Armageddon: ECW Champion Matt Hardy vs Vladimir Kozlov

[Rusty]

ECW Champion Matt Hardy vs Vladimir Kozlov (Non Title)​

Keep in mind this is a non title match according to WWE.com. Well quite frankly, I'm not surprised this match was made seeing as these two have been having problems and issues with each other as of late. Matt cost Kozlov a chance at the WWE Championship by lasting 12 minutes against the Moscow Mauler in the Beat in Clock match a few weeks ago on Smackdown.

Since Kozlov obviously dislikes Jeff Hardy and since Jeff is in the WWE Title match at Armageddon, Kozlov got the next best thing which is Jeff's brother, Matt. I can't help but think that Kozlov will win this cleanly. Otherwise, why wouldn't they have made the ECW Championship on the line? Should be a decent match, but nothing too exciting.

What are your thoughts on this match?

 

[tehblogger]

I see Kozlov going over here. It will be a good way to get more heat on him, as Hardy is well over with the fans, and will continue his push without taking much away from Hardy. Eventually, perhaps, Kozlov will win the ECW belt, with this match setting it up in future.

What's much more intriguing is not the booking but whether Kozlov can last the distance on PPV. Everytime so far he's had to wrestle for any serious length of time he's got very fatigued very quickly. He need to learn to pace himself a bit more, I think. I see him winning here: but how he does it could well decide the extent of his push in the future.

 

[Thriller Ant]

I think the fact that the match is non-title pretty much guarantees that Kozlov will win this match. I think the ECW title is a good route for him to go, just because he isn't ready to go for one of the two major titles yet, but since he was just in a feud for the WWE title he is currently above the U.S. or Intercontinental belts. Kozlov will win quickly and easily, beginning a feud between himself and Matt for the belt where, as I put in another thread, Kozlov will win the belt from Hardy in one of the next 3 PPVs. It will be a huge shock to me if Hardy wins this match.

 

[Shocky]

I'm liking this match. You can almost guarantee that Koslov wins this, which is no problem by my accounts.

Honestly, I've expected Hardy to feud moreso with Miz and Morrison but it's looking more and more like they are getting ready to make a permanent jump to the Raw monster, thus, leaving hardy to deal with Mark Henry, and more then likely Koslov jumping to ECW.

Koslov needs a move to ECW. He's mark Henry, but better. Koslov, with Edge returning is going to lose a ton of momentum he had. The WWE obviously feels at this point he's bigger then the US Title (I disagree, because a Russian holding the US title is awesome). So to build up the credibility of the ECW championship, I can see teh Big Russian getting it at the Rumble.

 

["Cool Guy" Jensen]

I am forced to repeat what many of you have already said... the fact that this is a non-title match guarantees that Vladimir Kozlov will pick up the victory. I expect him to win the match, but where does WWE go from there? Vladimir could challenge Matt Hardy for the ECW Championship and win the title which could piss off a bunch of fans or Matt Hardy could pick up some kind of fluke victory against Kozlov which could also piss off a small number of fans.

I think that Matt Hardy deserves a long title reign and shouldn't lose his title until well into next year. While I think that if Vladimir Kozlov keeps being the challenger and end up on the losing end everytime, then he will lose all the momentum that he took months to gain.

So, I am near 100% sure that Vladimir Kozlov will defeat Matt Hardy in the non-title match, but hope that they do not have too long a feud unless, Kozlov wins the title just for Hardy to regain it.

 

[My$terio_Fan]

Kozlov went from being in a feud with two of the biggest faces in the WWE for the WWE title, to then feuding with Matt Hardy for the ECW belt? While Kozlov held his own against Jeff & HHH, this makes sence. The WWE doesn't want to push Kozlov straight to the top right away because it could damage his overall credibility and since Edge is back Kozlov isn't needed right now. I think a Kozlov Vs. Matt Hardy feud can do wonders for Kozlov and make him an even more bigger threat.

