Best of WWE Survivor Series PPVS

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TBM presents.....

The Best Of - WWE SURVIVOR SERIES PPV

TBM is happy to bring you The Best Of - WWE Survivor Series PPVs. Survivor Series is the 2nd longest running pay-per-view event in WWE history, behind WrestleMania. The first Survivor Series, held in 1987, came on the heels of the incredible success of WrestleMania III, as the then-WWF began to see the lucrative potential of the pay-per-view market. It is one of the "Big Four" events, along with WrestleMania, Royal Rumble and SummerSlam, as it is one of the original four pay-per-views produced by WWE.

On November 24th, 2013 WWE will produce its twenty-seventh Survivor Series event. 


Lets do this.......

BEST OVERALL PAY PER VIEW EVENT.

5. Survivor Series 1996.

This event is anchored by arguably the greatest match in Survivor Series history.

Stone Cold Steve Austin was a star on the rise in the WWF and laid out an open challenge to Bret Hart, who had been on hiatus through 1996 since his loss to Michaels at WrestleMania XII. Hart finally returned in the fall of the year and responded to Austin’s taunts, claiming he would face “the best wrestler” in the WWF at Survivor Series.

Hart would win the match thanks to a beautiful counter while locked in Austin’s Million $ Dream submission hold, but Austin walked out of the match a much bigger star than when he came. The two men had a great scientific back-and-forth match that put Austin on the map as a legitimate player in the wrestling world. It was arguably his last good scientific wrestling match before the severe neck injury that caused him to change his in-ring style. By winning the match Hart looked like the wily, cagey, main event superstar everyone knew and loved, and set the wheels in motion for a wild feud between the two men that would carry the WWF through the majority of 1997 and catapult Stone Cold Steve Austin into a mega-star.

The other actual main event of Sid challenging Shawn Michaels for the WWF Championship was another moment in history. Sid came into the match as the villain and Michaels the hero, but thanks to a jaded, wild New York City crowd in Madison Square Garden, Sid became the unlikely hero. With wild brawling and a wicked camera shot to Michaels’ manager Jose Lothario, it set the stage for the “Attitude” era that was just around the corner. Sid ended up win the Championship to cheers from the crowd, and it became evident that the age of the anti-hero was on its way.

The show was also stacked with traditional four-on-four elimination matches. But the one that stood out as truly memorable was Marc Mero’s team versus Hunter Hearst-Helmsley’s team. The whole match hinged on the certifiable rookie named Rocky Maivia. Maivia was the company’s first third-generation star, the son of “Soul Man” Rocky Johnson and grandson of “High Chief” Peter Maivia. For weeks leading up the event, vignettes and videos of Maivia aired, hyping his debut. This would be his first match on WWF television and the pressure was on him.

On a side note, Maivia wasn’t the only star to debut that night on pay per view. Flash Funk (more famously known as 2 Cold Scorpio) debuted in another eight-man elimination bout, but was overshadowed by over-the-hill Hall of Famer Superfly Jimmy Snuka of all people. Also the tandem of Doug Furnas & Philip Lafon debuted in another eight-man bout, and actually won the match. But the duo’s no frills, no flash, all wrestling attitude, look and gimmick did not mesh with the WWF’s style, and they unfortunately did not make the impact they should have.

Match results:

• Bart Gunn (captain), Jesse James, Aldo Montoya & Bob Holly beat Billy Gunn (captain), Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw, The Sultan & Salvatore Sincere in an elimination match that happened on the Free For All before the pay per view went live on the air. Bart Gunn was the sole survivor.
• Doug Furnas, Philip Lafon and Henry & Phineas Godwinn beat Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith & The New Rockers (Leif Cassidy & Marty Jannetty) in an elimination match. Furnas & Lafon were the survivors.
• The Undertaker beat Mankind.
• Marc Mero (captain), Barry Windham, Jake “The Snake” Roberts (replacing Mark Henry) & Rocky Maivia beat Hunter Hearst-Helmsley, Goldust, Jerry “The King” Lawler & Crush in an elimination match. Maivia was the sole survivor.
• Bret “Hit Man” Hart beat Stone Cold Steve Austin.
• Faarooq (captain), Vader, New Razor Ramon & New Diesel went to a no contest with Savio Vega(captain), Yokozuna, Flash Funk & Superfly Jimmy Snuka (a mystery partner) in an elimination match. No one survived.
• Sid beat WWF World Heavyweight Champion Shawn Michaels to win the Championship.

4. Survivor Series 1997.

To say this is a memorable pay per view in pro wrestling would be a severe understatement.

The show was full of four-on-four traditional elimination tag matches that were a lot of fun. They showed off the company’s growing mid-card and really played off the “Gang Rulz” storyline the company had been running since earlier that summer. Plus Stone Cold Steve Austin continued his rise to superstardom as he defeated Owen Hart to win the Intercontinental Title and gain revenge for the serious neck injury he suffered against Owen at SummerSlam ’97. Also Kane made his in-ring debut by defeating Mankind. But this show is remembered almost solely on the main event – Bret Hart defending his WWF Championship against Shawn Michaels. Legitimate bad blood between the two men sprung up during their run against each other on top of the WWF in 1997. The on-screen interviews between them began to get more brutal, personal and insider, as the pair threw veiled legitimate shoot comments at each other. This rematch, with Hart’s WWF Championship on the line was eerily reminiscent of their match five years earlier at the same event, which was the first time they had ever main evented a pay per view against each other. Only this time the build-up was much more personal, as was the outcome. Everyone knew Hart and Michaels’ legitimate backstage heat, and knew that Hart was leaving for World Championship Wrestling shortly afterwards. Plus the match was in Bret’s home country of Canada, where he was treated as a hero. Needless to say the crowd, the viewing public and the entire wrestling world were electric for this match. 

Thanks to the most famous “screwjob” in pro wrestling history, referee Earl Hebner rang the bell as Michaels placed Hart in his signature Sharpshooter submission hold. Hart never submitted but the match ended, and Hart was screwed. 

