by Daniel Johnson
This year’s Survivor Series had a decent main event and two above average traditional Survivor Series matches. The opener placed a bright spotlight on WWE’s growing tag team division. Sure, it didn’t come close to the awesomeness that the tag team Survivor Series’ matches in 1987 and 1988 had behind them, but it was great for what it was. The other elimination match had its moments and gave a nice little rub to Dolph Ziggler. The Big Show/Sheamus bout was an improvement over their last pay-per-view encounter though the lame disqualification ending took away from it. The night ended with an intriguing twist that left fans asking, “what happens next?” Yet, for now let us take a look back at what was.
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Brodus Clay, Justin Gabriel, Tyson Kidd, Sin Cara and Rey Mysterio (with Cameron and Naomi) defeated Tensai, Primo, Epico, Darren Young and Titus O’Neil (with Rosa Mendes) in a traditional Survivor Series match
There are no quick eliminations in this contest as the bout has a decent amount of back and forth before anyone has to leave up the entrance ramp. The highlight of this early portion of the match has to be the double Asai moonsault that Sin Cara and Mysterio deliver to the outside. The fun has to stop at some point and the first one out is fun loving Brodus Clay after a running senton splash from Tensai. The big man looks dominant, but Gabriel quickly upsets him by sending him to the back with a crucifix pin. Titus O’Neil, everyone’s favorite muscular walrus, soon enters but he is likewise upset by Gabriel’s tag team partner as Kidd flips inside the ring to roll O’Neil up. Gabriel and Kidd are on fire and Epico is sure as heck isn’t going to stop them. He submits after Kidd locks on the sharpshooter and Michael Cole even makes a reference to the 1997 Survivor Series Montreal Screwjob during this. Only Primo and Darren Young are left on the heel team, but in a flash it is down to just Darren Young after Rey comes in and pins Primo with la magistral. Young is all alone and before he gets eliminated he takes a 619 followed by a Sin Cara swanton followed by a top rope lionsault from Gabriel, an elbow drop off the ropes from Kidd and a top rope splash from Rey. Stick a fork in him already!
Rating: 4 stars
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Eve (c) defeated Kaitlyn to retain the WWE Divas Championship
Before the match someone in a blonde wig attacks Kaitlyn backstage. This time Kaitlyn catches her and reveals the attacker as…Aksana! Eve approaches Kaitlyn backstage and tries to appear sympathetic only to be pushed on her arse by Kaitlyn. The match is above average especially considering the current WWE diva division. One section of the bout that stands out is Eve wrapping her legs around Kaitlyn’s neck in a submission and actually flipping her over with it. This work on the neck is later revisited in the finish when Eve puts Kaitlyn away with a neckbreaker.
Rating: 3.25 stars
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Antonio Cesaro (c) defeated R-Truth to retain the WWE United States Championship
Cesaro cuts a killer heel promo on his way to the ring and references America’s poor economy and soaring obesity rates. It is a shame WWE hasn’t given this guy enough time to work on pay-per-view lately. R-Truth gets a near fall after some clotheslines, but hurts his leg following a kick. Cesaro sees this weakness and goes after it. In less than seven minutes Cesaro pins R-Truth after hitting the neutralizer.
Rating: 3 stars
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Sheamus defeated The Big Show (c), but did not win the World Heavyweight Championship
Prior to this match there is an overly long segment featuring AJ Lee and Vickie Guerrero. AJ shows some photoshopped images of Vickie Guerrero in compromising positions with Ricardo Rodriguez, Jim Ross and Brodus Clay. Guerrero then screams at her before AJ points out that neither one of them can attack the other without facing consequences. Tamina Snuka then comes out of nowhere to attack AJ much to the delight of Vickie. Anyway, this championship match showed off the raw power of Sheamus. He hit Show with an electric chair that was followed almost immediately after with white noise. Imagine what Sheamus must lift in the gym? Sheamus is just about to take Show’s head off with a brogue kick when the mammoth pulls a ref in front of him. In the commotion Sheamus gets distracted and Show wallops him with a WMD. Show pins him, but soon after the ref changes the decision and Show is disqualified. Sheamus comes back to his senses for a short time before becoming livid and making Show beg for mercy after a vicious assault involving a chair.
Rating: 3.25 stars
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Dolph Ziggler, Damien Sandow, David Otunga, Wade Barrett and Alberto Del Rio (with Ricardo Rodriguez) defeated The Miz, Kofi Kingston, Kane, Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton (with Mick Foley) in a traditional Survivor Series match
Unlike the previous elimination match this one is a tad faster with it’s first eliminations. The commentators play up the injury of Damien Sandow’s partner Cody Rhodes and before long Sandow joins Rhodes in no longer being a part of this match. Kane doesn’t send Sandow to Hell, but comes close to it after executing a mighty chokeslam. The dissension among the teams gets highlighted next when Kane is eliminated in short order by Ziggler after Kane gets distracted by arguing with partner Daniel Bryan. Ziggler stays alive in this one, but the same cannot be said for Otunga who soon finds himself tapping to a crossface from Bryan. Bryan tags out and soon Kofi is in. Nearly as quickly Kofi is out after Barrett knocks him down to the mat with a bull hammer. Bryan goes one for one with the next elimination. First he made Otunga tap, but now he finds himself submitting to Del Rio’s cross armbreaker. It is between The Miz and Barrett for who will be sent to the back next. After a decent back and forth fight, Miz reverses Barrett’s wasteland to score the skull crushing finale and the pin. Miz stays in, but not for long as he is sent packing after a dropkick to the back of the head from Del Rio. Orton is all alone, but still manages to take out his foe Del Rio with an RKO. Orton almost wins the whole thing, but gets a surprise when he is about to punt Ziggler. Ziggler turned out to to be playing possum and instead of taking a kick to the face, Ziggler gives one to get the win. Oddly enough there wasn’t much involvement from Foley though he did go after Rodriguez at one point.
Rating: 3.75 stars
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CM Punk (c) (with Paul Heyman) defeated John Cena and Ryback to retain the WWE Championship
Earlier in the nigh Heyman gave an interview to hype up Punk and the longevity of his reign. If he retains the title tonight he will officially have a yearlong title reign. Punk looks to be in good shape and it helps him out that the faces are not afraid to tangle with one another. Punk is even the first one to hit his finisher by surprising Cena with a go to sleep. Of course, Cena kicks out and delivers an attitude adjustment to Punk…who also kicks out! It is fitting that Ryback is a former Nexus member because up next the Nexus run-in gets revisited. Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns come into the ring and start manhandling Ryback right after Ryback had planted Cena with his shell shocked finisher. Instead of emerging victorious Ryback gets planted right through an announce table. Meanwhile Cena is still out and Punk takes advantage of the opportunity to retain his title.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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Photo Credit: en.wikipedia.org
Categories: Wrestling Reviews
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