History of WWE Judgment Day

[Mike]

Discuss any of your favorite moments from WWE Judgment Day. The history will be posted periodically.

[Mike]

WWE Judgment Day: In Your House 1998[/u]

Sunday, October 18, 1998
Rosemont Horizon
Rosemont, Illinois
Attendance: 18,153
Announcers: Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler

Matches:[/u]

--Al Snow w/ Head def. Marc Mero w/ Jaqueline

--L.O.D. 2000 (Hawk, Animal, and Droz) def. The Disciples of Apocalypse (Skull, 8-Ball and Paul Ellering) in a Six Man Tag Team Match.

--Christian w/ Gangrel def. Take Michinoku w/ Yamaguchi-San to win the WWE Light Heavyweight Championship.

--Goldust def. Val Venis w/ Terri Runnels.

--X-Pac w/ Chyna def. D'Lo Brown to win the WWE European Championship.

--The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) def. the New Age Outlaws ("Roadogg" Jesse James and "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) by DQ in a match for the WWE Tag Team Championships. Due to the DQ, the NAO retained.

--Ken Shamrock def. Mankind to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

--Mark Henry def. the Rock.

--The Undertaker fought Kane to a No Contest in a match for the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: The Main Event.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--This was the only Judgment Day to ever take place in October and not May. At the time, WWE had different names for their In Your House monthly PPVs, but in 2000 when they decided to keep some names permanently, Judgment Day was chosen.
--There was no 1999 Judgment Day, because it was replaced by Over the Edge. At that event, Owen Hart unfortunately died tragically, leading to the end of the use of the Over the Edge PPV and the return of the Judgment Day name.
--Every title except for the newly reinstated Women's Championship was defended at this event.
--Austin was made special guest referee for this match. The title was vacant because Taker/Kane simultaneously pinned Austin at the previous month's "BreakDown" PPV leading to Vince making the one on one match at Judgment Day. Austin said in a promo that the only hand he'd raise was his own, but Vince said if he didn't ref responsibly he'd be fired.
--Paul Bearer came out during the main event and told Kane he was going to hit Taker with a chair. He ended up turning on Kane and hitting him with the chair. Kane didn't fall until Taker took the chair and hit him. Austin refused to count and then gave Taker the Stunner, counting both men down and declaring himself the Champion. McMahon then came out and for the first time said his catchphrase "you're fired" to Austin who drank beer and saluted the crowd.
--Both Mark Henry and Chyna interfered in the European Championship Match to little success.
--Mick Foley was trapped in the Ankle Lock and used his own Mandible Claw on himself to knock himself out. the ref called the match and Shamrock, though a winner, went ballistic slaming refs and Mankind.
--Shamrock was IC Champion due to winning a tournament. The title was vacated because Triple H had a knee injury.
--The Outlaws were disqualified due to Road Dogg smashing a boom box over Thrasher's head.
--Edge looked on from the crowd as his "brother" Christian won the Light Heavyweight Title.
--After the L.O.D. hit the Doomsday Device, Droz snuck in to get the pinfall win, which angered Hawk.

[Sadie]

I love when Edge beat Angle in the Hair vs Hair match. It was such a memorable match and seeing Angle bald for the first time was classic.

[Mike]

haha yeah that was awesome. I also remember one of them had some kind of sick tag team ladder match I forget what year it was though. Taker also debuted his biker gimmick at this very event in 2000 after a great Rock/Triple H match, or should I say during.

[Mike]

WWE Judgment Day 2000[/u]

Sunday, May 21, 2000
Freedom Hall
Louisville, Kentucky
Attendance: 16,821
Announcers: Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler

Matches:[/u]

--Too Cool (Scotty 2 Hotty, Grand Master Sexay, and Rikishi) def. Team ECK (Edge, Christian, and Kurt Angle) in a Six Man Tag Match.

--Eddie Guerrero def. Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn in a Triple Threat Match to retain the WWE European Championship.

--Shane McMahon def. The Big Show in a Falls Count Anywhere Match.

--Chris Benoit def. Chris Jericho in a submission match to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

--D-Generation X (X-Pac and Road Dogg) def. The Dudley Boys (Buh-Buh-Ray and D-Von Dudley) in a Tag Team Tables Match.