None of the in-ring action is anything that will ever make a best-of-compilation, but is so historic of show that it needs to be seen by every wrestling fan at least once. This show literally changed the course of the pro wrestling industry.

Match Results :

• The Road Dog, Billy Gunn and Henry & Phineas Godwinn beat The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) & The New Blackjacks (Blackjack Windham & Blackjack Bradshaw) in an elimination match. Road Dog and Gunn were the survivors.
• The Truth Commission: Jackyl (captain), The Interrogator, Rekon & Sniper beat The Disciples of Apocalypse: Crush (captain), Chainz, Skull & Eight Ball in an elimination match. Interrogator was the sole survivor.
• Team Canada: Davey Boy Smith (captain), Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, Philip Lafon & Doug Furnas beat Team USA: Vader (captain), Marc Mero, Goldust & Steve Blackman (replacing The Patriot) in an elimination match. Smith was the sole survivor.
• Kane beat Mankind.
•  Ken Shamrock (captain), Ahmed Johnson and The Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal) beat The Nation of Domination: Faarooq (captain), D-Lo Brown, Kama Mustafa & Rocky Maivia in an elimination match. Shamrock was the sole survivor.
•  Stone Cold Steve Austin beat WWF Intercontinental Champion Owen Hart to win the Championship.
•  Shawn Michaels beat WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bret “Hit Man” Hart to win the Championship.

3. Survivor Series 2001.

This show had a consistent theme running through the entire card top-to-bottom, as it was the last night of the WCW-ECW Invasion storyline. Every match featured WCW and ECW branded talent battling the WWF talent.

In the main event the WWF team of The Rock, The Big Show, Chris Jericho, Kane and Undertaker defeated the WCW-ECW Alliance team of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Rob Van Dam and Shane McMahon in an elimination match, where the winning team remained on the roster and the losing side went home.Never has a Survivor Series team been so decorated with five legitimate World Heavyweight Champions as Team WWF was back in 2001. It makes sense that if the higher ups were assembling a team to defend existence of the very company they work for it was to theoretically recruit the very best of the company. Not surprisingly Team WWF won the main event match and the WWF stayed in business while the WCW-ECW Alliance was fired. Naturally the long awaited, much anticipated WWF versus WCW rivalry ended with a showdown between The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. It showed how much faith the WWF had in WCW’s talent.

The rest of the show featured Edge defeating Test to unify the WWF Intercontinental Title and the WCW United States Title. That unification would last less than two years. Also The Dudley Boyz beat The Hardy Boyz in another part in the never ending rivalry. This bout was contested in a Steel Cage match to unify the WWF and WCW World Tag Team Titles.

It was a merciful end to the sometimes embarrassing and confusing WCW-ECW InVasion storyline. But despite the six months of confusing storylines, the talent always delivered in the ring, which provided a bright spot on television and on the pay per views.

Match results:

• WWF European Champion Christian beat Al Snow.
• William Regal beat Tajiri.
• WCW United States Champion Edge beat WWF Intercontinental Champion Test to unify the two Championships.
• WCW World Tag Team Champions Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley beat WWF World Tag Team Champions Matt & Jeff Hardy in a Steel Cage Match to unify the two Championships.
• Test (replacing Scotty 2 Hotty) won an immunity battle royal. Other participants included Billy Gunn, Chuck Palumbo, Bradshaw, Faarooq, Spike Dudley, Albert, Crash Holly, Funaki, Lance Storm, Kidman, Raven, Justin Credible, Tommy Dreamer, Shawn Stasiak, Steven Richards, The Hurricane, Diamond Dallas Page, Tazz, Chavo Guerrero and Hugh Morrus.
• Trish Stratus beat Lita, Jacqueline, Mighty Molly, Ivory & Jazz in a Six Pack Challenge to win the vacant WWF Women’s Championship.
• Team WWF: The Rock (captain), The Undertaker, Kane, Chris Jericho & The Big Show (replacing Vince McMahon) beat Team Alliance: Stone Cold Steve Austin (captain), Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Kurt Angle & Shane McMahon in an elimination match. Rock was the sole survivor.

2. Survivor Series 1998 (Deadly Games)

Survivor Series ’98 was the high point of former WWF booker Vince Russo’s creative talents while in charge of the WWF’s creative team. It was easily his zenith, his opus as a professional wrestling creative writer.

The show featured a thirteen-man single elimination tournament to crown a new WWF Champion called “The Deadly Game.” The Championship had been vacant since September when The Undertaker and Kane double pinned then Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin at the Judgment Day pay per view.

This tournament ultimately featured the culmination of many different storylines and feuds that developed over the entire year of 1998. This feud ended rivalries, started new rivalries, introduced new characters and changed others. When one thinks of the “Attitude” era this is the show to think of.

The high point of the show saw Shane McMahon, who had been demoted to a lowly referee by his father Mr. McMahon, run out to take over for an injured referee during the Stone Cold Steve Austin-Mankindsemi-final match. Just as Shane went to count the three count on Mankind and send Austin to the finals, he stopped at the count of two and gave Austin the proverbial “bird.” Mr. McMahon’s stooges then walloped Austin with a chair, sending Mankind to the finals and reuniting father and son. Then in the finals Mankind, who seemingly had the support of The McMahons up to this point, took on The Rock. As the match progressed, Rock locked Mankind in the Sharpshooter and Mr. McMahon ordered the ref to ring the bell, ending the match, just like the year before in 1997 when Vince McMahon legitimately screwed Bret Hart. The Rock, who at that point was calling himself the People’s Champion, was now christened The Corporate Champion, and was the McMahons’ new pet project.

WWF’s young roster was reaching its peak at this point. It featured so many young, hungry talented stars that were getting a big chance on pay per view. None of the actual wrestling on this show is five star worthy, as this show is all about the story involved. Watch this show for its storyline and soap opera elements and think of it as a season finale for 1998 as the company looked to go even more ludicrous in 1999.

