his peeps and show them Mattitude rules. In the process the lovely ladies will stick it to Jericho before he could stick it to them.
Eddie
Prediction: Lita and Trish
Thoughts:
Roland G.
Prediction: Stratus & Lita
Thoughts: There's only one reason this is on the card in the first place: to further the Jericho/Trish storyline. The Christian/Lita thing is done after this, but I see Jericho turning on Christian to help Trish win so he can get back in her good graces. I don't think it will be a long-lived face turn, but it will help keep the story going.
Joe Balrog
Prediction: Pathetic idea for a match
Thoughts: Come on. Chris Jericho (though I don't like him that much) is a great wrestler. Why isn't he feuding with a top tier guy for a title?
Trevor Hunnicutt
Prediction: Trish Stratus and Lita
Thoughts: If WWE plays their cards right, this could be a successful angle. Either way, this inter-gender match is going be a huge gamble in front of wrestling fans. As this angle seems to be wrapping up within the next few weeks, it does seem as if WWE has hotshotted the whole thing, when instead of a quick unorganized PPV match, they could have lead to a meaningful multiple month program. If this is the case, then it’s just filler. This match is going to need to result in an angle that turns the whole angle around, and if that means Chris Jericho turning face, then so be it.
Return to the Match Listing
Shawn Michaels vs. Batista
Shawn Stinson
Prediction: Batista shocks the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels
Thoughts:
Chris Vining
Prediction: Batista with outside help from Ric Flair
Thoughts: Batista is too big and strong for HBK to last long. Flair will get involved as always and help HBK get defeated. An interesting prelude to the Ric Flair vs. HBK match at a MSG house show coming up soon.
Eddie
Prediction: Batista
Thoughts:
Roland G.
Prediction: Batista
Thoughts: Exactly what sense would it make for HBK to win this? None. You can't build a monster like Batista by jobbing him to guys that don't wrestle a full schedule. I think he should beat the guy clean - but he wont. There will be some cheating.
Joe Balrog
Prediction: Hmmm, I might have to go with HBK
Thoughts: I think that HBK will get this one. I don't know why, but I think he will.
Trevor Hunnicutt
Prediction: Batista
Thoughts: I’m unsure about who should win this match because on one hand, Shawn Michaels is officially becoming a part of the company instead of novelty act and he needs one strong showing at this point, however, Batista can be considered in need of the same thing more because he is, in essence, a new star. At this point, Michaels is bringing more to the table than we expected, and Batista is bringing more to the table than he has in the past, a successful learning experience for him, despite his injury. The best thing is probably to go with Batista winning, but Shawn Michaels making a strong showing, but nothing to match Batista’s.
Return to the Match Listing
Intercontinental Championship
Rob Van Dam vs. Randy Orton
Shawn Stinson
Prediction: Randy Orton upsets RVD
Thoughts:
Chris Vining
Prediction: RVD by Pinfall (with some creative help from Mick)
Thoughts: You don't actually think RVD will get to hold the title for long do you? Mick will help RVD keep the title, but Eric will setup a rematch for the Rumble with some kind of creative stipulation.
Eddie
Prediction: Randy Orton
Thoughts:
Roland G.
Prediction: Randy Orton
Thoughts: RVD has lost favor with management. When they tried to give him the IC belt to help with his attitude, it didn't work and I'm sorry, I'm getting a little tired of his act. He goes through the motions and you can really tell. I know why he does, but he is a shell of what he used to be in ECW. Blame that on whomever you want. Orton is, like it or not, the future of this business. He's got the look, his charisma is coming along, and we all know Trippers likes him. All of that translates into bigger things. And since he is high profile on RAW, it will help bring the IC belt back into the spotlight.
Joe Balrog
Prediction: Don't care, but probably RVD
Thoughts: I wish that the IC title was as it used to be - where the guy who held the title was the second best guy in the company.
Trevor Hunnicutt
Prediction: Randy Orton
Thoughts: Unfortunately, Rob Van Dam is yesterday’s news. At this point, it seems almost in stone that Van Dam will end his career not having done what his talent world lead you to believe he would. ECW will be remembered for its ideologue, its fans, and its many contributions to the world of wrestling. Sadly, it will not be remembered for Rob Van Dam, and he will only be a small footnote (a popular one, perhaps) in WWE history. Randy Orton is the object of the push here, and the match is his to win. I am indifferent to the late addition of Foley as special guest referee.
Return to the Match Listing
World Tag Team Championship
Tag Team Turmoil
Shawn Stinson
Prediction: Cade and Jinkrak take the tag team belts
Thoughts:
Chris Vining
Prediction: Cade and Jindrak
Thoughts: Too many teams to keep track of. The Dudleys have had the belts for too long, so they will lose it. La Resistance, The Superheroes, and Val & Storm are just filler. Test and Steiner are never on the same page, and Stacy will keep them from winning. That leaves Lance, I mean Garrison, Cade and Jindrak as the winners by default.
