The booking of Bret Hart from late 1992-early 1996.

As someone mentioned earlier Patriot did come out of nowhere. He was on a Sunday morning show beating Sultan and was being touted as a big star, as if he'd been around a while. It was the first I saw him on WWF TV. Unless he was on Shotgun then it was his first WWF match because I watched all the shows but Shotgun. His momentum had to have been completely derailed with the injury before Survivor Series. Even if he had been able to come back the Canada/USA feud died with Bret leaving but if he had come even as a corner man it would have kept him on TV.

As for Survivor Series 1996 having a low buy rate, IMO SS PPVs had been going downhill for years with lack of talent to fill out a normal SS team matches PPV. If I were to do the PPV card I would publicize the main event final match as Bret v. Austin. Now a main event, final match loss could push Austin down if not done right. I would sow the seeds of a Bret heel turn as early as this PPV with him feeling beating Austin beat the garbage filled way wrestling was going in his opinion. He could mention how WM X had a post match celebration and that he felt he deserved one at this MSG PPV as well. A Bret main event could have done a little more for the buy rate as opposed to it being portrayed as just another match as I remember.