Background
The main feud heading into Armageddon was between John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL), Booker T, Eddie Guerrero, and The Undertaker over the WWE Championship. At the previous pay-per-view 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 with the WWE Championship belt. Four nights later on SmackDown!, JBL, Guerrero, Booker and Undertaker were all arguing over who should be the next No 1 contender for the WWE Championship. SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long then announced that JBL would be defending the WWE Championship against Guerrero, Booker T and Undertaker at Armageddon. One week later, 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, Undertaker came out and attacked JBL's cabinet followed by executing a Tombstone Piledriver to JBL. One week later, Theodore Long, booked JBL, Jordan, and The Basham Brothers to face, Guerrero, Booker and Undertaker in a 6-man tag team match in the main event. Undertaker, Booker and Guerrero won the match.
A secondary feud heading into Armageddon was between John Cena and Carlito over the WWE United States Championship. The feud started four nights after No Mercy, when Cena was interrupted by Carlito. Carlito stated that he wanted a United States title shot, which Cena agreed to. Later that night, Cena lost the United States title after being hit in the head with his signature chain. One week later on 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. The feud restarted on the November 18, when Cena returned from his injury. Cena stated that he wanted revenge on Carlito and he wanted his United States Championship back. Cena won the United States Championship from Carlito, but after the match Carlito's bodyguard Jesús attacked Cena in the kidney, which forced Cena to be taken out on a stretcher.
Read more about this topic: Armageddon (2004)
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