--Triple H def. The Rock in an Iron Man Match to win the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: Tie between Rock/HHH and Jericho/Benoit.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--Since there was no Judgment Day in 1999, this was the first one to take place in May. Since this event, every Judgment Day has taken place in May.
--The Undertaker returned with a new "American Bad Ass" gimmick and attacked Triple H, leading to the Rock getting disqualified and losing the match.
--Triple H won the Iron Man Match 6-5. Rock won the first fall, Triple H won the next three to go up 3-1, The Rock then tied it at 3 before Triple H won the next two falls going up 5-3. The Rock would then tie it before Taker's interference late in the match.
--Shawn Michaels was the Special Guest Referee of the Iron Man Match.
--The Tag Team Tables match was competed under double tables rules, meaning that both members of the tag team had to be thrown through the tables.
--Benoit won the submission match by having Jericho submit to the Crippler Crossface.
--Shane McMahon beat Big Show by breaking a cinderblock over his head.
--Test, Albert, the Big Bossman, and Bull Buchanan all interfered on Shane's behalf.
--Chyna hit Malenko with a lead pipe to help Eddie Guerrero win the triple threat.

[Sadie]

2003 with Eddie Guerrero and Tajiri teaming up since Chavo got hurt against Team Angle? That was a sick match

[Mike]

That's the one. It was such a great match.

[Mike]

WWE Judgment Day 2001[/u]

Sunday, May 21, 2001
Arco Arena
Sacramento, California
Attendance: 13,063
Announcers: Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler

Matches:[/u]

--Kurt Angle def. Rikishi

--Kurt Angle def. Chris Benoit in a 2 out of 3 falls match.

--Rhyno def. Test and The Big Show to retain the WWE Hardcore Championship.

--Chyna def. Lita to retain the WWE Women's Championship.

--Kane def. Triple H w/ Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley in a Chain Match to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

--Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho def. The APA (Bradshaw and Faarooq), Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn w/ Terri, The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) w/ Spike Dudley, Edge and Christian, The Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff) and X-Factor (X-Pac and Justin Credible w/ Albert in a Tag Team Turmoil Match.

--Stone Cold Steve Austin def. The Undertaker in a No Holds Barred Match to retain the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: Austin/Taker and Benoit/Angle

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--The rivalry with Austin/Taker escalated when Taker received a fake phone call telling him his wife was in an accident. Taker found out Austin was responsible and went after him.
--Out of the four WWE Titles defended, only one changed hands that night, that being the IC Title.
--For winning the Tag Team Turmoil Match, Benoit/Jericho got a WWE Tag Team Championship match the next night on RAW against Triple H and Austin, and they won the belts.
--For beating Chris Benoit, Kurt Angle won back his Olympic Gold Medals which were stolen from him by Benoit leading up to the match.

[Mike]

WWE Judgment Day 2002[/u]

Sunday, May 19, 2002
Gaylord Entertainment Center
Nashville, Tennessee
Attendance: 14,500
Announcers: Jim Ross (RAW), Jerry "The King" Lawler (RAW), Michael Cole (SD), and Tazz (SD)
"Judge, Jury, and Executioner"

Matches:[/u]

--Eddie Guerrero def. Rob Van Dam to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

--Trish Stratus w/ Bubba Ray Dudley def. Stacy Keibler w/ Reverend D-Von and Deacon Batista to retain the WWE Women's Championship.

--Brock Lesnar and Paul Haymen def. the Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff).

--Stone Cold Steve Austin def. Ric Flair and the Big Show in a Handicap Match.

--Edge def. Kurt Angle in a Hair vs. Hair Match.

--Triple H def. Chris Jericho in a Hell in a Cell Match.

--Rikishi and Rico def. Billy and Chuck to win the WWE Tag Team Championship.

--The Undertaker def. Hulk Hogan to win the WWE Undisputed Championship.

Match of the Night: Angle/Edge, Hogan/Taker and Triple H/Jericho.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--This was the first ever PPV to take place under the WWE name instead of the WWF name. However, the poster had the WWF logo on it as the change was very close to the PPV date.
--This was the first Judgment Day of the brand extension, therefore it had 2 different announce teams.
--This was Hogan's first and only Judgment Day appearance.
--This night ended Hulk Hogan's final reign as WWE Champion.
--Triple H pinned Jericho after delivering a Pedigree on top of the Hell in a Cell.
--Due to winning his match, Edge got to shave Angle's head, a look which Angle has kept to this day.
--During Austin's handicap match, X-Pac interfered on Flair and Big Show's behalf.
--Heyman got the pin on Jeff Hardy after Brock Lesnar hit him with an F-5.
--Out of the four title matches, two belts changed hands the WWE Tag and WWE Undisputed titles changed hands while the IC and Women's Titles were retained.

[Mike]

WWE Judgment Day 2003[/u]

Sunday, May 18, 2003
Charlotte Coliseum
Charlotte, North Carolina
Attendance: 13,000
Announcers: Jim Ross (RAW), Jerry "The King" Lawler (RAW), Michael Cole (SD), and Tazz (SD)

Matches:[/u]

--John Cena and The F.B.I. (Chuck Palumbo and Johnny Stamboli) w/ Nunzio def. Rhyno, Spanky and Chris Benoit.

