WWE Armageddon 2003 Review | Wrestling With Wregret

It's the height of Evolution's power ... the night that Triple H, Randy Orton, Batista and Ric Flair all walked away with championship gold! Time to look back at Armageddon 2003! Nominate classic shows on Patreon! / wrestlingwithwregret
02:03 Booker T vs. Mark Henry
05:34 Intercontinental Championship: Rob Van Dam vs. Randy Orton
07:03 Battle of the Sexes: Chris Jericho & Christian vs. Trish Stratus & Lita
09:17 Shawn Michaels vs. Batista
11:14 Tag Team Turmoil Match for the World Tag Team Championship
13:40 Women's Championship: Molly Holly vs. Ivory
14:58 World Heavyweight Championship: Goldberg vs. Triple H vs. Kane
18:04 Final Thoughts
BIG HOSS MCGRAW, LIKE WHAT YOU LIKE, GAAAAHHHH and more!
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[@BrettStormXWP]

Ric Flair bleeding, before a match, where he's just a manager is just, absolutely amazing and the most Ric Flair thing ever. lol

[@gilalmeida4253]

just like Foley taking a bump just to celebrate the sucess of a petition

[@johnnewman1910]

@Hevvy Rhythm ric flair drip

[@TheSBleeder]

Ric bladed while you were typing this post. And while I was typing my post.

[@enigmaskull3495]

5:44 Ric Flair just loves to bleed.

[@dishwasher1632]

you forgot about ten or twelve unnecessary commas

[@venomousnate7263]

“Why is Ric Flair bleeding?” Apparently Flair will blade for any occasion.

[@comixproviderftw_02]

Flair is master bleeder

[@hugoalynstephens9166]

Crazy Old Ric Flair. We do love him. hahaha

[@lewisaino]

Wonder what happens if he fights Dracula lol.

[@hugoalynstephens9166]

@@lewisaino Maybe Flair's blood is like Xenomorph blood to vampires - not worth the risk.

[@kaedenfournier-lewis9263]

@@lewisaino for all we know, Ric Flairs Blood might be an Panacea

[@dr.snakes]

Everyone's talking about "Why is Ric Flair bleeding?", yet no one's talking about "How big is Lance Storm's hog?".

[@SteRDLK]

Bigger than Batista's

[@DrknssRules1]

"Why is Ric Flair bleeding?!" I don't know, maybe someone breathed on him to hard or something.

[@michaelsinger4638]

I think Ric bleeds just because he finds it fun sometimes.

[@hugoalynstephens9166]

@@michaelsinger4638 Family Dinners with Charlotte and David must have been pretty bonkers for them growing up.

[@txcforever]

@@hugoalynstephens9166 They keep all the silverware away from him.

[@grandpasghost2433]

Zane, I just want to say I lost my job yesterday and your channel helps keeps me sane. Love you man.

[@Greatanotherchannel]

I read this the triple h voice

[@FIXTREME]

Just keep on trucking!

[@sufc4life100]

Brian Sane

[@chrisiverson5648]

Man I'm sorry bro you lost your job, i hope you find a place to work that provides u peace and finicial freedom bro, this world so damn wild evil and crazy right now, well always but especially now, find your peace, leave the past behind, become your future in peace, inner peace is more valuable than any dollar but i hope u find both...👍🏾👍🏾💪🏾

[@WCWThunderRosa]

Jericho with one of the weirdest face turns ever, not wanting to hurt Trish but having no problem trying to break Lita in half

[@LouSassoleSledgecock]

Nobody actually cared about Lita back then lol

[@HeinerGunnar]

Lita's kayfabe life was rough after Hardy dumped her

[@suelaaaa3599]

love the thumbnail for this one only making the belts gold was a great touch

[@WrestlingWithWregret]

Thank you!

[@TheFishingNomad]

Didn't even notice that lol I just thought it was all black and white.

[@SamsarasArt]

I agree. It really makes them stand out

[@mrterp04]

A video with Kane premiering on May 19th? Genius!

[@GeneralCodeBlue]

Triple HHH during this time was just living out his failed WCW career. The Big Gold Belt, The Four Horsemen, and even War Games.

[@jsigversion1]

That's HHHHHHHHH.

[@christiankallio8586]

In two weeks, we most likely will see the first ever MINUS FIVE STARS match rating

[@thealjohnsonshow2188]

+Christian Kallio Which pay-per-view?

[@Facelessman254]

@@thealjohnsonshow2188 Reigns vs Cesaro I hope. Sitting through reigns putting in 10 slow headlocks all match and just punches and staring and more staring was the slowest most boring match I have ever seen. No fault of cesaro of course but I just cannot understand how anybody can enjoy reigns wrestling style

[@thealjohnsonshow2188]

@@Facelessman254 *Troll*

[@mrterp04]

“I AGREE!”

