INTRO:
Premiering on Thanksgiving Night 1987, the first WWE Survivor Series impacted pro wrestling history for two significant reasons:
- This holiday sequel to its mega-successful WrestleMania III bolstered the WWE with a second annual Pay-Per-View (PPV) franchise.
- As deliberate same-day PPV competition to the NWA-WCW’s Ric Flair-headlining Starrcade ’87, the WWE crushed its closest rival at the box office. Starrcade 87’s financial disaster was a pivotal reason why Jim Crockett Promotions ultimately sold NWA-WCW to Ted Turner.
Re: the innovative Survivor Series concept, it’s a fun precursor to TV reality competition shows. Featuring five-on-five (and later four-on-four) tag team elimination matches, the outcomes often prove hugely entertaining.
SUMMARY (1987): RUNNING TIME: Not Specified
From suburban Cleveland’s Richfield Coliseum, announcers “Gorilla” Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura co-host the event. “Mean” Gene Okerlund and Craig DeGeorge handle the interviewing duties.
- DeGeorge interviews the Honky Tonk Man’s team. Honky brazenly threatens to again assault Miss Elizabeth, if she enters the ring.
- Okerlund interviews Honky’s arch-nemesis, Randy “Macho Man” Savage, and his squad. Honky Tonk’s recently televised shove of Miss Elizabeth during his Saturday Night Main Event’s Intercontinental Title defense against Savage is briefly seen in flashback. A brash Savage is in vintage form.
MATCH 1:
Captain: WWE Intercontinental Champion Honky Tonk Man (with Jimmy Hart). Partners: “Dangerous” Danny Davis; Harley Race & Hercules (with Bobby Heenan); and “Outlaw” Ron Bass.
VS.
Captain: Randy “Macho Man” Savage (with Miss Elizabeth). Partners: Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat; Jake “The Snake” Roberts; Brutus Beefcake; and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan.
- DeGeorge interviews André the Giant’s team.
MATCH 2:
- Captain: Fabulous Moolah. Partners: The Jumping Bomb Angels; Velvet McIntyre; and Rockin’ Robin.
VS.
- Captain: WWE Women’s Champion “Sensational” Sherri. Partners: Donna Christanello; Dawn Marie; & WWE Women’s World Tag Team Champions – The Glamour Girls (with Jimmy Hart).
- DeGeorge interviews the Hart Foundation’s squad. Okerlund interviews Strike Force’s team.
MATCH 3:
Captains: The Hart Foundation [Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart] (with Jimmy Hart). Partners: The Bolsheviks [Boris Zhukov & Nikolai Volkoff] (with Slick); Demolition [Ax & Smash] (with Mr. Fuji); the Dream Team [Dino Bravo & Greg Valentine] (with Johnny Valiant); & the Islanders [Tama & Haku] (with Bobby Heenan).
VS.
Captains: WWE World Tag Team Champions Strike Force [Tito Santana & Rick Martel]. Partners: The British Bulldogs [Dynamite Kid & Davey Boy Smith] with Matilda the Bulldog; Killer Bees [Jim Brunzell & B. Brian Blair]; Fabulous Rougeau Brothers [Jacques & Raymond Rougeau]; & the Young Stallions [Jim Powers & Paul Roma].
- “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase & Virgil’s promo advertises DiBiase’s ruthless greed.
- DeGeorge interviews an annoyed Honky Tonk Man and Jimmy Hart.
- Okerlund interviews Hulk Hogan’s squad.
MATCH 4:
Captain: André the Giant. Partners: King Kong Bundy & “Ravishing” Rick Rude (with Bobby Heenan); and “The Natural” Butch Reed; & One Man Gang (with Slick).
VS.
Captain: WWE World Champion Hulk Hogan. Partners: Bam Bigelow & “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff (with “Sir” Oliver Humperdinck); Ken Patera; and Don “The Rock” Muraco (with “Superstar” Billy Graham).
