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The Katz Files – Arnie Katz

Armageddon: Preview & Predictions!

The Kingfish Arnie Katz gets you ready for WWE’s December pay per view event!.

WWE is swinging into one of its busiest seasons of the year with its December pay per view, Armageddon. It’ll be transitional rather than climactic, but there are belts to be won and some scores to be settled. Here’s what’s on tap — and what I think will happen.

Finlay vs. Mark Henry
Belfast Brawl

The Story: The alpha and omega of WWE clash in a fight that pits brute strength against a wily technician who loves to fight.

My Prediction: Do you think Hornswoggle will get to do the Tadpole Splash? Neither man has anything to gain or lose, so it looks like it’ll be decided by the bookers’ whims.

Since it’s a Belfast Brawl and not a Silverback Slugfest (or whatever), I suspect that Finlay will get the decision with a little help from Hornswoggle. Perhaps Mark Henry will threaten Hornswoggle and the little guy will give him a High Blow to the gonads to set up the Celtic Cross.

Predicted Grade: C-

Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk
Intercontinental Title Tournament Finals

The Story: The Intercontinental Championship is the second-biggest title on RAW. That’s why so many mid-carders want to wear that belt. Assuming that Santino Morella hasn’t destroyed its prestige, the IC title can be, and has been, the stairway to elite status. This match is the finals of a tournament to select the next opponent for reigning Intercontinental Champion William Regal.

My Prediction: What do you do with a no-heat match between two babyfaces? Well, you might put it first on the card so that the athletic excitement can get the crowd started right. Whether this is the curtain-jerker or not, it will have some exciting action.

If WWE puts this one on autopilot, Rey Mysterio wins after a strong match. If they get a little creative, Regal meddles in the match on behalf of CM Punk and Mike Knox distracts Mysterio with his silent, threatening presence.

If they wanted to give the crowd a thrill, though, they should have the two heroes turn on Knox and Regal and send them fleeing.

Predicted Grade: B+

Vladimir Kozlov vs. Matt Hardy
ECW Championship Match

The Story: Vladimir Kozlov was sailing along toward winning the WWE Championship when he hit a sand bar. Now he has a chance to prove that he belongs among the top wrestlers in WWE, but Matt Hardy won’t lie down and surrender.

My Prediction: WWE pushed Kozlov into the WWE Championship picture prematurely and the fans rejected the idea. WWE pushed some more and the fans became even more vehement. This is the most important match in the short career of Vladimir Kozlov. The outcome of the match will tell us a lot about WWE’s plans for him and his performance in the match could affect those plans.

Kozlov should win, but the question is whether he will take the title or win by, say, a count-out. The latter result would allow Hardy to keep the belt. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kozlov take the title, perhaps sending Matt to Smackdown.

Predicted Grade: B+

Randy Orton vs. Batista

<B<The Story: The emotions of envy and jealousy have often motivated Randy Orton – and he feels plenty of both toward his former partner in Evolution. Now they are finally going to meet in the ring with the winner likely to be John Cena’s next challenger.

My Prediction: These are two of WWE’s most valuable talents, so I wouldn’t expect to see a clean pin in the center of the ring. They probably want Randy Orton to take his feud with John Cena to the ring, but it is also against WWE’s best interests to have Batista take a bad loss just before he starts on a program with Cena (after Orton’s ends).

The answer, my friends, is Cody Rhodes and Manu. One will distract the referee while the other commits some skullduggery that permits Orton to hit the RKO and bring it on home.

Predicted Grade: B

John Cena vs. Chris Jericho
World Heavyweight Championship

The Story: This is the rematch demanded by Chris Jericho in an effort to regain the belt he lost at the November pay per view..

My Prediction: This will be an exciting match with great maneuvers by both men. John Cena will win it, but Jericho will do his best to make it a match of the year candidate.. I think this will be a clean pin, followed by a post-match slugfest.

Predicted Grade: A-

Edge vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Triple H
WWE Championship
Triple Threat Match

The Story: Edge is back! And thanks to some vintage-style Edge opportunism, he is once again WWE Champion. This match pits the Rated R Superstar against perennial champ Triple H and close-but-no-cigar Jeff Hardy against Edge in a three=way fight for the gold.

My Prediction: Edge will pin Hardy to keep the title. Triple H will deal out lots of punishment, but it will be Edge who actually scores the pin and keeps his title.

Predicted Grade: A-

Predicted Grade for Armageddon: B

That’s it for today. I’ll be back on Monday with another installment of the Internet’s fastest-rising daily wrestling column. I’ll have the recap and analysis of Survivor Series and you’ll be able to laugh at my predictions.

— Arnie Katz
[email protected]
(12/14/08)