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J.R.'s Armageddon Thoughts..

Posted: Dec 15th 2008 By: mikeiles

Armageddon was a fun wrestling show of which to be a part. Selfishly, I wish Tazz and I could have stayed busier. Sitting for 2 hours and then having to ?turn it on? for the main event is challenging. Nonetheless, we had a great ringside seat for a show that came off better than many expected.

With a 3 week build and nestled between the Survivor Series and the Royal Rumble (6 weeks away), many fans weren?t expecting how well this event actually delivered.

Buffalo was hospitable and the crowd seemed to do their share.

Did Jeff Hardy go from enigma to icon with his WWE Title victory? Felt that way to me.

The Triple Threat main event (I?m Smackdown biased) was one of the best 3 man bouts in the WWE in a long time. Amazing effort by all three men. Innovative and surprising are 2 words that come to mind when describing it. In all due respect, no other bout on the card could have successfully followed it.

Cena & Jericho have definite chemistry. Really solid Raw feature.

Randy Orton has come back hotter than he has ever been. Batista winning surprised me, which keeps this rivalry alive.

Funny stuff w/Santino (as always), Boogeyman, and Goldust.

Mae Young is amazing when one thinks about her age and willingness to still be a part of the business.

I missed Miz/Morrison on the show. They have gotten really good. Wish they were Smackdown regulars.

The announcers had fun during the Santa?s Helper match.

Rey vs Punk was a winner as Punk?s win surprised me. Fan favorite bouts are challenging for the talent, but these two pulled it off. Rey?s lucky he didn?t receive a broken nose.

Finlay-Henry was basic, straight forward and the use of ?toys? helped it. Nice physicality.

The JBL-HBK business has my interest. Anxious to see how this one evolves.

Kozlov-Matt Hardy was better than many predicted. The big Russian continues to improve while Matt is grossly underrated, as he is a student of the game and he helps ECW immensely.

Other stuff:

IF Bobby Lashley can evolve into a skilled, MMA fighter, a potential match with former WWE alum could be a promoter?s dream. There are lots of variables in this equation but ?potentially? this match up could eventually look good from a marketer?s perspective. I realize that Brock is one a much higher level, as we speak, but if Lashley hooks up with the right people no one can deny how good Bobby can potentially become.

I can?t remember 3 more deserving Heisman candidates but obviously I?m elated OU?s Sam Bradford won it Saturday night. I personally know Sam and he is a great young man, but the Sooners need to ?win the last game? as has been their mantra all year.

What occurs at the Royal Rumble will likely tell many stories to what WM25 is going to look like. Maybe old news to some fans, but the ?road to Wrestlemania? really begins in Detroit in late January.

We?re still accepting your orders but it?s on the cusp of being a ?photo finish? regarding shipping deadlines.

As I write this I am in Baltimore, which has so much wrestling history and heritage. Bruno vs. Superstar Billy Graham...the Great American Bash...and Tuesday night taping of Friday Night Smackdown and ECW. This will be the final SD/ECW dual taping for a while.

Next week we head to Toronto, another great city for wrestling from the Maple Leaf Garden to two Wrestlemania?s and a big, holiday SD/Raw Supershow next Monday that is ?this close? to being a complete sell out.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R.

Tags: Jim Ross, WWE, Mae Young, ECW