Armageddon (2002) — WWE pay-per-view event
An overview of WWE's Armageddon 2002: date, venue, key matches (Triple H vs Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle vs Big Show, Benoit vs Guerrero), match types, outcomes and storyline significance.
Overview
Armageddon (2002) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by World Wrestling Entertainment. The event took place on December 15, 2002, at the Office Depot Center in Sunrise, Florida. It was the third show under the Armageddon name and presented matches for both the Raw and SmackDown! brand rosters following WWE's brand split era.
Image gallery
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Main matches and stipulations
The card featured several high-profile bouts. The centerpiece of the Raw side was a Three Stages of Hell contest between Triple H and Shawn Michaels for the World Heavyweight Championship. A Three Stages of Hell match is a multi-fall encounter where each fall has a different stipulation; at this event the three falls were a street fight, a steel cage match, and a ladder match.
On the SmackDown! portion of the show the WWE Championship was contested when Kurt Angle faced The Big Show. The match ended after outside interference by Brock Lesnar, which played into ongoing storylines around the title picture.
Notable undercard and match styles
Another marquee undercard match was a submission match between Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero. Submission matches emphasize holds and technical wrestling; Benoit forced Guerrero to submit with the Crippler Crossface. The variety of stipulations on this card—from street fight violence to technical submission work and ladder-based finishes—made Armageddon 2002 a showcase of different wrestling styles used to settle major feuds.
Context and storyline significance
The event advanced several ongoing rivalries. The Three Stages of Hell bout was the culmination of a heated programme between two of Raw's top stars, demonstrating both performers' willingness to work in brutal, multi-format matches. Kurt Angle's contested win over Big Show, aided by outside interference, continued a broader narrative involving challengers and opportunists targeting the WWE Championship. Matches such as Benoit vs Guerrero highlighted the company’s midcard emphasis on in-ring credibility and technical story-telling.
Reception and legacy
Armageddon 2002 is remembered for its intense main-event structure and the collision of differing match types on a single card. While not universally acclaimed as a single classic show, elements such as the Three Stages of Hell spectacle and the submission encounter are often cited when discussing the early-2000s era of WWE, a period defined by character-driven feuds and increasingly elaborate match stipulations.
Further reading
Questions and answers
Q: What was the name of the professional wrestling pay-per-view show?
A: The professional wrestling pay-per-view show was called Armageddon (2002).
Q: When and where was it held?
A: It was held on December 15, 2002 at Office Depot Center in Sunrise, Florida.
Q: What match determined the World Heavyweight Championship?
A: The main match for the Raw brand saw Triple H defeat Shawn Michaels in a Three Stages of Hell match for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Q: How did Triple H win the first stage of this match?
A: Triple H won the first stage, which was a Street Fight, after performing a Pedigree on Michaels and pinning him.
Q: How did Shawn Michaels win the second stage of this match?
A: Shawn Michaels won the second stage, which was a Steel cage match, by pinfall after he jumped off the top of the steel cage onto Triple H and through a table.
Q: Who defended their WWE Championship in SmackDown!'s main event?
A: Kurt Angle defended his WWE Championship in SmackDown!'s main event against The Big Show.
Q: How did Chris Benoit win his undercard match against Eddie Guerrero?
A: Chris Benoit defeated Eddie Guerrero in a submission match by making Guerrero tap out to the Crippler Crossface.
Related articles
Author
AlegsaOnline.com Armageddon (2002) — WWE pay-per-view event Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/5652
Sources
- wwe.com : "Armageddon 2002: Venue"
- wwe.com : "Armageddon 2002: Results"