Match results:

• Mankind beat Duane Gill (a mystery opponent) in a first round match in the Deadly Game WWF Championship tournament.
• Al Snow beat Jeff Jarrett in a first round match in the Deadly Game WWF Championship tournament.
• Stone Cold Steve Austin beat Big Boss Man in a first round match in the Deadly Game WWF Championship tournament.
• X-Pac fought Steven Regal to a double count out in a first round match in the Deadly Game WWF Championship tournament.
• Ken Shamrock beat Goldust in a first round match in the Deadly Game WWF Championship tournament.

• The Rock beat Big Boss Man (replacing Triple H) in a first round match in the Deadly Game WWF Championship tournament.
• The Undertaker beat Kane in a quarterfinal match in the Deadly Game WWF Championship tournament.
• Mankind beat Al Snow in a quarterfinal match in the Deadly Game WWF Championship tournament.
• The Rock beat Ken Shamrock in a quarterfinal match in the Deadly Game WWF Championship tournament.
• Sable beat WWF Women’s Champion Jacqueline to win the Championship.
• Mankind beat Stone Cold Steve Austin in a semifinal match in the Deadly Game WWF Championship tournament.
• The Rock beat The Undertaker in a semifinal match in the Deadly Game WWF Championship tournament.
• WWF World Tag Team Champions The New Age Outlaws (The Road Dogg & Billy Gunn) beat The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) and D-Lo Brown & Mark Henry in a triple threat match to retain the Championships.
• The Rock beat Mankind in the finals of the Deadly Game tournament to win the vacant WWF Championship.

1. Survivor Series 2002.

This pay per view only featured six matches on the show itself, and not one of them was actively bad. While there was a severe lack of traditional tag team elimination matches there was still an elimination theme running throughout the entire show. In addition the hot New York City crowd in Madison Square Garden certainly added to the environment and fun nature of the show.

In the main event Shawn Michaels was making an improbable return from a four-year hiatus after a debilitating back injury. He was inserted in the first ever Elimination Chamber bout against five other world class, main event level former, current or future World Heavyweight Champions. The Elimination Chamber was described as a combination of WarGames, Survivor Series elimination matches and the Royal Rumble. With the six men entering the match at set intervals, pin falls or submissions happening at any point in the match and happening completely in a giant enclosed, chain-linked dome cage it provided for an amazing visual and a great match. Naturally being this was the first one of its kind, it only included trusted, top level veterans, who could be counted on to deliver in this brand new atmosphere.

The other true stand out was the triple threat elimination match for the WWE Tag Team Championships. These six were lovingly known as the “SmackDown Six” for their penchant for having ridiculously good matches whether be in singles, tag team or multi-man competition. This match was did nothing to change that perspective and certainly helped get the fledgling WWE Tag Titles off the ground. Top to bottom the show delivered and any wrestling fan should find something that they can enjoy on this show. 

Match Results :

• Jeff Hardy and Bubba Ray & Spike Dudley def. Rico & 3 Minute Warning (Rosey & Jamal) in an Elimination Tables match.
• Billy Kidman def. WWE Cruiserweight Champion Jamie Noble.
• Victoria def. WWE Women’s Champion Trish Stratus in a Hardcore Match to win the Championship.

• The Big Show def. WWE Champion Brock Lesnar to win the Championship.
• Eddie & Chavo Guerrero def. Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit and WWE Tag Team Champions Edge & Rey Mysterio in a triple threat match to win the Championships.
• Shawn Michaels def. World Heavyweight Champion Triple H, Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Chris Jericho and Kane in an Elimination Chamber match to win the Championship.

BEST OVERALL MATCH.

5. Shawn Michaels vs Randy Orton - (Survivor Series 2007)

If Orton gets disqualified, he loses the title. If Shawn uses the superkick, he's disqualified. Shawn grabs a cravat and won't let go no matter what. Orton finally has to shove him into the corner and pummel him. Shawn shoves him back and fakes him out with the superkick. Instead, he chops him and rides him down into a rear naked choke. Orton pulls himself to the floor, so Shawn hits an Asai Moonsault. Back in, Orton rolls through a crossbody for two and clocks Shawn with a European uppercut. But, he's not even European! Shawn takes Orton down into a pretty crappy Sharpshooter. Orton makes the ropes to break. He gleefully hits a rope-assisted DDT. Now it's Orton going with the rear chinlock. Shawn comes back with the Flying Forearm and kip-up. Orton blocks an atomic drop and snaps off a dropkick for two. He misses a second dropkick, though, and Shawn gets two. Odd moment as Shawn bodyslams Orton, but Randy pops up. Um, has he never seen a Shawn Michaels match?!? Shawn slams him again and hits the Picture-Perfect Elbow. He tunes up the band, and the ref warns him that he'll be disqualified. Instead, Shawn fakes Randy out again and small packages him. Orton rolls him up for two, but Shawn rides him down into the… Crippler Crossface. Oh. Um. Yeah, that's a bit awkward. Fans pop big, though. Orton gets his leg on the ropes. Orton rolls through another attempt and hits the Stretch Backbreaker. Orton stalks Shawn for the kick to the head, but Shawn catches him and turns him over into the Anklelock! See, he can't use his own finisher, so he's using other people's finishers. Awesome storytelling and psychology there. Randy reaches the ropes. Shawn goes for the figure-four but gets posted. Shawn slips out of a slam and instinctively goes for the superkick. He stops short, but that moment's hesitation allows Orton to hit the RKO for the win at 17:48. 

Randy finally got a win to go along with his two-month plus reign. This was some awesome stuff. The work was good enough (***3/4-ish), as usual with Shawn, but the extra elements of psychology – Randy Orton being so freaked out by the multiple superkicks he's taken that he leaves himself open to making mistakes, and Shawn working all of the other famous finishers because he can't use his own but, in the end, letting a momentary lapse in concentration leave him open to the opportunistic Orton – add up to one of the best matches of the year in the WWE.

