Post by underjohngrohs on Nov 15, 2021 3:12:46 GMT -5
When I think of Fall, I think of Pumpkin Pie, Chili, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Football and all of the good stuff about Fall. And another good thing When I also think of Fall, is the WWE Survivor Series. The Survivor Series began in 1987, And It has become a favorite classic of the WWE. The Survivor Series is based on being a sole survivor, so what happens is the first member will be picked captain and 4 members will be in a team against the opposing 5 members, a win can be by a sole survivor or by both members or a 2 on 1 victory. Survivor Series has also been more controversial, It has also led some moments as well from favorite debuts to The Undertaker in 1990, The Rock in 1996, Kurt Angle in 1999 and Sting in 2014. Both Taker, Rock and Angle debuted and within 1 and 2 years of their arrival, they became the World Champion. And that is why we have resurrected the PPV Reviews for Survivor Series. I know I didn't do Summerslam Attitude Era, Ruthless Aggression Era, PG Era, The Reality Era and the New Era But I will tackle them at my leasure next summer. But for now, this is the Survivor Series Reviews And what better way to kick off the Review with the Golden Era.
1987: (The Road to Survivor Series)
We kick off 1987 with the WWE at it's finest. Hulkamania was still around as the WWE Champion as he defeated Andre The Giant to retain the WWE Title at WrestleMania 3 in a sold out record of 93,173 fans in Detroit, Michigan at the Pontiac Silverdome. Also people like Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat, Ted Dibiase, Jake Roberts, Rick Rude, Paul Orndorff, Bam Bam Bigelow, King Kong Bundy and others were now getting their shrine especially the Savage/Steamboat match at WrestleMania 3 for the Intercontinental Championship which helped elevate both men's career increasingly so. With that match, Savage who had become a heel was getting more love by the fans turning him into a babyface, in September. Savage attempted to win back the Intercontinental Championship over The Honky Tonk Man, but he was jumped by Jimmy Hart's gentlemen, The Hart Foundation and then Miss Elizabeth asked for help and she asked Hulk Hogan to help her out, with no hesistation, Hulkamania came down to attack The Hart Foundation and Honky Tonk Man, after. Hogan and Savage stared each other down and both men shook hands forming the MegaPowers.
But Hogan would once again encounter Andre The Giant and what a way to encounter Andre then forming a team to take on their team. Andre The Giant's team consisted of Big Giant Studs in King Kong Bundy & The One Man Gang. Rick Rude & Butch Reed also joined Andre's team although they weren't big, they were useful. Both Bundy, Andre and Rude were a part of the Heenan Family while Reed & The One Man Gang were managed by the Doctor of Style Slick. Hulk Hogan's team would then be consisted of himself, 2 former Heenan Family Members, Ken Patera & Paul Orndorff, Don Muraco & Bam Bam Bigelow who had to be the biggest of the bunch of Hulkamania's Team. Andre's Team was 1,902 pounds, given the size of Andre, One Man Gang and Bigelow. While Hogan's team was 1,475 pounds. So it was a mismatch giving the weight of the superstars. Savage and Honky Tonk Man would continue their feud in the Survivor Series Elimination Match with Randy Savage having partners in Hacksaw "Jim Duggan". Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. Brutus Beefcake and Jake "The Snake" Roberts while The Honky Tonk Man's Team consisted of the King Harley Race, Hercules, Danny Davis and Outlaw Ron Bass. So enough of the backstory, let's go on to the reviews of the matches.
Reviews:
Savage/Roberts/Steamboat/Duggan and Beefcake vs HTM/Hercules/Davis/Race and Bass: I do believe this match was a good way to kick off first. As given these 10 superstars have had history with one another in the past year, mentioning the rivalry between Savage and Steamboat in the Spring of 1987, and Duggan feuding with King Harley Race as well, plus. Honky Tonk Man had issues with not only Savage. But would encounter problems with Roberts and Steamboat in that year as well, Honky Tonk Man was the guy that both beat Roberts and Steamboat with Honky Tonk beating Roberts at WrestleMania 3 and Honky Tonk taking the Intercontinental Title from Steamboat in June. The first elimination came with Duggan and Race eliminating each other first, then Bass was the next to be eliminated by Beefcake. Of course Beefcake and Bass's feud would start in 1988. So it would be a little tease. Honky Tonk Man's team got another elimination by eliminating Beefcake making it 3 on 3. But it wouldn't bode well for another member of Honky Tonk Man's team as Roberts next eliminated the Crooked Referee Danny Davis. So he got what he deserved. Hercules was the only hope for the Honky Tonk Man. But Hercules would also fail as well as Savage eliminated him, and it would be a 3 on 1 advantage for Team Savage. And while most people expected Honky Tonk Man to get what's coming to him by all these 3 gentlemen that he caused mischief against. After a beatdown by the faces. Honky Tonk decided that discretion was better part of valid as Savage, Steamboat & Roberts became the Sole Survivors of the match, I will settle with a 4/5. So not a Bad Start to the match, of course this would settle to be Honky Tonk's final feud with Savage as he would move on to Beefcake at WrestleMania 4 for the Intercontinental Title. And Savage getting a main push capturing the WWE Championship that same night in a 16-Man Tournament.
Sensational Sherri/Leilani Kai/Judy Martin/Donna Christanello and Dawn Marie vs The Fabulous Moolah/Rockin' Robin/Velvet McIntyre and the Jumping Bomb Angels: Before there was the Women of the Attitude Era in Trish Stratus, Lita, Chyna, Jacqueline, Sable. And before there was the women of the Ruthless Aggression Era in Mickie James, Torrie Wilson, Victoria, Beth Phoenix, Stacy Keibler, Molly Holly and others, and before there was the New & Reality Era ladies with Bayley, Sasha Banks, Bianca Belair, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax, Alexa Bliss, Asuka and more ladies to come. The WWE Women's would be around too in the 1980s. Now Let's just say this match was what it was, So let's get to it first. And by the way the Dawn Marie Name was not the same Dawn Marie we saw in the WWE in 2002. Donna Christanello was the first woman to be eliminated by former WWE Women's Champion Velvet McIntyre giving Moolah's team the momentum. Moolah's team continued that momentum when Dawn Marie was the second to be eliminated by Rockin' Robin who would go on to become the future Women's Champion. But Sherri's team made a comeback with Rockin' Robin being the first in Fabulous Moolah's team to be eliminated. And then the biggest upset in Sherri's team with Judy Martin next eliminating Fabulous Moolah making the sides even. But then the Captain Sensational Sherri was the next to be eliminated by Velvet McIntyre. So both captains were eliminated, but Velvet's surprise elimination over Sherri would be her undoing as she was eliminated herself by Leilani Kai leaving it to a standard 2 vs 2 Tag Team Match. Both Leilani Kai and Judy Martin would both be eliminated at the same time giving the Jumping Bomb Angels the sole survivor victory. The match gets a 3/5. Nothing perfect, but there were some surprising eliminations, Velvet McIntyre did take 2 eliminations, Judy Martin's shocking elimination over Moolah was a surprise, same as Velvet McIntyre's shocking elimination over Sensational Sherri. Sensational Sherri stayed on as Women's Champion until October of 1988 when she was dethroned by Rockin' Robin. Rockin' Robin was the final Women's Champion until the Women's Division was deactivated in 1990, but the Women's Title returned in 1993 only for it to be deactivated in 1995 until returning to the Attitude Era in 1998 and it has never stayed since although the RAW & SMACKDOWN Women's Championship are in tact. This Match was the last Women's Match for Survivor Series until 1998 when Sable took on Jacqueline for the Women's Championship. And the Last Women's Survivor Series Elimination Match until 2007 when RAW & SMACKDOWN collided.
The Hart Foundation/The Islanders/The Dream Team/Demolition and The Bolsheviks vs Strike Force/The Bulldogs/The Fabulous Rougeaus/The Young Stallions and The Killer Bees: In this match, both these teams were tag teams. So in this match, If a member of a team was eliminated. You were also eliminated in this match, The Hart Foundation were very sour about losing their Tag Team Championship to Martel & Santana of Strike Force that they wanted their chance at retribution. The First team eliminated in the match was The Bolsheviks as Santana eliminated Zhukov, but the sides would be even as Demolition next eliminated The Rougeaus, Demolition would be the next to get disqualified after roughing up the Dynamite Kid. The next team to be eliminated were the Tag Champions as Neidhart eliminated Santana as revenge for Santana & Martel taking the WWE Tag Team Championship away from them. And would make the sides even again with The Islanders eliminating The Bulldogs, the Islanders and The Bulldogs had a rivalry later on that year with The Islanders stealing The Bulldogs's dogs Matilda. Valentine & Bravo would be the next team to go by The Young Stallions, at that point. Valentine & Bravo's partnership wouldn't work and both men moved on to Singles Competition and it still probably would have not worked despite Beefcake turning his back on both guys at WrestleMania 3. The Hart Foundation would be the next to go with the Killer Bees next eliminating them leaving it to a 4 on 2 advantage for Strike Force's team and it worked with Strike Force using the mask trick to eliminate the Islanders, Strike Force & The Young Stallions would be the sole survivors of that match. The Match will get a 4/5, everyone pretty much got along in this match as you can tell. This really elevated the Tag Team Division in the late 1980s. And it worked for both teams with Demolition winning the titles over Strike Force in March of 1988 at Wrestlemania 4.
