WWE Survivor Series 2005 Special
Just two days ago you read my first column for W101, and in the aftermath of Survivor Series, it’s time for me to go through the PPV and go through what was good, what was bad, and what was damn sure ugly…
The format for PPV review GB&Us will be different from the regular column. I will go through the PPV in chronological order, and dissect each segment or match with what was good, bad and ugly about it. Sounds interesting doesn’t it. Does it? I think it does. If you don’t think it does, don’t read it. I think that you’ll think it does though, so read it. Understand? I don’t.
Right, with that out of the way, let’s move on to the PPV.
SURVIVOR SERIES 2005
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan
And we kick off with…
First of Best of Seven Series for the US Title
Chris Benoit vs. Booker T
My Prediction: Booker T
The Good
It was a good choice of match to kick off the show, as it got the crowd fired up a bit.
The match itself was probably a shade better than their SmackDown! match last week, so that gives hope for the rest of the series that it will get better.
The right man won. Giving Booker a lead gives Benoit an obstacle to overcome later in the series.
The Bad
Sharmell… My god I hate her. Her voice is annoying, and she has no real clue how to be the heel valet, she needs to study tapes of Sherri Martel and Sunny. Not THOSE Sunny tapes, tapes of her managing the Bodydonnas. You dirty minded people.
Cole’s claim that “this series means more because it’s over a title” completely ignores the fact that the original Best of Seven Series was fought over the WCW TV Title.
The Ugly
Only a small thing, but the start of the match really did drag on a bit. Luckily the pace picked up, otherwise this would not have been anywhere near as entertaining.
VERDICT: Good.
—————–
Vince/Cena/Bischoff/Booker Backstage Segment
The Good
Um… It was nice to hear Booker say “Tell me he didn’t just say that” again. Even though he’s a heel.
The Bad
Wasn’t Vince a heel two weeks ago? Why is he a face now?
Reminding everyone of the 1997 screwjob may help a few extra Bret DVD sales, but it doesn’t do much for the claim that the company has “got over it”.
The Ugly
The ‘n’ word has no place on public television, nor society in general. I know that rappers now use the term affectionately, but they’re STUPID. The ‘n’ word reminds us of a time when people were treated differently due to their race, and any reminder of that time is completely indecent. I was offended, and I’m white.
VERDICT: Ugly.
—————–
Women’s Title Match
Trish Stratus vs. Melina
My Prediction: Trish Stratus
The Good
Call me Nostradamus if you wish, but I said this match would be good, and it was. Possibly the best Women’s match I’ve seen since the Victoria/Trish series in 2003, and I’d love to see it again. But roster splits are roster splits.
Joey Styles and Tazz were superb together on commentary, with special marks going to Tazz’s rant about things being on paper, and Joey harkening back to the old days. CATFIGHT! CATFIGHT! CATFIIIIIIIGHT!
The Bad
The finishing move looked awkward, but nowhere near as awkward as the only other Trish top-rope Bulldog I remember, during the “Match From Hell” when she sailed miles over Jackie Gayda’s head and Jackie fell over anyway. Maybe time to lose the move, hey Trish?
So MNM had got into the ring, picked Trish up and were about to Snapshot her… surely that would be grounds for a disqualification?
The Ugly
Nothing for this match.
VERDICT: Good.
—————–
Last Man Standing Match
Ric Flair vs. HHH
My Prediction: Draw
The Good
This was just a great brawl of a match. If I had to pick out any particular good points, I would say the backdrop through the Spanish Announce Table, the vicious looking steel steps shot, and the constant working of the leg by Flair.
Styles, Lawler and Coach proved they could work together as a unit on commentary. Plus we had some great historical facts from Styles when HHH worked on the back (plane crash), and when Flair worked on the leg (torn quad).
Flair’s blade job was disturbing. He really must be loving wrestling again if he’s willing to lose that much blood.
The Bad
Why no HHH blade job? He got hit with enough things to warrant it, and he’s never been shy of it before.
Only HHH would stop in the middle of a match and cut a promo.
The Ugly
How come nobody else is allowed to kick out of Pedigrees, but Flair can get up off three of them? It makes anyone else who’s lost to the Pedigree and stayed down for ages look like a complete idiot.
VERDICT: Good.
—————–
Edge debuts his new “talk show”.
The Good
They really need to keep Edge in the public eye as much as possible if they really are set on pushing him. I guess a talk show is the way to go.
As a part-time Packers fan, any time I hear the Detroit Lions getting insulted is a good thing.
Dmitri Young cuts a good promo y’know. Pity I have no idea who he is.
The Bad
Lita can’t even deliver a simple line correctly, and if she does manage to deliver it, it’s barely understandable. Lita has no purpose in the company any more.
“The Cutting Edge”? Is Brutus Beefcake coming back to co-host?
It was also a complete waste of time, and although the segment was funny, there were loads of wrestlers who didn’t have a match on the card. Why not a Matt Hardy vs. Mr. Kennedy rematch from SmackDown!?
The Ugly
Steroids aren’t a thing to joke about given the cause of Eddie’s death. I expect this was just a way of Vince trying to prove himself innocent in comparison to other sports.
VERDICT: Bad.