Mr Blu Rating:  ****1/4


4. WWF Heavyweight Title Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart - (Survivor Series 1992)

How much foresight did Vince have making this Bret's first big title defense? Shawn was the Intercontinental Champion at this point, but it's not on the line. Shawn gets pissed off early and plays red light/green light with the ref over a hairpull. Bret dominates the early portion, hitting a crossbody and armdragging Shawn down. Shawn blocks a hiptoss but gets clotheslined out of his boots. The tide finally turns when Shawn gives Bret a hotshot on the top rope. Bret misses a charge and posts himself. He also takes the "Bret Bump" to the buckle, and Shawn stays on top with a chinlock. Too many meaningless restholds in lieu of actual conflict here. Bret stages a mini-comeback with a bulldog but misses an elbowdrop. He gets a small package. Bret catches Shawn in mid-air and slingshots him into the buckle. BAAAAACK BODYDROP! Bret hits a superplex, and they tease a double KO spot. The ref gets bumped but no-sells it. Shawn catches Bret with the superkick and hits the Teardrop Suplex, but it only gets two. Shawn goes up and comes off the second-rope, but Bret catches him coming down and locks in the Sharpshooter for the win at 26:00. 

Shawn was good but was too intent on playing the character instead of having a good match. Also, it was too slow in the early going with many holds not paid off down the stretch. Still, once they got it going, it was Shawn & Bret, and despite their differences, they always had great chemistry when they started trying. Great stuff down the stretch. 

Mr Blu Rating: ****1/4

3.  - World Heavyweight Title, Elimination Chamber: Triple H vs. Chris Jericho vs. Booker T vs. Kane vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Rob Van Dam (Survivor Series 2002)

This would be the first ever Elimination Chamber. Very cool, exciting times. Saliva plays Jericho down. Thankfully, he didn't keep that entrance music. Ross notes that Kane will become the first masked World Champion if he wins tonight. Yes, if you don't count THE TIME HE WON IT BEFORE! Then again, I guess he didn't win this particular title that dated all the way back to…September. Van Dam and Hunter start. Hunter goes for the Pedigree early but gets backdropped to the steel platform surrounding the ring. Van Dam nearly throws him through the chain wall and hits Rolling Thunder over the top rope. Cool. Van Dam goes up to the top of Jericho's chamber, but Jericho yanks him down. RVD fights him off and hits a somersault bodyblock on Hunter. Ouch! Jericho is the next to enter, and he and Van Dam go at it while Hunter takes a breather. Van Dam misses a lunge but clings to the side of the cage like Spider-man. Jericho and Hunter team up reluctantly. Booker T comes in next and cleans house on the heels. Van Dam goes up to the top of one of the chambers and hits the frogsplash on Hunter, but the cage's ceiling was too low, and Van Dam winds up twisting his knee and crushing Hunter's throat. It's not quite Sid/Pillman, but it still looked ugly. Booker crawls over and pins Van Dam at 13:38, drawing a heel pop. Booker covers Triple H, but the ref is busy pushing Van Dam's carcass out of the cage. Jericho jumps Booker from behind, and they brawl until Kane comes in. Kane goes after both Jericho and Booker, javelining Jericho into the cage and then through the Plexiglass of an empty chamber. Kane chokeslams Booker T, allowing Jericho to get the pin off a Lionsault at 17:40. Things start to meander as Jericho and Kane trade blows until Shawn comes in. Shawn hits Kane with his flying forearm, but he doesn't do the kip-up afterward, so Kane gets up and chokeslams everyone. Hunter and Shawn inadvertently team up as Hunter shoves Kane into a Superkick. Pedigree! Lionsault! Bye, bye Kane at 22:53. Hunter and Jericho form an alliance of convenience against Shawn. Shawn comes back against Jericho and tries to piledrive him, but Chris backdrops Shawn on the platform. Shawn hits the flying forearm on Triple H and kips up right into the bulldog and Lionsault by Jericho. ONE, TWO, THR-NO! Shawn gets two off a moonsault block and rolls him over into a Boston Crab. Hunter breaks it up with a DDT but objects when Jericho tries to get the pin. The two come to blows, and Jericho jumps right into a Pedigree. He reverses, though, to the Walls of Jericho. Shawn Michaels comes out of nowhere with the superkick to eliminate Jericho at 30:41.

So that leaves Shawn and Hunter. Hunter spine busters Shawn and backdrops him to the platform. Shawn tries a Pedigree of his own, but Hunters slingshots him through the Plexiglass of another of the empty chambers. Shawn fires back but takes a facebuster knee. Shawn comes back with an elbowdrop off the top of the chamber. Shawn tunes up the band, but Hunter blocks and hits the Pedigree. He can't cover right away and only gets two. Hunter goes for another one, but Shawn backdrops out of it and hits Sweet Chin Music for the win and his first title in 4 years at 39:20. 

The crowd does, indeed, go wild. This match is usually loved or middle of the road in comparison to other chamber matches, I am one who loves its. Its still the best chamber match,  a close race but this grabs the lead. It was always going to come down to HHH vs HBK, and it should have. Their feud was gold. Great debut for the chamber, with every superstar performing respective roles well. The eliminations within the chamber were executed well and in the correct order (from a fan's pov) which always helps. Credit to HHH, when Van Dam hit the splash from the top rope he actually damaged Hunter's wind pipe which obviously effected him for the rest of the match. He stayed tough and carried the match. 