REVIEW (1987): RATING: 9/10
Showcasing the Intercontinental Title contenders, the wildly entertaining opener’s best asset is the chemistry that heated ex-rivals Savage, Steamboat, and Roberts unleash on their shared enemy, Honky Tonk, and his pals. Its weakness, unfortunately, is yet another cheap Honky finish. In the women’s match, a spirited McIntyre is terrific, but the acrobatic Jumping Bomb Angels earn its MVP honors. One of that match’s best moments is a hilarious Jimmy Hart pratfall, courtesy of the Bomb Angels.
Extending nearly an hour, the underrated 10-tag team epic is one of the greatest matches in pro wrestling history. The final three teams (a 2-1 handicap) couldn’t have been predicted. In the main event, the final 3-1 handicap is also a welcome shocker. As Bigelow gets a high-profile opportunity, the WWE smartly ends this show by urging fans to stay tuned.
Even without any title matches, the 1987 Survivor Series should gladly meet all fan expectations. Amazingly going 4-for-4 in terms of match quality, this show exudes unpredictability. The WWE smartly continues its momentum push for Hogan & Andre’s infamous February 1988 title rematch on prime-time NBC. Of the five discs, this impressive 1987 event ties for first place for its genuine entertainment value (and for not overplaying its hand).
SUMMARY (1988): RUNNING TIME: Not Specified
Returning to Cleveland’s Richfield Coliseum, announcers “Gorilla” Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura again co-host the event. Replacing Craig DeGeorge, Sean Mooney joins “Mean” Gene Okerlund for interviewing duties. Incorporating team co-captains, this event features the last “teams of five strive to survive” format of this era.
Substitutions this year are prevalent, as indicated by the recruitment of Scott Casey and a former Killer Bee: “Jumping” Jim Brunzell. The Junkyard Dog, Don Muraco, and Brunzell’s ex-partner, B. Brian Blair, are among the previously-scheduled names that left the WWE prior to this show. As to why Hillbilly Jim & “Red Rooster” Terry Taylor are included in the main event (and they’re not even last-minute replacements), that’s a dubious mystery to this day.
MATCH 1:
Co-Captains: WWE Intercontinental Champion Ultimate Warrior & Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake. Partners: Sam Houston; Blue Blazer (Owen Hart); & “Jumping” Jim Brunzell.
VS.
Co-Captains: Honky Tonk Man (with Jimmy Hart) & “Outlaw” Ron Bass. Partners: “Dangerous” Danny Davis; Greg “The Hammer Valentine; & Bad News Brown.
MATCH 2:
Co-Captains: WWE Tag Team Champions Demolition [Ax & Smash] (with Mr. Fuji). Partners: Brain Busters [Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard] (with Bobby Heenan); Fabulous Rougeau Brothers [Jacques & Raymond Rougeau] (with Jimmy Hart); Los Conquistadores; & The Bolsheviks [Boris Zhukov & Nikolai Volkoff] (with Slick).
VS.
Co-Captains: The Powers of Pain [Warlord & Barbarian]. Partners: The British Bulldogs [Dynamite Kid & Davey Boy Smith]; The Young Stallions [Paul Roma & Jim Powers]; The Rockers [Marty Jannetty & Shawn Michaels]; &The Hart Foundation [Jim Neidhart & Bret Hart].
- Mooney interviews a disgruntled Bad News Brown (who targets WWE World Champion Randy Savage).
- Okerlund interviews The Powers of Pain (with their new manager).
- Okerlund converses with André the Giant’s squad.
- Mooney interviews the Mega-Powers team.
MATCH 3:
Co-Captains: Jake “The Snake” Roberts & “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. Partners: Ken Patera; Tito Santana; & “Cowboy” Scott Casey.
VS.
Co-Captains: André the Giant (with Bobby Heenan) & Dino Bravo (with Frenchy Martin). Partners: Harley Race; “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig; and “Ravishing” Rick Rude.
- Okerlund checks in on the Twin Towers’ team.
MATCH 4:
Co-Captains: Twin Towers [Big Boss Man & Akeem] (with Slick). Partners: “Red Rooster” Terry Taylor; “King” Haku (with Bobby Heenan); & “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase (with Virgil).
VS.
