The Contentious Ten 02.15.10: Survivor Series Moments

Welcome once again to the Contentious Ten, with your host Aaron Hubbard, who is just as controversial as Jerry Springer but much more family friendly. Some of you who read the whole thing might be saying to yourselves, “Hey, I thought you were going to do the top ten cage match variations or some such.” Well, I was, and then Vince announced the end of the Survivor Series, which is much more important than cage-match tie-ins for a pay-per-view named after a toilet. And there’s not nearly as many cage match variations as I thought there was. When you have to include the barbwire cage and the Punjabi Prison, it’s time to change subjects.

Xcolor=red>size=8>
One Chance for McMahonsize=6>
Survivor Series 2003size=4>

Normally, I don’t include promos to go along with the video, but in this case, I think it’s necessary to get an idea about why this match happened. Vince McMahon was on one of his tears as an evil boss, abusing anyone and everyone in 2003, from Hulk Hogan to Zach Gowan. The highlight of his cruelty was a father vs. daughter “I Quit” match with Stephanie McMahon at No Mercy. He won this match and fired her as GM. As such, he was even more hated than normal. Unfortunately for him, Vince’s next target was far more dangerous than Steph. His interest in keeping Brock Lesnar champion put him at odds with the top challenger, The Undertaker. When Undertaker won a handicap (and no DQ and no count-out and two-out-of-three falls) match against Lesnar and The Big Show, he won the right to face anyone in any type of match. Vince assured him that as long as he was around, Taker would never become champion, and mocked him when Taker chose Buried Alive. But it was not Lesnar that would be put in this situation. It was Vincent Kennedy McMahon.

The stage was set for the most hated man in the WWE to take the worst beating of his life. The match was a glorified bloodletting, but for anyone invested in the storyline, it was a sweet, beautiful beating. Unfortunately, Vince had a backup plan in the form of Kane. Undertaker’s “brother” had recently removed his mask and was the most diabolical, sadistic monster in the WWE. And he was sickened that Undertaker was now just another human being instead of the monster he once was. So he buried his brother alive. This moment has had an incredible long lasting effect on the WWE, as Taker would return to face Kane as the Deadman, and that Undertaker has reigned in WWE ever since.

IXcolor=red>size=8>
Diesel Snapssize=6>
Survivor Series 1995size=4>

Not the first time Bret Hart will be on this list. I like to consider the turning point from the cartoony WWF of 1995 into the more competition and controversy-filled 1996. This was the long awaited rematch from Royal Rumble 1995, which you can watch in this column. Diesel had been WWF champion for roughly a year at this point, with mixed results in the ring and at the box office. Vince was going to go in a different direction, this time with Shawn Michaels, but he needed a transitional champion. Enter Bret Hart. Bret and Diesel put on a very, very good match, and with the rules thrown out the window, it got very violent in a hurry. Bret went through a table near the end of the match before getting a surprise small package for a mild upset, winning his third WWF Championship.

After the match, Diesel viciously assaulted Bret, planting him into the mat with his trademark Jackknife Powerbomb. He continued to vent his frustration, taking out referees and yelling at the fans. The unsportsmanlike gesture turned the fans against Big Daddy Cool, and set up the next few months worth of matches between Bret, Diesel, Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. In addition, it helped solidify the character that Nash would play in WCW, giving him the edge and the cockiness that endeared him to millions in that company. Aside from simply being flat out awesome in it’s execution, the turn was very indicative of where wrestling was going as a whole.

VIIIcolor=red>size=8>
Kicking Things Off Rightsize=6>
Survivor Series 2009size=4>

Survivor Series has it’s ups (1996) and it’s downs (almost all the of the other shows), but at least the last match in the event’s history was one worth remembering. It was a huge triple threat between John Cena, Triple H and Shawn Michaels, unquestionably the biggest babyfaces on RAW, and three with tremendous history between them. At the time, Shawn and Triple H were in full-on DX mode, getting along rather swimmingly and showing unity by coming to the win together. The bell rang, and DX stared Cena down. And in three seconds, the entire complexion of the match changed.

