WWE Survivor Series '88

WWE Survivor Series ‘88
November 24, 1988
Richfield Coliseum
Richfield, Ohio

The WWE returned to the greater Cleveland area for the 2nd annual Survivor Series. They had blown off the Hogan-Andre feud once and for all and the golden age of wrestling was finally starting to wind down. Oddly enough, growing up my mom tried to keep me from watching wrestling for a long time. After months of begging her, she finally let me rent a show from the local grocery store. This would be that show. I recently got to watch the full PPV broadcast of this show via the Survivor Series anthology. The coliseum video version is the most chopped up clipped show I’ve ever personally witnessed so I was very interested in the full broadcast.

Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura

10 Man Survivor Series Elimination Match
Ultimate Warrior (co-captain), Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake (co-captain), Blue Blazer, Sam Houston, and “Jumping” Jim Brunzell vs. Honky Tonk Man (co-captain), “Outlaw” Ron Bass (co-captain), Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Bad News Brown, and “Dangerous” Danny Davis w/ “Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart

Example #1 of the difference between the clipped version of the show and the full PPV broadcast. This match is 2nd on the coliseum video version when in reality it was the opening match. Just not the same feel this year in terms of the heat on Honky Tonk Man. Warrior beating him at SummerSlam kind of took all the steam out of him once and for all. This is still a decent match though. The match gets down to Warrior against Bass and Valentine. Warrior pretty much squashes them both and is the sole survivor. **

10 Team Survivor Series Elimination Match
Demolition (Ax and Smash) (captains), Brainbusters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard), Fabulous Rougeaus (Jacques Rougeau and Raymond Rougeau), Bolsheviks (Nikolai Volkoff and Boris Zhukov), and Conquistadores w/ Bobby Heenan, Jimmy Hart, and Mr. Fuji vs. Powers of Pain (Warlord and Barbarian)(captains), British Bulldogs (Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith), Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart), Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty), and Young Stallions (Paul Roma and Jim Powers)

Like last year’s version of this match, this is a true gem that has to be seen to be appreciated. Bell to bell action with some of the best tag teams of all time. It’s one of my personal favorite Survivor Series matches ever, and while it does slow down towards the end of the match it makes up for with the underdog story of the Conquistadores of all teams making it to the end, and of course, Mr. Fuji turning on Demolition turning them face, and joining up with the Powers of Pain in a clever double turn. I have to admit, when I first watched the show I thought it was Fuji turning baby face, but that wasn’t the case at all. Demolition became baby face tag team champions overnight. Loved that storyline, and really loved this match. A true classic that I may overrate a bit, but I don’t care. ****1/2

10 Man Survivor Series Elimination Match

Jake “The Snake” Roberts (co-captain), “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, Tito Santana, Ken Patera, and Scott Casey vs. Andre the Giant (co-captain), Dino Bravo (co-captain), “Ravishing” Rick Rude, Mr. Perfect, and Harley Race w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Frenchy Martin

After his feud with Hogan ended, Andre began a storyline with Jake Roberts. The story was that he fears snakes, and so Jake began to antagonize the big man. This match was turning into a squash as Jake found himself in a situation where it was 4 on 1. He got a small measure of revenge by pinning Rick Rude with a DDT, but then Andre came in and viciously choked out Jake Roberts to the point where he was disqualified. I loved this angle because it showed how much vengeance Andre would show when he was backed into a corner. Just showed no remorse. Very believable. Despite being dq’d Mr. Perfect came in and pinned Jake giving the win to Dino Bravo and Mr. Perfect. **1/2

Main Event
10 Man Survivor Series Elimination Match
Randy Savage (co-captain), Hulk Hogan (co-captain), Hercules, Hillbilly Jim, and Koko B. Ware w/ Miss Elizabeth vs. Big Bossman (co-captain), Akeem (co-captain), Ted Dibiase, King Haku, and Red Rooster w/ Bobby Heenan and Slick

After SummerSlam, Hogan found himself in a feud with the Big Bossman in the famous attack on the Brother Love show. Slick paired the Bossman up with Akeem, who used to be the One Man Gang. Meanwhile Bobby Heenan tried to sell Hercules as a slave to Ted Dibiase, so those two had issues. This was a fun match that doesn’t get a lot of credit, but I’ve personally have to ask the question, what isn’t to like about it? It winds down to the Mega Powers up against the Twin Towers (Bossman and Akeem) and Haku. Hogan gets caught and handcuffed to the ring rope leaving Savage to fight 3 guys. Bossman gets counted out while he works over Hogan with a nightstick. Bossman then gets Akeem disqualified by attacking Savage. Hogan makes a comeback and manages to knock out Bobby Heenan and Slick, and Elizabeth pick pockets Slick and gets the key to the cuffs. Hogan gets un-cuffed and gets the hot tag from Savage and finishes Haku with the usual. The sports entertainment side of things was rather silly, but I’m a sucker for it if it makes SOME kind of sense. Hogan gives Elizabeth a big hug after the match and Savage doesn’t look happy at all. ***

Final Analysis: You could tell that the WWE was trying to go in a new direction. The Hogan-Andre feud was over and new fresh feuds were still in their infancy here. The Mega Powers were showing their first cracks here and an explosion was imminent. The point is, the company still had a nice direction and much of the roster had something to do and something to contribute.