30 Greatest Survivor Series Moments
You already know No. 1.
For over 30 years, WWE has found ways to shock us at the second oldest pay-per-view of the year. Historic arrivals, stunning victories, surprising returns and the most controversial match of all time have helped shape Survivor Series into a must-see event. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane to relive the 30 greatest Survivor Series moments…
30. Razor’s Surprise Partner
Kicking off Survivor Series 1993, the Bad Guy announces that Mr. Perfect will be unable to compete so he’s bringing in a new partner, one who oozes just as much machismo. The Boston crowd erupted as Pomp and Circumstance played, and the Macho Man returned to action after several months behind the commentary table.
29. Undertaker Emerges
At the end of Survivor Series 2005, while the SmackDown roster celebrated Randy Orton’s victory in the brand team battle, the gong rang and druids brought a casket out. A lightning bolt struck the casket, setting it ablaze and then Undertaker smashed through. Out on the shelf for about two months, the Deadman sought revenge on Orton and wiped out the rest of the roster.
28. Charlotte Snaps
After an exhilarating fight with Ronda Rousey, Charlotte gave up trying to win. Instead, she grabbed a kendo stick, whacked Rousey and was hell bent on hurting the UFC Hall of Famer. Despite being booed in arenas around the country just a month or two earlier, Charlotte received a huge ovation followed by “Thank You Charlotte” chants. Los Angeles was just not feeling “Rowdy” Ronda.
27. Fink Comes Home
Combating Alberto Del Rio’s personal ring announcer, CM Punk sent out WWE Hall of Famer Howard Finkel to introduce him before his WWE Championship match. The legendary announcer fought back tears as New York City paid homage to the voice of Madison Square Garden.
26. The American Dream Teams with The Nature Boy
You probably had no idea this ever happened, let alone under the WWE banner. That’s because as ex-creative writer Andrew Goldstein once told me, Vince McMahon believed no one cared about Dusty Rhodes teaming with arch rival Ric Flair. If it didn’t happen in WWE, it didn’t happen, I guess. In all fairness, Rhodes and Flair were part of a four-man team which also included Sgt. Slaughter and Ron Simmons. The WWE Hall of Fame squad defeated the Spirit Squad at Survivor Series 2006.
25. Twin Angle
Our Olympic Hero hid under the ring during his WWF Championship defense at Survivor Series 2000, seeking refuge from the Undertaker. When the Deadman yanked Angle out and tossed him into the ring, he delivered the Last Ride and made the cover. After slapping the mat twice, Earl Hebner paused, staring at Angle’s face. Undertaker demanded answers, leaving his back turned for the REAL Angle to roll him up and retain the title. We found out the next night on Raw that it was Kurt’s brother Eric as the decoy in a brilliant bait-and-switch.
24. Austin Attempts Murder
In retaliation of Triple H orchestrating the hit and run on Stone Cold a year prior, the Texas Rattlesnake trapped The Game in a car, hoisted it 40 feet with a forklift and let that sumbitch fall to the ground. And you know what? Two weeks later, Trips was fine! He’s the true survivor.
23. Chuck Norris
In the eyes of a ranger, the unsuspected stranger had better know the truth of wrong from right. Cause the eyes of a ranger are upon you, any wrong you do he’s gonna see. When you’re in Texas look behind you, ’cause that’s where the ranger’s gonna be.
22. Punk > D-X & Hardyz
Looking back on Survivor Series 2006, it was a dream team: Triple H, Shawn Michaels, the Hardy Boz, and CM Punk. They faced (and completely wiped out) Edge, Randy Orton, Johnny Nitro, Gregory Helms, and Mike Knox. The match was a fun showcase with several comedy spots including HBK superkicking Knox and then asking Trips “Who was that guy?” But the most memorable aspect of the match was the Philly crowd’s fervent chants for Punk, who had been on the roster for less than six months at that point. When you’re getting a louder ovation than D-X and the Hardyz, you know you’re a star.
21. RKO to Mark Cuban
The Dallas Mavericks owner and Shark Tank investor became the most famous name on the Legend Killer’s hit list.
20. Keep Your Friends Close
Although D-X walked down the ramp together for their triple threat against John Cena at Survivor Series 2009, there was no doubt that the WWE Championship would divide them. The only question was how long would it take. Well, the answer was two seconds, as Michaels immediately superkicked Triple H to the shock of the crowd and even Cena.
19. Holla, If You Hear Him
As Matt Hardy and Chris Nowinski debated whether the NYC fans were stupid or losers, sirens echoed throughout the Garden and Scott Steiner returned to WWE after eight years to settle the debate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOsrtfvJp24
18. Fuji Turns on Demolition
Almost a decade before the Hart/Austin double turn at WrestleMania 13, Demolition and the Powers of Pain shifted roles at Survivor Series 1988. As Smash ran the ropes to deliver a closeline, his manager Mr. Fuji yanked the ropes down, letting his charge collapse to the arena floor. Ax went to check on his partner and Fuji nailed him in the back with his signature cane, infuriating the monstrous face-painted duo who responded by slamming their now ex-manager. Even crazier was Barbarian and Warlord, beloved badasses heading into this match, stopping to check on the well-being of Fuji, who then took them under his wing.