--La Resistance (Sylvan Grenier and Rene Dupree) def. Test and Scott Steiner w/ Stacy Keibler in a Tag Team Match.

--Eddie Guerrero and Tajiri def. Team Angle (Shelton Bejamin and Charlie Haas) in a Tag Team Ladder Match to win the WWE Tag Team Championships.

--Christian def. Val Venis, Chris Jericho, Lance Storm, Test, Rob Van Dam, Kane, Goldust and Booker T in a Battle Royal Match to win the vacant WWE Intercontinental Championship.

--Torrie Wilson def. Sable in a Bikini Contest.

--Mr. America w/ Zach Gowen def. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper w/ Sean O'Haire.

--Kevin Nash def. Triple H by DQ in a match for the World Heavyweight Championship. Due to the DQ, Triple H retained his title.

--Jazz w/Theodore Long def. Victoria w/ Steven Richards, Jacqueline and Trish Stratus in a Fatal Four Way Match to retain the WWE Women's Championship.

--Brock Lesnar def. The Big Show to win a Stretcher Match and retain the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: Honestly, I'd have to go with the Tag Team Ladder Match as that is the main thing that stood out from this event in my mind.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--When Christian won the vacant IC Title, it was the first time it was defended in the WWE since Triple H beat Kane in a World Title vs. IC Title match in which the IC Title was retired and unified with the World Title at No Mercy 2002.

[Mike]

WWE Judgment Day 2004[/u]

Sunday, May 16, 2004
Staples Center
Los Angeles, California
Attendance: 18,722
Announcers: Michael Cole and Tazz
"Souls Will Cry"

Matches:[/u]

--Rob Van Dam and Rey Mysterio def. the Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley).

--Torrie Wilson def. Dawn Marie.

--Mordecai def. Scotty 2 Hotty.

--Charlie Haas and Rico w/ Miss Jackie def. Hardcore Holly and Billy Gunn to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship.

--Chavo Guerrero Jr. w/ Chavo Classic def. Jacqueline to win the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

--John Cena def. Rene Dupree to retain the WWE United States Championship.

--The Undertaker w/ Paul Bearer def. Booker T.

--John Bradshaw Layfield def. Eddie Guerrero by DQ in a match for the WWE Championship. Due to the DQ, Eddie retained.

Match of the Night: Eddie vs. JBL, despite the DQ.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--Out of the four titles defended, only one changed hands while three were retained. The Tag Titles, WWE Title, and US title were retained, while the Cruiserweight Title changed hands.
--This was the first ever SmackDown-only Judgment Day.
--JBL got disqualified by hitting Eddie Guerrero with the title.
--JBL was awarded "The Great American Award" by GM Kurt Angle. Due to that he was the #1 Contender for the title. Eddie stole and broke the trophy on SmackDown, sparking the feud between the two.

[Mike]

WWE Judgment Day 2005[/u]

Sunday, May 22, 2005
Target Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Attendance: 9,500
Announcers: Michael Cole and Tazz

Matches:[/u]

--MNM (Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro) w/ Melina def. Hardcore Holly and Charlie Haas to retain the WWE Tag Team Championships.

--Carlito w/ Matt Morgan def. The Big Show.

--Paul London def. Chavo Guerrero to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

--Booker T def. Kurt Angle.

--Orlando Jordan def. Heidenreich to retain the WWE United States Championship.

--Rey Mysterio def. Eddie Guerrero by Disqualification.

--John Cena def. John Bradshaw Layfield in an "I Quit" Match to retain the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: Cena vs. JBL

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--All four titles that were defended on this PPV were retained.
--This was the first PPV to have Cena's spinner WWE Title.
--JBL quit because Cena was about to hit him with an exhaust pipe. Though he quit, Cena still hit him anyway.
--Eddie got DQued for using a steel chair.
--Carlito won with help from Matt Morgan.
--Booker T and Kurt Angle feuded because Angle said he wanted Booker's wife Sharmell.
--This was John Cena's last SmackDown-only PPV as he was drafted to RAW on June 6.

[Mike]

WWE Judgment Day 2006[/u]

Sunday, May 21, 2006
US Airways Center
Phoenix, Arizona
Attendance: 14,000
Announcers: Michael Cole and Tazz

Matches:[/u]

--Paul London and Brian Kendrick def. MNM (Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro) w/ Melina to win the WWE Tag Team Championship.