Co-Captains: The Mega-Powers [WWE World Champion Randy “Macho Man” Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) & Hulk Hogan]. Partners: Hercules; Koko B. Ware; & Hillbilly Jim.
- In a backstage interview, Ventura eggs on a displeased Savage’s denial of jealousy towards Hogan.
REVIEW (1988): RATING: 7/10
It’s a split decision: two matches are reliably entertaining while the other two are middling by comparison.
From the get-go, Davis’ ultra-fast exit signals that Honky’s team is merely phoning it in. Instead of wasting Bad News on a cheap walkout, wouldn’t it have made sense for him to pummel the I-C Champion and/or Brutus first? That would have made his blustery demand for a title shot at Savage’s WWE Championship later in the show at least seem plausible. Along with Valentine, a young Owen Hart’s presence adds some luster, but, like Sam Houston, they are left floundering as expendable pawns in a mediocre Ultimate Warrior showcase. Case in point: watch the last two dastardly heels topple easily like dominoes, as if they were told to just hurry up and lose.
In contrast, the Demolition-Powers of Pain double-twist steals the show in the franchise’s second (and last) ten tag-team slugfest. Though not reaching its 1987 predecessor’s caliber, The Rockers and The Brain Busters are terrific in this match, as is The Hart Foundation. In their last WWE appearance, the Bulldogs also fare well, in spite of Dynamite Kid’s evident boredom. Still, it’s amusing how Ventura enjoys teasing the preposterous scenario that the lowly Los Conquistadores might score the upset win.
Hennig, Rude, & Santana manage to keep fans entertained, but the bland André-Roberts & Hacksaw showdown isn’t a surprise. A frazzled Roberts’ post-match interview at least delivers the goods. Even at its worst, Hacksaw & Roberts’ underwhelming troops vs. André’s goon squad still bests the Warrior’s unsatisfying opener.
The ludicrous ‘who’s got the key to the handcuffs?’ shenanigans is what really shifts the main event into a comic book farce. Still, the Mega-Powers chemistry between Savage, Miss Elizabeth, & Hogan is reliable magic in setting up a crowd-pleasing finish. Savage’s sly post-match interview hinting towards an upcoming heel turn proves a gem. Haku, DiBiase, & Hercules are also welcome contributors to ensuring that fans get their money’s worth. As such, this 1988 event comfortably scores third place for this set.
SUMMARY (1989): RUNNING TIME: Not Specified
At Chicago’s Rosemont Horizon, co-hosts “Gorilla” Monsoon & Jesse “The Body” Ventura are in vintage form, as “Mean” Gene Okerlund & Sean Mooney carry the interviewing duties. This time, colorfully-nicknamed four-man squads have been paired up for five matches. The event’s prologue has various participants briefly offering Thanksgiving-themed promos.
MATCH 1:
Captain: “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes. Partners: Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake; Tito Santana; & “Red Rooster” Terry Taylor – “THE DREAM TEAM.”
VS.
Captain: Big Boss Man (with Slick). Partners: Rick “The Model” Martel; Honky Tonk Man (with Jimmy Hart); & Bad News Brown – “THE ENFORCERS.”
- Mooney interviews a gloating Big Boss Man & Slick.
- Okerlund interviews “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan’s squad.
MATCH 2:
Captain: “Macho King” Randy Savage (with “Sensational Queen” Sherri). Partners: Greg “The Hammer” Valentine; Dino Bravo; & Earthquake (with Jimmy Hart) – “THE KING’S COURT.”
VS.
Captain: “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. Partners: Bret “Hitman” Hart; Hercules; & “Rugged” Ronnie Garvin – “THE 4X 4’s.”
- Okerlund offers a locker room update on an ‘injured’ Dusty Rhodes.
- “The Genius” Lanny Poffo torments helpless fans with a Thanksgiving poem.
MATCH 3:
Captain: WWE World Champion Hulk Hogan. Partners: WWE World Tag Team Champions Demolition [Ax & Smash]; & Jake “The Snake” Roberts – “THE HULKAMANIACS.”
VS.
Captain: “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase (with Virgil). Partners: Powers of Pain [Warlord & Barbarian] (with Mr. Fuji); & Zeus – “THE MILLION DOLLAR TEAM.”