Mr Blu Rating: ****1/4

2.WWF Heavyweight Championship Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart - (Survivor Series 1997)

Michaels is the European Champion. Well, here we go. We follow Shawn with Triple H, Chyna and Rick Rude from his locker room him but comes out alone. Shawn grabs a Canadian flag, wipes his ass and nose with it and poses over it. Bret is flanked by the British Bulldog, Jim Neidhart and Owen Hart on his way to the entrance. Earl Hebner is the referee. Shawn attacks before the bell but Bret gets the better of it and floors HBK and clotheslines him to the floor. Bret tosses Michaels into the ringpost. Jerry Lawler mentions that he looked over at the timekeeper to see if the match had begun; Bret pummels Shawn out into the crowd. Vince McMahon comes out to sell the “reality” of the situation; Shawn chokes Bret out with a bandana. Jim Ross notes that if Bret loses here it will be his last match in the WWF. Shawn tries to piledrive Bret in the crowd but Bret backdrops him back into ringside. Lawler questions McMahon’s presence. Pat Patterson gets takes out by Bret. There are about six WWF referees trying to get them to go to the ring. Bret suplexes Shawn onto the aisle; HBK tosses Bret into referee Tim White. I never realized that there was this much outside stuff prior to the match starting. They battle up into the entrance ramp and Bret nails Shawn and then referee Jack Doan. Vince gets in Bret’s face demanding he get into the ring. They finally head into the ring where the actual screwing can occur. Bret chokes HBK with a Quebec flag. Bret drops a knee and inverted atomic drops him; Shawn calls a loud spot and Jim Ross calls it trash talking, actually it could have been trash talking knowing these two. Michaels lands the flying forearm and is now in control; now Shawn wraps the Quebec flag around Hart’s throat. Shawn tosses Bret to the floor and follows him out there. This looks like total chaos in and out of the ring as Shawn taunts the fans. Shawn hits a gourdbuster onto the steel steps then steals Bret’s Canadian flag and spikes him with it. Michaels dominates a fight in the aisle; Shawn returns to the ring via top rope double axe handle and segues into a front facelock; Bret fights free and hits a gourdbuster on Shawn. Bret begins to work the leg but Shawn counters with a rear-naked eye rake. Bret continues to work the leg but Shawn bodyslams him. Shawn comes off the top-rope with a crossbody but Bret rolls through for a nearfall. Bret drags Michaels to the corner and applies the ringpost figure-four. Hart methodically works over the leg hitting rope-assisted sit-down splashes. Bret slaps on a figure-four leglock, Shawn fights and eventually rolls onto his belly, and Bret quickly grabs the ropes to break the hold. The fans chant “Bret” as he punches away on Shawn. Bret tosses Shawn into the corner upside-down and then hits his Russian leg sweep, a vertical suplex and a backbreaker. Bret goes to the top-rope but Shawn pulls referee Hebner in between and Bret wipes himself and Hebner out. Shawn rakes Bret’s face and applies the Sharpshooter to Bret! Hebner recovers rather quickly from his bump, immediately calls for the bell, and runs out of the ring. The official decision is Bret submitted to the Sharpshooter and lost the title. Vince McMahon returns to ringside and Jim Ross is “confused” on commentary. Bret Hart spits on McMahon as Triple H and Gerald Brisco escort an “irate” Shawn Michaels, with the WWF title, to the back. The PPV closes there.  …

There you have it. The actual match itself is quite good with intense crowd reactions. The pre-match brawl is uncharacteristic of the combatants but not of the era. This match is the most controversial match in the history of pro wrestling. The match was excellent and the historical value is also important.

Mr Blu Rating: ****1/2


1. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin - (Survivor Series 1996)

If Bret wins, he gets a title shot at the next PPV. Bret, to his credit, goes all out to make Austin look like the superstar that he is, which is just good business on Bret's part because it set him up for the next year and a revitalized career. They do some great counter wrestling early until Austin gets sick of that and wins a slugfest. Bret goes for a bulldog, but Austin just shoves him into the buckle. Bret blocks a superplex and hits a top-rope elbow for two. They brawl out into the crowd, which became a staple of big WWF matches for the next four years. Back to ringside, Austin slingshots Bret into the Spanish announce table and turns his forehead into hamburger with right hands. He adds an elbow, and Bret just crumbles. Back in, Austin can't finish him off with the abdominal stretch, so Bret fires back, triggering a big slugfest. This time Bret wins to a HUGE pop. Great idea there. Bret hits a Stun Gun and a piledriver for two. Austin takes Bret up and delivers a top-rope superplex. Bret turns it into a small package for two, though. Austin hits the Stunner but can't cover immediately, so it only gets two. He keeps covering for two counts. Austin grabs the Texas Cloverleaf, but Bret reverses to a bow-and-arrow. Bret grabs a sleeper, but Austin rams him into the buckle and applies the Million Dollar Dream. That allows Bret to walk up the ropes and flip backwards, putting Austin on his back. Austin is so intent on choking Bret out that he doesn't release the hold and gets pinned at 28:33. 

Incredible match that showed that Austin could match Bret in building a match. Of course, Austin wouldn't be satisfied and would continue hounding Bret for the rematch that signaled the changeover from guys like Bret and Shawn to Austin, Hunter and Rock in 1997. 

Mr Blu Rating: ****3/4

BEST TRADITIONAL SURVIVOR SERIES TAG MATCHES 

5. Ted Dibiase, The Mountie, The Warlord & Ric Flair vs. Bret Hart, Virgil, the British Bulldog & Roddy Piper. - (Survivor Series 1991)