Dibiase Promo: After that match, we saw Ted Dibiase cut a promo as there were clips and vignettes of Dibiase making people do things for money including kicking a ball away with Dibiase challenging the kid to dribble a ball 15 times and that he'd get the money and even making a woman go down on her knees and bark like a dog, simply dregading similar to what Vince did to Trish on the March 5, 2001 edition of RAW IS WAR. And also making a kid who by now named Rob Van Dam kiss his feet, after RVD humilated himself kissing Dibiase's foot. He would somehow work for the WWE in 1997 when he came in a ECW/WWE promotion, until working back in the WWE from 2001 through 2014. The kissing of the feet made Van Dam similar by winning the Hardcore Title, Intercontinental Title, Tag Team Title, ECW Title, WWE Title, among others. Dibiase also went as far to take people out of a public pool and having the pool to himself. This was a way to set up Dibiase for an eventual run for the WWE Championship with Hulk Hogan and it worked.
Hogan/Bigelow/Muraco/Orndorff and Patera vs Andre/One Man Gang/Bundy/Reed/Rude: Speaking of Hogan, this is the main event, the meat of the action. The fans you could tell where intense by the match that they were excited. Hogan's team drew blood early with Hogan eliminating Butch Reed. But then momentum went back to Andre's favor with Patera being eliminated by The One Man Gang. Now I mentioned Patera was a member of the Heenan Family, his firing was caused by a storyline because of what Patera did at a McDonald's Restaurant in Real Life in the Spring of 1984. Andre's team continued the momentum with Orndorff being the next to go by Rick Rude. Both Orndorff & Rude had engaged in a feud prior to the matchup. And this was Orndorff's time to leave the WWE. This would be Orndorff's final WWE PPV Appearance until WrestleMania 2005 when he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame similar to Hogan. But Hogan's team got their momentum back with Rude being the next eliminated by Muraco. Originally Muraco was not supposed to be on Hogan's team. Billy Graham was supposed to be a part of the team but he was jumped by Andre's team prior to Survivor Series and Muraco who had been a longtime heel through the Summer of 1987 jumped in and took Graham's place. Unfortunately for Muraco, he would be the next man to go as The One Man Gang eliminated him. Gang was on a ball eliminating both Patera & Muraco. It would not go down good for Hogan & Bigelow. Andre came in the match real late and as he went to tried to get at Bigelow. Bigelow tagged in the Champion. Hogan & Andre had not faced off at WrestleMania III with Hogan throwing right hands at Andre. But The Gang & Bundy distracted Hogan outside with Hogan fighting One Man Gang & King Kong Bundy off bodyslamming them both until he got counted out himself leaving Bam Bam at a disadvantage. But the Bammer was able to fight back eliminating King Kong Bundy, of course this would be Bundy's last PPV Appearance with the WWE until the 1994 Survivor Series and oddly enough Bundy & Bigelow would both be on opposite teams for the Million Dollar Corporation. One Man Gang would be the next to be eliminated by Bigelow leaving it to a one on one situation between Bigelow and Andre, Could Bigelow do the unthinkable?. The answer was no and Andre wore down a fatigued Bigelow becoming the sole survivor of the match. But after the match, Hogan ran out and hit Andre with the title belt knocking him out of the ring. The match was very well booked, I gave it a 3/5. But it wasn't technical wrestling of course you had 10 of the top legends. But this was a way for Andre to go over because of the WrestleMania match with Hogan. Andre needed this victory to get even with Hogan.
On a Scale of 1 to 10. Survivor Series 1987 gets a 7 out of 10, A perfect show. Good showings by Savage's team and even Andre's team. Every match of the card was interesting. Bam Bam hanging in there in the end really was a true testament being a part of Hulk Hogan's team. Bigelow would not be at another Survivor Series PPV until 1993.
1988:
Now 1988 saw some huge changes with the World Wrestling Federation Championship, on February 5, 1988. Hogan lost the title to Andre The Giant after a 4-year run as Champion, a 4-year run that started on January 23, 1984 when Hogan defeated The Iron Sheik to capture the title. But Andre gave the belt to Dibiase on the agreement deal, however Jack Tunney stripped Dibiase of the WWE Championship and for the first time the WWE Title was declared in a 16-Man Tournament at WrestleMania 4 With the Macho Man Randy Savage regaining the WWE Championship. The Savage/Hogan union would continue all the way in the summer and the fall of 1988 with Savage and Hogan defeating the Megabucks, but Dibiase was not through with Savage and Hogan, on the other hand. Andre moved on to feud with Jake Roberts after Roberts kayfabe scared him with a snake. But Dibiase still wasn't through with Hogan as he enlisted a corrupt cop from Cobb County, GA. The Big Bossman who came on the Brother Love Show attacking Hulk Hogan handcuffing him and beating him with a nightstick. While The One Man Gang was transported to Akeem. Meanwhile in the world of WWE in 1988. The Ultimate Warrior a fast-rising star captured the Intercontinental Heavyweight Title over The Honky Tonk Man at Summerslam ending Honky Tonk Man's reign as Intercontinental Champion a reign that started since June 13, 1987. But the question was who would survive the 2nd annual 1988 Survivor Series.
Reviews:
Warrior/Beefcake/Houston/Blazer and Brunzell vs HTM/Bass/Davis/Valentine and Bad News Brown: How fitting this is, last year. Beefcake, Honky Tonk Man, Bass and Davis were a part of the opening 1987 Survivor Series, and they opened up the show again. Don Muraco was originally supposed to be a part of the Ultimate Warrior's team but Muraco left the WWE and he was replaced by Jim Brunzell of the Killer Bees. Warrior's team got off to a great start with Beefcake eliminating Davis. But the sides once again were even with Bad News Brown eliminating Brunzell turning it into a 4 on 4 match. But problems began to brew in Honky Tonk Man's team with Bad News Brown accidentally being punched by Valentine. Bad News walked out in the match leading himself to be countedout, Houston on the Warrior's team would be the next eliminated by Outlaw Ron Bass. The Blue Blazer would also be eliminated by Valentine now as anyone knows the Blue Blazer was portrayed by Owen Hart, yes. The Blazer as Owen Hart stuck around in the WWE after this until leaving in 1989. But would return to the WWE in 1992 as himself and never left until he died 7 years ago in Kansas City on May 23, 1999 in an accident which fell him 75 feet to his death as he was portraying the Blazer Character. Both Beefcake and HTM were the next to be eliminated theirselves putting an end to their feud together. That left Warrior against Valentine and Bass with Warrior single handingly eliminating them both, The match was okay. It scores a 3/5. Nothing too special, but as my mom says "It is What It Is".
Demolition/The Rougeau Brothers/The Brain Busters/The Conquistadors/The Bolsheviks vs The Bulldogs/Hart Foundation/Powers of Pain/The Rockers and The Young Stallions: This match featured the same teams in 1987, but with different changes. The Hart Foundation turned face so they teamed up with The Bulldogs and The Rougeaus were heels so they teamed up with Demolition. This was going to be a mega star matchup between both teams. The face team got off to a great start with Bret Hart eliminating The Rougeau Brothers. The heels got their momentum back with the sole surviving team from last year The Young Stallions being eliminated by Zhukov & Volkoff. But they too would suffer the same fate as the Rockers eliminated them, now if you know The Rockers. Then you know the tag team of Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty, they went on as a tag team until they broke up in 1992 because of the Infamous Plate Glass Window incident. The Hart Foundation would then be eliminated by the Brain Busters, the Brain Busters were Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard from the Four Horsemen. But they both were eliminated by The Rockers however The Rockers also eliminated theirselves and both would be disqualified. This would go to a 4 on 4 stipulation with Demolition and the Conquistadors taking on The Bulldogs and The Powers of Pain. The Bulldogs were the next to be eliminated, now this is where it gets really interesting, in the middle of the 4 on 2 advantage. As Warlord was whipped off the ropes. Warlord reversed it and Fuji accidentally got Smash. The distraction enough caused Demolition to be eliminated by countout. After, Demolition attacked Fuji officially turning them face, but in a shocking moment after. Fuji was helped by the Powers of Pain, Wait a minute!!!!?. Does this mean, With the confusion, the Conquistadors were eliminated by the Powers of Pain. The Powers of Pain had officially turned heel and Demolition had officially turned face. The feud would continue all the way through 1989 between The Powers of Pain and Demolition. I am giving it a 3/5. Nothing too special, but it was allright except for the surprise heel turn. It was a shock to me.
