Matt Striker and Todd Grisham are on commentary for this match. This match started during the Beat the Clock challenge on Smackdown, Matt Hardy is the current ECW champion and he makes his way out first. Kozlov also beat down Matt on Smackdown the previous week after a Cutting Edge segment. Vladimir Kozlov makes his way out and he's gone 8 months without a loss. The fans chant USA before it begins.
VLADIMIR KOZLOV VS. MATT HARDY
WWE Armageddon 2008 (14th December 2008)
They circle and Kozlov stalks Matt Hardy into the corner but he kicks out and fights out with lefts and rights before making some space. Matt is backed into another corner, he tries to get out but Vladimir Kozlov throws him back into the corner. Hardy kicks him in the jaw again, getting out of the corner to the middle of the ring. The fans chant for Hardy as Kozlov avoids a kick, he charges Matt into the corner and hits shoulder tackles. The referee decides to use that moment to tell Kozlov what his kids asked Santa to get them for Christmas. Kozlov walks into a knee lift, Matt hits Kozlov with lefts and rights, he uses the ropes for momentum but Kozlov catches him, Matt Hardy is able to roll through with a sunset flip but Kozlov immediately kicks out. Kozlov lifts Hardy on one shoulder but Matt kicks his way to the floor and rolls Kozlov up for 2. Kozlov powers out of a headlock, sending Matt into the corner, and hits a back suplex.
Vladimir Kozlov sends Matt Hardy's shoulder into the ring post and headbutts at the tissue. We see a replay as Kozlov sends Hardy down into a top wristlock. Matt Hardy eventually fights back to his feet and tries to break the hold with punches to the gut but a fireman's carry puts him back on the mat. Matt hardy tries to kick his way free but Kozlov picks him up and slams him, keeping the pressure on the left arm. Matt is finally able to break the hold with a jawbreaker. He hits Kozlov with rights but Vladimir Kozlov catches one and headbutts Hardy in the chest. Kozlov covers but only gets a nearfall. Kozlov goes back to the arm on the mat, then drives his knee into Hardy's arm in a hammerlock. Matt fights to his feet and tries to break free with right hands, but Kozlov drops him with a DDT. Kozlov covers and Matt kicks out at 2 again, Vladimir Kozlov uses a top wristlock on the mat, Matt Hardy tries to roll through the pressure but Kozlov transitions into an armbar on the mat, Hardy makes it to the bottom rope and Kozlov uses most of the 5-count before breaking.
Matt Hardy rolls out to the apron and drops Kozlov's throat across the top rope, he hits a shoulder block to Kozlov on Hardy's way to the top turnbuckle. Matt Hardy hits a double ax handle but had to use his injured arm. Kozlov shoves Hardy into the ropes but Matt hits him with a kick to the chest. Kozlov charges but Hardy dumps him out of the ring. Matt Hardy flies from the apron but is caught, he slips out the back and sends Kozlov into the ring post. Hardy bounces Kozlov's head off the post and takes it back into the ring. Matt covers but only gets 2, Kozlov grabbed the bottom rope, so Hardy stands on his hand. Vladimir Kozlov escapes the Twist of Fate sending Matt into the corner, Matt Hardy gets his boot up and gets to the middle rope but is cut off with a strike to the throat. Vladimir Kozlov covers but Matt Hardy grabs the bottom rope before 3. Matt Hardy gets a quick 2 count from a roll-up, he gets a headlock on Kozlov and is sent into the corner.
Kozlov charges and eats shit. Matt Hardy with right hands in the corner, he climbs to the middle rope and hits more rights but Kozlov drops him on top of the ring post, he cleared the turnbuckle. Kozlov with another headbutt to the chest, he hits a uranage for the win.
WINNER: VLADIMIR KOZLOV
This was a showcase match for Kozlov against a popular midcarder. They tried to make Matt Hardy's ECW Championship mean something, but it did nothing for me in that context. A pretty one-sided match to give Vladimir Kozlov a good win with a bit of story..– As a match it's *½ but personally, I'd rate it 2/10
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