Original Airdate: Friday, December 1st, 2006
HSBC Arena
Buffalo, New York
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Teddy Long is out and says that if you thought Survivor Series was hot, just wait until Armageddon. Boy has the bar been set low. He announces that Kane and MVP will faceoff in an Inferno Match and that Mr. Kennedy will go ONE ON ONE with the UNDERTAKER! Oh yeah, the show's in two weeks. December is such a terrible time for wrestling typically and they're giving us two shows there. Right after a terrible November show. Anyway, he brings out our new World Heavyweight Champion, Batista. Out comes King Booker and Queen Sharmell to interrupt. Booker is furious that Teddy Long changed the stipulation right before the match and that Batista cheated to win. Batista wants to go right now and then Finlay comes out to interrupt. Finlay says that Booker doesn't deserve a rematch especially since he's never beaten him. Finlay says he gets the match with Batista, which Booker isn't happy about. Teddy Long intervenes and comes up with a solution. Tonight it will be Finlay vs. King Booker vs. Batista.
MNM vs. Paul London & Brian Kendrick
The match break down pretty quickly, which leads to a double dropkick from London and Kendrick and then a double dive outside. Kendrick misses a top rope crossbody back in the ring and MNM isolate him in their corner. London gets the hot tag and hits an inverted atomic drop into a dropsault for a 2 count. Mercury dumps London out of the ring and he's attacked by William Regal and Dave Taylor behind the referee's back. They throw him back in and MNM hits the Snapshot for the victory. The match was solid for what it was.
Match Rating: **
They show highlights from Survivor Series and that it will be Undertaker vs. MVP tonight.
Mr. Kennedy is backstage with MVP and they argue about Survivor Series. MVP says that they probably could have helped each other out with their upcoming matches.
Triple Threat Match For The World Heavyweight Championship
King Booker vs. Finlay vs. Batista
Batista gets the hot start and he's shaking the ropes as we go into a commercial break. During the break, Batista drove Finlay into the ring, but then got hit with a kick from Booker. When we come back, Finlay hits an elbow on Batista who is draped over the mat. Finlay hits a DDT, but Batista is able to kick out. Booker finally gets back involved by hitting Batista in the back of the head with a scissor kick, but again the champ kicks out. Booker and Finlay eventually start working together. In a weird spot, Finlay goes for the shillelagh and Michael Cole tries to make it look like it would be a disqualification, but there are none. Out comes Hornswoggle and that provides a distraction for Finlay to hit both opponents with it, but Batista is still able to kick out. Again, there are no disqualifications. Batista fights back and hits a spinebuster on Booker. He hits Finlay with a Spear and then the Batista Bomb for the victory. That was kind of an abrupt finish. Obviously Finlay was going to eat the pinfall here, so at least that made sense. The action was pretty good here for a TV match that was thrown together. I'm not sure why it wasn't the main event, but they were given a good amount of time.
Match Rating: ***
Booker and Finlay are arguing backstage with Teddy Long. Teddy says that they'll have their chance to get their hands on Batista, but in a tag team match. At Armageddon, it will be Finlay and King Booker against Batista and a partner of his choosing.
They show the highlight of Vickie Guerrero getting accidentally hit by Chris Benoit. We go to Chavo and Vickie, who is in a neck brace. It would have made a lot more sense if it actually looked anything like there was any chance it could have been done on purpose.
Chris Benoit vs. Chavo Guerrero
Well, I guess we're watching this one again. After an early commercial, Benoit hits Chavo with a knee to the gut. Chavo is able to pull Benoit into the corner, but it doesn't look like he hit the pole. Chavo follows up with a suplex onto the top rope. Chavo works Benoit over for a little bit until Benoit hits him with a superplex. Chavo goes for the Three Amigos, but Benoit blocks it and hits two of his own. On the third attempt, Chavo pushes Benoit towards Vickie, but this time he stops. Chavo rolls him up and that's all. So this is the second non-title match tonight where the champion lost. The crowd isn't buying this feud and neither am I 17 years later. The match was fine.
Match Rating: *3/4
They show Batista backstage on the phone possibly with his potential partner.
Layla vs. Kristal
Layla hits a series of clotheslines and Kristal rolls out of the ring to regroup. She comes in and hits some awkward offense. I'm sure they are both to blame, but Kristal is the one not looking crisp here. It doesn't help that your opponent has limited training as well. Kristal snaps her back and throws her to the mat and that's all? This was really, really bad. Layla would go on to improve at least a little.
Match Rating: 0 Stars
Batista tells Teddy that his partner at Armageddon will be John Cena.
MVP vs. Undertaker
MVP tries to hit Taker with some right hands, but they have no effect and next thing you know, Taker hits him with Old School. Taker hits a leaping clothesline and then unties the top turnbuckle. MVP is able to fight his way out of getting thrown into it, but runs into a big boot instead. Taker hits Snake Eyes and is dominating MVP like he's Luther Reigns or one of the other no name duds they threw his way. Taker goes out and grabs a chair, but MVP ducks it. Out comes Mr. Kennedy and he tries to throw MVP in the ring. MVP turns it around and throws Kennedy in. Kane's music hits and he's out to get MVP. The distraction allows Taker to grab him in the ring and now all four are in the ring. They hit double boots, but when they go for chokeslams, Kennedy and MVP get out of there. So I guess we have no finish here and more of Kane, which is never a good thing.
Match Rating: 1/2*
The first hour of the show was quite good, but the last 30 minutes or so were terrible. Taker had no interest in making MVP look like any kind of a threat and the women's match was possibly the worst worked match of 2006. Armageddon isn't looking like a strong show after a bad Survivor Series and (spoiler alert) ever worse December To Dismember.
Overall Rating: 50%
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