Roberts/Casey/Patera/Duggan and Santana vs Andre/Race/Perfect/Bravo/Rude: Similar to the 1987 Survivor Series, both Roberts, Duggan and Race were both in similar situations as well. Scott Casey would be a last minute replacement for the Junkyard Dog as the Dog himself left the WWE. 2 big players in the Junkyard Dog and Don Muraco were lost in 1988 for this one. But still you had some good talent. This was a way to continue and end the feud between Roberts and Rude cause Rude was set for an Intercontinental Championship Push coming up in the next year which would be 1989. And to build up Mr. Perfect's undefeated streak. Patera and Rude who also competed last year would also compete in the match too. Patera would be the first man eliminated by Rick Rude and then it would be Scott Casey being the next to go by Dino Bravo making it a 5 on 3 advantage for Andre's team. But Tito would eliminate Harley Race until he too was eliminated by the 1987 Survivor Series Sole Survivor Andre The Giant. Making it a 4 on 2 disadvantage. Duggan was disqualified after using his signature 2X4 on Bravo leading it to a 4 on 1 disadvantage for Roberts. Roberts somehow still had some fight left by eliminating Rude, but Andre choked out Roberts to the point that Andre got himself disqualified. Roberts had somehow managed to beat Rude & Andre, but Andre's choking of Roberts got to the point were Bravo & Perfect were just too much to handle as Bravo & Perfect were the sole survivors with Perfect getting the pinfall victory, This match gets a 4/5. It was a way to elevate Mr. Perfect, and a way to continue the hot feud between Andre The Giant and Jake Roberts. Sadly, the winning team are no longer with us, Both Dino Bravo & Andre The Giant passed away in 1993. Bravo passed away of murder. Andre passed away of a Heart Attack, Rude passed away in 1999 of a Heart Attack, and so was Mr. Perfect in 2003, Harley Race eventually would leave us 2 years ago. This would also be Harley Race's last Survivor Series Match until he left the WWE in 1989 when he got involved in a feud with King Haku for the crown.
Hulk Hogan/Randy Savage/Hercules/Koko B. Ware/Hillbilly Jim vs Ted Dibiase/Red Rooster/Akeem/Big Bossman and King Haku
This rivalry based on a lot. It was Dibiase starting this feud with Hogan when Dibiase attempted to buy the WWE Championship from Hulk Hogan in late 1987 leading to the infamous Saturday Night Screwjob with Dibiase enlisting Andre The Giant to win the WWE Title over Hogan at Saturday Night's Main Event and then at WrestleMania 4, Hogan would turn an eye for an eye to a tooth for a tooth costing Dibiase the WWE Championship against Randy Savage in the 16-Man Tournament. Plus, Dibiase would also have problems with a former Heenan Family Member, Hercules. The Mega Powers's team first got off to a wonderful start when they took down the smaller man in Red Rooster with Savage being the first man to eliminate Rooster, but Hillbilly Jim would be eliminated by Akeem, and that would be followed up by Koko being eliminated by The Big Bossman. The Bossman had a lot for Koko at 1988 with Bossman defeating him at the first Inaugural Summerslam and also eliminating him at the Survivor Series Main Event, Hercules was the next to be eliminated by Dibiase thanks to a distraction by Virgil. But it cost him dearly with Savage eliminating him and ending the feud for good. But Bossman & Akeem were too aggressive over Hogan & Savage, they handcuffed Hogan to the ropes leaving Savage vulnerable to a King Haku. Hogan somehow broke free and saved Savage against King Haku making Hogan & Savage the sole survivors, after the match. Hogan and Elizabeth hugged with Savage having the crazed look in his eyes that would set up for a potential feud between the two for the next year. The match gets a 4/5. It was a fun main event, But it was pretty clear who was going to win this match.
Survivor Series 1988 got a 7/10 similar to 1987. Wasn't as bad, there were a lot of good stars and talent in that show. Mr. Perfect, Ultimate Warrior and others.
1989:
Now 1989 saw the end of the Megapowers with Savage accusing Hogan of having lust for Elizabeth leading Hogan to end Savage's 13-month reign as WWE Champion at WrestleMania 5 on April 2, 1989. Savage then set the issue straight by having Sensational Sherri as his manager and thus having Zeus, the No Holds Barred Star go after Hogan. Meanwhile, Andre would feud with the Ultimate Warrior who had recently won back the Intercontinental Championship at Summerslam. Roddy Piper also would make his return to the ring as well, and yea. Mr. Perfect was still undefeated, plus Dusty Rhodes would also come to the WWE as well. And Randy Savage would become Macho King Randy Savage.
Bossman/Bad News Brown/Honky Tonk Man/Martel vs Rhodes/Santana/Beefcake and Rooster: The rivalry between Dusty Rhodes and The Big Bossman started off with Rhodes attacking The Bossman and also dressing up as a police cop as well. Also the rivalry between Martel and Santana would eventually start in the Spring of 1989 with Strike Force splitting up and Martel being the model. Santana was the first to be eliminated by Martel in the match. But similar to last year, Bad News Brown couldn't trust his team with The Bossman accidentally punching his partner leading him to be counted out once again. Honky would be eliminated by Brutus Beefcake ending the feud once and for all. Beefcake would get another elimination by eliminating Martel leading it to a 3 on 1. Bossman eventually would eliminate Red Rooster but Beefcake & Rhodes would eventually be the sole survivors with Rhodes & Beefcake winning the match. After the match, Bossman attacked Rhodes & Beefcake and attempted to do punishment on the American Dream by handcuffing him to the ropes until Beefcake scared him away, the match will get a 3/5, nothing special. But it was okay.
Savage/Earthquake/Bravo/Valentine vs Duggan/Hart/Garvin/Hercules. The feud began with Randy Savage defeating Jim Duggan to become WWE's King. Earthquake was brought in to the WWE by Dino Bravo when Bravo & Earthquake beat up the Ultimate Warrior in a pushups challenge. Bret Hart was taken a temporary separation from Jim Neidhart for a while. And Valentine was feuding with Garvin as well. The first person eliminated in the match was Hercules. Hercules was now taken down the card a peg since the Spring of 1989 after his big win over King Haku at WrestleMania 5. But Valentine would be the next to go by Duggan. Garvin would be the next to go as Bravo eliminated Garvin. Hart would also be eliminated by Savage, Duggan tried to hold his own against Earthquake, Bravo and Savage but thanks to a distraction by Sherri, Duggan would be counted out. The match gets the first 2/5. But this was a way to build up Earthquake even more, but the feud with Duggan & Savage just ended, this should've been closure. But a feud should always end in a one on one match.
Hogan/Demolition/Roberts vs Zeus/The Powers of Pain/Dibiase: The Hogan/Dibiase feud still does not end. Hogan had his problems with Zeus while Dibiase had his problems with Roberts and the Powers of Pain and Demolition needed to settle their issues once and for all. Hogan and Zeus kicked off the match but Zeus was immediately disqualified for choking the Champion thus ending his night, Zeus would not be seen again as Hogan and Beefcake defeated Zeus and Savage in a Steel Cage Match. Obviously Zeus sucked in wrestling, but he was a good actor. Zeus known as Ed Lister died in December of 2020. But the match moved on with Ax being eliminated by Warlord and Smash was also eliminated by Barbarian. But the Powers of Pain wound up being disqualified when they double teamed Hogan leaving Hogan & Roberts to a two on one advantage against Dibiase. Dibiase would eliminate Roberts starting the feud between the two. But in the end it was Hogan that survived eliminating Dibiase. The match gets a 2/5. The match was very sloppy on all accounts. But it was a way to set up the feud between Dibiase and Roberts with both Dibiase and Roberts stealing the Million Dollar Championship all the way from 1989 throughout 1990 with the two settling it at WrestleMania 6 with Dibiase taking sole possession of the Million Dollar Heavyweight Title.
Perfect/Rude/The Rougeaus vs Piper/Snuka/The Bushwhackers: Piper and Snuka can you believe that on opposite sides, the two despised each other in 1984 with Piper hitting Snuka with a coconut, but they were now partners. Both of them returned to the WWE as well in 1989 against a breed of new young talent and they were Mr. Perfect and Rick Rude. Rougeau would be eliminated by Jimmy Snuka first and so did Raymond as he was eliminated by Roddy Piper, the Bushwhackers would somehow be eliminated by Rude & Perfect separately, it went down to Rude & Perfect vs Snuka & Piper. But Rude & Piper would both be countedout allowing Perfect & Snuka to remain in the final two with Perfect getting the win. The match was average but Perfect still continued to shine like always. And it gets a 2/5.
Warrior/The Rockers/Neidhart vs Andre/Haku/Arn and Heenan: Tully Blanchard was supposed to be in that match, but he left the WWE due to drugs. The match began with Andre being eliminated by countout after Warrior knocked him out of the ring. Andre was way past the end of his career anyway, as this would be his last Survivor Series Appearance. He did wrestle after Survivor Series with Haku as they regained the Tag Team Titles, but he would leave the WWE at WrestleMania 6 on April 1, 1990 leaving the ring as a babyface for the first time since 1987. The Heenan Family regrouped with Neidhart being eliminated by Haku and Heenan eliminating Marty Jannetty. That was weak no pun intended. Michaels would then eliminate Haku but he was eliminated by Arn Anderson by Anderson's infamous famous move the Spinebuster. The greatest move in my opinion of all time. Warrior would eventually fight back and eliminate both Anderson and Heenan at the same time, the main event unfortunately gets a 2/5. But this would move up the Ultimate Warrior to the WWE Championship Card.