- Okerlund interviews “Macho King” Randy Savage, “Sensational Queen” Sherri, & Zeus re: the upcoming Christmas season PPV “No Holds Barred” cage match vs. Hogan & Beefcake. This hyped steel cage showdown is to be paired with a screening of Hogan’s same-named movie.
- The above-named villains hijack Okerlund’s locker room promo with Hulk Hogan & Brutus Beefcake. Again, their “No Holds Barred” PPV is shamelessly plugged.
- Mooney questions Rick Rude’s obnoxious Rude Brood.
- Okerlund interviews Roddy Piper’s Rowdies. This screwball interview is the best of the show.
- Ventura & Monsoon hint at some mysterious gossip impacting the Heenan Family.
MATCH 4:
Captain: “Ravishing” Rick Rude. Partners: “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig (with “The Genius” Lanny Poffo); & the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers [Jacques & Raymond Rougeau] (with Jimmy Hart) – “THE RUDE BROOD.”
VS.
Captain: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. Partners: “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka; & the Bushwhackers [Luke & Butch] – “RODDY’S ROWDIES.”
- Mooney again interviews the Rude Brood. Bobby Heenan’s absence is referenced.
- “Mean” Gene Okerlund interviews the Ultimate Warrior’s squad.
MATCH 5:
Captain: WWE Intercontinental Champion Ultimate Warrior. Partners: The Rockers [Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty]; & Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart – “THE ULTIMATE WARRIORS.”
VS.
Captain: Andre the Giant. Partners: Bobby “The Brain” Heenan; Arn Anderson; & Haku – “THE HEENAN FAMILY.”
- The Warrior concludes the show by wiping out Heenan on his way back to the dressing room.
REVIEW (1989): RATING: 9/10
The opener is an underrated gem! Two quick notes: 1. Viewers might spot Beefcake’s post-match blunder failing to flinch upon being initially whacked by Boss Man’s fake nightstick; and 2. Boss Man’s sweat-soaked shirt is a gross eye-opener. Next up is Duggan’s silly team, but their team spirit gag with their 2×4’s is unique. Even as a rout, their match vs. ‘The King’s Court’ is well-played, as Bret Hart (nursing ultra-sore ribs in real life) demonstrates electrifying chemistry with Savage.
Construed as a main event, the Hogan squad vs. Zeus & DiBiase shenanigans ends far, far better than it starts. Even the Hulkster’s time-worn finish is worth waiting for, as the sweaty WWE World Champ must clearly earn it this time. Salvaging the bout after Zeus & Hogan’s putrid showdown, an exhausted DiBiase redeems the faith of patient fans by scoring the bout’s MVP honors. The wacky Piper squad vs. Rude’s Brood delivers some hilarious slapstick/biting action, as this unpredictable bout is a hoot! Hennig does fantastic work, especially in his mini-match vs. a inspired Snuka.
Replacing Tully Blanchard, Heenan can only contribute only so much to another underwhelming Ultimate Warrior showcase. Incessant fan chants of “Weasel!” are amusing, but they don’t bolster this match’s credibility. Anderson, Haku, & Michaels, however, deliver outstanding efforts to distract viewers from the Warrior’s lack of in-ring talent. For whatever reason, the WWE wouldn’t grasp that the Warrior harassing a defenseless Heenan was neither funny nor entertaining.
Extending the Survivor Series is an ingenious improvement, but the show is nearly too much of a good thing. Specifically, weariness may set in due to the excessive nonsense hyping the “No Holds Barred” movie/steel cage match PPV. Still, the locker room ambush is an amusing touch. For this anthology set, the 1989 edition ties for first place by giving fans everything it should and then some.
SUMMARY (1990): RUNNING TIME: Not Specified
On the WWE’s corporate home turf, at Connecticut’s Hartford Civic Center, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper steps in as “Gorilla” Monsoon’s announcing partner. “Mean” Gene Okerlund & Sean Mooney return for more interviewing duties. The match quantity now increases to six, as the franchise’s only ‘Final Survivors’ bout is heavily hyped as the main event. Oozing poor taste, the Persian Gulf crisis is shamelessly exploited throughout the show …. supposedly, for entertainment’s sake.