Flair and Dibiase teaming up is so cool to see, given their history together. Piper and Dibiase start, but Flair sneak attacks Piper. Piper clotheslines Dibiase and crotches him on the ropes. Sherri tries to get involved but gets a kiss from Hot Rod. Incredibly hot crowd that just loves to see Dibiase taking punishment. All four of the babyfaces focus on Dibiase's arm. Bret and Dibiase go at it and we get the infamous "Reverse. Charge." spot call by Dibiase. Bret squats down on Dibiase's shoulders for two. Dibiase reverses that to a sunset flip, but Bret reverses THAT to a jackknife for two. Flair tags in and misses an elbow drop. The Bulldog tags in and slingshots Flair to the turnbuckle. Finally, Piper tags in and the place ERUPTS. Piper MASSACRES Flair with a series of punches. The Nature Boy escapes to the floor and THEN does the Flair flop. Just awesome stuff so far. Piper follows him out and lays in some more shots. Warlord tags in and calls for a test of strength from Piper. Piper declines and tags the British Bulldog for a more even contest. Bulldog hits a pair of shoulderblocks and a dropkick. We take a brief look at Jimmy Hart rooting for the Mountie. When we come back, Bret and Dibiase are going at it. They collide for a double KO. Mountie and Bulldog tag in and Davey Boy destroys him. It has been all faces for the first ten-or-so minutes. Davey Boy clotheslines both Flair and Dibiase to a big pop. The Bulldog hits the Mountie with the powerslam, but Flair tricks the faces into distracting the referee long enough to come off the top with a forearm to eliminate the Bulldog at 9:40. Piper attacks immediately but gets caught in the heel corner. Flair drops a knee between his eyes and taunts Virgil into coming into the ring. A second kneedrop misses, and Piper puts Flair in the figure-four. Virgil, like an idiot, gets suckered into coming in and distracting the ref again. Dibiase takes the opportunity to sneak in and stomp Roddy. The Mountie puts Roddy in the Boston Crab, but Roddy makes it to his corner and tags to Virgil. Flair and Virgil exchange chops. Flair gets the worse of it and tags to Dibiase. Dibiase powerslams him and tags out to the Warlord. Warlord tosses him to the outside so Flair can deliver punishment behind the referee's back. Bret tosses Virgil back in, but it's right to the Warlord. Warlord tries to finish him with the Full Nelson, but this time Referee Joey Marella gets distracted by the heels and Bret drops an elbow on the back of Warlord's cranium. Piper covers to eliminate the Warlord at 15:40. Dibiase comes in to complain and gets schoolboyed by Piper. They fight over a suplex, and Piper wins. Virgil comes in and gets the Million Dollar Dream on Dibiase. Dibiase runs him into the turnbuckle to counter. The heels isolate Virgil and pick him apart slowly. Virgil hits Dibiase with a swinging neckbreaker and makes the HOT TAG to Piper. Piper no-sells everything Flair can throw at him. They all get into a big brawl and Flair gets tossed to the floor. No one is listening to Marella, so he disqualifies everyone in the ring at 21:28. 

Flair was on the outside, though, so he's your sole survivor. Well, that's just stupid. Very good match otherwise. Terrible finish, which hurts the top notch wrestling prior to it. 

Mr Blu Rating: ***3/4

4. Batista, Randy Orton, John Bradshaw Layfield, Bobby Lashley & Rey Mysterio vs. Shawn Michaels, Kane, the Big Show, Chris Masters & Carlito Cool.

Orton and HBK start, interesting because they finished a few years earlier. They trade slaps, and Shawn stays on step ahead of him. Masters tags in and chops Randy in the chest. The crowd doesn't really know what to think. Lashley tags in. He looks pretty tough until they show the earring he's wearing. Lashley catches Masters with a powerslam but misses a charge. Masters tries for the Masterlock, but Lashley powers out before he can lock it in. A belly-to-belly throw sends Masters into his corner where he tags Carlito. Carlito is rightfully reluctant to get in. Lashley powerslams him and misses a charge. Sound familiar. Shawn tags in and goes up, but Lashley slams him off the top. Carlito runs in but takes a Dominator. Kane saves HBK from another one and chokeslams Lashley. Michaels crawls in to a cover to eliminate Lashley at 7:18.Rey comes in, but Kane kicks him from the apron. Rey goes at it with Kane, which just looks so wrong. Mysterio runs right into Kane's boot. Things slow down, so the commentators turn on each other again. This is some funny stuff, folks. Especially Tazz ribbing Styles, "Who the hell is that that's talking? Where are you?" Batista gets the hot tag and destroys everything in sight. Spinebuster to Kane. ONE, TWO, THREE! (11:43) Big Show chokeslams Batista, but it only gets two, so Kane and Show team up to double chokeslam him for the elimination at 12:30. Show starts tossing people around. Orton snaps his neck off the top rope, setting up the Clothesline from Hell. The crowd is cheering for JBL in spite of themselves. 619! RKO! CLOTHESLINE FROM HELL! Show is still moving, but Rey springboards into a splash to eliminate him at 14:29. Masters jumps Rey as everyone else brawls on the outside. Shawn gets taken out somehow, leaving Masters and Carlito to work Rey over. Rey elbows out of a chinlock and springboards into a Styles-ish DDT position. JBL gets the blind tag and finishes Carlito at 17:36. Masters is the only one that's conscious, so Rey drops the dime on him to eliminate him at 19:06. JBL tosses Shawn back in for Rey. Rey gives him the 619, but Shawn oversells it to the other side of the ring. Rey springboards right into Sweet Chin Music at 20:20. HBK ducks the Clothesline from Hell and gives JBL Sweet Chin Music to send him packing at 20:36. Orton stalks HBK and waits for him to stand. The RKO is countered, and Orton avoids Sweet Chin Music. Shawn hits the flying forearm. Atomic Drop. Flying elbow drop. The crowd chants, "We want Taker!" Michaels tunes up the band, but JBL crawls in with a chair to distract him. Orton finishes him with the RKO at 24:01. The entire Smackdown locker room comes down to hoist Orton on their shoulders. In the midst of all this, a bunch of druids wheel a casket to ringside. Lightning strikes the casket, setting it on fire. The Undertaker bursts out of the casket, making our hero shit himself and run away. Taker destroys the entire Smackdown lockerroom. 

The match itself wasn't that bad, but the booking was entirely backwards from what it should have been. It should have been Orton battling back against three guys to give him a bit of badass credibility so Taker can suck it right out of him at Armageddon. I'm sure there were  people raving about this match, but its not top 3 worthy.