1990:
The Ultimate Warrior's success would lead him to the WWE Championship defeating Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 6 to regain the title. Meanwhile, Hogan was attacked by Earthquake to put Hogan out of action only for Hogan to return at Summerslam to defeat Earthquake by countout. Nothing much was doing in 1990 with Mr. Perfect becoming Intercontinental Champion, and Sapphire dumping Dusty Rhodes for Ted Dibiase followed by The Legion of Doom making their debuts in the WWE. And Ted Dibiase promising a surprise mystery partner for the Survivor Series in the Wildcard Matches.
Warrior/Von Erich/Legion of Doom vs Mr. Perfect/Demolition: A good way to kick off the 1990 Survivor Series with both the WWE Champion The Ultimate Warrior and WWE Intercontinental Champion Kerry Von Erich on the same side. Ax would be the first eliminated by The Ultimate Warrior. But Demolition and The Legion of Doom were all counted out due to brawling and it would lead to Demolition leaving the WWE in the middle part of 1991. Smash and Crush would return with different characters, Smash would be the Repo Man while Crush became Crush. Perfect would eliminate Von Erich as revenge for beating him for the Intercontinental Title at Summerslam, but it would be The Warrior who would become the sole survivor. The match gets a 3/5 as Warrior still continued to successfully shine and continue his undefeated Survivor Series Streak, but this would be his final Survivor Series Appearance ever. But he did participate in the Main Event.
The Hart Foundation/Rhodes and Koko vs Dibiase/Rhythm & Blues/Undertaker: What a way for Dibiase to introduce a man who would we all come to know and love, Mark Callaway known as The Undertaker. What an impact this Dark Character would make as he immediately took down Hart and Neidhart one by one in the start of the match. Koko tried his hand but he felt the wrath of The Undertaker and the Tombstone Piledriver effectively eliminating Koko. But Dibiase's team didn't celebrate just yet as The Honky Tonk Man was the first to be eliminated from the team. But Dibiase's team rebounded with Dibiase eliminating Neidhart and Undertaker continuing his next elimination by shockingly eliminating The Dream, but Undertaker would not mess around by going after Dusty Rhodes and thus leading himself to be countedout. Hart would then eliminate Valentine leading it to be another one on one battle between Hart and Dibiase, but in the end it would be Dibiase's team that won the match. The match gets a 3/5. Because of the Debut of The Undertaker and a dominating performance he had that was so well done.
The Vipers vs The Visionaires: The reason why this match came about was when Rick Martel sprayed Jake Roberts with arrogance leaving Roberts temporarily blinded although Snuka and Roberts were talented in the match, this was a field day for the Visionaires as the Visionaires pitched what would be an entire shutout, I will give this match a 1/5. This was bad, Roberts's team could've had the advantage but they didn't and this was the first surprising sweep in Survivor Series History until 1995 when The Undertaker's team pitched an entire shutout.
Hogan/Bossman/Duggan and Tugboat vs Earthquake/Haku/Bravo/Barbarian: What a monsterous match this was. Scores were settled with Tugboat and Hogan wanting to gain redemption on Earthquake and Bravo, and Bossman feuding with The Barbarian cause of Barbarian and Bobby Heenan making fun of Bossman's mother. Hogan's team got off to an intense start with Bossman eliminating Haku, but just like 1988. Duggan got himself disqualified once more when he used the 2x4 on Earthquake. But Hogan's team rebounded eliminating Dino Bravo with Hogan. Tugboat and Bossman gaining an advantage, but Bossman would be eliminated next by Earthquake. Earthquake and Tugboat would eventually eliminate each other giving Hogan another Sole Survivor Series win defeating the Barbarian. Warrior and Hogan would be on opposite sides taking on a 5 on 2 team. But Would the numbers be even?.
Santana/Volkoff/The Bushwhackers vs Sgt. Slaughter/The Orient Express and Boris Zhukov: Sgt. Slaughter, an american now turned an Iraqi Symphatizer was the most despised heel, honestly this storyline seriously sucked. The USA Team got off to a great start with 3 of Slaughter's teammates being eliminated immediately. But Slaughter would fight back one man on four eliminating The Bushwhackers and Volkoff until it was him and Santana. But Slaughter got himself disqualified giving Santana the win, and thus teaming up with Warrior and Hogan in a 3 on 5 disadvantage. The match gets a 1/5. This wasn't a good match. But Slaughter cleaning house on the Bushwhackers and Volkoff was a good advantage.
Hogan/Santana/Warrior vs The Visionaires and Dibiase: This was the Wildcard Main Event Match, but this was not a good main event match. The Warlord would be the first man eliminated by Tito, but Tito exhausted from the last match would be eliminated by Dibiase leaving Warrior and Hogan in a 2 on 4 disadvantage but Warrior and Hogan would crush them. Roma would be eliminated by Hogan. Martel was then counted out. Then Dibiase went down at the hands of Hogan and Hercules would soon follow by The Ultimate Warrior. The main event gets a 2/5. We all knew who was going to stand tall in the end, unfortunately this would be The Ultimate Warrior's last ever Survivor Series.
1991:
Hulkamania was back untop again winning the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 7 over Sgt. Slaughter, and it looked as if the Golden Era was reaching it's course, a lot of people were set to leave the WWE but most people would still stick around. Even a debut changed the fate of the WWE and that was former NWA World Champion Ric Flair who left the NWA in the Summer of 1991. Plus, Randy Savage and Elizabeth reunited and got married but the marriage was a nightmare by Jake Roberts chasing them every which way and plus Roberts put a snake in Savage's shoulder tying him up to the ropes. The Undertaker would continue to stay undefeated and that would earn him a WWE Championship Match against Hulk Hogan after moving up to the main event status in the Summer of 1991 after his feud with The Ultimate Warrior.
Flair/Dibiase/Mountie/Warlord vs Piper/Hart/Virgil/Bulldog: What a way to kick off the 1991 Survivor Series, it was a great start. There was lots of issues between Dibiase and Virgil with Virgil finally breaking free of Dibiase at the 1991 Royal Rumble with Roddy Piper helping him and then Piper feuding with The Nature Boy. And the British Bulldog also returned for the first time since 1988. But he was eliminated first by The Nature Boy, Warlord would eventually be the next to go. Then the match got strange as everyone brawled in the ring with Flair being the only one staying in the ring and thus becoming the sole survivor for the team. It was a pretty good match all the way to the end, the match will get a 3/5 in my honest opinion. Flair continued his sophmore WWE run by winning the WWE Championship at the 1992 Royal Rumble.
Col. Mustafa/Hercules/Berzerker and Skinner vs Slaughter/Duggan/Von Erich and El Matador: In 1990, Sgt. Slaughter turned his back on America and won the WWE Title at the 1991 Royal Rumble but after losing the title to Hogan. Slaughter returned to his country and thus formed an alliance with Jim Duggan. Slaughter made quick work of his former friend Col. Mustafa and then Col. Mustafa's entire team would be eliminated one by one, the match was a 2/5. But it was fun to see Team USA get the victory in this one.
Undertaker/Hogan: Why they could've had this for the Main Event is beyond me. But this was the first ever one on one Survivor Series Match and the first time the WWE Championship was defended at the 1991 Survivor Series. Taker creeped out Hogan a lot. Hogan had a little advantage in the match, but everytime Hogan would try to mount a few comebacks. Undertaker just had the upper hand. Hogan eventually fought back after a first tombstone piledriver, but Hogan hulked up and was able to bring The Undertaker down to one knee and also bodyslammed him, but intereference from Ric Flair and Paul Bearer would eventually cost Hogan, and after a second tombstone on a steel chair. The Undertaker won the match and captured the WWE Title for the first time, the match gets a 4/5. Undertaker did well of no selling Hogan's punches. This proved why The Undertaker was an unstoppable force, unfortunately the Deadman's run as Champion did not last long as he dropped the title 6 days later. He wouldn't hold the title again until March 23, 1997 when he defeated Sycho Sid to win the title at WrestleMania 13. The Title would be vacated for the second time until Tuesday in Texas and Flair would capture the title at the 1992 Royal Rumble.
The Rockers/The Bushwhackers vs The Beverly Brothers/Nasty Boys: This was an 8-Man Tag, but unlike 1987 and 1988. One team didn't have to be eliminated. Bushwhacker Luke was the first eliminated by Brian Knobbs and Butch would follow leaving The Rockers at a 4 on 2 situation. Blake was eliminated by Shawn Michaels, the only elimination The Rockers's team would have. But a miscommunication by Jannetty and Michaels allowed Michaels to be eliminated. Jannetty would be the final competitor left but was eliminated by The Nasty Boys, the match gets a 2/5. It wasn't special, but it was enough to tease the breakup of the Rockers and the start of the Heartbreak Kid.
Bossman/LOD vs IRS/The Natural Disasters: The match was originally supposed to be 4 on 4 with Jake Roberts and Sid Justice being on opposite sides, but Sid went down with an injury. Randy Savage was also supposed to help out, but due to the snake bite. Both Roberts & Savage were out of the Survivor Series. IRS eliminated Bossman first by hitting him with his briefcase. The Legion of Doom would dominate on their own eliminating The Natural Disasters & I.R.S. with the Legion of Doom being the sole survivors, the match gets a 1/5 as this was a weird main event, a bad way to end the 1991 Survivor Series.