- Ultimate Warrior’s squad is interviewed.
MATCH 1:
Captain: WWE World Champion Ultimate Warrior. Partners: WWE Intercontinental Champion “Texas Tornado” Kerry Von Erich; & The Legion of Doom [Hawk & Animal] – “THE ULTIMATE WARRIORS.”
VS.
Captain: “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig (with Bobby Heenan). Partners: Demolition [Ax, Smash, & Crush] – “THE PERFECT TEAM.”
- Mooney interviews Ted DiBiase’s new Million Dollar Team.
MATCH 2:
Captain: “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes. Partners: Koko B. Ware; & WWE World Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation [Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart] – “THE DREAM TEAM.”
VS.
Captain: “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase (with Virgil). Partners: Rhythm & Blues [Greg Valentine & Honky Tonk Man] (with Jimmy Hart); & The Undertaker (with Brother Love) – “THE MILLION DOLLAR TEAM.”
- Okerlund interviews Jake Roberts’ Vipers in the showers.
MATCH 3:
Captain: Rick “The Model” Martel (with Slick). Partners: Power & Glory [Hercules & Paul Roma]; & the Warlord – “THE VISIONARIES.”
VS.
Captain: Jake “The Snake” Roberts. Partners: The Rockers [Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty]; & “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka – “THE VIPERS.”
- Mooney interviews Hulk Hogan’s squad, including a ‘reformed’ Big Boss Man.
- MATCH 4:
Captain: Hulk Hogan. Partners: Tugboat; Big Boss Man; & “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan – “THE HULK-A-MANIACS.”
VS.
Captain: Earthquake (with Jimmy Hart). Partners: Dino Bravo; Haku; & the Barbarian (with Bobby Heenan) – “THE NATURAL DISASTERS.”
- “Macho King” Randy Savage is interviewed by Okerlund to hype his pursuit of the Warrior’s WWE World Title.
MATCH 5:
Captain: Nikolai Volkoff. Partners: Tito Santana; & the Bushwhackers [Luke & Butch] – “THE ALLIANCE.”
VS.
Captain: Sgt. Slaughter (with General Adnan). Partners: Boris Zhukov; & the Orient Express [“Sato” & Pat Tanaka] (with Mr. Fuji) – “THE MERCENARIES.”
- Slaughter is interviewed as his team heads to ringside.
- Mooney interviews Ted DiBiase & the Visionaries.
- Okerlund humiliates himself with the WWE’s moronic “Hatching of the Egg” (followed by a guy dancing in a turkey suit) segment.
- Mooney interviews Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, & Tito Santana.
MATCH 6 (The Final Survivors Match):
Partners: WWE World Champion Ultimate Warrior; Hulk Hogan; & Tito Santana.
VS.
Partners: “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase (with Virgil); “The Model” Rick Martel; the Warlord; & Powers & Glory [Paul Roma & Hercules] (with Slick).
- Hogan & Warrior’s self-congratulatory celebration includes opening the ring ropes for each other.
REVIEW (1990): RATING: 2 ½/10
The good news won’t take long.
- The PPV introduction of Mark Calaway’s Undertaker is well-played. It’s conveyed that he could single-handedly crush Dusty’s squad (including Bret Hart). Still, the WWE wisely swapped out Brother Love soon afterwards for the appropriately campy Paul Bearer as the Undertaker’s on-screen handler.
- Despite sporting a garish candy cane pinstriped outfit, Savage’s vintage interview with “Mean” Gene is easily the night’s best promo. Foreshadowing WrestleMania VII, the “Macho King” hints towards his possible retirement in the not-so-distant future.
- Unquestionably, Hart’s mini-match vs. DiBiase is the show’s sole dynamite. In that sense, their teamwork is the only asset keeping the show’s card from a perfect 0-for-6 stinker quality.
