Observations from the Richmond Coliseum
Dec. 17, 2006
WWE.com was on the scene in Richmond, Va., the site of the Armageddon pay-per-view. Below are the stories on the events and happenings taking place prior to the event.
7:24 p.m.
Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms sat quietly in a hallway in the Richmond Coliseum, anticipating his title defense against Jimmy Wang Yang at Armageddon.
7:08 p.m.
Three female WWE developmental talent were at the Richmond Coliseum to audition to be WWE Divas. The ladies showed off their on-camera skills for Diva Manager Kristin Prouty. After months of training, they showed the most potential for joining the WWE Diva ranks. When their auditions were over, they spent the rest of the evening watching the show and learning from other Superstars. WWE.com overheard a WWE crew member taking information from one of the Diva hopefuls. When asked what her zip code was, she had to call her sister to find out.
6:48 p.m.
London and Kendrick sat and enjoyed a pre-match meal. It was light with many vegetables on their plates. They sat alone. Noticeably missing were their smiles and carefree attitude. They’ve always been known as one of SmackDown’s most unique tag teams, but during dinner, the two went virtually unnoticed by passers by.
6:30 p.m.
WWE Fans crowded outside the Richmond Coliseum hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite Superstars.
5:48 p.m.
Dr. Rios’ staff huddled around him as the soft-spoken WWE medical trainer informed the group that due to tonight’s Inferno Match and the brutality involved in a Last Ride Match, the medical staff was to be on “high alert.”
1:53 p.m.
Super WWE fan Kevin Tucker, a resident of Newport News, Va., drove to Richmond dressed like his favorite WWE Superstar, Undertaker. His rendition of the Deadman was so genuine, he even had Undertaker’s symbol tattooed on his neck and the authentic eye-paint.
12:47 p.m.
WWE Superstars began filtering into the arena. It was closing in on 1 p.m. and the crew began distributing the official Armageddon chairs into their designated spots in the arena.
11:38 a.m. 
The fortress-like set was oppressive and seemed to cast an eerie shadow over the whole arena. "The set was meant to reflect the Middle Eastern-style of the second century," according to one of the set designers. It was as if the set foreshadowed the mood that would take over the Richmond Coliseum when flames burn fierce and one SmackDown Superstar will take his last ride.
“We’re using a ton of propane [in the Armageddon set]. There’s 19 of what we call dragon heads that will shoot 30 feet high in the entranceway. When that goes, everyone in the back of the arena will be feeling for their eyebrows,” said Ron Bleggi, Chief Pyro Technician.
10:00 a.m.
The hearse that will cart Mr. Kennedy or Undertaker after the Last Ride Match was parked inside the arena. The windows were tinted and all of the doors were locked. The blue and black colors of the hearse served as an ominous reminder of the condition both Kennedy and the Deadman would be in after their match. Many crew members who assembled the set had arrived for work by 7 a.m., and when WWE.com asked who drove the hearse inside and what time it had gotten to the arena, they all replied that it was “here when I got here.”
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