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Monster Blog: The Best WWE Survivor Series Matches Of All Time
Photo: Daily Wrestling News
Survivor Series is the second longest running WWE pay per view behind WrestleMania, and the 31st annual show will take place this Sunday in Houston. Survivor Series brings together a lot of different pro wrestling elements, from the 5 on 5 traditional Survivor Series matches to dream matches like last year’s Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar bout.
With a history spanning 30+ years, there are bound to be at least a few memorable matches, and that’s where the Average Nobodies come in. We each named our favorite Survivor Series match of all time below, along with a little blurb about why we loved it so much. Enjoy!
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Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart
When it comes to rivalries within WWE/F, especially in the mid 90s, there are few better than Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart. The crown jewel of that feud is inarguably their submission match at WrestleMania 13, but if you’re looking for an almost perfect wrestling match with a great story that also motivates both guys moving forward, their match at Survivor Series ’96 should be your jam. Austin and Hart had a pretty chaotic feud, as this was the beginning of Austin’s “Texas Rattlesnake” character, but oddly enough, this was the first televised singles match between the two.
This match really kick started their feud, and launched one of the best angles of the 90s, especially when you factor in their match at WM13. The Survivor Series match was a technical masterpiece and featured a tremendous ending, with Hart outsmarting Austin by using the turnbuckle as leverage and pinning Austin while still in a submission hold. The ending visual of Austin giving Bret the death stare while disappearing up the ramp is as good as wrestling storytelling gets.
-Ryan
The Shield’s Debut
My favorite Survivor Series match isn’t a match at all, it’s a moment and the ripple effect that moment would would have on the WWE from then on. The debut of The Shield during the triple threat between CM Punk, John Cena and Ryback at the 2012 Survivor Series PPV is arguably the greatest debut in the history of the WWE. Three guys who would later become, and stay, THE marquee guys in the company. Even with The Shield stealing the show (although it might not have seen like it at the time) this match isn’t something to sweep under the rug. Cena and Punk were magic in the ring and Ryback got put out of commission by the fabled triple power bomb!
What more could you ask for?
-Matt
AJ Styles Is Your New WWE Champion #SmackdownLive
When AJ Styles vs. Jinder Mahal for the WWE championship was announced last week, I speculated that WWE could be pulling the trigger on a potential dream match. If you’re a wrestling fan and DON’T want to see Brock Lesnar vs. AJ Styles, I’m not sure what to tell you. Styles is the best wrestler in the WWE at the moment, and Lesnar is still a beast capable of big time matches (Great Balls of Fire & Summerslam are two recent examples).
Well, guest what? WWE actually did it and had Styles defeat Mahal last night on Smackdown Live, and it’s possible he’ll go on to face Lesnar at Survivor Series. It’d be odd to have Lesnar still face Mahal if Jinder is no longer champion, even though I think Styles’ title run will be short lived. Lesnar vs. Styles is the money matchup at Survivor Series, and you can have Mahal win back the title during WWE’s tour of India in early December. Win-win.
Side note – I hope WWE was paying attention to the crowd reaction during this match. There is no way in hell a Jinder Mahal match should garner that type of reaction, but AJ Styles is a goddamn miracle worker. I know it’s a wacky theory, but giving us happy moments with guys we enjoy watching might be a recipe for success.
-Ryan
WWE Could Be Setting Up A Much Anticipated Match For Survivor Series
Photo: 411 Mania
The match card for WWE Survivor Series will feature a slew of champion versus champion matches, including Brock Lesnar versus Jinder Mahal. The main issue with that match is LOL it’s Jinder Mahal versus Brock Lesnar, which should end in 5 seconds with an actual murder. Here’s the feud so far in video form:
Paul Heyman has put over Roman Reigns, Samoa Joe and Braun Strowman but even he knows that Jinder vs. Brock is a joke. While this is only one man’s far out opinion, Shane McMahon’s tweet last night has me feeling hopeful that the match could change.