Mr Blu Rating: ****

3. Shawn Michaels, Rob Van Dam, Booker T & The Dudley Boyz (w/Steve Austin) vs. Randy Orton, Mark Henry, Christian, Chris Jericho & Scott Steiner (w/Stacy Keibler, Teddy Long & Eric Bischoff).

If Austin's team wins, he gets to kick ass again. If Bischoff's team wins, Austin is banned from Raw forever. Christian gets slapped around early. Jericho tags in and does a nice little sequence with Van Dam. Steiner tags in and goes with Van Dam in a harsh contrast of styles. Steiner gets two off a top-rope belly-to-belly suplex. Booker T comes and cleans house on Steiner, Christian, and Jericho, breaking the match down into a big brawl on the outside. Steiner goes low and locks in the Steiner Recliner. God that's a lame hold. Stacy Keibler rebels and roots on Booker, causing Steiner to drop the hold and argue with her. The Dudz hit Steiner with a neckbreaker, and Booker finishes him with the Book End at 7:48. Just like WCW. Mark Henry jumps Booker and gives him the World's Strongest Slam at 8:01 to set up their match at the next PPV. The Dudz try to doubleteam Mark Henry, but Henry overpowers them and slings them together. He misses a charge and gets 3D'd. Van Dam adds a Five-Star Frogsplash for good measure, and Henry goes gently into that good night at 10:13.
The heels catch Van Dam in their corner, and Orton absolutely LEVELS Rob with a clothesline. Van Dam comes back with Rolling Thunder, but Jericho shoves Van Dam off the top rope into the RKO at 12:15, also setting up a match at the next PPV. D-Von dominates Jericho and covers, but Christian has the ref distracted. D-Von knocks him off the apron and turns right around into the Sleeper Drop at 13:59. Shawn Michaels gets involved for the first time in the match. He clobbers both Jericho and Christian, but Jericho catches him with a clothesline. Orton and HBK do a double KO spot, and both tag out. Bubba cleans house and hits Orton with a Samoan Drop. Jericho and Christian's doubleteam backfires, but Jericho goes low to recover. Christian finishes Bubba with the Unprettier at 17:02. The heels take their time picking Shawn apart. Christian catapults Shawn into the post, busting him open big time. Christian gets cocky but charges right into Sweet Chin Music at 20:38. Jericho jumps Shawn and beats him from pillar to post, but Shawn hits a DDT for two. Orton provides a distraction while Jericho hits the bulldog. A Lionsault finds the knees, though. Sweet Chin Music misses, but Shawn reverses the Walls of Jericho to a small package at 24:05. Jericho gives Shawn a chairshot on his way out.

Orton misses a crossbody and takes out the referee. Shawn tunes up the band, but Bischoff runs in and gives him the wah-sahhhh ka-ra-te kick to break up Sweet Chin Music. That brings in Austin to clean his clock and give Orton a Stunner. Austin pummels Bischoff all the way to the back, so Batista runs in and gives Shawn the Demonbomb. Orton rolls into the cover and gets the win at 27:38. 

People praise Orton's performance as a signal that "he'd arrived," but Orton barely did a thing in there until the end, and his stronger performances would come in mid-2004. It was very solid match, the interference from Batista was sick! and worked perfectly into the match. The crowd hated it and after all Michaels did to get back into it, why shouldn't they! Nice stuff. Austin gives a choked up, out-of-character thank you to the fans. Again, a lot more meaningful if you stay away.

Mr Blu Rating: ****

2. WWF vs. Alliance, Winner Take All: The Rock, Chris Jericho, The Undertaker, Kane & The Big Show vs. Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Rob Van Dam & Shane McMahon. 
- (Survivor Series 2001)

I  thought Hardyz/Dudleyz was stale because they wrestled so often in 2001? Well, Austin and Rock probably had just as many matches, but they show why they are STEVE AUSTIN and THE ROCK by freshening it up every time out. In this case, Steve plays the part of the Rock, and Rock plays the part of Austin, which is just fantastic to see. 

Kurt and Kane go at it because they were having some good matches around this time. Shane spends most of the early part of the match making saves after his guys get their asses kicked. He waits until all of the other Alliance members hit their finishers on Big Show and then adds an elbow to eliminate him at 12:41. The WWF guys respond by hitting all their finishers on Shane. Jericho gets the honors of eliminating him at 14:31. Jericho fends off Angle and RVD. Kane tags in and destroys RVD until Booker hits him from behind. RVD hits the Five-Star Frogsplash, but Kane catches him by the throat. Booker saves again, allowing RVD to hit a flying sidekick to send Kane packing at 18:20. Taker destroys all four remaining Alliance members by himself. Finally, after Taker's given Angle the Last Ride, Austin sneaks in and hits him with the Stunner. Austin drags Angle on top, and the Taker gets eliminated at 20:02. That leaves Jericho & the Rock against the Alliance. Booker hits Rock with a sidekick, but Rock whips him into Angle and schoolboys him at 22:32. Jericho and RVD go at it. Van Dam hits a spinkick, but Jericho hits him with the Breakdown out of nowhere at 24:48. Austin takes Rock to the floor and catapults him into the post. That leaves Jericho alone in a two-on-one. Austin and Angle doubleteam him like jackals. Austin and Y2J botch some sort of spot and stand there looking at each other like goofs. More botchery as Jericho tries to pull Angle back off an Irish Whip, but Angle slips, and they stand there looking like goofs. Austin goes up for the FU elbow on Jericho but decides he's too far away. Well, at least only Austin looked like a goof on that one. That's improvement. Rock gets the hot tag, Dragon Screws Angle, and finishes him with the Sharpshooter at 31:50. That seemed like a quick tapout, but it makes sense in the context of the booking, which we'll see. Jericho can't finish Austin with the Liontamer, and Austin gets his knees up to block the Lionsault. Jericho slips behind Austin and schoolboys him. Austin reverses that to his own rollup, though, and eliminates Jericho at 34:28. Jericho throws a fit and delivers the Breakdown to the Rock on his way out, not because he's turning on the WWF, but because he really hates the Rock. Undertaker returns and chews him out. Austin is only able to get two, but he tosses the Rock to cut off his comeback. They brawl on the outside, won by Austin. Back in, Austin locks in the Sharpshooter, but Rock makes the ropes. Rock responds with his own crappy Sharpshooter, but Austin makes the ropes. Austin goes low, but Rock blocks the Stunner and hits his own Stunner! ONE, TWO, THR-Nick Patrick pulls Earl Hebner out and knocks him out. Rock goes after Patrick and takes the Rock Bottom from Austin. Patrick doesn't give a fast count like you'd think he might. Then again, given Starrcade '97, maybe he thinks that is fast. Austin knocks Patrick silly and brings Earl back in. Rock shoves Austin into Early, but Austin turns and hits the Stunner. No ref. Kurt Angle runs down and… HITS AUSTIN! That sets up the Rock Bottom at 44:45. 