With one kick, one out of nowhere, perfectly executed kick, Shawn Michaels set the tone for the match. Many had assumed that it would be a glorified handicap match for most of the match, with dissension being teased until Triple H would turn on Shawn. Instead, HBK got the jump on Hunter right from the start. The match was now an every man for himself affair. The match was a strong main event, but the beginning was the best part. It may indeed be the greatest first three seconds of a match ever. The idea, the execution, and the reaction of everyone, from Shawn to Cena to the fans to the announcers, made it come off perfectly.

VIIcolor=red>size=8>
A Corporate Championsize=6>
Survivor Series 1998size=4>

Two years prior, Rocky Maivia debuted at the Survivor Series and was embraced by the Madison Square Garden crowd as he valiantly led his team to an upset victory. The next two years saw him go from a loathed goody two shoes babyface to a cocky, arrogant and charismatic leader of the Nation of Domination who was so good at what he did that the fans cheered him again. In two years, he had become one of the biggest stars in the company. At Survivor Series, he fought in a tournament for the vacant WWF Championship and dominated his way to the finals. His opponent was Mankind, another immensely over competitor with only a few years experience in the WWF. There was going to be a new champion crowned, and for one man, it would be his first taste of World Championship Gold.

Unfortunately, the match did not end in the sweet culmination of a journey to fulfill a lifelong dream. Instead, The Rock aligned himself with Mr. McMahon, put Foley in the Sharpshooter, and allowed Vince McMahon to ring the bell, an obvious nod to the ending of last year’s Survivor Series. The Rock was WWF Champion, and he was once again despised by fans. The incident led to months of feuding with Mick before Rock was finally defeated by Steve Austin at Wrestlemania XV, but it was also the moment that Rock jumped into the main event scene. Regardless of the dubious circumstances, the first world title win of one of the biggest stars in wrestling history deserves mention on this list.

VIcolor=red>size=8>
“HE’S MY BROTHER!”size=6>
Survivor Series 1994size=4>

A lot of people fondly remember the title match between Bret Hart and Bob Backlund. I am not one of those people. The in-ring action, particularly the ending stretch, bores me to tears. However, I do fondly remember what was going on outside the ring. The match had special stipulations that the match could only end when a wrestler had someone throw in the towel on his behalf. Bret had the British Bulldog, and Bob had Owen Hart. During the match, Davey Boy was incapacitated, unluckily for all both competitors. Bob Backlund had Bret trapped in the crossface chicken-wing for well over ten minutes, but could not win the title. Bret was suffering but the match could not end.

Strangely, Owen Hart, who had been a rival to Bret for a year at this point and had torn their family apart, seemed to be moved. He started yelling about how it was his brother, begging someone to stop the match, and even crying because of his brother’s suffering. Unable to throw in the towel for Bret since he was Backlund’s corner man, Owen begged his parents to throw in the towel. Stu was very reluctant, but an almost unconscious Bret and the weeping Owen was too much for Helen Hart, who threw in the towel, awarding the match and the title to Bob Backlund. Owen then started to cheer wildly, and paid no attention to his brother. It had all been a ruse, and Owen fooled EVERY ONE. Now, the title was finally off of Bret, and Owen was responsible for it. The ingenious scheme is one of the highlights of the event.

Vcolor=red>size=8>
Redemption for HBKsize=6>
Survivor Series 2002size=4>

2002 is largely remembered for Hulk Hogan coming back to wrestling and battling The Rock at Wrestlemania X-8. All due respect to that very important match-up, but another unexpected return has had a greater long-lasting effect on wrestling. When Shawn Michaels injured his back in 1998, people said he was finished and would never wrestle again. Four years had passed, and Shawn hadn’t wrestled in that time frame (yes, I know, shut up and go with it). His match against Triple H at Summer Slam was supposed to be one-off thing. For one very special night, Shawn was the greatest wrestler in the world again, but that was only one night. He wasn’t supposed to come back. But there he was, inside of a glass pod, the pod inside a gargantuan structure made of steel chains, making it’s debut in Madison Square Garden. In the other pods were Kane, Chris Jericho, and Booker T. In the ring were Rob Van Dam and Triple H. The top stars of WWE’s RAW Brand were all competing for the World Championship.