Due to @JinderMahal vicious attack on @AJStylesOrg, he will defend the #WWEChampionship against AJ this Tues. in Manchester, UK on #SDLive.
— Shane McMahon (@shanemcmahon) November 2, 2017
WWE was in a similar situation a few years ago when they had HHH defend his title against Dean Ambrose a month before WrestleMania at Roadblock. While HHH ended up winning that match and faced Reigns at Mania instead of the much more interesting Ambrose/Reigns match, I think Styles winning on Tuesday makes a lot of sense. The rules for Survivor Series are champion vs. champion, so if Styles wins the title Tuesday he would take Mahal’s place as Lesnar’s opponent. Plus, if the rumored Lesnar/Reigns match at Mania is still on, why not add Styles to the list of guys Brock has beaten this year to get to Reigns?
Jinder Mahal’s title reign has been a rousing disappointment, so hopefully WWE pulls the trigger on Tuesday. That would give Styles a title win he very much deserves while also giving WWE fans a dream match at Survivor Series.
-Ryan
Here’s The Undertaker Tombstoning Brad Maddox Dressed As A Turkey On The Tonight Show Because Life Is Wonderful
In 10 days, The Undertaker will celebrate his 25th anniversary with the WWE, as he debuted at the 1990 edition of Survivor Series. It’s an unprecedented run that will most likely never be matched, and Taker’s legacy in the WWE is arguably the greatest character in wrestling history. To celebrate this milestone, WWE is having Undertaker week on the WWE Network, and Taker has already appeared on Raw and Smackdown overseas this week. Well as if this couldn’t get any better, The Undertaker made a surprise appearance on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and tombstoned Brad Maddox, who was dressed as a turkey. If this two minute video didn’t make you smile then you may not have a pulse. Long live the dead man.
-Ryan
John Cena Cannot Be Denied. Not Even By You
Last night was WWE’s Survivor Series PPV. The event, unofficially billed as one of WWE’s “Big 4 Four” (Summer Slam, Wrestlemania, The Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series), was quite the show, even though Orton vs Big Show left me wanting more out of the topped billed fight (But that’s for another blog titled “Don’t put Big Show in Main Events”)… I digress. The story and best part of last nights PPV was Cena vs. Del Rio for the Heavy Weight Title. Yes, the Wyatts vs. Bryan and Punk was awesome, but right now I would like to talk Cena with y’all.
First off, nobody, and I mean NOBODY gets a crowd reaction like John Cena. Good or bad, there is no other visceral reaction like that in professional wrestling. Put Cena in a match, the crowd will go nuts for the guy. “Cena Sucks!” “Lets Go Cena!” echo throughout stadiums all over the world. The beginning of his theme music can be like a well placed hand grenade. Send him out and watch the place explode.
I could really talk about the “Cena-effect” (Copyright Matt Vieira) for hours so i’ll move on. The other thing that sets Cena apart from other wrestlers on the WWE roster is his caliber of matches. Say what you want about the guy, but he knows his way around the squared circle and how to put guys over. Case in point, Money in the Bank circa 2011 Jonh Cena vs. CM Punk for the WWE Title.
One of my favorite matches of the last 10 years, and the moment Punk became the man he is today. Why? Because of the man across from him, John Cena. A great series of Promos and the eventual fight will go down in history as some of the best programming the wrestling world has ever seen.
Gone, the days of the “five moves of doom”. Cena’s repertoire of moves has grown exponentially in the last year, and last night it showed. Cena is the peoples champ, the most popular guy in the industry, and, despite Orton’s title, the face of the WWE. John Cena is what’s good for business.
-MattyV
Survivor Series is this Weekend
No big deal, but we are actually attending……LIVE FROM BOSTON, MASS! Look for live Tweets (@AverageNobodfies), Vines (@AverageNobodies), and blogs from the event!
– The Average Nobodies