[@jeevithrai7994]

@@Facelessman254 back in my day, the trolls used to be entertaining.

[@jamiespencer1041]

This show wasn’t shown in the U.K, WWEs contract ran out on channel 4 and they demanded too much money from Sky Sports who refused to show it, luckily they made up for the Royal Rumble, hope you like this random trivia lol.

[@pdill900]

I've been rewatching Raw from this era recently and damn, I never appreciated Christian. From promos to in ring work to just plain character details, he's phenomenal

[@garlicbread853]

Same here. I didn’t become a Christian mark until like 5 years ago. He was definitely underrated around this time.

[@chrisiverson5648]

@@garlicbread853: Always liked mr cage, hard worker frfr, shoulda got a longer run as smackdown world champion...

[@SuperPeterok]

Christian Cage in TNA was at his peak. It was beautiful to witness.

[@pdill900]

@@SuperPeterok I vaguely remember that from when I used to tune into TNA regularly, any place I can watch old full episodes?

[@SuperPeterok]

@@pdill900 tna has their own app.

[@CJKeene06]

You can not stop Flair from gigging for any job he takes. It’s like trying to stop the sun from rising.

[@TheLandofObscusion]

Glad to see that the old IWC gag still stays true with "Ric Flair accompanies Randy Orton to ringside" *BLADES*

[@enigmaskull3495]

Ric Flair loves bleeding.

[@thealjohnsonshow2188]

@@enigmaskull3495 *LOL*

[@bigshambowski]

"In 2 weeks, I'm reviewing TNA Victory Road 2009. Oh yeah. YOU know what match is on that show." Huh? Oh right. Jenna and Sharmell.

[@freakfoxvevo7915]

I can see the MINUS FIVE STARS from a mile away.

[@BlueSpiceSpace]

And James storm lost a foot race to EARL FUCKING HEBNER

[@korbendallas1956]

"Why is Ric Flair bleeding?!" Because he's Ric Flair. That's why.

[@wstine79]

You know Mr. H is watching this review to make sure Brian Zane gives his Evolution members 5 Star ratings.

[@greenkoopa]

He put on a wig and grew out the handlebars just for this occasion

[@CheezusChrist1776]

I think you mean Ryan Lame

[@HeinerGunnar]

Zane-uhhh!

[@wstine79]

Happy May 19th, Brian. Kane's favorite day.

[@MINI_JasperJunior]

Armageddon, you say... THE END IS HEEEEYAAAAAAAAA! 🔥

[@kenterminateddq5311]

(According to Wiikipedia) In 2003, Ivory became a face, and wrestled sporadically in the women's division. In June of that year, she had three pinfall victories over the WWE Women's Champion, Jazz. So, I guess this is WWE finally giving the future HOFamer a chance of winning the women's title?

[@speedwaynutt]

(From imdb) Lita was scheduled to be in the Womans title match but that was changed a week or two before the show

[@lordtrigon1733]

Didn’t she host a recap show at the time? With... gonna say Todd Grisham? 🤔

[@dankicks]

“Why is Ric Flair bleeding?” The real question is “Why is Ric Flair?”

[@XKTwentyFive]

The thing I still remember most about this PPV is RVD selling that RKO like a boss.

[@jcace13]

RVD always sold his ass off for Orton, really helped him be taken seriously early on.

[@GeoffDaCow]

“Why is Ric Flair bleeding?” LMAO

[@The_Chocolate_One]

Oh man! Those animated matchup graphics. Fantastic! You never know what you miss until it’s gone. Also that Jericho vs Christian feud...long term booking at its finest!

[@mrdude88]

“Why is Ric Flair bleeding?” Wait, there are time where Ric Flair doesn’t bleed? I thought that was his look.

[@hezekiahthomas837]

That rko bump that rvd took was legendary to me

[@bonafide9781]

“Why is Ric Flair bleeding?” ...it’s Ric Flair.

[@paulgarcia9682]

Stacy Keibler in a cheerleader outfit? ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@AndrewJW]

Stacy Keibler? ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@timbartschwolfman]

We now have a Timeline from Survivor Series 2003 to Wrestlemania 20

[@CSC52698]

I found this PPV with the 2004 Royal Rumble PPV in a double pack at Walmart in 2009. I bought for the '04 Rumble. Still have both to this day.

[@wstine79]

5:11 That was a great way to promote the Wrestling With Wregret shirts.

[@speedwaynutt]

Kane Vs Goldberg Vs Triple H sounds like a awesome triple threat dream match during WCW vs WWF era.