Shawn watched as each man entered the ring, and then finally entered with only Kane, Jericho and The Game left. Shawn clawed, scratched and superkicked his way past The Big Red Machine and Y2J, and it was down to him and his rival. The two battled each other ferociously, but it seemed only a matter of time before Triple H would defeat HBK and continue his reign of terror on RAW. Incredibly, Michaels back body dropped out of a Pedigree and connected with Sweet Chin Music. Three seconds later, and Shawn Michaels was the World Champion, holding the big gold belt for the very first time. It was an incredible climax to Shawn’s oddyssey, and he was back home in the WWE, at Madison Square Garden, with the World Title on his shoulder. Shawn has been been in the WWE ever since, and with each passing year, he further cements his argument that he is the greatest performer to ever grace the squared circle.

IVcolor=red>size=8>
Undertaker: WWF Championsize=6>
Survivor Series 1991size=4>

Screwjobs are a part of Survivor Series. Obviously, there is one that stands tall above all the others, and is the one most often referenced when other screwjobs take place at the event. But it was a tradition long before that. This was one of the first, and one with important short term and long term ramifications for the WWF. The Champion was Hulk Hogan, the biggest star in wrestling. The challenger was the Undertaker, who had debuted at the last year’s Survivor Series and dominated his competition. Once again, the unstoppable force of Hulkamania had met an immovable object. Taker would stop Hogan, or Hogan would move Taker. Something had to give.

In the end, Ric Flair provided a distraction and a chair for the Deadman to Tombstone Hogan on, and Undertaker had his first taste of World Championship glory. Hogan would win the title back shortly, but in controversial fasion. This would lead to Ric Flair winning the Royal Rumble and becoming the WWF Champion. Undertaker would shortly turn face and become one of the most popular wrestlers in WWF history. Almost twenty years later, the Phenom is still dominating, still bringing crowds to their feet, and still winning World Titles. I’d say he turned out pretty well.

IIIcolor=red>size=8>
The Alliance vs. WWF: The Finalesize=6>
Survivor Series 2001size=4>

Recently, 411 had a guest booker column in which the staff rebooked the Invasion. That’s because frankly, the Invasion was botched heavily. However, with all of the problems leading up to it, and even the sheer stupidity of team WCW having two WWF guys, and ECW guy, and the son of Vince McMahon on their team, this match was done right. For over forty minutes, the teams battled back and forth, fighting desperately for their survival. On commentary, Paul Heyman and Jim Ross were having the argument of the century. All ten men played the roles wonderfully and brought their A-Game. The last four standing were Angle and Austin for the Alliance, and Jericho and The Rock for the WWF. Angle was eliminated, and Jericho was eliminated. It was down to Austin vs. The Rock, the two biggest stars in wrestling fighting for the two biggest companies in wrestling.

Things looked bleak for the WWF when Jericho let his personal issues with The Rock take precedence over the company, and attacked him with a steel chair. Rock put up a great fight with Austin, reminding every one of their classic at Wrestlemania six months prior. But Angle returned to the ring and hit Austin with the title belt, showing his true loyalty to the WWF and giving the victory to The Rock. The Invasion storyline was over, and it ended with a bang. Jericho, Angle, RVD, and Booker T would all become big players in the WWE over the next few years, while Austin and Rock would be gone soon. It was far from perfect, and it wasn’t enough to redeem the story, but it made this match worthwhile.

