The main feud heading into Armageddon was between John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL), Booker T, Eddie Guerrero, and The Undertaker over the WWE Championship. At Survivor Series, JBL faced Booker T for the WWE Championship. Before the match began, JBL announced that if he lost the match he would leave professional wrestling forever. JBL won the match and retained the title after hitting Booker T with the WWE Championship belt.[7] On the November 18 episode of SmackDown!, JBL, Guerrero, Booker T and The Undertaker were all arguing over who should be the next number one contender for the WWE Championship. SmackDown! general managerTheodore Long then announced that JBL would be defending the WWE Championship against Guerrero, Booker T and The Undertaker at Armageddon.[8] On the November 25 episode of SmackDown!, JBL and Orlando Jordan faced Booker T and Guerrero in a tag team match. JBL and Jordan won the match following interference from the Basham Brothers. When the match was over, The Undertaker came out and attacked JBL's cabinet followed by executing a Tombstone Piledriver to JBL.[9] On the December 9 episode of SmackDown!, Long booked JBL, Jordan, and The Basham Brothers to face, Guerrero, Booker T and The Undertaker in a 7-man handicap tag team match in the main event. The Undertaker, Booker T and Guerrero won the match. SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long announced that The Cabinet would not be allowed at ringside and if they interfered in the match then JBL would be stripped of the WWE Championship.[10]
A secondary feud heading into Armageddon was between John Cena and Jesús over the WWE United States Championship. The feud started on the October 7 episode of SmackDown!, when Cena was interrupted by the debuting Carlito. Carlito stated that he wanted a United States title shot, which Cena agreed to. Later that night, Cena lost the United States Championship to Carlito after being hit in the head with his signature chain.[11] On the October 14 episode of SmackDown!, SmackDown! General Manager Therdore Long announced that Cena had been involved in an after hours bar fight. Long said that Cena had been (kayfabe) stabbed in the kidney by Carlito's bodyguard, Jesús.[12] The feud restarted at Survivor Series, when Cena returned from his injury. On the November 18 episode of SmackDown!, Cena stated that he wanted revenge on Carlito and his United States Championship back. Cena defeated Carlito (who had suffered a legitimate shoulder injury) to regain the title, but after the match Jesús attacked Cena in the injured kidney, which forced Cena to be taken out on a stretcher.[13]
In the next match John Cena faced Jesús in a Street Fight for the United States Championship. The match started with Cena gaining the advantage. Both men hit each other with a cane. Cena hit Jesus with a kendo stick, piece of metal and a trashcan lid. Cena executed an FU on Jesús to retain the title. After the match, Cena hit Carlito with his chain.[14]
The sixth match of the event was Dawn Marie versus Miss Jackie with Charlie Haas as the special guest referee. Marie won the match with a roll-up while holding Jackie's tights.[14]
In the main event, John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) faced Eddie Guerrero, Booker T and The Undertaker in a Fatal-Four Way match for the WWE Championship. The stipulation was if The Cabinet interfered in the match then JBL would be stripped of the title. As the match began, JBL retreated as the other three fought each other. The Undertaker performed a side slam on JBL and threw Booker T over the barricade. JBL tried to Powerbomb The Undertaker through a broadcast table but The Undertaker countered with a back body drop. The Undertaker executed Old School on Booker T and a guillotine leg drop on Guerrero. JBL performed a JBL Bomb onto a broadcast table and an Elbow Drop through the table on Booker T. The Undertaker executed a Last Ride through a broadcast table on JBL. Guerrero executed two frog splashes on The Undertaker but The Undertaker sat up. Guerrero hit The Undertaker with the ladder and executed a frog splash off the ladder but JBL pulled the referee out of the ring. The Undertaker chokeslammed the other three and attempted a Tombstone Piledriver but Heidenreich attacked The Undertaker. JBL tried to pin Booker T and Guerrero, who both kicked out. Heidenreich pulled The Undertaker from the ring and applied a cobra clutch on The Undertaker. JBL executed a Clothesline from Hell on Booker T to retain the title.[14]
Aftermath
After the pay-per-view, the feud between John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL), The Undertaker, Eddie Guerrero, and Booker T slowly died down. JBL went to feud with the Big Show and Kurt Angle over the WWE Championship, which would end at No Way Out.[15] Undertaker went to feud with Heidenreich, which led to a Casket match at the Royal Rumble, which Undertaker won despite the interference by Gene Snitsky and Undertaker's brother Kane and ended their feud.[16] John Cena and Carlito's feud ended after the event, as Cena went on to win a tournament at No Way Out to challenge JBL for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. Cena went on to win the WWE Championship from JBL at WrestleMania, and held the title until January 2006, even after being drafted to the Rawbrand.[17]
^Plummer, Dale; Tylwalk, Nick (August 27, 2007). "A festive affair". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2007.
^Plummer, Dale; Tylwalk, Nick (August 27, 2007). "Armagddon 2004". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2007.
