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As we lament the end of summer and brace ourselves for the frigid winter winds, one wrestling supershow has entrenched itself, as the face of fall: WWE Survivor Series.
Wrestling's fall classic has been one of WWE's big four pay-per-views since its inception in 1987. WWE's homage to Thanksgiving has been the backdrop for some of wrestling's most memorable moments like The Undertaker's debut in 1990 and his WWE Championship victory against Hulk Hogan at Survivor Series 1991. Who could ever the day the infamous Gobbledy Gooker hatched? Survivor Series has hosted historic moments like championships changes, such as Survivor Series 2015 when Roman Reigns won his very first WWE Championship only to lose it to Sheamus seconds later in heartbreaking fashion. These events are as synonymous with the fall holiday season as candy on Halloween and turkey on Thanksgiving, forever etched into the soul of the wrestling fan.
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While Survivor Series has hosted some of wrestling's most memorable moments, the fall classic will almost always certainly be known for its 4 on 4 and 5 on 5 elimination tag team matches. Just like the turkey on Thanksgiving Day, wrestling fans have come to expect such bouts. The teaming has allowed wrestling fans to have the opportunity to see unusual pairings and super teams featuring their favorite WWE Superstars. That tradition has continued for more than thirty years.
This article was conceived as a tribute to those great teams, so join us as we break down the Top 10 all-time WWE Survivor Series teams.
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#10. Survivor Series 2014 - Team Cena
Team Name: Team Cena
Year: 2014
Members: John Cena, Erick Rowan, Dolph Ziggler, Big Show, and Ryback
Team Cena gets the nod as our tenth team all-time Survivor Series team due more to their ability to overcome insurmountable odds, rather than pure star power. That doesn't mean the team wasn't loaded with talent. Joining one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time in John Cena, were Dolph Ziggler, Ryback (in his prime), and the behemoths Erick Rowan and The Big Show.
Team Cena had the weight of the world on its shoulders as they faced WWE's Authority, a team led by the chosen one: the maniacal Seth Rollins. If Team Cena lost, Cena's teammates would be future endeavoured, putting their very livelihood in Cena's hands. If Team Cena was victorious; however, The Authority, an underhanded corporate aligned group led by the nefarious Triple H, would be removed from power.
To make matters worse, Team Cena had a Judas on their hands. Terrified of losing his job with the company, Big Show would go on to join The Authority mid-match throwing a knockout punch that left Cena incapacitated and inevitably eliminated. Big Show would simply walk away from what was left of his team.
Inevitably, this unsuspected chain of events left Dolph Ziggler alone against the devil's favorite stepchild (and Mayor) Kane and Seth Rollins. After Ziggler eliminated Kane with a Zig Zag, The Authority began to utilize the weight of its powers to slow Ziggler's comeback. Triple H would interfere in the bout, giving Ziggler a Pedigree that would have surely ended Ziggler's career, if not for Sting, who made his shocking WWE debut to even the score.
After Sting hit Triple H with the Scorpion Death Drop, he placed Ziggler on top of Rollins for the pinfall victory and forever changed the landscape of the WWE in the process.
#9. Survivor Series 1993 - The Hart Family
Team Name: The Hart Family
Year: 1993
Members: Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Bruce Hart, and Keith Hart
Survivor Series has, for years now, attempted to forge a brotherhood in men that were never actually brothers. The exception is Survivor Series 1993 where four actual brothers teamed up to take on thorn in their side Shawn Michaels and his evil minion knights.
The match was dubbed as the Family Feud bout and host of the famous game show, Ray Combs, even served as the bout's guest commentator. Shawn Michaels' masked knights (Greg Valentine, Barry Horowitz, and Jeff Gaylord) were no match for the Hart's superior chemistry. After all the brothers shared a bond of blood and had been together for the entirety of their lifetimes, each trained in their father Stu Hart's famous Hart Family Dungeon.
While the Harts made quick work of Shawn Michaels and his brood of masked marauders, there was one blemish. With his legendary father Stu Hart watching from ringside, Owen Hart was pinned by Michaels. An embarrassed Owen Hart was the only Hart brother eliminated from the bout.
As the remaining three brothers celebrated their victory and turned their attention to Bret (who was injured during the bout) Owen took it as a slight and although he ended up embracing his brothers (temporarily) the match would plant the seeds for one of the greatest feuds in wrestling history.