Angle gets a huge face pop for turning back to the WWF, and JR's in-your-face gloating to Heyman is hilarious. Once the scrubs were eliminated, it picked up tremendously. Despite the stipulations, though, the match wound up being meaningless. Overall the match was fun with lots of action so it still deserves some recognition.

Mr Blu Rating: ****1/4

1. Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Maven & Randy Orton vs. Triple H, Batista, Edge & Gene Snitsky (w/Ric Flair).

Benoit starts with Edge and smacks him around. Snitsky and Orton tag in. Orton beats him down and poses. Jericho comes in and kicks Snitsky down in the corner. Jericho charges into a clothesline. OH, BABY! Orton and Triple H go at it. Orton stomps a mudhole in the corner but takes a high knee. Batista powerslams Orton and tags Edge. Edge mocks Orton's pose and stomps him. Hmm. This crowd is remarkably dead. Benoit finally gets them going a bit by taking on all the heels and destroying them with suplexes. Benoit snap suplexes Edge on Triple H and goes up. Swandive headbutt on BOTH Edge and Triple H! Snitsky makes the save. Benoit puts Triple H in the Sharpshooter, but Snitsky saves again. "You kinda look like a baby! Get in my belly!" Benoit settles for the Crippler Crossface on Edge, but falls victim to the Pedigree at 7:27. Edge tags out, but accidentally tags both both Triple H and Snitsky. Snitsky and Triple argue over who's legal. This leads to Batista and Snitsky going face-to-face to a HUGE POP. All this while Jericho puts Triple H in the Walls of Jericho. Batista finally realizes what's going on and makes the save. Jericho goes for the Lionsault, but Flair interferes. The ref catches him and sends Flair to the back. Batista nails Orton and Jericho with a clothesline. He plants Jericho with a spinebuster and readies for the Ax Bomber. Orton grabs Batista from the outside and BLASTS him with the World Title. Jericho hits an enzuigiri to eliminate Batista at 10:39. Batista hits Jericho with the Ax Bomber as a parting shot. Snitsky goes nuts and chokes Jericho out. Edge tags in but takes the Sleeper Drop for a double KO. Snitsky comes back in and takes on both Jericho and Orton. Edge and Triple H stomp Orton on the outside as Jericho drops Stinky with the DDT. Jericho tries to make the tag, but Orton is busy getting his ass kicked by the announce table. Maven makes his return and gets the HOT TAG! Maven tosses Edge and Snitsky. He nails Triple H with a flying bulldog, but Snitsky DESTROYS him with a chairshot. The ref sees it and DQ's Snitsky at 16:02. He gives Orton and Jericho a few parting chairshots as well. Maven is still out, so Triple H rolls over into the cover to eliminate Maven at 16:49. Jericho fights valiantly, backdropping out of a Pedigree attempt. Orton's still recovering, though, so Edge takes Jericho out with the Spear at 18:06

That leaves Orton to fight a 2-on-1 with Edge and Triple H. The heels toy with Orton, slapping him around. Triple H delivers a DDT for two. Edge tags in but takes a powerslam. Edge nearly takes out Triple H on a charge. Orton dropkicks them into one another and cradles Edge for two. Orton turns right into a Triple H spinebuster. Triple H is about to finish him off, but Edge accidentally takes him out with the spear. Wait for it…Wait for it…RKO ON EDGE! ONE, TWO, THREE! Orton eliminates Edge 23:00 in. Orton tries another RKO, but Triple H goes low behind the ref's back. Triple H goes for the Pedigree, but Orton reverses to the RKO for the pin at 24:31. The faces run Raw for the next month. Pretty slow going at the opening, but once the booking kicked in it took off. 

Kicking off one of the greatest five-month story arcs ever seen in WWE history (I’m serious), Orton led his team to victory in a match where the winning side got to run Raw for one month while Eric Bischoff took a long vacation. In the end, it would lead to Batista realizing he could beat Triple H and thus slowly turned on him before brutalizing him for the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 21. Sadly, though, this match didn’t make Orton the top babyface star that Vince McMahon was hoping for, but lord knows they’d try again year after year. Highlight of the match is Maven busting Snitsky open with a stiff right hand, and Gene getting his revenge with a chair shot that just about killed the Shop-At-Home star. Very entertaining match, lots of tension between Triple H's team made it seem like anything could happen. Storyline wise, this is my favourite survivor series match. The story is perfectly executed within this match. Great 

Mr Blu Rating: ****1/4


I hope you have enjoyed reading and this list has taken you back to some of your favourite survivor series moments. With much excitement and potential involved with this years event it should be another memorable pay per view. If your crazy about wrestling read and enjoy TBM's 2013 WWE Survivor Series preview & post analysis made available before and after sunday's show!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Please be sure to check back in the coming days and enjoy TBM's following posts:

• Best Bets (mid week) CFB & NFL. *coming later today.
• Best Bets CFB & NFL week 13/12
• WWE SURVIVOR SERIES 2013 PREVIEW.