[@RKO1988]

It was shit during this time

[@chrisiverson5648]

@Jay Harv28:Man please repeat that, i love the truth...

[@chrisiverson5648]

@Jay Harv28:Wait goldbergs match with ddp was pretty long and really good, fans popped like hell when ddp hit the diamond cutter...

[@chrisiverson5648]

@Jay Harv28: He's always knocking himself crazy, doesn't take away from the match, ddp was a really good person to lead a match, ddp was probably actually the best in the world frfr....Him and bret could lead the hell out of a match...

[@mesousagaby740]

11:40 Mark Jindrak and Garrison Cade? This tag team can shuv it, MAN.

[@maineventmafia1633]

For some reason a random hawk just flew by and screeched

[@abedfo88]

oh heeeees the shuv it man, oh heeeees the shuv it maaaaan. MAAAAAAAN.

[@tobznoobs]

and if you dont agree with that, you can shuv those feathers up

[@mitchellpilkington7433]

who just threw a brick at me?

[@iCANTsleep2]

MarkyD the legend 🐐 🤣🤣

[@TyMarshall007]

THE END IS HERE. I miss the Armageddon theme

[@TheEliWay]

And the PPV in general this needs to replace TLC in December 🤞🏽

[@TyMarshall007]

@@TheEliWay I really hate the Gimmick PPVs

[@TheEliWay]

@@TyMarshall007So do I man

[@ktownshutdown21]

I liked the custom No Mercy theme too. "I WILL HAVE NO MERCY (YEAH!), I WILL HAVE NO MERCY ON YOUR SOUL!"

[@TyMarshall007]

@@ktownshutdown21 another Great PPV theme

[@TBLPW]

20:03 Brian: Oh yeah, you know what match is on that show. You know I’m going to talk about it and talk about it I will. Icon: I agree, I agree.

[@MaxAngor]

“Why is Flair bleeding?” It's a day that ends in y.

[@lfrostyrabbitl1178]

On one hand, he's finally gonna review a classic ppv I've really wanted him to for a long time. On the other hand, we're gonna have to relive *that* one match...

[@Aaron-zs7cf]

That one match everyone has been trying to forget since 2009

[@markula_4040]

Everybody is so critical of WWE's handling of Goldberg and not playing to his strength's but it's just silly to think Goldberg could have had a long career just wrestling 3 minute matches. He's doing that now and while it started well, that quickly got old and now his approval rating is probably lower than during his first WWE run.

[@Partyboy22]

Exactly. Someone like that works as an attraction. Like seeing a lion feasting on Christians during the Roman Empire, see who Goldberg annihilates tonight. But it's not someone you can build a promotion around.

[@greenkoopa]

Ah, back when Ric Flair was a young man

[@chrisiverson5648]

Ageless...

[@liseeeeeeey]

Oh man I love when Brian reviews early to mid 2000s shows. Brings me right back to my childhood

[@crystalp7242]

Brief little correction: The building then known as the TD Waterhouse Centre is actually no longer standing. That building (which was originally the Orlando Arena and later known as the Amway Arena) was closed in 2010 when its successor, the Amway Center, opened nearby. The Amway Arena was demolished in 2012. The Amway Center (the current building) also served as the first home of the WWE Thunderdome after WWE moved most of its pandemic shows out of the Performance Center. I’ve lived in Central Florida my whole life, so the transition from the Amway Arena to the Amway Center was all over the news. But yes, two separate buildings, and the one where this PPV took place no longer exists.

[@AJDaniels99]

Did you just say Victory Road 2009? Oh God I'm having horrible flashbacks

[@comixproviderftw_02]

MINUS FIVE STARS

[@perfectprince8062]

I don't know much about TNA during this time but is Victory Road 2009 really worse than Victory Road 2011?

[@AJDaniels99]

@@perfectprince8062 I can't say I haven't seen Victory Road 2011 other than the infamous Sting and Jeff Hardy match

[@dandaman9009]

This is amazing thank you so much, as a young wrestling fan in Orlando Florida I was actually at this show, I was 13 LOL Thanks for the nostalgia brother!

[@loganbrown8454]

This was my 1st ever wrestling show at 9 yeard old... Amazing day and Saddam was captured that day as well thats whu it was very memorable

[@sukitbich]

Apparently after the show, Goldberg was throwing a fit backstage like he lost the title for real and HHH and Kane confronted him and asked him: "is there a problem?" and Goldberg back peddled and said "no, no problem. everything is fine." Source: Bruce Prichard's podcast, Goldberg in WWE episode.

