WWE
Survivor Series 1994
November
23, 1994
Freeman
Coliseum
San
Antonio, Texas
The 1994 Survivor Series emanated from deep in the
heart of Texas in San Antonio. And really, Survivor Series is sort of an
extension of SummerSlam in a lot of ways. Razor Ramon was still feuding with
Diesel and Shawn Michaels, although that feud was winding down. Bret Hart was
still fighting with younger brother Owen, but that feud was also winding down.
The Undertaker’s feud with Ted Dibiase’s Million Dollar Corporation was still
simmering and set to explode here. For the second year in a row, the Survivor
Series looks to blow off feuds and start others, as it did the year prior. One
notable loss is of course Randy Savage, who left WWE not long before this show.
Commentators: Vince McMahon and Gorilla Monsoon
10 Man Survivor Series Match
Teamsters (Diesel (captain), Shawn Michaels, Owen
Hart, Jim Neidhart, and Jeff Jarrett) vs. The Bad Guys (Razor Ramon (captain),
123 Kid, Davey Boy Smith, and the Headshrinkers)
For the second year in a row we get a great opening
match. Interesting pairing for commentators. This is notable because it is
Gorilla’s final PPV broadcast. For my money he is the best play by play guy of
all time. He had a special way of articulating exactly what the fans at home
needed to know about storylines and angles. Gorilla takes a more heelish role
on announcing duty tonight, although he doesn’t go Jesse Ventura but is
interesting to listen to. Also interesting to note that Samu is no longer part
of the Headshrinkers. He had since been replaced by Sione. Sione is better
known to most fans as the Barbarian. Teamsters come out first and this is the
first WWE PPV that really started to use pyro for ring entrances. During the
entrance Shawn Michaels is walking right behind Diesel. As he gets introduced
by Howard Finkel, he steps right in front of Diesel. He did this at SummerSlam
too, but it just sets the tone, and you realize that based on the storyline
progression that something was likely to go down tonight. Diesel and Shawn had
won the tag titles right before SummerSlam, but at SummerSlam we remember Shawn
cost Diesel the IC Title against Razor Ramon. Then on a new WWE Program called
the Action Zone, Shawn and Diesel defended the tag titles against their good
buddies (in real life) Razor Ramon and 123 Kid and had a wonderful tag team
match. During the match however, Shawn caught Diesel with sweet chin music
again. Once again though they made up and reconciled, but the payoff was
inevitable. I love the match up here because there are so many storyline arcs
and feuds within this match that it reminds me a lot of the 1987 opener. Davey
Boy obviously has issues with Owen and Anvil from what they did to Bret at
SummerSlam. Headshrinkers were still chasing Shawn and Diesel, and a
Razor-Jarrett feud was brewing. The match is great too. The first several
minutes everyone but Shawn and Diesel go at it and we get some really solid
wrestling from everyone involved. Then Diesel gets tagged in and jackknife power
bombs everyone. Fatu, Kid, and Sione all get jackknifed and pinned in the span
of about 2 or 3 minutes. Then Bulldog gets counted out thanks to Owen and
Jarrett keeping him from getting back in. Diesel then is selling the fact that
he’s probably tuckered out a little and tries to tag Shawn. Shawn says, no he’s
not ready yet yelling at Diesel to finish Razor. Diesel then jackknifes Razor,
and in classic heel fashion, Shawn now wants the tag. But Shawn wants Diesel to
hold Razor up so he can clock him with sweet chin music. Take a wild guess as
to what happens next. Shawn misses and nails Big Daddy Cool with some sweet
chin music once again. Three strikes and you’re out, and Diesel chases Shawn
back to the dressing room, and somehow all 5 members of the Teamsters got
counted out and Razor is the sole survivor. Crappy ending to what was a
wonderful match. I feel they should’ve had Razor pin Diesel and then Diesel
chase Shawn to get counted out. Then maybe have Razor pin Neidhart, then have
Jarrett and Owen beat Razor and be the sole survivors. I think you build Owen
up, and continue Jarrett’s push. Instead we got a ridiculous finish. After the
match Shawn cuts a promo running down Diesel and throws his half of the tag
title down on the ground and leaves. The match is very good, the ending leaves
a lot to be desired, but it did accomplish its primary objective; push Diesel
as a monster and set up their WrestleMania main event. *** ¾
8 Man Mixed Survivor Series Match
Royal Family (Jerry Lawler (captain), Queasy, Weezy,
and Cheesy) vs. Clowns ‘r us (Doink (captain), Dink, Wink, and Pink)
Total comedy match for the kids here. I have nothing
really to add. It’s about as bad as you would think. Lawler’s team wins, heel midgets
join up with face midgets and turn on Lawler, Doink puts a pie in Lawler’s
face. DUD
WWE Championship
Submission Match
Bret “The Hitman” Hart (champion) w/ Davey Boy Smith
vs. Bob Backlund w/ Owen Hart
The story here is that there was a match shortly
before SummerSlam between Bret and Backlund. Bret won, but shortly after the
match, Backlund snapped and put Bret in the cross face chicken wing. After Bret
successfully defended the title against Owen at SummerSlam, this match was
signed. Backlund was playing the crazy old man heel and doing it really well. I
didn’t appreciate his character as much then as I do now. Backlund was playing
off of the fact that when he lost the WWE title to the Iron Sheik in 1983 that
he had never given up. This match is a submission match. Instead of a regular
submission match however, this match would be determined by which corner man
throws in the towel. Backlund chose Owen, and Bret chose Davey. I must caution you;
this match isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. I love it, but you cannot have an
attention span of a fly to enjoy this match. It’s over 30 minutes and it is
total old school. The psychology is both guys going for their submission moves.
