The 1999 Armageddon was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). It was the inaugural Armageddon and took place on December 12, 1999, at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, Florida.
The main event was a No Holds Barred match between Triple H and Vince McMahon. Triple H won the match by pinning Vince after hitting him with a sledgehammer, when Vince's daughter and Triple H's (kayfabe, at that time) wife Stephanie McMahon turned on Vince by giving the sledgehammer to Triple H.
In the undercard, Big Show squared off against Big Boss Man for the WWF Championship, New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn and Road Dogg) wrestled Rock 'n' Sock Connection (The Rock and Mankind) for the WWF Tag Team Championship, Chyna met Chris Jericho for the WWF Intercontinental Championship, Kane fought X-Pac in a Steel Cage match, and British Bulldog, Val Venis, and D'Lo Brown competed for the WWF European Championship in a triple threat match.
Production Background From May 1995 to February 1999, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) ran a series of professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) events titled In Your House. They aired when the promotion was not holding one of its then-five major PPVs (WrestleMania, King of the Ring, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and Royal Rumble) and were sold at a lower cost. Following the St. Valentine's Day Massacre: In Your House event in February 1999, the WWF retired the In Your House branding and transitioned to giving each monthly PPV a permanent identity. Later that year, Armageddon was established as the promotion's December PPV. This first Armageddon event was scheduled to be held on December 12 at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Storylines The main rivalry heading into the event was between Triple H and the WWF Chairman Vince McMahon, his boss and father-in-law. At Survivor Series, Triple H was scheduled to defend the WWF Championship against "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock in a Triple Threat match. During the event, he interrupted an interview of The Rock, which resulted in a brawl between the two that was separated by several WWF referees. Later that event, Triple H did the same by interrupting an interview of Austin. However, Austin ran after Triple H throughout the backstage area of the arena until he was run down with a car in the parking lot of the arena. As a result, he was taken away in an ambulance and was removed from the main event. McMahon blamed Triple H and D-Generation X (DX) for the attack but Triple H denied doing so. Later that night, Big Show was added as the third competitor against Triple H and The Rock. McMahon interfered in the match and cost Triple H the WWF Championship against Big Show. On the November 15 edition of Raw is War, McMahon blamed Triple H and DX again for the attack but DX instead blamed the entire situation on McMahon. On the November 18 edition of SmackDown!, DX assaulted McMahon's Corporate Stooges (Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco). Sgt. Slaughter informed McMahon of the attack and told McMahon that Triple H had invited him to the DX locker room. McMahon went to the locker room, where Triple H warned McMahon, not to make this personal. Later that night, Triple H came down to the ring and blamed McMahon for his title loss at Survivor Series and then challenged McMahon to a match at Armageddon. Shortly after, a footage was shown of backstage where the McMahon family had fallen down the stairs. On the November 22 edition of Raw is War, McMahon destroyed a limousine carrying DX through his car. Although DX retreated, the limousine was destroyed. Later that night, the police officers arrested McMahon for assaulting DX. Triple H attacked the handcuffed McMahon. Later that night, Triple H came down to the ring and accused McMahon of attacking Austin at Survivor Series. However, Shane McMahon came out to defend his father and informed Triple H that McMahon would accept Triple H's challenge at Armageddon. On the November 29 edition of Raw is War, a storyline wedding was scheduled to occur between McMahon's daughter Stephanie McMahon and Test. However, Triple H interrupted it by showing a video, in which he had married a drunk Stephanie in a wedding car. Test and McMahon then ran after Triple H to attack him. On the December 2 edition of SmackDown!, Triple H announced that he would wrestle McMahon in a No Holds Barred match. On the December 6 edition of Raw is War, Triple H suggested a stipulation into the match that if McMahon won the match, Triple H and Stephanie's marriage would be annulled but if Triple H won, he would be granted a WWF Championship match. McMahon agreed to the stipulation.
Another predominant rivalry heading into the event was between Big Show and Big Boss Man. Their rivalry was stemming back from in October, where Boss Man targeted the Big Show after his dad died, like stealing his dads casket, getting evidence Big Show is a bastard from his mom, breaking his heritage loom, etc., in Survivor Series, Big Show defeated Boss Man and his team of Prince Albert, Viscera and Mideon in a one-on-four Survivor Series elimination match. Later that night, Big Show replaced an injured "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in a Triple Threat match for the WWF Championship against then champion Triple H and The Rock. Big Show pinned Triple H to win the WWF Championship. On the November 15 edition of Raw is War, Big Boss Man became the #1 contender for the WWF Championship at Armageddon, by defeating The Rock in a Hardcore match.
On the November 22 edition of Raw is War, The Rock was scheduled to wrestle Big Boss Man and Prince Albert in a tag team match with a partner of his choosing. He chose the audience to be his partner, making it a Handicap match. He was dominated throughout the match until Rock's former Rock 'n' Sock Connection partner Mankind came out to help him as his partner, reuniting Rock 'n' Sock Connection. The reunited team defeated Boss Man and Albert. On the November 25 edition of SmackDown!, Rock 'n' Sock Connection defeated The Holly Cousins (Hardcore Holly and Crash Holly) to become the #1 contenders for the WWF Tag Team Championship, being held by New Age Outlaws (Mr. Ass and Road Dogg) at Armageddon.