[@imnotsuperstitiousbutiamal4186]

"Why is Flair bleeding?" "Cause it's a day that ends in y, WHOOOO!"

[@kraigroberts2747]

How have i never known of this channel.... Can't stop watching

[@jimmyplenderleith9471]

"Flair, you are going out with Orton tonight as his manager" "How long till I get color?"

[@michellemarty7510]

"Why is Ric Flair bleeding?!" This line made me lol

[@akamiguelsanchez9985]

I bloody love these reviews, they seriously help me relax after a rough day teaching. Thanks Zman,

[@parkerthehurricanethomas]

5:04 and yes I loved this moment when Mick Foley gets the $1,000,000 reference with Dr. Evil (to me that's amazing LOL)

[@zabihdavary-diaz9027]

Stacy cartwheels... for the content!

[@redsox2722]

I haven't watched wrestling in about 15 years but I still stick around for your classic reviews... And I even turn off my ad blocker to make sure you get the love.

[@sheldonhorton1011]

Love you Brian for making me go back in time and feeling the nostalgia all over again !!

[@markschlingloff5155]

Hell yeah, I was just watching This ppv on DVD the other night. Very coincidental!? Cool upload.

[@endsofsanity]

Man im old.. i actually brought this one on ppv lol

[@guillermosierracuellar9812]

It was rare to see HHH kane and Goldberg only at the end of the show there was no a backstage nor interview segment

[@iainnicholls8537]

Fat hhh

[@WrestlingFace]

I can confirm the low audio from the commentators, I also have the DVD version and its the same.

[@HF-dv5vv]

Watching booker vs Henry reminds me of when they faced off at the prior survivor series and Lawler says Booker looks like Henry if he was left in the dryer too long 💀

[@TheWillisShow]

“Why is Ric Flair bleeding?!” The reaction made me laugh...

[@freakfoxvevo7915]

I'm pleased that you saved a Kane main event for MAY 19TH

[@TheGreatDevlin]

Even as a kid, I questioned why the there wasn't a woman in Evolution when I saw that final shot with all the belts. And then the Main Event Mafia did the exact same thing and left out the Knockouts Championship!!

[@jaymichael3079]

My grandma and I watched this together. Still chokes me up. I love you, grandma!

[@enigmaskull3495]

Armageddon 2003: The Reign of Terror’s Crescendo

[@lutherheggs451]

and yet pales in comparison to Jeff Jarrett's reign of terror in TNA.

[@MsterCryptic]

"Why is Ric Flair bleeding?!" Why not, it's Ric Flair 😂

[@JMLMF1]

that moment you feel old when a ppv from 2003 is on this series.

[@JOfnT]

I hate to be an “acktually” guy, but about a year back I watched a lot of 2003 WWE, and the Foley/Orton feud didn’t start here! Because back in June on Raw at MSG, Mick Foley got kicked down that famous stairwell by Randy! We can’t forget that part of their history!

[@Thephantom95]

5:11 Mmmmm. NOW i might buy some merchandise. Great subliminal messaging there, Brian.

[@PraticallyPragmatic]

Love the content. Orlando Native, TD Waterhouse ain’t there no more. Amway Center is a different building altogether.

[@Mattsdmf]

This is the time of my fandom that’s a complete blank. I don’t remember very much from this era besides what I’ve heard on these PPV rewinds and when the Between the Sheets podcast covers. I do remember getting heavily into ROH and IWA Mid South and watching TNA at the time. To be 17 again.

[@RoyStantz]

After this PPV, the next couple of years were not kind at all for Val Venis, who fell into the trap of "the more you stay in this company, the more you'll devalue yourself".

[@PhenomResurrections08]

This was In Your House: Evolution

[@guillermosierracuellar9812]

Triple h; hey vince I'm bored tonight there will not be any hhh reigb of terror Vince: really Hhh: really tonight is evolution reign of terror

[@lutherheggs451]

and yet the Triple H "reign of terror" has nothing on Jeff Jarrett's reign of terror in TNA or RVDs small reign of terror in TNA.

[@joshb5950]

8:01 Never did I expect to see Thomas' O Face in a Wrestling with Wregret video. That probably got a bigger laugh out of me than anything else in this video.

[@Twitchanator92]

If I’m not mistaken the reason that Ric Flair bled so easily was on the go home Raw there was a tag match and when Flair got whipped into the ropes he went under the top rope and got cut open

[@WilltheHam]

The apron eyes remind me of Susperia. But that might be kind of high brow reference wise.

[@Living_Dead_Superstar]

I get it. :D That movie was a very colorful and dark foreign horror film.

[@dr.snakes]

Maaan, fuck Suspiria. Phenomena was better.

