Armageddon 2007: Jeff Hardy Broke Through and Edge Stole the Ending

Rey Mysterio and MVP open with one of the card's cleaner wrestling matches, using the obvious speed-versus-control contrast to build a steady eleven minutes. Mysterio creates separation with aerial offense and sharp counters, while MVP repeatedly tries to slow him down and keep the champion's advantage intact. The crowd responds when Rey sends MVP to the floor and follows with the hurricanrana, and the match appears ready for a decisive final stretch. Instead, MVP reaches the apron at the referee's count of eight and deliberately walks away, accepting the countout loss to retain the title. The wrestling is good; the escape finish keeps the match from becoming a stronger opener.

CM Punk and Kane against Big Daddy V and Mark Henry has an obvious size story but not enough variety to make the middle of the match interesting. Punk spends much of the bout absorbing power offense and trying to create enough space for Kane to change the pace. The heavyweight team controls through body attacks, short strikes, and simple isolation rather than escalating sequences. Punk finally creates a brief opening, but Big Daddy V cuts him off with a body avalanche and Samoan drop for the pin. The finish is clean and establishes the larger team as a threat. The match itself feels slow, repetitive, and more appropriate for weekly ECW than a pay-per-view.

Shawn Michaels and Mr. Kennedy deliver a strong singles match by building almost everything around Kennedy's injured left hand. Michaels damages it early with a stomp, and Kennedy keeps making the injury worse by throwing punches and refusing to adjust his offense. That detail gives the match a simple psychological thread that the audience can follow without commentary doing all the work. Kennedy counters Sweet Chin Music into a roll-up and survives long enough to create real resistance, but his damaged hand limits the follow-up. Michaels finally finds the opening and lands Sweet Chin Music for the clean pin. Kennedy loses without looking overwhelmed, while Michaels gets a professional, satisfying victory.

Jeff Hardy against Triple H matters because the match is structured to make Hardy look like a peer before the finish makes him a contender. Triple H controls the heavier exchanges and repeatedly forces Hardy to survive instead of simply sprinting through signature offense. Hardy sells the damage and keeps creating small openings, which makes the upset believable without turning Triple H into a careless veteran. When Triple H goes for the Pedigree, Hardy counters into a jackknife pin and holds him down for three. There is no interference and no immediate excuse. The handshake before the match and Triple H's post-match reaction frame the victory as earned, giving Hardy the cleanest breakthrough possible.

Finlay against The Great Khali is built almost entirely around whether Hornswoggle can create an opening against a wrestler Finlay cannot overpower. Khali controls the physical exchanges with predictable size-based offense, while Finlay tries to survive long enough to reach the shillelagh. The match never develops a convincing competitive rhythm because the audience is clearly waiting for the interference. Hornswoggle eventually strikes Khali low with a shillelagh while the referee is distracted, and Finlay follows with another shillelagh shot to the head for the pin. The finish advances Finlay's protective relationship with Hornswoggle, but the wrestling is limited and the six-minute runtime is about as much as the concept can support.

Randy Orton and Chris Jericho work a solid championship match that briefly threatens to become Jericho's triumphant return before the finish redirects him elsewhere. Jericho's pace and counters keep Orton from settling too comfortably into control, while Orton repeatedly attacks the back and cuts off the quicker challenger. The best stretch comes when Jericho avoids the Punt and traps Orton in the Walls of Jericho in the middle of the ring. The crowd finally rises as Orton appears close to submitting. Then JBL enters and kicks Jericho, causing the disqualification. Orton retains without escaping the hold himself, and Jericho's title chase instantly becomes a feud with the man who cost him the match.

Beth Phoenix and Mickie James work with urgency because the match receives less than five minutes, but the short runtime prevents the championship from feeling as important as the wrestlers do. Phoenix uses her power advantage immediately, while Mickie relies on quick counters and near falls to suggest that one mistake could change the title. The crowd responds to Mickie's comeback, but the match reaches its ending almost as soon as it begins to establish momentum. Beth catches her, hits the fisherman suplex, and scores the clean pin. The champion looks strong and the result is correct. The problem is simple: a pay-per-view championship match needs more room than this.

Edge, Batista, and The Undertaker work a smart triple threat that makes Edge's cowardice and opportunism the center of the match. Batista and Undertaker repeatedly do the heavy fighting while Edge stays outside, interrupts at selective moments, and looks for ways to avoid direct punishment. The match peaks when Undertaker appears to have Batista beaten after the Tombstone. Then multiple Edge lookalikes create confusion outside the ring before the real Edge strikes Undertaker with a chair. Edge covers Batista and steals the World Heavyweight Championship. The finish is heavily booked but completely aligned with Edge's character, and it immediately establishes Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder as tools in his title reign.