#8. Survivor Series 1987 - Andre's Team
Team Name: N/A
Year: 1987
Members: Andre the Giant, "Ravishing" Rick Rude, King Kong Bundy, One Man Gang, Butch Reed
Survivor Series 1987 featured one of the greatest heel teams ever assembled in wrestling history. "Ravishing" Rick Rude, Butch Reed, One Man Gang, King Kong Bundy, and Andre the Giant came together in another attempt to do that which they always sought out to do: end Hulkamania.
Led by managers Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and Slick, the team faced a tall order. Not only did they have to contend with the seemingly unbeatable Hogan; but, wrestling's Babe Ruth had assembled a dream team of the company's top babyfaces. Included were; Bam Bam Bigelow, Ken Patera, Don Muraco and Paul Orndorff. Muraco had replaced the influential future Hall of Famer, "Superstar" Billy Graham, after Graham suffered a significant hip injury in a match against Butch Reed.
The match didn't start well for Andre's group, as Reed was quickly eliminated by Hogan; but, good teams come together even in the direst of circumstances. One Man Gang eliminated Ken Patera and Rude then eliminated Orndorff. Muraco evened the score by eliminating Rude; but, quickly succumbed to the massive One Man Gang. The heels worked on Hogan psychologically and as Hogan was distracted by both King Kong Bundy and Andre the Giant, he failed to answer the referee's ten count and was eliminated from the match. Bam Bam Bigelow wouldn't go easily, however. He eliminated both King Kong Bundy and the One Man Gang before falling victim to the match's inevitable lone survivor: Andre the Giant. For one night, the heels stood victorious and Hulkamania was defeated.
#7. Survivor Series 1988: Team Andre
Team Name: N/A
Year: 1988
Members: Andre the Giant, "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig, "Ravishing" Rick Rude, Dino Bravo, Harley Race
If Andre The Giant's 1987 Survivor Series team wasn't the greatest collection of heels ever assembled, his 1988 Survivor Series team almost certainly was. Featuring four future WWE Hall of Famers, Jake "The Snake" Roberts' team simply had no chance to win, especially with two Hall of Fame managers (Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and Jimmy Hart) offering their creative services outside of the ring.
Rude got things started by pinning Ken Patera, after hitting a devastating Rude Awakening. Then Dino Bravo pinned the forgettable Scott Casey. Tito Santana pinned an aging Harley Race, before quickly being pinned by Andre The Giant. After Hacksaw Jim Duggan used his patented 2x4 on Dino Bravo, he was disqualified. Roberts hit Rude with a DDT and eliminated him. Andre came into the ring and applied a devastating chokehold on Roberts; but, when he refused to release the potentially deadly maneuver, he was disqualified in the process. Before leaving the ring, Andre hit Roberts with a devastating head butt and Mr. Perfect took advantage to give Andre's team the win.
#6. Survivor Series 2000 - The Radicalz
Team Name: The Radicalz
Year: 2000
Members: Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn
The NWO will always get credit for their par in WCW's successes during the Monday Night Wars; but, WCW first began making headway against the WWE with its stellar cruiserweight division. Stars like Chris Benoit, Rey Mysterio, and Dean Malenko wrestled one another routinely putting on classic bouts while the NWO dogged television time and received the majority of the accolades for the company's impressive turnaround.
Flash forward to 2000 and WCW is no longer. WCW's cruiserweight legends instead find themselves entrenched with what was once the competition: WWE.
A feud with DX prompted the reunion of the Radicalz before Survivor Series 2000 and one of Survivor Series greatest teams was then assembled. Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn would unite in a victorious effort against the team of Chyna, Road Dogg, K-Kwik and Billy Gunn. The match would prove to be a fantastic back and forth affair that highlighted each competitor's awe-inspiring strengths. Inevitably, Chris Benoit and Perry Saturn would survive to give The Radicalz the victory and the recognition the team deserved.
#5. Survivor Series 2006 - Team DX
Team Name: Team DX
Year: 2006
Members: Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, CM Punk
DX, Shawn Michaels and Triple H, would compile one of the most star-studded teams in Survivor Series history for the 2006 fall classic. The team of Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and CM Punk would come together in astoundingly successful fashion.