--Chris Benoit def. Finlay

--Jillian Hall def. Melina

--Gregory Helms def. Super Crazy to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

--Mark Henry def. Kurt Angle by count-out.

--Booker T w/ Sharmell def. Bobby Lashley in the KOTR Tournament Finals to become the 2006 King of the Ring.

--The Great Khali w/ Runjin Singh def. The Undertaker.

--Rey Mysterio def. John Bradshaw Layfied to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.

Match of the Night: Not a strong PPV, but JBL/Rey.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--Theodore Long announced on an edition of SmackDown in April that the King of the Ring would return for the first time since 2002, and that it would be exclusive to SD with matches taking place every week on SD and the winner being crowned at Judgment Day.
--After this PPV, Booker T went on into a lengthy King Booker gimmick with Sharmell in a Queen Sharmell gimmick forming a stable called the Court and making Finlay and Regal Sir Finaly and Sir Regal..
--Lashley beat Mark Henry and Finlay on two different episodes of SD to get to the finals while Booker beat Matt Hardy and then Angle by forfeit on two different episodes of SD to get there.
--Finlay cost Lashley the match by hitting him with the shillelagh. Lashley speared Booker through the throne during the coronation.
--After being counted out, Angle attacked Mark Henry with a chair and threw him through a table.
--Jillian beat Melina even though Melina had her hand on the ropes and the ref didn't see it. Helms beat Super Crazy using the ropes for leverage and that ref didn't see that either.
--After this PPV, it was announced that ECW was coming back in a PPV called One Night Stand and as a brand. Heyman drafted Kurt Angle to his show.
--On the SD after Judgment Day, Rey Mysterio def. JBL in a rematch and JBL retired from wrestling and became a commentator. He would eventually return and retire again at WrestleMania XXV.

[Mike]

WWE Judgment Day 2007[/u]

Sunday, May 20, 2007
Scottrade Center
St. Louis, Missouri
Attendance: 10,500
Announcers: Jim Ross (RAW), Jerry "The King" Lawler (RAW), Michael Cole (SD), JBL (SD), Joey Styles (ECW), Tazz (ECW)

Matches:[/u]

--Ric Flair def. Carlito

--Bobby Lashley def. Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon, and Umaga in a 3-on-1 Handicap Match for the ECW Championship, however he didn't win the title.

--CM Punk def. Elijah Burke.

--Randy Orton def. Shawn Michaels.

--The Hardy Boys (Matt and Jeff) def. Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch to retain the World Tag Team Championships.

--Edge def. Batista to win the World Heavyweight Championship.

--MVP def. Chris Benoit in a 2 out of 3 Falls Match to win the WWE United States Championship.

--John Cena def. The Great Khali to win the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: Orton/HBK and MVP/Benoit.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--This was the first Judgment Day since 2003 to have more than one brand represented.
--Cena's belt was stolen by Khali prior to the event. Cena won with the STFU, however Khali's foot was under the rope. The referee didn't see it and called the match. Cena got his belt back.
--MVP won his two falls from Benoit with the Playmaker and an inside cradle.
--Orton attacked HBK backstage during an interview segment backstage. HBK had a real life knee injury going into the match, and sold the attack as the injury throughout the match. He went to perform a sweet chin but collapsed and the ref called the match. Orton than punted him in the head giving him a concussion in storyline.
--Bobby Lashley should have won the ECW Title, but due to pinning Shane McMahon, Vince said he didn't win the title because he didn't pin him.

[Mike]

WWE Judgment Day 2008[/u]

Sunday, May 18, 2008
Qwest Center Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
Attendance: 18,000
Announcers: Michael Cole (RAW), Jerry Lawler (RAW), Jim Ross (SD), Tazz (SD), Todd Grisham (ECW), and Matt Striker (ECW)

Matches:[/u]

--John Cena def. John Bradshaw Layfield.

--the Miz and John Morrison def. CM Punk and Kane to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship.

--Shawn Michaels def. Chris Jericho.

--Mickie James def. Beth Phoenix and Melina in a Triple Threat Match to retain the WWE Women's Championship.

--The Undertaker def. Edge by DQ in a match for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship, therefore the title remained vacant.

--Jeff Hardy def. MVP.

--Triple H def. Randy Orton in a Steel Cage Match to retain the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: Steel Cage Match and HBK/Y2J

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--No titles changed hands.
--Jericho and Michaels shook hands after their match.
--Hawkins and Ryder interfered on Edge's behalf during his match. Taker through him into the guardrail at the count of eight and rolled into the ring to make the ten count as Edge got counted out.
--Edge would eventually win the World Heavyweight Championship at Night of Champions in a TLC Match.