Survivor Series is one of the most eagerly anticipated nights on the WWE calendar. Throughout history, it has thrown up some of the most memorable moments in WWE. In the 1990s it has been the event that has seen long WWE title reigns ended, incredible debuts and screwjobs.
The traditional Survivor Series matches were commonplace in the 90s, and they were normally quite fun affairs, but could at times also be duds. Seeing unlikely superstars team up is something we rarely get to see and in an elimination format often made for intriguing viewing if nothing else.
10 1994
The 1994 Survivor Series certainly did not live up to the billing. With just 5 matches on the card there was plenty of in-ring time for that talent booked on the show, but suffice to say nothing on the card delivered.
The biggest disappointment was Bob Backlund vs Bret Hart in a submission match for the WWE title. Backlund won the title from Bret after Helen Hart had thrown the towel in, a disappointing end to a great title reign for Bret. Elsewhere, Undertaker's Casket match with Yokozuna was not nearly as memorable as the one they had at the Royal Rumble, while the 5-on-5 Survivor Series elimination matches were unremarkable.
9 1993
Survivor Series 1993 also had only 5 matches on the card. On this show there were no singles matches, with four 4-on-4 traditional Survivor Series matches and 1 tag team bout. A number of scandals and departures during this time meant this wasn't a great time for WWE and it was reflected in this show.
We saw some throw-away comedy as Men On A Mission and The Bushwackers took on Bam Bam Bigelow, Bastion Booger and The Headshrinkers. The main event saw The Foreign Fanatic take on The All-Americans, with Lex Lugar and Ludvig Borga squaring off at the end as the last two men remaining for their teams, which was underwhelming to say the least.
8 1999
The main event of Survivor Series 1999 was scheduled to be Stone Cold Steve Austin vs The Rock vs Triple H in a triple threat for the WWE championship. However, Austin being run over by a car earlier on in the show meant that he was replaced with The Big Show.
Show was the surprise winner in this main event, claiming his first WWE championship victory, but it was really the only thing memorable that happened. Kurt Angle made in in-ring debut, defeating Shawn Stasiak and Big Show continued his personal feud with The Big Bossman defeating him, Prince Albert, Viscera and Mideon in a quick handicap match. 10 matches on this card made this show more 'filler' than 'killer.'
7 1990
The 1990 Survivor Series is memorable for two debuts. First, the debut of The Undertaker and second the debut of The Gobbledy Gooker. Undertaker's debut was memorable due to how scary he looked and how terrified the children at ringside looked. Gobbledy Gooker on the other hand was not well-received at all.
All the matches on the card were traditional 4-on-4 Survivor Series matches, apart from the main event which was 3-on-5 as The Dream Team defeated The Million Dollar Team. Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior were the sole survivors here in what was the match of the night, but it was disappointing we did not see any tension between the two, or indeed anything that might have built to another match between Hogan and Warrior.
6 1991
Survivor Series 1991 featured only 5 matches on its main card. The opening bout that saw Ric Flair, The Mountie, Ted DiBiase and The Warlord take on Bret Hart, British Bulldog, Roddy Piper and Vigil was a good contest, but had a ridiculous finish which saw The Mountie, Roddy Piper, Virgil, Bret Hart and Ted DiBiase all disqualified simultaneously.
The other elimination matches were mostly mid-card superstars teamed up in unremarkable matches. Elsewhere, Hulk Hogan defended his WWE title against The Undertaker where he was defeated. This was not a great match and with a pretty screwy finish - a Tombstone onto a steel chair planted by Ric Flair - it felt quite underwhelming for Taker to not go over clean.
5 1997
Survivor Series 1997 is of course best remembered for being the night of the Montreal Screwjob, in which Vince McMahon screwed Bret Hart of the WWE title, much to the displeasure of Bret and 20,000 furious Canadians.
The match itself was a good, but it was ruined by the finish for obvious reasons. The undercard saw some decent matches, including Austin facing Owen Hart, The Nation of Domination in a 4-on-4 Survivor Series elimination match against Ken Shamrock, Ahmed Johnson and The Legion of Doom. But this was a night defined by one moment that would shape the future of the WWE forever.
4 1992
There was some good and some bad in the 1992 Survivor Series. The show had a few duds, notably a Night Stick on a Pole match between The Big Bossman and Nailz, as well as The Undertaker facing Kamala in a Coffin match.
However, the bright points of the night was the tag team match pitting unlikely allies Mr Perfect and Randy Savage against Ric Flair and Razor Ramon. Another high point was the main event for the WWE title between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart. These two matches saved the night and were great spectacles for wrestling purists.
3 1995
Survivor Series 1995 is perhaps best remembered for the WWE Championship main event that saw Diesel defend against Bret Hart. There were some entertaining 4-on-4 Survivor Series matches on this show and it was a very nicely paced Pay-Per-View, but the real high point was the main event.
Diesel and Bret was perhaps better than anyone expected. The match saw some innovative offense from Bret, including him using an electrical cable to his advantage. Diesel sending Bret through the Spanish announce table is a very memorable moment, as it was the first time we had seen a table spot like this. The conclusion to this match saw Bret play possum and surprise Diesel with a small package to end Big Daddy Cool's year-long reign as champion. This was a pretty good show in an otherwise pretty bad year for WWE.
2 1996
Survivor Series 1996 emanated from Madison Square Garden, in New York City and it was an event worthy of the arena. Similarly to 1995, this Survivor Series had some fun, fast-paced action in the 4-on-4 Survivor Series tag matches.
We saw The Rock burst onto the scene as Rocky Maivia and be his team's sole survivor in his 4-on-4 elimination match, Bret Hart faced Austin in a match that stole the night and Sycho Sid shocked everyone inside Madison Square Garden by capturing the WWE title by defeating Shawn Michaels.
1 1998
Survivor Series 1998 was billed as the 'Deadly Game.' This event featured a tournament to determine who would win the vacated WWE title. What made this event so special was the storytelling that led up to The Rock turning heel, joining the Corporation and capturing his first WWE championship.
Throughout the night Vince McMahon and his henchmen were trying to do everything possible to ensure Stone Cold Steve Austin did not leave WWE champion. Austin was screwed out of a place in the final at the expense of Mankind, who appeared to be McMahons 'chosen one.' However, the final match between The Rock and Mankind revealed the truth, that Rock had been working alongside McMahon all along and scoring wins with the help of Big Bossman, unbeknownst to us the fans. It was a night of masterful storytelling and great drama.