Overview

Armageddon (2004) was a World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view show produced for the SmackDown! brand. Promoted by World Wrestling Entertainment, the event took place on December 12, 2004, at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia. It was the fifth edition of WWE's Armageddon series, a recurring December event that began in 1999 and traditionally featured high‑profile matches to close the wrestling year (Armageddon series).

The show was exclusive to the SmackDown! roster and comprised ten matches. All four of SmackDown!'s championships were defended on the card, and the lineup combined established main‑event stars with rising performers. Key participants included John "Bradshaw" Layfield, Booker T, Eddie Guerrero, The Undertaker, The Big Show, Kurt Angle, John Cena and others.

Notable matches and results

The main event was a Fatal Four‑Way in which John "Bradshaw" Layfield successfully retained the WWE Championship against Booker T, Eddie Guerrero and The Undertaker. The match carried a stipulation intended to limit outside interference: had anyone aided Layfield, he would have forfeited the title. On the undercard, The Big Show won a four‑on‑one handicap match against Kurt Angle, Mark Jindrak and Luther Reigns, earning victory after pinning Jindrak following an F‑5. Another highlighted bout saw John Cena retain the WWE United States Championship in a Street Fight against Jesús after executing his finishing maneuver.

Match list (selected)

  • Fatal Four‑Way — John "Bradshaw" Layfield (c) vs. Booker T vs. Eddie Guerrero vs. The Undertaker — JBL retained the WWE Championship.
  • Handicap match — The Big Show vs. Kurt Angle, Mark Jindrak & Luther Reigns — Big Show won after pinning Jindrak.
  • Street Fight — John Cena (c) vs. Jesús — Cena retained the United States Championship.
  • Other matches included midcard and tag team contests that showcased SmackDown!'s depth on the night.

Context and legacy

Armageddon 2004 reinforced the direction of SmackDown!'s late‑2004 storylines: JBL's reign as a top heel champion, the continued prominence of veteran stars such as Booker T and The Undertaker, and the build of younger talents like John Cena, who was consolidating his status as a singles competitor with United States Championship defenses. Events like this served as set pieces to transition rivalries into the following season and to provide decisive moments (title defenses, stipulations, and multi‑person matches) that shaped short‑term booking.

Notable facts

  1. Armageddon 2004 was the SmackDown! brand's December pay‑per‑view that year and the fifth overall Armageddon event (Armageddon).
  2. The show featured a mix of singles, multi‑person, and hardcore‑style matches (for example, the Street Fight).
  3. Several performers on the card—JBL, Booker T, Eddie Guerrero, The Undertaker, Big Show, Kurt Angle, and John Cena—were central figures in WWE programming at the time.

For further details on match times, full card order, and post‑event storyline developments, consult contemporary event reports or archival records held by wrestling databases and official promotion materials (WWE pages are a starting point).