As the 1989 Survivor Series went 5-for-5 in terms of terrific matches, it’s the total opposite for 1990 when almost everybody merely goes through the motions. Now, for the bad news (just, for starters):
- Much like reliable villain Rick Rude (who also had departed the WWE), commentator Jesse Ventura’s abrasiveness is sorely missed. Far off his game, Piper doesn’t negate Monsoon’s blathering, as their dreadful chemistry exacerbates WWE’s self-inflicted mistakes on this show.
- If either Hulk Hogan’s or Kerry Von Erich’s eye-rolling, backstage promos are clues, the scriptwriters evidently took the night off and let the wrestlers fumble around for themselves.
Considering the all-stars involved, the dream opener should have been an epic. Instead, it soon deteriorates into a weak cop-out. Revealing the dreck this show force-feeds fans, try freeze-framing Ax (his last WWE PPV) upon being easily pinned by the Warrior’s mistimed splash finisher. Yes, a lackadaisical Ax isn’t even winded. Hennig tries his best, but even ‘Mr. Perfect’ can’t salvage this debacle. Perhaps Savage really did luck out, as anybody replacing a sluggish Ax would have made little difference with such crummy plotting.
In the Undertaker’s high-profile PPV debut, the second bout is a mixed bag. Several wrestlers flop far too easily to expedite the show’s pacing and/or sell the Undertaker’s monstrous presence. The superb Hart vs. DiBiase & Virgil clash is this event’s only first-class effort. As Piper acknowledges on-air, Hart had dedicated his performance in his late brother Dean’s memory (who had recently passed away).
The third match’s dubious asset is Roberts’ credible acting re: being temporarily blind in one eye (lacking peripheral vision, as Monsoon claims). As a franchise first, an entire team survives, but the bout itself is a predictable bore. Next up is Hulk Hogan’s lukewarm showcase, in part due to such expendable efforts from Bravo & Haku. Though Hogan vs. Barbarian sounds intriguing, the end result surely isn’t.
It’s best skipping Match # 5 altogether before cringe-worthy words like “Ugh!” and “Unwatchable!” come to mind. The nauseating Persian Gulf propaganda that Slaughter spews only prolongs this horrid misfire. In a bland cliché-fest cobbled together as the ‘Final Survivors’ slugfest, the main eventers coast to the finish line. Resembling self-indulgent little kids demanding equal everything, Hogan & the Warrior unconvincingly share the spotlight. Let’s just say this short bonus match is even less appealing than stale turkey leftovers.
Aside from the wrestlers’ sheer laziness, what most permeates the 1990 Survivor Series is its infamous ‘Egg’ filler sequence. The sole logic for this mega-stupid gimmick was amusing restless young fans, so the main eventers could catch an extended breather. For adults, however, this prolonged torture constitutes an all-time WWE low insulting fans. Squandering some potential blockbuster match-ups, the formulaic 1990 Survivor Series overwhelmingly plummets to last place.
SUMMARY (1991) RUNNING TIME: Not Specified
From Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena, the 1991 Survivor Series is a hodge-podge, as Hulk Hogan’s WWE World title defense mid-event vs. the Undertaker is the headliner (and a franchise first). Standard elimination matches are reduced back to four, with three of them as 4-on-4 and the franchise’s first six-man elimination tag. Emphasizing interviews more than matches, this show is a decent improvement over last year’s snooze-fest. “Gorilla” Monsoon & Bobby Heenan are the co-hosts, as “Mean” Gene Okerlund & Sean Mooney again cover interviewing duties.
- A flashback depicts Jake Roberts’ snake biting a defenseless Randy “Macho Man” Savage inside the ring during a televised show. Note: Sensationalized close-ups of Savage’s torture depict his real blood.
- WWE President Jack Tunney reluctantly reinstates the retired/suspended Savage to conveniently set up his showdown vs. Roberts for the WWE’s “This Tuesday in Texas” PPV in early December.
MATCH 1:
Captain: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (with “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig). Partners: “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase (with “Sensational” Sherri); “Mountie” Jacques Rougeau (with Jimmy Hart); & the Warlord
VS.
Captain: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. Partners: WWE Intercontinental Champion Bret “Hitman” Hart; Virgil; & “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith”
- Okerlund interviews a revitalized “Macho Man” Randy Savage & his then-wife, Elizabeth.