IIcolor=red>size=8>
Bret Returns, Austin Arrivessize=6>
Survivor Series 1996size=4>

I would like to take this opportunity to say that I think Stone Cold vs. Bret Hart was the greatest feud in the history of pro wrestling. From the characters involved to the in-ring performances, from the reaction of the fans to the long term effects on the business, I really think it is #1. This was the beginning of the in-ring greatness, but even before the bell started, this was something special. Bret Hart had been on the shelf since losing to Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania XII, and this was his first match back. Austin was riding a wave of momentum coming off of winning the King of the Ring and cutting the “Austin 3:16 Promo”, and this was his biggest match to date. Austin was leaping into the main event scene, both figuratively and literally, as the winner would become the #1 contender for the WWF Championship.

The match that happened was a classic, easily the best in Survivor Series history. Pure wrestling, wild brawling, selling, high spots, storytelling; it was all there. The ending saw Austin dig into his bag of tricks and apply the Million Dollar Dream, only for Bret to dive a big deeper into his arsenal and walk the ropes to put Austin in a pinning predicament. Austin would not relinquish the hold, and his shoulders were down for three. Bret had won the match, but not it was not the dominant, triumphant hero returning to silence the cocky rookie. Instead, Austin had pushed him to his very limit, and Bret had to use his cleverness to get an almost flukish victory. Everything from the match to the finish to the poisonous glare Austin’s face as he slowly walked to the back established two things. Bret Hart was back, and Austin was a force to be reckoned with.

Icolor=red>size=8>
The Gobbledy Gooker Hatchessize=6>
Survivor Series 1990size=4>

In the long, storied history of the World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment, there have been countless memorable moments that will be remembered forever and go down as the very best in Sports Entertainment. However, among all those great moments, there is one that stands tall above all others as the single greatest event in the history of wrestling. It is truly a Moment among moments. Other moments look at this Moment and bask in the sheer awesomeness that is…THE GOBBLEDY GOOKER!

Actually, that was AWFUL. The real #1 is….

Icolor=red>size=8>
The Montreal Screwjobsize=6>
Survivor Series 1997size=4>

Could there be anything else? This is the most controversial, most talked about, most argued moment in the history of the WWE. I don’t even really have to cover what happened. We all know. Bret Hart was going to WCW, but he was the champion and refused to lose to Shawn Michaels at Survivor Series in Montreal. Bret, Shawn, Triple H, and Earl Hebner all conspired to get the belt off of Bret Hart, using a spot that Bret suggested for the match: Shawn putting him in the Sharpshooter to get extra crowd heat. The moment led to the creation of the Mr. McMahon character and the subsequent feud between McMahon and Austin, the new prosperity of the WWF under the banner of Attitude, and the end of WCW. As far as it’s utter shock and it’s long term ramifications for the entire wrestling world, this has to be one of the most important events in wrestling history.

If you would have told me two years ago when I got hired that I would be writing about this match, I would have laughed at you. As far as I was concerned, the controversy was done, everyone was in the wrong, and there was no point discussing it any further. Then, the WWE ran the screwjob angle in Montreal with CM Punk. Then, guest host Dennis Miller made Vince go into a state of shock by saying that Bret should be the next RAW guest host. Then, the Wrestling Observer broke the news about Bret’s return. Then, Bret was announced as the first RAW GM of 2010. Then, Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels were in a WWE ring, discussing their problems, shaking hands and burying the hatchet. Now, Bret and Vince are feuding again, and it appears that this will be a major part of Wrestlemania XXVI. I still haven’t fully processed it. The idea of Bret in a WWE ring, feuding with Vince McMahon over the Montreal Screwjob is just so surreal, I half expect to wake up and find out it’s a dream. Finally, after over eleven years, we as wrestling fans, Bret, Vince, and Shawn, are getting closure to the biggest controversy in wrestling history. And I consider it an honor to in some small way be covering it.

*****

Next week, The Contentious Ten begins it’s countdown to Wrestlemania XXIV, with Six Articles covering the best moments, matches, performers, full events, and a special look at Undertaker’s Streak. But next week, we look, I go negative for the first time, as I countdown the Ten Most Disappointing Mania Matches.