10 best Traditional Survivor Series matches

#2 Survivor Series 2003 — Team Austin vs. Team Bishoff

The WAR for RAW.

This traditional Survivor Series match from 2003 was rare in the sense that neither team captain actually played any part in the in-ring action. In a way, however, that made the feel of the match even more dramatic as you had two teams fighting for the fate of a separate individual.

The two men concerned were Stone Cold Steve Austin and Eric Bishoff who were engaged in a power struggle throughout most of the year over who had complete control of Monday Night RAW. This feud saw some great moments, occasionally brutal and often hilarious. Austin had to face the prospect of losing his job should his team not come out on top, which is exactly what happened.

The match had some big names involved which almost guaranteed some great action inside the ropes and perfectly complemented the drama attached to the stipulation. Despite all of the legendary names involved, the fact that Randy Orton was the sole survivor was a promising move which reassured fans that the company were looking towards the future.

One thing that makes this match truly special is the involvement of Shawn Michaels. Not only did he provide a typically impressive performance, but the sight of him struggling to save Austin's job towards the end of the match worked on various different levels.

For anyone who knows their WWE/F history, Michaels was the man who lay down for Austin at Wrestlemania 14, sending the latter onto main event stardom while HBK went through a period of deep decline both professionally and personally. The sight of Austin helping a bloody Shawn to the back after his job had been lost was a heartwarming and historically significant moment we will never forget.