Undertaker Promo: But before that, Undertaker cut a promo on Hogan about Tuesday in Texas saying that "Hulkamania, It Died and the only thing that's left Tuesday in Texas is the Burial". An eerie Undertaker promo to say the least.
Not a Bad Golden Era from 1987-1991. You had the stars from Andre, Savage, Undertaker, Hogan, Warrior, Dibiase, Roberts and others. It was a good era from start to finish. But let's see where the New Generation took us.
1987: (The Road to Survivor Series)
We kick off 1987 with the WWE at it's finest. Hulkamania was still around as the WWE Champion as he defeated Andre The Giant to retain the WWE Title at WrestleMania 3 in a sold out record of 93,173 fans in Detroit, Michigan at the Pontiac Silverdome. Also people like Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat, Ted Dibiase, Jake Roberts, Rick Rude, Paul Orndorff, Bam Bam Bigelow, King Kong Bundy and others were now getting their shrine especially the Savage/Steamboat match at WrestleMania 3 for the Intercontinental Championship which helped elevate both men's career increasingly so. With that match, Savage who had become a heel was getting more love by the fans turning him into a babyface, in September. Savage attempted to win back the Intercontinental Championship over The Honky Tonk Man, but he was jumped by Jimmy Hart's gentlemen, The Hart Foundation and then Miss Elizabeth asked for help and she asked Hulk Hogan to help her out, with no hesistation, Hulkamania came down to attack The Hart Foundation and Honky Tonk Man, after. Hogan and Savage stared each other down and both men shook hands forming the MegaPowers.
But Hogan would once again encounter Andre The Giant and what a way to encounter Andre then forming a team to take on their team. Andre The Giant's team consisted of Big Giant Studs in King Kong Bundy & The One Man Gang. Rick Rude & Butch Reed also joined Andre's team although they weren't big, they were useful. Both Bundy, Andre and Rude were a part of the Heenan Family while Reed & The One Man Gang were managed by the Doctor of Style Slick. Hulk Hogan's team would then be consisted of himself, 2 former Heenan Family Members, Ken Patera & Paul Orndorff, Don Muraco & Bam Bam Bigelow who had to be the biggest of the bunch of Hulkamania's Team. Andre's Team was 1,902 pounds, given the size of Andre, One Man Gang and Bigelow. While Hogan's team was 1,475 pounds. So it was a mismatch giving the weight of the superstars. Savage and Honky Tonk Man would continue their feud in the Survivor Series Elimination Match with Randy Savage having partners in Hacksaw "Jim Duggan". Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. Brutus Beefcake and Jake "The Snake" Roberts while The Honky Tonk Man's Team consisted of the King Harley Race, Hercules, Danny Davis and Outlaw Ron Bass. So enough of the backstory, let's go on to the reviews of the matches.
Reviews:
Savage/Roberts/Steamboat/Duggan and Beefcake vs HTM/Hercules/Davis/Race and Bass: I do believe this match was a good way to kick off first. As given these 10 superstars have had history with one another in the past year, mentioning the rivalry between Savage and Steamboat in the Spring of 1987, and Duggan feuding with King Harley Race as well, plus. Honky Tonk Man had issues with not only Savage. But would encounter problems with Roberts and Steamboat in that year as well, Honky Tonk Man was the guy that both beat Roberts and Steamboat with Honky Tonk beating Roberts at WrestleMania 3 and Honky Tonk taking the Intercontinental Title from Steamboat in June. The first elimination came with Duggan and Race eliminating each other first, then Bass was the next to be eliminated by Beefcake. Of course Beefcake and Bass's feud would start in 1988. So it would be a little tease. Honky Tonk Man's team got another elimination by eliminating Beefcake making it 3 on 3. But it wouldn't bode well for another member of Honky Tonk Man's team as Roberts next eliminated the Crooked Referee Danny Davis. So he got what he deserved. Hercules was the only hope for the Honky Tonk Man. But Hercules would also fail as well as Savage eliminated him, and it would be a 3 on 1 advantage for Team Savage. And while most people expected Honky Tonk Man to get what's coming to him by all these 3 gentlemen that he caused mischief against. After a beatdown by the faces. Honky Tonk decided that discretion was better part of valid as Savage, Steamboat & Roberts became the Sole Survivors of the match, I will settle with a 4/5. So not a Bad Start to the match, of course this would settle to be Honky Tonk's final feud with Savage as he would move on to Beefcake at WrestleMania 4 for the Intercontinental Title. And Savage getting a main push capturing the WWE Championship that same night in a 16-Man Tournament.
Sensational Sherri/Leilani Kai/Judy Martin/Donna Christanello and Dawn Marie vs The Fabulous Moolah/Rockin' Robin/Velvet McIntyre and the Jumping Bomb Angels: Before there was the Women of the Attitude Era in Trish Stratus, Lita, Chyna, Jacqueline, Sable. And before there was the women of the Ruthless Aggression Era in Mickie James, Torrie Wilson, Victoria, Beth Phoenix, Stacy Keibler, Molly Holly and others, and before there was the New & Reality Era ladies with Bayley, Sasha Banks, Bianca Belair, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax, Alexa Bliss, Asuka and more ladies to come. The WWE Women's would be around too in the 1980s. Now Let's just say this match was what it was, So let's get to it first. And by the way the Dawn Marie Name was not the same Dawn Marie we saw in the WWE in 2002. Donna Christanello was the first woman to be eliminated by former WWE Women's Champion Velvet McIntyre giving Moolah's team the momentum. Moolah's team continued that momentum when Dawn Marie was the second to be eliminated by Rockin' Robin who would go on to become the future Women's Champion. But Sherri's team made a comeback with Rockin' Robin being the first in Fabulous Moolah's team to be eliminated. And then the biggest upset in Sherri's team with Judy Martin next eliminating Fabulous Moolah making the sides even. But then the Captain Sensational Sherri was the next to be eliminated by Velvet McIntyre. So both captains were eliminated, but Velvet's surprise elimination over Sherri would be her undoing as she was eliminated herself by Leilani Kai leaving it to a standard 2 vs 2 Tag Team Match. Both Leilani Kai and Judy Martin would both be eliminated at the same time giving the Jumping Bomb Angels the sole survivor victory. The match gets a 3/5. Nothing perfect, but there were some surprising eliminations, Velvet McIntyre did take 2 eliminations, Judy Martin's shocking elimination over Moolah was a surprise, same as Velvet McIntyre's shocking elimination over Sensational Sherri. Sensational Sherri stayed on as Women's Champion until October of 1988 when she was dethroned by Rockin' Robin. Rockin' Robin was the final Women's Champion until the Women's Division was deactivated in 1990, but the Women's Title returned in 1993 only for it to be deactivated in 1995 until returning to the Attitude Era in 1998 and it has never stayed since although the RAW & SMACKDOWN Women's Championship are in tact. This Match was the last Women's Match for Survivor Series until 1998 when Sable took on Jacqueline for the Women's Championship. And the Last Women's Survivor Series Elimination Match until 2007 when RAW & SMACKDOWN collided.
The Hart Foundation/The Islanders/The Dream Team/Demolition and The Bolsheviks vs Strike Force/The Bulldogs/The Fabulous Rougeaus/The Young Stallions and The Killer Bees: In this match, both these teams were tag teams. So in this match, If a member of a team was eliminated. You were also eliminated in this match, The Hart Foundation were very sour about losing their Tag Team Championship to Martel & Santana of Strike Force that they wanted their chance at retribution. The First team eliminated in the match was The Bolsheviks as Santana eliminated Zhukov, but the sides would be even as Demolition next eliminated The Rougeaus, Demolition would be the next to get disqualified after roughing up the Dynamite Kid. The next team to be eliminated were the Tag Champions as Neidhart eliminated Santana as revenge for Santana & Martel taking the WWE Tag Team Championship away from them. And would make the sides even again with The Islanders eliminating The Bulldogs, the Islanders and The Bulldogs had a rivalry later on that year with The Islanders stealing The Bulldogs's dogs Matilda. Valentine & Bravo would be the next team to go by The Young Stallions, at that point. Valentine & Bravo's partnership wouldn't work and both men moved on to Singles Competition and it still probably would have not worked despite Beefcake turning his back on both guys at WrestleMania 3. The Hart Foundation would be the next to go with the Killer Bees next eliminating them leaving it to a 4 on 2 advantage for Strike Force's team and it worked with Strike Force using the mask trick to eliminate the Islanders, Strike Force & The Young Stallions would be the sole survivors of that match. The Match will get a 4/5, everyone pretty much got along in this match as you can tell. This really elevated the Tag Team Division in the late 1980s. And it worked for both teams with Demolition winning the titles over Strike Force in March of 1988 at Wrestlemania 4.