—————–
WWE Heavyweight Title Match
John Cena vs. Kurt Angle
My Prediction: John Cena
The Good
Even though it’s ridiculously obvious it’s going to happen, the referee stuff with Daivari was funny. His complete refusal to count was especially good.
The crowd were absolutely amazing, and it gave me the spirit to keep on watching. The support for both men caused a huge duelling chant, and Cena getting booed is always hilarious.
The Bad
Bischoff’s promise of a screwjob earlier on was completely ignored. Why couldn’t Daivari just tell the timekeeper to ring the bell when Cena was in the Ankle Lock, surely that would have echoed Survivor Series 1997 to perfection?
Four referees? Was that really necessary? Surely Daivari getting bumped would have sufficed?
The match was just bad. If you look back to previous Angle/Cena matches, at No Way Out this year, and No Mercy 2003, they’ve been good. Even Unforgiven’s match was adequate. Why couldn’t they just do one of those matches again instead of the over-booked rubbish?
The Ugly
As I predicted, the title reign from hell continues. I don’t understand why, the crowd obviously are turning on Cena, his matches have been useless, his gimmick is stale, and his promos are getting tiresome. I can understand that the WWE want to push someone who sells merchandise, but he’d probably still sell merchandise if he wasn’t the champion.
VERDICT: Bad.
—————–
General Manager vs. General Manager
Eric Bischoff vs. Theodore Long
My Prediction: Eric Bischoff
The Good
HE’S DONE IT! HE’S FINALLY DONE IT! THE BOOGEYMAN HAS COME TO GET SOMEONE! Obviously I was ecstatic to see The Boogeyman in the ring, and even though the Pumphandle Slam was almost screwed up, he managed to hit it, meaning he has the same amount of moves as Tyson Tomko and Lita. He even got a “Boo-gey-man!” chant!!
The Bad
When was this made a No DQ match? How on earth could Boogeyman do that without getting Long disqualified.
Cole and Lawler had nowhere near the amount of chemistry that Styles and Tazz did, but that may be because what they were watching wasn’t very inspiring.
Palmer Canon should never, ever dance. It should be made a federal law. Saying that, Teddy Long spent more time dancing than he did wrestling, which should also be outlawed.
The Ugly
The match in general was just appallingly bad, just like everyone expected it to be. 90% of it was Bischoff choking Long, and the other 10% was the two of them running around the ring like headless chickens. And why was Canon constantly on the apron? And why did they both just stand there when the Boogeyman’s music hit? And why was this match even booked in the first place? And what possible result did it achieve?
VERDICT: Bowling Shoe UGLY.
—————–
Team RAW vs. Team SmackDown!
My Prediction: Team SmackDown!
The Good
The five man commentary team was superb throughout, seriously funny stuff. Tazz was probably the best, followed by Coach, then Lawler. Styles and Cole kept themselves out of it and called the play-by-play, which paved the way for the insults. Great work.
I just love these style of matches, where we get to see ten men battle it out. Whoever came up with the original idea for the Survivor Series elimination contest should be praised.
Making Big Show such a hard person to put down was good. Unlike with Flair, at least with Big Show you can see WHY he wouldn’t stay down from finishing moves, and he did a good job of selling all of them.
It made sense to get Batista out of the way, as he could barely move. The way they put the focus on Orton being the top SmackDown! guy could make a good storyline between the two.
The “Eddie” chants at the start were nice to hear. He’s gone, but he won’t be forgotten any time soon.
The Bad
What did Lashley do to piss off the bookers? There goes his unpinned record, just like that, after one half-hearted Chokeslam from Kane. He was looking so damn impressive in the ring, but I can’t help wishing that he wasn’t involved in the match just to protect him, as he’s lost momentum now. I think Matt Hardy should have had the fifth place, he had an extra bone to grind after being fired from RAW.
The eliminations came in packs, which can either work for or against the match. Here I think it worked against it, as there were periods in the match where an elimination was needed to help pick things up again.
Like I mentioned in GB&U #1, the crowd were completely oblivious as to who the face team were, and who the heel team were. JBL was cheered at some points, booed at others, same with Orton, same with Carlito, same with Kane, same with Big Show. Would a face SmackDown! team and a heel RAW team been too hard to make?
The Ugly
The Undertaker made his amazing return. It was so amazing, I barely gave a damn. The whole show had been about RAW vs. SmackDown!, so when the SmackDown! stars are in the ring celebrating a SmackDown! victory, why did The Undertaker come down and attack all of them? Even faces like Paul London, Funaki and Brian Kendrick?
VERDICT: Good.
So, that was the show. By my calculations we have 4 Goods, 2 Bads and 2 Uglies, making this show “Good”. And in my opinion, that’s about right. I enjoyed the show throughout, and even when bad matches or segments happened, there was always something positive just around the corner to keep me interested.
It did end on a bit of a low note, but I’m sure the fans in Detroit were happy to see ‘Taker back. I personally think he should have retired by now, and I would expect it to happen at WrestleMania 22. Until then, we have a probable Hell in a Cell match with Randy Orton to sit through. You know I can’t wait.
From the next column onwards I’ll be answering and responding to e-mails I get sent, so if you have anything to say, drop me a line and I’ll do my best to get your e-mail printed:
[Chris@Wrestling101.com]
So until next time, keeeeeep dancing!
Chris Dewing