At Survivor Series, Chyna defeated Chris Jericho to retain the WWF Intercontinental Championship. On the November 15 edition of Raw is War, Chyna and her manager Miss Kitty distracted Jericho during a match against Gangrel, allowing Gangrel to win the match. On the November 25 edition of SmackDown!, Chyna and Kitty cost Jericho another match, this time against Big Show for the WWF Championship. On the November 29 edition of Raw is War, a match was made between the two for the Intercontinental Championship when Jericho challenged Chyna for the title at Armageddon.
On the November 20 edition of Jakked, the recently debuted Rikishi defeated Crash Holly in a standard wrestling match, starting a rivalry between Rikishi and the Holly Cousins. On the December 12 edition of Sunday Night Heat, Viscera became Rikishi's partner after aiding him in his brawl with Holly Cousins, leading to a tag team match between Holly Cousins and the makeshift team of Rikishi and Viscera.
At Survivor Series, Kane defeated X-Pac by disqualification after X-Pac's D-Generation X teammates interfered in the match and attacked Kane. On the November 29 edition of Raw is War, X-Pac interfered in a tag team match pitting Kane and Big Show against Big Boss Man and Viscera. X-Pac cost Kane, the match by attacking him with a Chair Shot. After the match, X-Pac also attacked Kane's manager Tori. Later that night, X-Pac teamed up with New Age Outlaws to wrestle Rock 'n' Sock Connection and their mystery partner in a six-man tag team match. Kane was revealed to be their partner. The match ended when Al Snow interfered and attacked DX, getting Rock 'n' Sock and Kane disqualified. On the December 2 edition of SmackDown!, Kane lost to Viscera by countout after being distracted by X-Pac. This led to a Steel Cage match between Kane and X-Pac at Armageddon.
At Survivor Series, Val Venis and his team of Steve Blackman, Gangrel and Mark Henry defeated British Bulldog and his team of Mean Street Posse (Pete Gas, Joey Abs and Rodney) in a Survivor Series elimination match. On the November 25 edition of SmackDown!, Bulldog defended the WWF European Championship against Venis and retained the title by getting disqualified. On the November 29 edition of Raw is War, Bulldog interfered in a match between Venis and Kurt Angle, costing Venis, the match. On the December 2 edition of SmackDown!, Bulldog defended the European Championship against D'Lo Brown. During the match, it was announced that Bulldog would defend the title against Venis at Armageddon. Venis interfered in the match and attacked Bulldog, prompting Brown to attack Venis. As a result, all the three wrestlers began attacking each other. As a result, on the December 6 edition of Raw is War, Venis wrestled Brown to determine the #1 contender for the title at Armageddon. However, the match resulted in a no contest after Bulldog and Mean Street Posse attacked both Venis and Brown. As a result, Venis and Brown were both made the contenders for the European Championship at Armageddon, making it a Triple Threat match.
At Survivor Series, Kurt Angle made his WWF in-ring debut with a victory against Shawn Stasiak. Angle began an undefeated streak by continuing to win matches against opponents including The Godfather, Gangrel, Mark Henry, D'Lo Brown and Val Venis. On the December 2 edition of SmackDown!, it was announced that Angle would wrestle Steve Blackman in a standard wrestling match at Armageddon.
At Survivor Series, The Fabulous Moolah, Mae Young, Debra and Tori defeated Ivory, Luna, Jacqueline and Terri Runnels in an eight-woman tag team match. On the November 18 edition of SmackDown!, Ivory defeated Jacqueline and Luna in a Triple Threat Hardcore match to retain the WWF Women's Championship. On the November 25 edition of SmackDown!, Jacqueline defeated Ivory in a non-title first-ever Gravy Bowl match, with Miss Kitty serving as the special guest referee. As a result of winning, Jacqueline won the Golden Ladle Trophy. This angered Ivory and she attacked Kitty. An EMT came out to help Kitty but was attacked by Ivory too. On the November 29 edition of Raw is War, the EMT was introduced by Michael Cole as Barbara Bush (B.B). She challenged Ivory to an Evening Gown match for the Women's Championship at Armageddon. Ivory responded by ripping off B.B's shirt. On the December 6 edition of Raw is War, it was announced that Ivory would defend the Women's Championship against BB, Jacqueline and Miss Kitty in a Four Corners Evening Gown Pool match at Armageddon.
Event + Other on-screen personnelRole:Name:English commentatorsJim RossJerry LawlerSpanish commentatorsCarlos CabreraHugo SavinovichInterviewersMichael ColeKevin KellyLilian GarciaRing announcerHoward Finkel RefereesMike ChiodaEarl Hebner Jim Korderas Tim White Theodore Long
Before the event aired live on pay-per-view, Al Snow defeated Test by pinning him in a match that aired live on Sunday Night Heat.
Preliminary matches