17. Kurt Angle Debuts
Announced as the most celebrated “real” athlete in WWF history, Kurt Angle wrestled Shawn Stasiak in his WWF debut at Survivor Series 1999. The match was nothing special and the fans chanted “boring,” but unknowingly, they were witnessing a new style of action, technical wrestling that’s appreciated today but was foreign in the Attitude Era.
16. Candid Camera
There have been many innovative ways to interfere in Hell in a Cell, but the Rated-R Superstar came up with the sneakiest. As Undertaker went for the cover after tombstoning Batista on the steel steps, a cameraman yanked the ref out of the ring. The Deadman looked up and saw Edge, gone for several months, smash a camera in his face, followed up by a deadly conchairto.
15. The Rock Debuts
14. Undertaker Buries Hulkamania
One year after debuting in the Federation, the Deadman became the WWF Champion by tombstoning the company’s biggest star. Although the title change was simply to spark interest in the experimental This Tuesday in Texas PPV, the Hulkster’s shoulders were still pinned to the mat. That was a big deal then and it’s still a big deal now.
13. Michaels Splits with Diesel
Big Daddy Cool tagged in to the opener of Survivor Series 1994, and quickly eliminated 1-2-3 Kid and the Headshrinkers with three jackknife powerbombs. After booting Bulldog out of the ring for a count out, Diesel had Razor Ramon left to deal with. It was a hard-fought slugfest and Diesel was spent, finally tagging Shawn Michaels in. However, HBK demanded Diesel come back in and hold Ramon for Sweet Chin Music. Unfortunately, the Bad Guy slipped from Diesel’s grasp, and Michaels nailed his Tag Team Championship partner. Big Daddy was not cool about it, and knocked out his partners in hot pursuit of his cowardly mentor. The wheels were now in motion for Diesel’s face turn, record-setting World Title run and WrestleMania XI battle with the Showstoppa.
12. Helen Hart Throws in the Towel
Bob Backlund challenged Bret Hart for the WWF Championship in a submission match at Survivor Series 1994. Owen Hart was in Backlund’s corner, and Davey Boy Smith had Bret’s back. The match could not end until someone was trapped in a submission, and a towel was thrown in. As Bob Backlund locked Bret Hart in the Crossface Chickenwing, Davey Boy chased Owen around the ring, accidentally crashing into the steel steps. This left Bret without anyone to throw in the towel, and of course, the Hitman wouldn’t surrender on his own accord. Owen panicked, seemingly regretful that his brother was in excruciating pain without anyone to save him. So Owen went to the crowd and begged his parents to throw in the towel. Stu, the legendary hard-nosed master of the Dungeon, refused. But Helen, Bret’s poor mother, couldn’t bear to see her child suffer any longer, and snatched the towel from her husband and tossed it in the ring. Owen jumped for joy and dashed to the backstage, his concern for Bret replaced by a devious grin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wnVEGzP0SA
11. End of the Alliance
I loved The Alliance. As a heel-worshipping 10 year old, I proudly supported Shane, Stephanie and Paul Heyman’s diabolical plot to destroy the WWF. Of course, I’m grateful now that Vince McMahon, The Rock and secret agent Kurt Angle won the war, paving the way for Ric Flair to re-enter the Federation the next night on Raw and change my life.
10. Edge Returns
Survivor Series 2008 centered on Jeff Hardy being found in a hotel stairwell at 3 a.m. and then being sent for medical attention. He was supposed to wrestle Triple H and Kozlov for the WWE Championship, but he was pulled from the match just a few moments before bell time. So Kozlov and The Game wrestled a standard singles match, which the crowd shat on, but I enjoyed, and then Smackdown GM Vickie Guerrero interrupted to say it would indeed be triple threat as advertised. “He’s here! He’s here!” Shockingly, Edge marched out with a scraggly beard, last seen chokeslammed to hell at SummerSlam. The Rated-R Superstar speared Triple H and won the title.
9. Heyman Screws Brock
It’s a betrayal unfathomable today, but during Lesnar’s original run, his dear ol’ advocate cost him the WWE Championship. The Beast Incarnate F-5’ed Big Show and made the cover, but Heyman yanked the ref out of the ring. Realizing that the honeymoon was over, Lesnar chased Heyman around and then into the ring, where Show chokeslammed the champion onto a chair for the victory.
8. Undertaker Debuts
This is how you make a star.