[@e.y.d.6079]

Very nice name, Mr. Bleh. Very nice. Also: YES!! Can't wait for the next review!

[@SteakSauceOTG]

This was one of the greatest nights of my young fandom. I was a HUGE Evolution mark. This was one of the rare non big 4 I got to see live and I was over the moon with the result.

[@drewgamezzz8482]

@3:02 I have no clue how Booker didn’t break his neck or how he even has a neck left after that 🤣🤣🤣🤣!

[@chrisiverson5648]

man i been missing this for like 6 months, glad to be back, i missed these...better than raw..

[@jon____4845]

Glad you mentioned the commentary audio, it's really low when watching it on Peacock for me in 2023. Even the subtitles are showing [inaudible] a lot of the time, so there's definitely something that's off. It's sorta neat to hear more of the crowd though, on purpose or not.

[@hhtptai]

"Why is Ric Flair bleeding?" Too much of a draft in the arena.

[@juanramos1710]

My dad walked in to my room during the Mae young hand baby incident😂 lmao he shook his head and walked right out

[@tylerwatkins3196]

Triple Hs reign of terror in retrospect really wasn’t that bad because after all he’s one of the best of all time, plus everyone he “buried” either ended up fine or already had their time to shine

[@TheFishingNomad]

11:58 I like how you made sure to say that this was in kayfabe lol

[@toptenguy1]

At the end of the video I thought "Sting/Jeff Hardy? I thought that was a few years later". Then I did some research and... "OOOHHH.. *THAT* MATCH... LOL

[@StraightPunkEdge93]

My bi ass had a huge crush on Jericho and Trish at the time so this story was very intriguing to me back then

[@greenkoopa]

I bet you were conflicted in the best way 🤣🤣🤣 I'm a straight guy but people do what people do and your comment made me laugh

[@donavondavis1550]

Its sad how huge of a knobhead Christian was in this storyline cause I would've snatched him up with the quickness if I was either Lita or Trish. That man is STILL fine to this day!

[@karfsma778]

"why is Ric Flair bleeding" I dunno, it's Sunday.

[@kingofdash9175]

Thanks for getting my name right Zane!

[@FortunateKidd]

Just rename this show In Your House: Evolution and people will love the “storytelling” I think the show worked perfectly. Aside from HBK this was a heel dominated PPV and you need those to build up baby face heavy PPVs like royal rumbles and Wrestlemania

[@JeremyBearimy913]

I forgot the Mega Ran theme doesn't play in the PPV Reviews. I was so disappointed lol

[@ohyeah6453]

I got my hopes up thinking it was Armageddon 2002.

[@Facelessman254]

Did you ever notice how close the hbk hhh match was that night to setting the entrance way on fire? I've never seen anybody bring it up but look at how much confetti is all over the entrance way black carpet.. Then watch shawn and triple h just throwing that barbed wire bat that's on fire around on the entrance way it's crazy they didn't even notice how dangerous that was

[@billykotsos4642]

The triple threat match at the end is probably my fav match ever. I remember watching the DVD of this every week as a 10 year old !!! Good times !

[@GayLatinoBear]

Teddy Long also managed Jazz. You forgot that

[@Joshua_N-A]

I miss the various stage designs of PPVs. Nowadays it looks the same.

[@bigsween518]

Fun fact I was in attendance at this event. Earlier that day (dec 13 2003) Saddam was captured and it was a very pro American crowd. Tons of usa chants even before the show started. Diff world back then.

[@ANDCFC95]

What did the crowd think of the Buried Alive Match” finish?

[@pasta1169]

Interesting note on this show for British viewers, in the uk this is the only wwf or wwe ppv that never aired on tv, at least since sky sports picked up ppvs in the late 80s/early 90s whenever it was

[@ryanphippen3810]

I remember looking at Sky Box Office, Sky Sports and even Channel 4 to see if it was live. I remember watching Heat hearing Coach saying it wasn't available in the UK, I was gutted.

[@pasta1169]

@@ryanphippen3810 same, was some kind of contract dispute with sky sports showing the ppvs at the time I remember, setanta sports started showing wwe ppvs in 2004 starting with the royal rumble

[@benespinosa6725]

I Remember Watching this PPV Live as it Aired

[@kenterminateddq5311]

2003 and this PPV are the rise of THE best stable in the modern era of sports entertainment/wrestling (Sorry, Shield fans).

[@chimeratcg07]

The peak of the best faction of the 2000's.

[@aggravatedandy]

Pleased you mentioned the commentary. I wanted to turn the crowd volume down some how. Found the best way was on my PC through headphones but it was still a struggle to hear. No issues with other shows so far