Santa Claus has a unique and curious history within WWE. Over the years, various wrestlers have donned white beards and red suits, some villainous characters have attacked the festive figure (including one incident where he was hit by a car), and others, like Mick Foley, incorporated dressing as Santa into their personas. A lesser-known fact among fans is that Santa Claus actually participated in an official WWE match, which took place on a pay-per-view event. Let’s revisit the 2004 Armageddon to understand why Santa paused his sleigh to engage in a wrestling match with Kurt Angle two decades ago.
Leading up to the 2004 Armageddon PPV, Kurt Angle was slated to face The Big Show alongside SmackDown teammates Luther Reigns and Mark Jindrak in a 3-on-1 handicap match. Big Show triumphed after almost nine minutes, but earlier in the show, Angle surprisingly requested an additional singles match, taking on double duty that night.
Known as one of WWE’s finest technical wrestlers, Angle’s unexpected opponent was none other than Santa Claus—billed humorously as coming straight from Mrs. Claus’s kitchen at the North Pole, with quirky nicknames like 7 Billion Mince Pies and Master Reindeer. At Armageddon, Angle declared he wished to defend his Olympic gold medal against a hometown hero, despite the event being held in Duluth, Georgia, where Santa wouldn’t traditionally be considered local. Commentator Michael Cole expressed confusion over Santa’s “hometown hero” status, but Santa still made his appearance and faced a heated verbal challenge from Angle.
Angle expressed disdain for Santa, lamenting that while he risked his body nightly for his family, all his young daughter did was write letters to Santa. He vowed to make Santa submit quickly so he could return to the North Pole and prepare Christmas with his elf, Taz—much to commentary’s amusement.
The match itself was surprisingly brief, lasting only 25 seconds. Angle swiftly took down Santa, whose wig and hat fell off to reveal the impersonator beneath—thought to resemble WWE wrestler Domino, but this was never officially addressed. Angle executed his signature Angle Slam followed by an ankle lock submission, securing a decisive victory over Santa.
While several WWE wrestlers have dressed as Santa Claus over the years, this match stands out because WWE presented it as the genuine Santa competing in an official bout, a unique piece of wrestling history. Unfortunately for the festive competitor, it was Angle who emerged victorious.
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Fan Take: This quirky and unexpected moment in WWE history shows the creative and sometimes wild storytelling that sets WWE apart, blending holiday cheer with hardcore competition. It’s a reminder that WWE not only entertains but also embraces its fun, theatrical roots—something that keeps fans eagerly anticipating what surprises might come next.