Ted DiBiase announced a mystery partner for his Million Dollar Team at Survivor Series 1990, and then brought out the mysterious giant known as the Undertaker, accompanied by short-lived manager Brother Love. Rather than build anticipation for the Deadman’s offense, Undertaker actually started the match (with Bret Hart in a cool fun fact) and tossed everyone around before eliminating Koko B. Ware in quick fashion with a Tombstone. Taker went on to also eliminate Dusty Rhodes cleanly with a closeline after walking the ropes. The debuting monster only left the match after chasing Rhodes for beating up his manager and being counted out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TwBBcz5Vto
7. The Rock Returns
The Great One had returned to WWE TV by hosting WrestleMania XXVII and costing John Cena the WWE Championship, but Survivor Series would be his first actual match in seven years. His partner—his already announced WrestleMania XXVIII opponent, Cena. The heated rivals made for a successful pair, defeating The Miz and R-Truth. Of course, Rock couldn’t leave without a parting shot—Rock Bottoming Cena (again) to the roar of the MSG crowd.
6. Elimination Chamber
A combination of War Games and Hell in a Cell, the Elimination Chamber debuted in Madison Square Garden at Survivor Series 2002. Conceived by Eric Bischoff, the awe-inspiring structure provided a hellacious atmosphere for Triple H to defend his World Heavyweight Championship. Often imitated but never duplicated, the first Chamber match had a mysterious aura and shocking moments like the glass breaking and RVD jumping off the top. To top it off in feel-good fashion, Shawn Michaels triumphed, winning the title in only his second match since returning from a four-year hiatus.
5. Corporate Champion
Mr. McMahon’s master plan came to fruition at Survivor Series 1998 as he crowned his handpicked WWF Champion in the Deadly Game tournament. It seemed like the naïve Mankind was Vinnie Mac’s choice, after he was given Gillberg and Al Snow as opponents, and tons of help to beat Stone Cold including a shocking heel turn by Shane O’Mac. However, The Rock also had an interesting path to the finals: his originally scheduled opponent Triple H was not at the arena, so the Big Boss Man filled in and was small packaged in four seconds. Then he faced Ken Shamrock, but blasted him in the head with a nightstick that the Great One intercepted from Boss Man. In the semi-finals, he beat Undertaker after Kane interfered.
So it came down to the People’s Champ vs. the Corporate Puppet. As Rock locked Mankind in the Sharpshooter, McMahon ordered the ref to ring the bell ala the Montreal Screwjob one year earlier. The crowd was stunned as The Rock hugged Vince and Shane, spawning the widely-successful Corporate Champion Era.
4. The Shield Debuts
Crashing the main event of Survivor Series 2012, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns mauled Ryback and powerbombed him through the announce table, saving CM Punk’s WWE Championship. Michael Cole referred to the trio dressed in black as NXT wrestlers, but within the next few months, they’d be referred to as the most dominant force in WWE history. There has never been a stable in which every member has gone on to reach singles’ stardom. Except for The Shield.
3. Sting Debuts
FINALLY, the Stinger invaded WWE at Survivor Series 2014. As Triple H pedigreed Dolph Ziggler and was about to preserve The Authority’s power while terminating the contracts of several WWE Superstars, a crow screeched and the arena went dark. Black and white facepaint splashed the Titantron as Sting strolled down the aisle, trademark baseball bat in hand. The franchise of WCW, the multi-time world champion, the biggest star to never grace McMahonland had finally arrived. His first order of business—hitting Triple H with the Scorpion Deathdrop and helping Ziggler pick up the win. Goosebumps.
2. Goldberg Squashes Lesnar
As Colin West said, was this a good match? No. Was this is a great match? Yes! This was the most unpredictable match in the last 20 years, hell, maybe ever. So what if there were only three moves? Each one meant something and the crowd lost their minds for it.
1. Montreal Screwjob
Has any other match changed the course of history quite like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwMOtdNnWYY
Bret Hart defended the WWF Championship against Shawn Michaels at Survivor Series 1997. On-screen (and even more off-screen) rivals, Hart and Michaels refused to lose to each other. This was an issue because Hart had signed with WCW and in Vince McMahon’s fear, could end up on Nitro with the WWF’s richest prize. So when Michaels locked Hart in his own Sharpshooter, McMahon demanded referee Earl Hebner “ring the damn bell,” awarding the title to Michaels without Hart actually submitting. The Montreal crowd shit themselves because their hero obviously never gave up, and Hart hocked a loogie in Vince’s face before breaking lots of production equipment.
The ramifications of this match led to the highest profitability in WWE history, spawning the evil Mr. McMahon character and opening the door for Stone Cold Steve Austin to emerge as the next great hero. To this day, there is debate whether the screwjob was legit or just a masterfully elaborate storyline. Regardless of which you believe, there’s no denying its influence on professional wrestling.
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