MATCH 2:
Captain: Sgt. Slaughter. Partners: “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan; “Texas Tornado” Kerry Von Erich; & Tito Santana
VS.
Captain: Col. Mustafa (Iron Sheik). Partners: Berserker; Hercules; & Skinner
- Okerlund interviews Jake “The Snake” Roberts.
- Another flashback depicts WWE World Champion Hulk Hogan’s ambush during a televised “Funeral Parlor” interview segment.
MATCH 3: WWE World Title Match (Champion: Hulk Hogan) vs. Undertaker (with Paul Bearer)
- Okerlund interviews “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.
- Mooney interviews Ric Flair & “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig.
- Okerlund interviews the Natural Disasters [Typhoon & Earthquake] and “I.R.S.” Mike Rotundo (with Jimmy Hart).
- Mooney interviews Big Boss Man & WWE World Tag Team Champions The Legion of Doom [Hawk & Animal].
- Okerlund interviews WWE President Jack Tunney re: the controversial Hogan-Undertaker title match.
MATCH 4:
Partners: The Nasty Boys [Brian Knobs & Jerry Sags] & The Beverly Brothers [Beau & Blake Beverly]
VS.
Partners: The Rockers [Marty Jannetty & Shawn Michaels] & The Bushwhackers [Butch & Luke].
MATCH 5:
Partners: Big Boss Man & WWE World Tag Team Champions the Legion of Doom [Hawk & Animal]
VS.
Partners: “I.R.S.” Mike Rotundo & the Natural Disasters [Earthquake & Typhoon].
- Okerlund interviews The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer).
REVIEW (1991): RATING: 5/10
While it falls short of 1987-89 quality, this 1991 show at least surpasses the year before. Specifically, the wrestlers are mostly back on their game, even if the matches are just lukewarm. Case in point: the promising opener squanders its all-star firepower (including the rare sight of Flair & DiBiase scheming together). To any fan’s disappointment, this match’s shoddy booking resorts to a cop-out finish.
Another inexcusable snub of fans is pitting ex-Iraqi allies Slaughter and Col. Mustafa (aka the Iron Sheik) against one another, as if their grisly mid-‘80s WWE feud never (wink-wink) existed. Considering both guys were already far past their prime, it’s no surprise that this eight-man tag match is virtually unwatchable.
With his main event scheduled early, a lazy Hogan sleepwalks through his World Title defense. Flair’s controversial interference is linked to an immediate PPV rematch vs. the Undertaker at “This Tuesday in Texas.” Though a Nastys vs. the Rockers feud sounds intriguing, their eight-man tag bout underachieves by merely conveying hints of Michaels’ upcoming heel turn. The show ends with a decent six-man tag match that is nothing more than routine house show fodder.
To the show’s credit, this Survivor Series is infused with enough star power from Savage & Elizabeth, Flair, Piper, the Undertaker, Bret Hart, Roberts, and the Legion of Doom. Further, viewers will notice that this program’s cheap thrills aren’t dependent solely on formulaic storytelling. Like with the original Survivor Series, some intriguing elements (Savage vs. Roberts and underdog Hogan vs. Undertaker & Flair) are wisely left unresolved to keep loyal fans tuning in.
QUALITY CONTROL:
Despite lacking a re-mastered/HD upgrade, the picture quality is excellent (with only a few blips). As for remote control access, one can either watch the entire event by one command or click to individual segments. More specific than what is seen on its packaging, the order of matches, special attractions, interviews, and even the announcers’ closing comments are spelled out. However, there aren’t any bonus features.
PACKAGING:
The dates, locations, and running times of the five shows aren’t included. However, consumers are told the set consists of 24 matches with an approximate running time of 15 hours. Designed like a fold-up wallet with a nice photo montage included, each sleeve provides a detailed listing of the disc’s contents.
However, these discs can too easily slide out of their sleeves, so scratches may be inevitable. By comparison, the WWE packaged its 1988-1992 Royal Rumble Anthology, Vol. 1 far better with conventional DVD page casings to prevent this potential problem.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7/10 Stars