Dibiase Promo: After that match, we saw Ted Dibiase cut a promo as there were clips and vignettes of Dibiase making people do things for money including kicking a ball away with Dibiase challenging the kid to dribble a ball 15 times and that he'd get the money and even making a woman go down on her knees and bark like a dog, simply dregading similar to what Vince did to Trish on the March 5, 2001 edition of RAW IS WAR. And also making a kid who by now named Rob Van Dam kiss his feet, after RVD humilated himself kissing Dibiase's foot. He would somehow work for the WWE in 1997 when he came in a ECW/WWE promotion, until working back in the WWE from 2001 through 2014. The kissing of the feet made Van Dam similar by winning the Hardcore Title, Intercontinental Title, Tag Team Title, ECW Title, WWE Title, among others. Dibiase also went as far to take people out of a public pool and having the pool to himself. This was a way to set up Dibiase for an eventual run for the WWE Championship with Hulk Hogan and it worked.
Hogan/Bigelow/Muraco/Orndorff and Patera vs Andre/One Man Gang/Bundy/Reed/Rude: Speaking of Hogan, this is the main event, the meat of the action. The fans you could tell where intense by the match that they were excited. Hogan's team drew blood early with Hogan eliminating Butch Reed. But then momentum went back to Andre's favor with Patera being eliminated by The One Man Gang. Now I mentioned Patera was a member of the Heenan Family, his firing was caused by a storyline because of what Patera did at a McDonald's Restaurant in Real Life in the Spring of 1984. Andre's team continued the momentum with Orndorff being the next to go by Rick Rude. Both Orndorff & Rude had engaged in a feud prior to the matchup. And this was Orndorff's time to leave the WWE. This would be Orndorff's final WWE PPV Appearance until WrestleMania 2005 when he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame similar to Hogan. But Hogan's team got their momentum back with Rude being the next eliminated by Muraco. Originally Muraco was not supposed to be on Hogan's team. Billy Graham was supposed to be a part of the team but he was jumped by Andre's team prior to Survivor Series and Muraco who had been a longtime heel through the Summer of 1987 jumped in and took Graham's place. Unfortunately for Muraco, he would be the next man to go as The One Man Gang eliminated him. Gang was on a ball eliminating both Patera & Muraco. It would not go down good for Hogan & Bigelow. Andre came in the match real late and as he went to tried to get at Bigelow. Bigelow tagged in the Champion. Hogan & Andre had not faced off at WrestleMania III with Hogan throwing right hands at Andre. But The Gang & Bundy distracted Hogan outside with Hogan fighting One Man Gang & King Kong Bundy off bodyslamming them both until he got counted out himself leaving Bam Bam at a disadvantage. But the Bammer was able to fight back eliminating King Kong Bundy, of course this would be Bundy's last PPV Appearance with the WWE until the 1994 Survivor Series and oddly enough Bundy & Bigelow would both be on opposite teams for the Million Dollar Corporation. One Man Gang would be the next to be eliminated by Bigelow leaving it to a one on one situation between Bigelow and Andre, Could Bigelow do the unthinkable?. The answer was no and Andre wore down a fatigued Bigelow becoming the sole survivor of the match. But after the match, Hogan ran out and hit Andre with the title belt knocking him out of the ring. The match was very well booked, I gave it a 3/5. But it wasn't technical wrestling of course you had 10 of the top legends. But this was a way for Andre to go over because of the WrestleMania match with Hogan. Andre needed this victory to get even with Hogan.
On a Scale of 1 to 10. Survivor Series 1987 gets a 7 out of 10, A perfect show. Good showings by Savage's team and even Andre's team. Every match of the card was interesting. Bam Bam hanging in there in the end really was a true testament being a part of Hulk Hogan's team. Bigelow would not be at another Survivor Series PPV until 1993.
1988:
Now 1988 saw some huge changes with the World Wrestling Federation Championship, on February 5, 1988. Hogan lost the title to Andre The Giant after a 4-year run as Champion, a 4-year run that started on January 23, 1984 when Hogan defeated The Iron Sheik to capture the title. But Andre gave the belt to Dibiase on the agreement deal, however Jack Tunney stripped Dibiase of the WWE Championship and for the first time the WWE Title was declared in a 16-Man Tournament at WrestleMania 4 With the Macho Man Randy Savage regaining the WWE Championship. The Savage/Hogan union would continue all the way in the summer and the fall of 1988 with Savage and Hogan defeating the Megabucks, but Dibiase was not through with Savage and Hogan, on the other hand. Andre moved on to feud with Jake Roberts after Roberts kayfabe scared him with a snake. But Dibiase still wasn't through with Hogan as he enlisted a corrupt cop from Cobb County, GA. The Big Bossman who came on the Brother Love Show attacking Hulk Hogan handcuffing him and beating him with a nightstick. While The One Man Gang was transported to Akeem. Meanwhile in the world of WWE in 1988. The Ultimate Warrior a fast-rising star captured the Intercontinental Heavyweight Title over The Honky Tonk Man at Summerslam ending Honky Tonk Man's reign as Intercontinental Champion a reign that started since June 13, 1987. But the question was who would survive the 2nd annual 1988 Survivor Series.
Reviews:
Warrior/Beefcake/Houston/Blazer and Brunzell vs HTM/Bass/Davis/Valentine and Bad News Brown: How fitting this is, last year. Beefcake, Honky Tonk Man, Bass and Davis were a part of the opening 1987 Survivor Series, and they opened up the show again. Don Muraco was originally supposed to be a part of the Ultimate Warrior's team but Muraco left the WWE and he was replaced by Jim Brunzell of the Killer Bees. Warrior's team got off to a great start with Beefcake eliminating Davis. But the sides once again were even with Bad News Brown eliminating Brunzell turning it into a 4 on 4 match. But problems began to brew in Honky Tonk Man's team with Bad News Brown accidentally being punched by Valentine. Bad News walked out in the match leading himself to be countedout, Houston on the Warrior's team would be the next eliminated by Outlaw Ron Bass. The Blue Blazer would also be eliminated by Valentine now as anyone knows the Blue Blazer was portrayed by Owen Hart, yes. The Blazer as Owen Hart stuck around in the WWE after this until leaving in 1989. But would return to the WWE in 1992 as himself and never left until he died 7 years ago in Kansas City on May 23, 1999 in an accident which fell him 75 feet to his death as he was portraying the Blazer Character. Both Beefcake and HTM were the next to be eliminated theirselves putting an end to their feud together. That left Warrior against Valentine and Bass with Warrior single handingly eliminating them both, The match was okay. It scores a 3/5. Nothing too special, but as my mom says "It is What It Is".
Demolition/The Rougeau Brothers/The Brain Busters/The Conquistadors/The Bolsheviks vs The Bulldogs/Hart Foundation/Powers of Pain/The Rockers and The Young Stallions: This match featured the same teams in 1987, but with different changes. The Hart Foundation turned face so they teamed up with The Bulldogs and The Rougeaus were heels so they teamed up with Demolition. This was going to be a mega star matchup between both teams. The face team got off to a great start with Bret Hart eliminating The Rougeau Brothers. The heels got their momentum back with the sole surviving team from last year The Young Stallions being eliminated by Zhukov & Volkoff. But they too would suffer the same fate as the Rockers eliminated them, now if you know The Rockers. Then you know the tag team of Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty, they went on as a tag team until they broke up in 1992 because of the Infamous Plate Glass Window incident. The Hart Foundation would then be eliminated by the Brain Busters, the Brain Busters were Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard from the Four Horsemen. But they both were eliminated by The Rockers however The Rockers also eliminated theirselves and both would be disqualified. This would go to a 4 on 4 stipulation with Demolition and the Conquistadors taking on The Bulldogs and The Powers of Pain. The Bulldogs were the next to be eliminated, now this is where it gets really interesting, in the middle of the 4 on 2 advantage. As Warlord was whipped off the ropes. Warlord reversed it and Fuji accidentally got Smash. The distraction enough caused Demolition to be eliminated by countout. After, Demolition attacked Fuji officially turning them face, but in a shocking moment after. Fuji was helped by the Powers of Pain, Wait a minute!!!!?. Does this mean, With the confusion, the Conquistadors were eliminated by the Powers of Pain. The Powers of Pain had officially turned heel and Demolition had officially turned face. The feud would continue all the way through 1989 between The Powers of Pain and Demolition. I am giving it a 3/5. Nothing too special, but it was allright except for the surprise heel turn. It was a shock to me.
Roberts/Casey/Patera/Duggan and Santana vs Andre/Race/Perfect/Bravo/Rude: Similar to the 1987 Survivor Series, both Roberts, Duggan and Race were both in similar situations as well. Scott Casey would be a last minute replacement for the Junkyard Dog as the Dog himself left the WWE. 2 big players in the Junkyard Dog and Don Muraco were lost in 1988 for this one. But still you had some good talent. This was a way to continue and end the feud between Roberts and Rude cause Rude was set for an Intercontinental Championship Push coming up in the next year which would be 1989. And to build up Mr. Perfect's undefeated streak. Patera and Rude who also competed last year would also compete in the match too. Patera would be the first man eliminated by Rick Rude and then it would be Scott Casey being the next to go by Dino Bravo making it a 5 on 3 advantage for Andre's team. But Tito would eliminate Harley Race until he too was eliminated by the 1987 Survivor Series Sole Survivor Andre The Giant. Making it a 4 on 2 disadvantage. Duggan was disqualified after using his signature 2X4 on Bravo leading it to a 4 on 1 disadvantage for Roberts. Roberts somehow still had some fight left by eliminating Rude, but Andre choked out Roberts to the point that Andre got himself disqualified. Roberts had somehow managed to beat Rude & Andre, but Andre's choking of Roberts got to the point were Bravo & Perfect were just too much to handle as Bravo & Perfect were the sole survivors with Perfect getting the pinfall victory, This match gets a 4/5. It was a way to elevate Mr. Perfect, and a way to continue the hot feud between Andre The Giant and Jake Roberts. Sadly, the winning team are no longer with us, Both Dino Bravo & Andre The Giant passed away in 1993. Bravo passed away of murder. Andre passed away of a Heart Attack, Rude passed away in 1999 of a Heart Attack, and so was Mr. Perfect in 2003, Harley Race eventually would leave us 2 years ago. This would also be Harley Race's last Survivor Series Match until he left the WWE in 1989 when he got involved in a feud with King Haku for the crown.