As for the match I say either Kozlov wins or loses because of DQ. It's kind of stupid that they don't make this for the belt, but it could just mean they want to countinue the feud longer and still have Hardy as champion. I think it should be a decent match although Kozlov and Hardy both work sort of boring styles so I don't know how involved the crowd will be.

 

[AnthonyMango/NoFate007]

1) Why didn't they just make this a title match? Kozlov's going to win the title anyway, and the next ppv has the Royal Rumble, so people can watch it without having to see a title win, you know? Armageddon definitely isn't going to give us a new WWE/WHC title change, so why not make it so we have an ECW title change to help this lackluster card? I mean, Finlay/Henry on the card? C'mon. Throw us a bone lol.

2) I've never been a fan of Kozlov. I don't see what's so great about the guy. He doesn't even do his finisher anymore. His finisher has deformed itself so much over the past few months that its now just him pushing your chest with his hands.

3) I've never been a fan of Matt Hardy. I don't see what's so great about the guy. I find him boring in the ring and on the mic and I think he really needs to shave that weird facial hair and stop wearing the ponytail as it makes him look like he's got a head the size of Texas.

4) Since I'm not a fan of either of those guys, I personally am not excited about watching this match, as I think it'll flop. BUT, I'd rather see Kozlov win the ECW title than to dethrone any of the other champions out there, so I'll take it.


Oh, and to go along with the crowd...since this is a non-title match, Kozlov will win.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

why the FUCK is this a non title match?? for fucking WHAT?? Ugh. Oh well, I look forward to seeing Kozlov fucking decimate Hardy, it a match that should be on ECW next week. did they all the sudden go "OH FUCK we only have FOUR MATCHES???"

*panic mode*

It makes zero sense of any sort this not being a title match. I guess we are also just going to forget about the whole Jack swagger winning the Number 1 contender match as well. Why couldnt THAT match have been in this place, and then moved forward with the Kozlov-Hardy thing next week?? Ugh. no idea. Kozlov lays an ass beating here.

 

[Father:_Polley]

Why bother having a match on the card with a champion against someone and not put the belt on the line. Even you don't want Koslov to be champion, have him do a Shamrock and kill the challenger to the point the ref throws the match out or DQs him. Hardy keeps the belt and Koslov looks bad-ass. It's a win-win situation, compared to this where Koslov wins and nothing changes.

 

[Tastycles]

Without doubt, Kozlov will win this. Like everyone has said, otherwise they'd make it a title fight. The ECW division greatly needs someone, but I don't think Kozlov is the answer. He has got a super push, but I don't know why. His matches are dull, he is crap on the mic and he his headbutt finisher is on a par with Khali's slap thing. He's just average really, and I'm glad that at least he's out of the main event.

The crowd during the first part of the match when it was just him and Triple H was dead. I think that this match is an exercise to see how the crowd reacts in this PPV. If they don't react at all, I think there is a good chance that Kozlov won't win the ECW championship after all.

 

[Tim]

Kozlov's won this one, hands down. Title match, if it had more buidup, he still would've won. But they're still making Kozlov seem unstoppable, and if he goe through a champion on a PPV, it will build him up even more. Kozlov's getting one of the biggest pushes in the WWE, and I think this match will lead to the ECW championship, and then later on the WWE championship. I also think for some reason that this will be a squash, which will show Kozlov's dominance. This match might not be very good though, as i'm not sure whether Matt's and Kozlov's styles will blend well together. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

[48.7 is Approximately 49 Times Better Than You]

I'm excited for this match. I'm excited any time that I get to see Kozlov wrestle. I was one of the few that actually enjoyed what he and Triple H were doing in the ring. I see this match going about seven minutes, being mostly dominated by Kozlov. Hardy will get a few moves in, go for the Twist of Fate, Kozlov will push him off against the ropes and then hit him with a headbutt for the pin. He's obviously being built towards the ECW championship, which I think is a good move. This should be a decent match that serves as build up for Kozlov winning the title next month.