Eddie
Prediction: Cade and Jindrak
Thoughts:
Roland G.
Prediction: Cade & Jindrak
Thoughts: This is going to be one big cluster you-know-what. You can see the desperation push for Cade and Jindrak, but they are not pulling it off. I suspect they will win and go completely heel (and hopefully that will make them interesting). The bad news is that it means a longer program with The Dudleys and it will bore me. Personally, I'd like to see Steiner and Test win, but what do I know?
Joe Balrog
Prediction: Don't care
Thoughts: I want to see how Storm does - he's getting funnier each time he's on TV.
Trevor Hunnicutt
Prediction: The Dudley Boyz
Thoughts: As much as it would be nice to see another team go over in this match, for all intents and purposes, the tag team division is dry. At this point, I can’t see any team that isn’t already strong getting over respectably, and it’s time to rethink the division’s purpose on RAW. La Resistance, make over or not, are the same boring gimmick team they were when they were first introduced. Comedy heels? Yes, but any kind of heel still has to have integrity if they are meant to draw. If not, why waste time? WWE’s effort to capitalize on a genuine sentiment of anger and confusion post-September 11 with world politics has turned into just another block that has effectively turned WWE from an exciting, well-run machine, into nothing special and borderline insulting. In the entertainment world of 2003, nothing special usually means yesterday’s news, and with a company that has no credibility, it’s even worse. That company is WWE. Scott Steiner and Test are also stale, because of both their ability, which is little, and their unrealistic angle with Stacy Keibler, which has been sabotaged at least five times. Val Venis and Lance Storm have also failed to get over, likely because they are prelim guys and that’s how they are treated. Rosey and the Hurricane have weathered the storm of a barrage of sometime-funny skits, probably because of Shane Helms’ charm. While, and I have been a major proponent of what WWE is doing with Garrison Cade and Mark Jindrak, WWE has been effective in working for the future with this team, I have a feeling that they are trying to push them too quickly. It is alright that they are in this turmoil match, because of the structure of the tag team division, but it’s extremely they don’t hotshot this. For example, Randy Orton is being groomed for a top position in the company, however, he has yet to receive a shot at the championship. Anyone who receives such a push will benefit greatly. The finish of this match needs to be made out of necessity, not design.
Return to the Match Listing
World Heavyweight Championship
Kane vs. Bill Goldberg vs. Triple H
Shawn Stinson
Prediction: Goldberg wins over Kane and HHH McMahon
Thoughts:
Chris Vining
Prediction: Goldberg by DQ
Thoughts: Something I heard this week bugs me. Kevin Nash said in an interview that he was ready to return, but his injury timetable put his return in about a month from now. That leaves me with a feeling that he will get involved in this match. His interference will keep the belt on Goldberg, but Kane will get a one-on-one with Goldie at the Rumble.
Eddie
Prediction: Goldberg
Thoughts:
Roland G.
Prediction: Goldberg. Is there any real doubt here?
Thoughts: Well, we've all heard the rumors about the big Goldberg vs. Lesnar match for Wrestlemania XX. And it really doesn't serve any purpose for them to have Bill drop the title now to lose momentum going into that match. Kane hasn't been built well enough to carry the title and Trippers has movie duties. I'm not as adverse to the big man matches, so I will probably enjoy this one a bit. For me, it's still neat to see Goldy going against WWE stars. But I'm easy to please.
Joe Balrog
Prediction: Goldberg
Thoughts: Why is Triple H involved in the title scene so quickly after returning? He had his shot at the belt at Survivor Series, now it's Kane's turn.
Trevor Hunnicutt
Prediction: Goldberg
Thoughts: WWE and an otherwise fruitless world championship feud have benefitted from holding off on any confrontation between the Kane gimmick and Bill Goldberg, as well as increased care and attention to Goldberg’s feud with Triple H. However, just like last month, the world title match has gotten lost in the shuffle, and suffered—yes suffered—from Triple H taping the movie Blade 3 right in the middle of it. Everything else in terms of the feud has been underwhelming but solid. I see Goldberg retaining for another month logically.
Return to the Match Listing
Roundtable Participants
Shawn Stinson, writer of The Focal Point
Chris Vining, writer of Nonsensical Notions
Eddie, Writer of News & Analysis
Joe Balrog, writer of RAW Wishes & Balrog Babblings
Trevor Hunnicutt, writer of The Figure Four Leglock & H & S
Roland G., Editor of SaltyHam.com
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The theme song for In Your House: Badd Blood became Steve Blackman's entance music.
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