Sharpshooter vs. Cross face chicken wing. The crowd really doesn’t know what to
do here, but they get into it as it builds, and especially when Bret is on
offense which keeps them interested. Things get really interesting when Bret
gets Backlund into the sharpshooter and Owen comes in and saves Bret. Davey
then chases Owen around then ring and dives at him and goes headfirst into the
steps and gets knocked out. Backlund then gets a distracted Bret into the chicken
wing. Then one of the best illustrations of heel work of all time takes place
as Owen pleads with Stu and Helen Hart at ringside to take the towel and throw
it in as surrogates for the knocked out British Bulldog. Owen is brilliant as
he makes himself cry saying things like “That’s my brother in there, I’m sorry,
that’s your son, its Thanksgiving.” Helen begins to start falling for Owens
antics. Stu isn’t having any of it and it is clear that Helen is the one that
is going to show mercy. Watching this smarmy dirt bag Owen sucker his own
parents into ending Bret’s title reign is legendary. Finally Helen does give in
and takes the towel from Stu and throws it in making Backlund the new WWE
Champion. Owen then leaps into the ring in joy, grabs the pink and black towel,
and runs off in jubilation. Two of my favorite heel moments ever transpire. The
first is Backlund’s reaction to being the new champion is phenomenal. His
celebration is so awesome. He acts so surprised at first and then he acts like
he is on top of the world. Then Owen Hart delivers one of if not the best heel
promos of all time, just gloating about how Bret is a loser and how he tricked
his own mom and dad into costing Bret the title. Unfortunately all of the heat
from this match for all involved was quickly gone because literally days after
this Diesel would beat Bob Backlund in about 10 seconds and become the new WWE
Champion in Madison Square Garden making all of this meaningless. The match is much
underrated, but like I said, a lot of fans who aren’t into more of a 70’s or 80’s
style may not be into it. ****
10 Man Survivor Series Match
Million $ Team (Tatanka (captain), King Kong Bundy,
Bam Bam Bigelow, and Heavenly Bodies) vs. Guts and Glory (Lex Luger (captain),
Mabel, Adam Bomb, and Smoking Gunns)
Here are the rest of the midcarders at the time.
This is the continuation of Tatanka-Luger feud that began at SummerSlam, and that
turned into Luger vs. the Million Dollar Corporation. Match is ok but heatless
compared to the opening match. The match served its purpose, but no one cared
about any of the feuds after this, and it’s unfortunately sort of a microcosm
of what you would get in 1995. Match gets down to Tatanka, Bundy, and Bam Bam
vs. Luger. Luger pins Tatanka, but then gets beat himself by Bundy and Bam Bam.
Whatever. ** ½
Main Event
Casket Match – Troubleshooting Referee Chuck Norris
Yokozuna w/ Mr. Fuji and Jim Cornette vs. Undertaker
w/ Paul Bearer
The blow off from the Royal Rumble debacle. The
rematch is awful. Chuck Norris is hired on to be the ref on the outside to make
sure that 9 guys don’t show up and attack the Undertaker to help Yoko win. I
like Yokozuna selling of how scared he is of caskets but that’s about the only
redeeming quality of the match. Bam Bam and Bundy come out and distract Norris
and allows Million $ Corporation member IRS to come in and attack Undertaker.
Taker makes the comeback and wins the match. Crowd gets the big pop for Norris
kicking Jeff Jarrett. Undertaker gets his revenge. Everyone is happy. Match isn’t
good. ¾*
Final Analysis: No big complaints about the show. As
a standalone show it has a little of everything. A lot of people didn’t like
the Backlund stuff that much and admittedly at the time I didn’t either.
Looking back I found it very creative, and wish he would have gotten a longer
run than he got, but the clique had to get their way. Diesel would take 1995
into the toilet but that is another story. The fans were sent home happy with
the Undertaker, but unfortunately he would spend 1995 stuck with horrible feuds
over his stolen urn. Bret Hart would also be stuck in feuds with dentists and
pirates. Again, that is for another day. I like Survivor Series ’94 though.
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