Reviews & Columns
Reviews
DVD
TV on DVD
Blu-ray
4K UHD
International DVDs
In Theaters
Reviews by Studio
Video Games

Features
Collector Series DVDs
Easter Egg Database
Interviews
DVD Talk Radio
Feature Articles

Columns
Anime Talk
DVD Savant
Horror DVDs
The M.O.D. Squad
Art House
HD Talk
Silent DVD

discussion forum
DVD Talk Forum

Resources
DVD Price Search
Customer Service #'s
RCE Info
Links

Columns




WWE - Armageddon 2007

World Wrestling Entertainment // Unrated // January 15, 2008
List Price: $24.95 [Buy now and save at Amazon]

Review by John Crichton | posted March 7, 2008 | E-mail the Author

The most significant event of this, the eighth annual Armageddon PPV, for me was the return of Chris Jericho. It took him two long years, but he finally came back and was quickly thrust into a title match against Randy Orton (more on that below). In addition, we have another attempt at the Women's Championship by Ms. James (get her on the cover of Playboy so she'll get his push, stat!), as well as a good match between Rey and MVP. This year's event took place at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on December 16, 2007 and ran a total of 2 hours 40 minutes long. Here's the card:

  • United States Championship Match [MVP vs. Rey Mysterio] - While Rey's always a favorite, the more I see of MVP, the more i'm growing to like him (though, i'm still trying to figure out what's up with those breathing strips on his nose...). Anyways, this was an entertaining match, until Rey almost slips on the top rope as he's about to do a west coast pop. However, Cole and JBL were able to use that to sell Rey's injuring "his surgically repaired knee".

  • CM Punk & Kane vs. Big Daddy V & Mark Henry - If you stop and think about it, some things at the WWE don't make sense. A while back, there was one episode of RAW where HHH went through something like 2-3 of their tag teams, while on an episode of SmackDown!, Undertaker took on both Big Daddy V and Mark Henry by himself, and was victorious. So, you would think that Undertaker's brother and one of the most popular wrestlers on ECW (which says a lot) would stand a fighting chance, right? Well, you'd be wrong.

  • Shawn Michaels vs. Mr. Kennedy - Since he started out on SmackDown!, I wasn't able to watch Kennedy from the beginning. However, once he came to RAW, I was pretty impressed with both his wrestling and his mic skills. There was a rumour going around that it was Kennedy that was supposed to turn out to be the illegitimate McMahon son. Now that the writers have swerved Hornswaggle's true parentage, I wonder if they'll revisit that storyline, since it'll give Kennedy the push he deserves. As for this match, well, it wasn't bad - but if were putting together a highlight reel, i'd probably leave this match off of it.

  • Winner Gets A WWE Championship Match at Royal Rumble [Triple H vs. Jeff Hardy] - Jeff is so over with the fans, it's sick. Since this match takes place before Royal Rumble, he's still getting a well-deserved push. It's a shame things have seemingly changed due to the events of the aforementioned Royal Rumble. For some reason, as i'm sitting here watching this match, I realize that there isn't a moment of silence, since Lawler and JR are blabbing throughout the entire thing. Don't get me wrong - I like JR, but a 'lil silence every now and then isn't a bad thing. Anyways, I have to admit that I was surprised at the outcome of this match.

  • Finlay vs. Great Khali - Little people always seem to be used as comic relief in the WWE. That's not to say that Hornswaggle hasn't provided some comic moments, but i've got to admit - the little guy has grown on me. The same could be said for Finlay. He might not be the most technical wrestler, but there's something to be said for his "gruffness". In fact, it even helped me not get annoyed by Khali!

  • WWE Championship Match [Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho] - This match pissed me off. Not because it was poorly wrestled or there were blown spots, but because it sums up my frustration with the WWE's concept of storylines/feuds. After two months of hype and speculation, Jericho makes his way back to the WWE after a two year absence. Three short weeks later, he's called out Orton and is rewarded with a title match that (spoiler alert!) he promptly loses. However, no time is wasted putting him a new (boring) program with "retired" wrestler JBL. I have two problems with this. First, let me say that the buildup to Jericho's return was brilliant. Fans on the internet were buzzing about "breaking the code" and putting together the clues to figure out when Jericho would return. Or if it even was Jericho that the code was referring to. Even if it wasn't a well-kept secret, I give the WWE writers props. However, what Crichton giveth, Crichton taketh away. See, if this were any other wrestler (read: Cena, HHH or HBK), this would be a long-ass program, with a long build-up before the title match and then a few weeks of "the loser" chasing the champ, until he was put into another storyline with a different wrestler. Instead, Jericho's title aspirations (and his promise to "save us" from anymore Orton monologues) have faded with a disappointing quickness.

  • WWE Women's Championship Match [Beth Phoenix vs. Mickie James] - I'm surprised that a women's match is the penultimate match of the event, but I don't mind much since it features two ladies who can actually wrestle AND are easy on the eyes. We LIKE that combination Vince!

  • Triple Threat Match For the World Heavyweight Championship [Batista vs. Edge vs. Undertaker] - After rehabbing a left pectoral muscle injury he sustained on the July 20, 2007 edition of SmackDown!, Edge interfered during a Championship Hell In A Cell match between Batista and 'taker and it was revealed he was in a relationship/collaborating with GM Vickie Guerrero. Those actions lead to the return of Teddy Long and Edge's inclusion into this match. As for the match itself, it's not bad, but the ending (regarding Edge) was poorly executed.

Extras:

  • Mr. McMahon Names the Greatest Superstar In Raw History [RAW 12/10/07] [1m 22s] - At RAW's 15th anniversary, Vince takes the opportunity to announce the greatest superstar in RAW's history. Mick Foley, Undertaker and Stone Cold show up to congratulate this person's achievement.

Video: Armageddon's picture was colorful and much sharper than the television broadcast. It's also presented in the WWE's standard full frame 1.33:1 ratio.

Audio:
The Dolby Digital 5.1 track was clear, with the majority of the sound in the fronts and the center speaker and the slightest of ambience coming from the rears. For those of you that habla the Ingles, there's also a Spanish track too.

Conclusion:
While i'm disappointed they didn't see fit to include Jericho's return appearance to RAW instead of that "greatest superstar" recap (were you really surprised at the reveal?), the more than a couple entertaining matches, capped off by the long-awaited (by me) return of Chris Jericho, make Armageddon a Highly Recommended DVD.

Buy from Amazon.com

C O N T E N T

V I D E O

A U D I O

E X T R A S

R E P L A Y

A D V I C E
Highly Recommended

E - M A I L
this review to a friend
Popular Reviews

Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links