Armageddon (2006) — WWE SmackDown! pay-per-view in Richmond

Main matches and card

The card combined standard singles and tag contests with specialty stipulation matches. The advertised main event was a tag team bout that closed the show, while other prominent matches used gimmick rules associated with two veteran performers.

• Main event: Batista and John Cena defeated King Booker and Finlay.
• Last Ride match: The Undertaker defeated Mr. Kennedy in a match contested under "Last Ride" stipulations.
• Inferno match: Kane defeated Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP) in the show's fiery specialty contest.

Match types and presentation

This edition of Armageddon featured distinctive match forms. The Inferno match traditionally surrounds the ring with open flames, creating a dramatic visual and a win condition tied to incapacitating or setting an opponent alight. The Last Ride match is associated with The Undertaker and emphasizes a more theatrical, high-stakes format compared with standard singles matches. Such stipulations were used to heighten the perceived danger and finality of featured feuds.

Background and storylines

WWE built the pay-per-view around ongoing rivalries on the SmackDown! brand. Promos, weekly televised encounters and interference in prior matches established the pairings and justified the specialty stipulations. As with most WWE events, the outcomes were predetermined to advance characters and longer-term narratives rather than to replicate athletic tournament results.

Reception and legacy

Armageddon (2006) is remembered for its blend of spectacle and character-driven storytelling: a tag-team main event featuring two high-profile performers, a theatrical Last Ride match, and the visually memorable Inferno match. It exemplifies WWE's mid-2000s approach to pay-per-views, in which brand-exclusive cards and specialty matches were used to differentiate monthly events and conclude year-end story arcs.

Notable facts

• The event was part of WWE's annual Armageddon series and reflected the company's brand split era.
• Specialty matches on the card reinforced the individual personas of veteran wrestlers and served as climactic points in their feuds.
• As with other WWE pay-per-views, the show combined athletics, staged theatre and long-term storytelling to entertain a global audience.