Survivor Series Count-Up – 1996: They’re At The Starting Gate
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Series 1996
Date: November 17, 1996
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Attendance: 18,647
Commentators: Jim Ross, Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler
Team Furnas and Lafon vs. Team Owen Hart/British Bulldog
Doug Furnas, Phillip Lafon, Godwinns
Owen Hart, British Bulldog, New Rockers
Kevin Kelly is in the boiler room with Mankind, who he abandoned Undertaker for at Summerslam. Tonight the huge rivalry continues with Bearer locked in a small cage above the ring. This is when Mankind was still relatively new (he debuted about six and a half months before this) and no one knew what to make of him yet. All anyone knew was he could beat up Undertaker which was unheard of at the time.
Mankind vs. Undertaker
Bearer has to be locked in the small cage. This is a Cornette Special. Taker lowers down from the rafters in what can only be called a Batman costume minus the mask. Taker also has on a new attire for this, which is basically a biker vest and leather pants. That would become his standard look for the next three years or so. Mankind rams him into the small cage to start and they head to the floor very quickly.
We head to the floor for the third time via a Cactus Clothesline and they head into the crowd. Mankind charges at Taker but gets backdropped over the barricade and onto the concrete. A low blow puts Taker down on the apron and down onto the floor, where Mankind hits the elbow off the apron. Taker gets sent into the buckle but comes back with an elbow to the face.
Old School hits but Mankind pops up and hits a double arm DDT to put Taker down. Mankind goes up but jumps into a chokeslam. The Claw goes on but Taker chokeslams him anyway. Cool spot. Taker tries a cross body but he crashes over the top and out to the floor. Mankind tries a flip dive off the apron but crashes just as badly as Taker did. Back in and Mankind tries a quick sleeper, only to be suplexed down by Taker.
Sunny (still smoking hot and not smoking crack here) comes out for commentary.
Team Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs. Team Marc Mero
Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Jerry Lawler, Goldust, Crush
Marc Mero, Jake Roberts, The Stalker, Rocky Maivia
Bret says MSG is holy ground for him.
Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart
Austin escapes a backbreaker with a rake of the eyes as momentum shifts again. Bret gets sent to the floor and Austin just pounds on him with forearms and punches. Austin rams him back first into the post as the attacks shifts to the back. Bret comes back by sending him into the barricade, breaking the thing apart. They head into the front row and knock the barricade over. Austin is in trouble again and Bret chases him to the other side of the ring.
Sid is ready for Shawn tonight.
Team Farrooq vs. Team Yokozuna
Farrooq, Vader, Razor Ramon, Diesel
Yokozuna, Flash Funk, Savio Vega, Jimmy Snuka
WWF World Title: Shawn Michaels vs. Sycho Sid
Shawn avoids a charge into the corner and goes after the knee some more. Sid kicks him into the ropes and Shawn skins the cat, but Sid clotheslines him right to the floor. Shawn gets dropped on the barricade which gets two back inside. Sid hits a few running kicks to the head in the corner as things slow down again. Michaels avoids a charge in the corner and goes up, with the fans openly booing him now.
The champ dives into a backbreaker for two and Shawn can barely get up. Shawn fights up and turns it into a slugout with Sid going down. We get the always stupid looking jump into the boot spot and Sid puts on a cobra clutch. Shawn fights up and walks into a chokeslam. The place is exploding for Sid here. The powerbomb is countered into a small package for two but Sid gets the same off a powerslam.
Shawn scrambles to the back to check on Jose.
Ratings Comparison
Team Furnas and Lafon vs. Team Owen Hart and British Bulldog
Original: B-
Redo: C+
Undertaker vs. Mankind
Original: C+
Redo: B
Team Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs. Team Marc Mero
Original: D
Redo: C+
Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin
Original: A+
Redo: A+
Team Farrooq vs. Team Yokozuna
Original: D-
Redo: F
Sycho Sid vs. Shawn Michaels
Original: C-
Redo: B
Overall Rating
Original: B-
Redo: B+
Like I said, I liked it better than I remembered.
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