Team Rated RKO had no chance against the star-studded team, who got things going as soon as the bell rang. Their first victim was Mike Knox who succumbed to Shawn Michaels' Sweet Chin Music, after being distracted by his own girlfriend, Kelly Kelly. Next was Johnny Nitro, who tapped to CM Punk's inescapable Anaconda Vice. After the Hardyz teamed to hit then WWE Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms with a Twist of Fate and a Swanton Bomb, he was eliminated.
This left future WWE Hall of Famer Edge and Randy Orton. After Edge was pinned, this left Randy Orton as the last man remaining on Team Rated RKO. As Team Rated RKO's lone member, Orton faced insurmountable odds and a 5 on 1 disadvantage. DX teamed to take Orton out. First, Shawn Michaels hit The Apex Predator with Sweet Chin Music and then Triple H hit Randy Orton with a Pedigree. The Game covered Orton for the victory.
In the end, Team DX stood victorious with every single team member surviving.
#4. Survivor Series 2001 - Team WWF
Team Name: Team WWF
Year: 2001
Members: The Rock, The Undertaker, Chris Jericho, Kane, Big Show
The invasion threatened the very sanctity of Vince McMahon's brainchild, the WWE. Then called WWF, the WWE faced extinction after WCW folded, officially ending the Monday Night Wars. That's when things became ugly and deeply personal. Vince's own son, Shane McMahon, purchased WCW and threatened to overtake his father as WWE's chief authority. Aided by the turncoat "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and ECW, WCW threatened to overtake the WWE as the son longed for his father's extinction.
The stakes were never higher, as a frantic Vince McMahon assembled a dream team of his company's top wrestlers. If the team lost, the WWE would be lost forever. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Chris Jericho, Big Show, Kane and The Undertaker would defend WWE's honor against the team of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Shane McMahon, Booker T, Rob Van Dam and Kurt Angle.
Big Show was the first man out, after being eliminated by Shane McMahon. Jericho; however, evened the odds and eliminated Shane O'Mac. Then Team WWF faced devastation, as The Brothers of Destruction (Kane and The Undertaker) would be the next eliminations after being pinned by Rob Van Dam and Kurt Angle.
Jericho then eliminated Rob Van Dam and The Rock took out the formidable Kurt Angle by making him submit to the Sharpshooter. Austin pinned Jericho, after a roll-up. This left only Austin and The Rock left to defend the honor of their respective brands. The two rivals hit each other with all they had; but, ultimately, neither could be bested, at least not by their own powers.
Instead, Kurt Angle turned on his own team, hitting Austin with a championship belt. The Rock took advantage for the pin and the win. Team WWF would reign supreme officially forever ending WCW.
#3. Survivor Series 1993 - The All Americans
Team Name: The All Americans
Year: 1993
Members: The Undertaker, Lex Luger, The Steiner Brothers
The Foreign Fanatics represented everything good old fashioned Americans like Lex Luger despised. Led by the behemoth Yokozuna, a Japanese (actually Samoan) wrestler that once taunted the WWE and United States military aboard the vaunted USS Intrepid. No one could body slam the 700-pound Yokozuna, despite numerous All American efforts. Yokozuna was like the biblical Goliath, victorious over all challengers. All hope was seemingly lost until WWE's red, white, and blue-clad David arrived in dramatic fashion via helicopter. Lex Luger would stand toe to toe with Yokozuna as a roaring "USA! USA! USA!" chant began to break the stunned silence of the USS Intrepid. Luger would perform the impossible and bodyslam Yokozuna, setting up a feud that would lead to The All Americans vs The Foreign Fanatics at Survivor Series 1993.
Yokozuna was joined by the American hating Nazi-esque Ludvig Borga, who came complete with everything, but a tiki torch. The duo were joined by the Canadian Quebecer Jacque, who really didn't do too much to draw America's ire, other than being born north of the border. The team would also be joined by the Hawaiian native Crush, who turned against his own country when he allied himself with the evil Japanese Mr. Fuji, WWE's version of an evil Mr. Miyagi. The foursome would meet the wrath of Luger, The Steiner Brothers and the newly patriotic Dead Man, The Undertaker; but, like all great battles, things would never be easy.