Hulk Hogan/Randy Savage/Hercules/Koko B. Ware/Hillbilly Jim vs Ted Dibiase/Red Rooster/Akeem/Big Bossman and King Haku
This rivalry based on a lot. It was Dibiase starting this feud with Hogan when Dibiase attempted to buy the WWE Championship from Hulk Hogan in late 1987 leading to the infamous Saturday Night Screwjob with Dibiase enlisting Andre The Giant to win the WWE Title over Hogan at Saturday Night's Main Event and then at WrestleMania 4, Hogan would turn an eye for an eye to a tooth for a tooth costing Dibiase the WWE Championship against Randy Savage in the 16-Man Tournament. Plus, Dibiase would also have problems with a former Heenan Family Member, Hercules. The Mega Powers's team first got off to a wonderful start when they took down the smaller man in Red Rooster with Savage being the first man to eliminate Rooster, but Hillbilly Jim would be eliminated by Akeem, and that would be followed up by Koko being eliminated by The Big Bossman. The Bossman had a lot for Koko at 1988 with Bossman defeating him at the first Inaugural Summerslam and also eliminating him at the Survivor Series Main Event, Hercules was the next to be eliminated by Dibiase thanks to a distraction by Virgil. But it cost him dearly with Savage eliminating him and ending the feud for good. But Bossman & Akeem were too aggressive over Hogan & Savage, they handcuffed Hogan to the ropes leaving Savage vulnerable to a King Haku. Hogan somehow broke free and saved Savage against King Haku making Hogan & Savage the sole survivors, after the match. Hogan and Elizabeth hugged with Savage having the crazed look in his eyes that would set up for a potential feud between the two for the next year. The match gets a 4/5. It was a fun main event, But it was pretty clear who was going to win this match.
Survivor Series 1988 got a 7/10 similar to 1987. Wasn't as bad, there were a lot of good stars and talent in that show. Mr. Perfect, Ultimate Warrior and others.
1989:
Now 1989 saw the end of the Megapowers with Savage accusing Hogan of having lust for Elizabeth leading Hogan to end Savage's 13-month reign as WWE Champion at WrestleMania 5 on April 2, 1989. Savage then set the issue straight by having Sensational Sherri as his manager and thus having Zeus, the No Holds Barred Star go after Hogan. Meanwhile, Andre would feud with the Ultimate Warrior who had recently won back the Intercontinental Championship at Summerslam. Roddy Piper also would make his return to the ring as well, and yea. Mr. Perfect was still undefeated, plus Dusty Rhodes would also come to the WWE as well. And Randy Savage would become Macho King Randy Savage.
Bossman/Bad News Brown/Honky Tonk Man/Martel vs Rhodes/Santana/Beefcake and Rooster: The rivalry between Dusty Rhodes and The Big Bossman started off with Rhodes attacking The Bossman and also dressing up as a police cop as well. Also the rivalry between Martel and Santana would eventually start in the Spring of 1989 with Strike Force splitting up and Martel being the model. Santana was the first to be eliminated by Martel in the match. But similar to last year, Bad News Brown couldn't trust his team with The Bossman accidentally punching his partner leading him to be counted out once again. Honky would be eliminated by Brutus Beefcake ending the feud once and for all. Beefcake would get another elimination by eliminating Martel leading it to a 3 on 1. Bossman eventually would eliminate Red Rooster but Beefcake & Rhodes would eventually be the sole survivors with Rhodes & Beefcake winning the match. After the match, Bossman attacked Rhodes & Beefcake and attempted to do punishment on the American Dream by handcuffing him to the ropes until Beefcake scared him away, the match will get a 3/5, nothing special. But it was okay.
Savage/Earthquake/Bravo/Valentine vs Duggan/Hart/Garvin/Hercules. The feud began with Randy Savage defeating Jim Duggan to become WWE's King. Earthquake was brought in to the WWE by Dino Bravo when Bravo & Earthquake beat up the Ultimate Warrior in a pushups challenge. Bret Hart was taken a temporary separation from Jim Neidhart for a while. And Valentine was feuding with Garvin as well. The first person eliminated in the match was Hercules. Hercules was now taken down the card a peg since the Spring of 1989 after his big win over King Haku at WrestleMania 5. But Valentine would be the next to go by Duggan. Garvin would be the next to go as Bravo eliminated Garvin. Hart would also be eliminated by Savage, Duggan tried to hold his own against Earthquake, Bravo and Savage but thanks to a distraction by Sherri, Duggan would be counted out. The match gets the first 2/5. But this was a way to build up Earthquake even more, but the feud with Duggan & Savage just ended, this should've been closure. But a feud should always end in a one on one match.
Hogan/Demolition/Roberts vs Zeus/The Powers of Pain/Dibiase: The Hogan/Dibiase feud still does not end. Hogan had his problems with Zeus while Dibiase had his problems with Roberts and the Powers of Pain and Demolition needed to settle their issues once and for all. Hogan and Zeus kicked off the match but Zeus was immediately disqualified for choking the Champion thus ending his night, Zeus would not be seen again as Hogan and Beefcake defeated Zeus and Savage in a Steel Cage Match. Obviously Zeus sucked in wrestling, but he was a good actor. Zeus known as Ed Lister died in December of 2020. But the match moved on with Ax being eliminated by Warlord and Smash was also eliminated by Barbarian. But the Powers of Pain wound up being disqualified when they double teamed Hogan leaving Hogan & Roberts to a two on one advantage against Dibiase. Dibiase would eliminate Roberts starting the feud between the two. But in the end it was Hogan that survived eliminating Dibiase. The match gets a 2/5. The match was very sloppy on all accounts. But it was a way to set up the feud between Dibiase and Roberts with both Dibiase and Roberts stealing the Million Dollar Championship all the way from 1989 throughout 1990 with the two settling it at WrestleMania 6 with Dibiase taking sole possession of the Million Dollar Heavyweight Title.
Perfect/Rude/The Rougeaus vs Piper/Snuka/The Bushwhackers: Piper and Snuka can you believe that on opposite sides, the two despised each other in 1984 with Piper hitting Snuka with a coconut, but they were now partners. Both of them returned to the WWE as well in 1989 against a breed of new young talent and they were Mr. Perfect and Rick Rude. Rougeau would be eliminated by Jimmy Snuka first and so did Raymond as he was eliminated by Roddy Piper, the Bushwhackers would somehow be eliminated by Rude & Perfect separately, it went down to Rude & Perfect vs Snuka & Piper. But Rude & Piper would both be countedout allowing Perfect & Snuka to remain in the final two with Perfect getting the win. The match was average but Perfect still continued to shine like always. And it gets a 2/5.
Warrior/The Rockers/Neidhart vs Andre/Haku/Arn and Heenan: Tully Blanchard was supposed to be in that match, but he left the WWE due to drugs. The match began with Andre being eliminated by countout after Warrior knocked him out of the ring. Andre was way past the end of his career anyway, as this would be his last Survivor Series Appearance. He did wrestle after Survivor Series with Haku as they regained the Tag Team Titles, but he would leave the WWE at WrestleMania 6 on April 1, 1990 leaving the ring as a babyface for the first time since 1987. The Heenan Family regrouped with Neidhart being eliminated by Haku and Heenan eliminating Marty Jannetty. That was weak no pun intended. Michaels would then eliminate Haku but he was eliminated by Arn Anderson by Anderson's infamous famous move the Spinebuster. The greatest move in my opinion of all time. Warrior would eventually fight back and eliminate both Anderson and Heenan at the same time, the main event unfortunately gets a 2/5. But this would move up the Ultimate Warrior to the WWE Championship Card.
1990:
The Ultimate Warrior's success would lead him to the WWE Championship defeating Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 6 to regain the title. Meanwhile, Hogan was attacked by Earthquake to put Hogan out of action only for Hogan to return at Summerslam to defeat Earthquake by countout. Nothing much was doing in 1990 with Mr. Perfect becoming Intercontinental Champion, and Sapphire dumping Dusty Rhodes for Ted Dibiase followed by The Legion of Doom making their debuts in the WWE. And Ted Dibiase promising a surprise mystery partner for the Survivor Series in the Wildcard Matches.