Borga got things underway by eliminating The Dog Faced Gremlin, Rick Steiner. After being distracted by his former best friend "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Crush was counted out. Lex Luger pinned Quebecer Jacque; but, Yokozuna followed suit by eliminating Scott Steiner.
Now the match became a two-on-two affair with Borga and Yokozuna representing the evil foreign alliance and The Undertaker and Luger defending the honor of the red, white, and blue against all foreign domination. Things became so heated between Yokozuna and The Undertaker, that the two men were counted out, leaving only Luger and Borga left to settle the power struggle for world domination. Obviously, Borga lost out to Luger, who was the sole survivor and America's golden child, for one night anyway. Inexplicably, at the conclusion of the bout, Santa Claus came to the ring and revealed his true colors (red, white, and blue), as he celebrated in the ring with America's proudest son, Lex Luger.
#2. Survivor Series 1990 - The Warriors
Team Name: The Warriors
Year: 1990
Members: The Ultimate Warrior, The Legion of Doom, "Texas Tornado" Kerry Von Erich
The Ultimate Warrior would have a lofty task in assembling a dream team to combat Curt Hennig's self-proclaimed Perfect Team. Hennig, better known as Mr. Perfect, combined an all-star heel team consisting of himself and Ax, Smash, and Crush. The trio was best known as Demolition, a formidable cohesive unit that brought instant chemistry to The Perfect Team.
The Ultimate Warrior did not disappoint and called on the services of Hawk and Animal a.k.a. The Legion of Doom, a.k.a. The Road Warriors. He was also joined by Kerry Von Erich, The Texas Tornado. Von Erich was, at the time, one of WWE's brightest young stars and seen by many as the future of the company.
The two teams clashed in epic fashion at Survivor Series 1990. The Ultimate Warrior got things started by eliminating Ax; but, Smash, Crush, Hawk, and Animal were quickly disqualified after brawling outside the ring. Von Erich and Hennig would quickly get things in order, with Hennig besting The Texas Tornado with an exquisite Perfect Plex.
This left only Mr. Perfect and the The Ultimate Warrior. Perfect had defeated Kerry Von Erich only three nights before to officially become WWE Intercontinental Champion and The Ultimate Warrior was WWE Champion, after defeating Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania IV. As WWE's top two champions tangled in the ring, it was The Ultimate Warrior who proved that he belonged atop the WWE's championship food chain. He pinned perfect and ultimately (pun intended) stood alone as the sole survivor.
#1. Survivor Series 1989 - The Hulkamaniacs
Team Name: The Hulkamaniacs
Year: 1989
Members: Hulk Hogan, Demolition, Jake "The Snake" Roberts
In 1989, WWE's top stars were arguably Hulk Hogan and Jake "The Snake" Roberts. In fact, Roberts was garnering so much fan approval that WWE would inevitably turn him heel, as they feared him overtaking Hogan as the company's top babyface. In 1989, Demolition was WWE's top tag team, the east coast answer to The Road Warriors.
Hogan assembled what will arguably go down as the greatest Survivor Series team in history and he would have to. Standing in his way was arch nemesis Ted "Million Dollar Man" DiBiase, who would team with The Powers of Pain and Zeus of No Holds Barred Fame.
Zeus, who never quite understood the fundamentals of professional wrestling, was the first to be eliminated, after shoving the referee that only garnered a disqualification. Then The Warlord took advantage of Mr. Fuji's distraction to pin Ax of Demolition, evening the score at three members apiece. Smash was then eliminated by Barbarian, leaving The Hulkamaniacs at a 3-2 disadvantage.
The Powers of Pain would bungle things in Zeus-like fashion, as they double teamed Hogan and were, in turn, eliminated from the match, after failing to obey the referee's orders. This left DiBiase alone with Jake "The Snake" Roberts and Hulk Hogan. DiBiase utilized his valet Virgil and then used the ring ropes to unfairly pin Roberts. The referee didn't see, so it counted all the same.
This left only Hogan and arch-rival The Million Dollar Man. DiBiase stood for everything Hulkamania fought against: money, rule-breaking, greed, and a sickening advantageous lack of effort. Decades before Hulk Hogan would publicly support Donald Trump, such an evil desperately needed to be stopped and Hulk Hogan was just the man to do it. Hogan hit his world-renowned big boot and patented leg drop to score the pinfall and the victory.