Warrior/Von Erich/Legion of Doom vs Mr. Perfect/Demolition: A good way to kick off the 1990 Survivor Series with both the WWE Champion The Ultimate Warrior and WWE Intercontinental Champion Kerry Von Erich on the same side. Ax would be the first eliminated by The Ultimate Warrior. But Demolition and The Legion of Doom were all counted out due to brawling and it would lead to Demolition leaving the WWE in the middle part of 1991. Smash and Crush would return with different characters, Smash would be the Repo Man while Crush became Crush. Perfect would eliminate Von Erich as revenge for beating him for the Intercontinental Title at Summerslam, but it would be The Warrior who would become the sole survivor. The match gets a 3/5 as Warrior still continued to successfully shine and continue his undefeated Survivor Series Streak, but this would be his final Survivor Series Appearance ever. But he did participate in the Main Event.
The Hart Foundation/Rhodes and Koko vs Dibiase/Rhythm & Blues/Undertaker: What a way for Dibiase to introduce a man who would we all come to know and love, Mark Callaway known as The Undertaker. What an impact this Dark Character would make as he immediately took down Hart and Neidhart one by one in the start of the match. Koko tried his hand but he felt the wrath of The Undertaker and the Tombstone Piledriver effectively eliminating Koko. But Dibiase's team didn't celebrate just yet as The Honky Tonk Man was the first to be eliminated from the team. But Dibiase's team rebounded with Dibiase eliminating Neidhart and Undertaker continuing his next elimination by shockingly eliminating The Dream, but Undertaker would not mess around by going after Dusty Rhodes and thus leading himself to be countedout. Hart would then eliminate Valentine leading it to be another one on one battle between Hart and Dibiase, but in the end it would be Dibiase's team that won the match. The match gets a 3/5. Because of the Debut of The Undertaker and a dominating performance he had that was so well done.
The Vipers vs The Visionaires: The reason why this match came about was when Rick Martel sprayed Jake Roberts with arrogance leaving Roberts temporarily blinded although Snuka and Roberts were talented in the match, this was a field day for the Visionaires as the Visionaires pitched what would be an entire shutout, I will give this match a 1/5. This was bad, Roberts's team could've had the advantage but they didn't and this was the first surprising sweep in Survivor Series History until 1995 when The Undertaker's team pitched an entire shutout.
Hogan/Bossman/Duggan and Tugboat vs Earthquake/Haku/Bravo/Barbarian: What a monsterous match this was. Scores were settled with Tugboat and Hogan wanting to gain redemption on Earthquake and Bravo, and Bossman feuding with The Barbarian cause of Barbarian and Bobby Heenan making fun of Bossman's mother. Hogan's team got off to an intense start with Bossman eliminating Haku, but just like 1988. Duggan got himself disqualified once more when he used the 2x4 on Earthquake. But Hogan's team rebounded eliminating Dino Bravo with Hogan. Tugboat and Bossman gaining an advantage, but Bossman would be eliminated next by Earthquake. Earthquake and Tugboat would eventually eliminate each other giving Hogan another Sole Survivor Series win defeating the Barbarian. Warrior and Hogan would be on opposite sides taking on a 5 on 2 team. But Would the numbers be even?.
Santana/Volkoff/The Bushwhackers vs Sgt. Slaughter/The Orient Express and Boris Zhukov: Sgt. Slaughter, an american now turned an Iraqi Symphatizer was the most despised heel, honestly this storyline seriously sucked. The USA Team got off to a great start with 3 of Slaughter's teammates being eliminated immediately. But Slaughter would fight back one man on four eliminating The Bushwhackers and Volkoff until it was him and Santana. But Slaughter got himself disqualified giving Santana the win, and thus teaming up with Warrior and Hogan in a 3 on 5 disadvantage. The match gets a 1/5. This wasn't a good match. But Slaughter cleaning house on the Bushwhackers and Volkoff was a good advantage.
Hogan/Santana/Warrior vs The Visionaires and Dibiase: This was the Wildcard Main Event Match, but this was not a good main event match. The Warlord would be the first man eliminated by Tito, but Tito exhausted from the last match would be eliminated by Dibiase leaving Warrior and Hogan in a 2 on 4 disadvantage but Warrior and Hogan would crush them. Roma would be eliminated by Hogan. Martel was then counted out. Then Dibiase went down at the hands of Hogan and Hercules would soon follow by The Ultimate Warrior. The main event gets a 2/5. We all knew who was going to stand tall in the end, unfortunately this would be The Ultimate Warrior's last ever Survivor Series.
1991:
Hulkamania was back untop again winning the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 7 over Sgt. Slaughter, and it looked as if the Golden Era was reaching it's course, a lot of people were set to leave the WWE but most people would still stick around. Even a debut changed the fate of the WWE and that was former NWA World Champion Ric Flair who left the NWA in the Summer of 1991. Plus, Randy Savage and Elizabeth reunited and got married but the marriage was a nightmare by Jake Roberts chasing them every which way and plus Roberts put a snake in Savage's shoulder tying him up to the ropes. The Undertaker would continue to stay undefeated and that would earn him a WWE Championship Match against Hulk Hogan after moving up to the main event status in the Summer of 1991 after his feud with The Ultimate Warrior.
Flair/Dibiase/Mountie/Warlord vs Piper/Hart/Virgil/Bulldog: What a way to kick off the 1991 Survivor Series, it was a great start. There was lots of issues between Dibiase and Virgil with Virgil finally breaking free of Dibiase at the 1991 Royal Rumble with Roddy Piper helping him and then Piper feuding with The Nature Boy. And the British Bulldog also returned for the first time since 1988. But he was eliminated first by The Nature Boy, Warlord would eventually be the next to go. Then the match got strange as everyone brawled in the ring with Flair being the only one staying in the ring and thus becoming the sole survivor for the team. It was a pretty good match all the way to the end, the match will get a 3/5 in my honest opinion. Flair continued his sophmore WWE run by winning the WWE Championship at the 1992 Royal Rumble.
Col. Mustafa/Hercules/Berzerker and Skinner vs Slaughter/Duggan/Von Erich and El Matador: In 1990, Sgt. Slaughter turned his back on America and won the WWE Title at the 1991 Royal Rumble but after losing the title to Hogan. Slaughter returned to his country and thus formed an alliance with Jim Duggan. Slaughter made quick work of his former friend Col. Mustafa and then Col. Mustafa's entire team would be eliminated one by one, the match was a 2/5. But it was fun to see Team USA get the victory in this one.
Undertaker/Hogan: Why they could've had this for the Main Event is beyond me. But this was the first ever one on one Survivor Series Match and the first time the WWE Championship was defended at the 1991 Survivor Series. Taker creeped out Hogan a lot. Hogan had a little advantage in the match, but everytime Hogan would try to mount a few comebacks. Undertaker just had the upper hand. Hogan eventually fought back after a first tombstone piledriver, but Hogan hulked up and was able to bring The Undertaker down to one knee and also bodyslammed him, but intereference from Ric Flair and Paul Bearer would eventually cost Hogan, and after a second tombstone on a steel chair. The Undertaker won the match and captured the WWE Title for the first time, the match gets a 4/5. Undertaker did well of no selling Hogan's punches. This proved why The Undertaker was an unstoppable force, unfortunately the Deadman's run as Champion did not last long as he dropped the title 6 days later. He wouldn't hold the title again until March 23, 1997 when he defeated Sycho Sid to win the title at WrestleMania 13. The Title would be vacated for the second time until Tuesday in Texas and Flair would capture the title at the 1992 Royal Rumble.
The Rockers/The Bushwhackers vs The Beverly Brothers/Nasty Boys: This was an 8-Man Tag, but unlike 1987 and 1988. One team didn't have to be eliminated. Bushwhacker Luke was the first eliminated by Brian Knobbs and Butch would follow leaving The Rockers at a 4 on 2 situation. Blake was eliminated by Shawn Michaels, the only elimination The Rockers's team would have. But a miscommunication by Jannetty and Michaels allowed Michaels to be eliminated. Jannetty would be the final competitor left but was eliminated by The Nasty Boys, the match gets a 2/5. It wasn't special, but it was enough to tease the breakup of the Rockers and the start of the Heartbreak Kid.
Bossman/LOD vs IRS/The Natural Disasters: The match was originally supposed to be 4 on 4 with Jake Roberts and Sid Justice being on opposite sides, but Sid went down with an injury. Randy Savage was also supposed to help out, but due to the snake bite. Both Roberts & Savage were out of the Survivor Series. IRS eliminated Bossman first by hitting him with his briefcase. The Legion of Doom would dominate on their own eliminating The Natural Disasters & I.R.S. with the Legion of Doom being the sole survivors, the match gets a 1/5 as this was a weird main event, a bad way to end the 1991 Survivor Series.
Undertaker Promo: But before that, Undertaker cut a promo on Hogan about Tuesday in Texas saying that "Hulkamania, It Died and the only thing that's left Tuesday in Texas is the Burial". An eerie Undertaker promo to say the least.
Not a Bad Golden Era from 1987-1991. You had the stars from Andre, Savage, Undertaker, Hogan, Warrior, Dibiase, Roberts and others. It was a good era from start to finish. But let's see where the New Generation took us.
