I’m doing a series of short(ish) articles on the history of the show for wrestlingrumors.net as part of the road to the thirtieth show. These will go up on Tuesdays and Fridays.
http://wrestlingrumors.net/history-of-survivor-series-part-i-origins-and-early-years/
Survivor Series 1990
Date: November 22, 1990
Location: Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut
Attendance: 16,000
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon, Roddy Piper
The nifty squares intro theme open things up again.
Gorilla and Piper chat about the show for a bit.
The Warriors vs. The Perfect Team
The Warriors: Ultimate Warrior, Texas Tornado, Legion of Doom
The Perfect Team: Mr. Perfect, Demolition
Crush immediately comes in to jump Warrior and take over. Smash gets in a slam on Warrior and Crush drops a top rope knee for two. Perfect is freaking out in his trademark over the top style. Warrior gets up a boot in the corner and clotheslines Crush down. Off to Hawk who always looks like he could murder someone in the ring. Perfect tries him out and is immediately slammed down.
Ted DiBiase has a mystery partner for his match. Oh boy does he ever.
Million Dollar Team vs. Dream Team
Million Dollar Team: Ted DiBiase, Rhythm and Blues, ???
Dream Team: Dusty Rhodes, Koko B. Ware, Hart Foundation
Undertaker and Bret start with the newcomer pounding the tar out of Bret. Well if you want to make someone look like a killer, call Bret Hart. Bret hits the ropes and charges at Undertaker, only to get caught by the throat and slammed down. It was more like a clothesline that Undertaker went to the mat with than the usual chokeslam here but he did have Bret by the throat.
The Vipers vs. The Visionaries
The Vipers: Jake Roberts, Rockers, Jimmy Snuka
The Visionaries: Rick Martel, Warlord, Power and Glory
Marty and Warlord start as Piper is singing I Am The Walrus. Warlord powers Marty around but misses a charge in the corner. Warlord is now out of his Powers of Pain phase and is now shiny and bald. Both Rockers try to outmaneuver him but it just results in bringing in Martel. Shawn handles him with ease and brings in Jake, causing Martel to scamper away.
Natural Disasters vs. Hulkamaniacs
Natural Disasters: Earthquake, Dino Bravo, Haku, Barbarian
Hulkamaniacs: Hulk Hogan, Big Boss Man, Tugboat, Jim Duggan
Rating: C-. This was a lot more fast paced and energetic than you would expect. The continued practice of just teasing the encounter that the match is based on is getting REALLY old though as I guess they want to preserve the house show draws, because who would want to see a feud continue after a single match right? My goodness have things changed in the last twenty years.
Hogan beats up Heenan post match and poses. Piper cheering for Hogan is just wrong.
Some fans talk and have little to say. Well one fan signs who he likes which is cool.
Alliance vs. Mercenaries
Alliance: Nikolai Volkoff, Bushwhackers, Tito Santana
Mercenaries: Sgt. Slaughter, Boris Zhukov, Orient Express
Hogan, Warrior and Santana are ready.
Hulk Hogan/Tito Santana/Ultimate Warrior vs. Ted DiBiase/Visionaries
Oddly enough, Hogan comes out before Tito. Tito and Warlord start and a forearm ends Warlord in less than 30 seconds. Roma immediately powerslams Tito and brings in DiBiase. My goodness a 20 minute Santana vs. DiBiase match would freaking rock. Tito misses another forearm and a hot shot gives DiBiase the pin.
Posing ends the show.
Overall Rating: F. This show has some moments of ok, but can you imagine PAYING for this show? Undertaker debuts here but no one had any idea what that would mean. Nothing is changed at all, mainly because the company was afraid no one would want to see the house show matches after this.
Ratings Comparison
Warriors vs. Perfect Team
Original: C-
Redo: D
Dream Team vs. Million Dollar Team
Original: C+
Redo: C+
Vipers vs. Visionaries
Original: D+
Redo: D+
Hulkamaniacs vs. Natural Disasters
Original: C+
Redo: C-
Alliance vs. Mercenaries
Original: F
Redo: D-
Grand Finale Match of Survival
Original: D-
Redo: D
Overall Rating
Original: F
Redo: F
It sucked four years ago and it still sucks now.
Here’s the original review if you’re interested:
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B015IN12I2
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
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Series 1990
Date: November 22, 1990
Location: Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut
Attendance: 16,000
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon, Roddy Piper
The nifty squares open things up again.
The Warriors vs. The Perfect Team
Ultimate Warrior, Texas Tornado, Legion of Doom
Mr. Perfect, Demolition
Crush immediately comes in to jump Warrior and take over. Smash comes in to slam Warrior and Crush drops a top rope knee for two. Perfect is freaking out in his trademark over the top style. Warrior gets up a boot in the corner and clotheslines Crush down. Off to Hawk who always looks like he could murder someone in the ring. Perfect tries him out and is immediately slammed down.
Ted DiBiase has a mystery partner for his match. Oh boy did he ever.
Million Dollar Team vs. Dream Team
Ted DiBiase, Rhythm and Blues, ???
Dusty Rhodes, Koko B. Ware, Hart Foundation
Undertaker and Bret start with Taker pounding the tar out of him. Well if you want to make someone look like a killer, call Bret Hart. Bret hits the ropes and charges at Taker, only to get caught by the throat and slammed down. It was more like a clothesline that Taker went to the mat with than the usual chokeslam here but he did have Bret by the throat.
The Vipers vs. The Visionaries
Jake Roberts, Rockers, Jimmy Snuka
Rick Martel, Warlord, Power and Glory
Marty and Warlord start as Piper is singing I Am The Walrus. Warlord powers Marty around but misses a charge in the corner. For those of you unfamiliar with Warlord, imagine Chris Masters but paler, bald, and even dumber. Both Rockers try to outmaneuver him but it just results in bringing in Martel. Shawn handles him with ease and brings in Jake, causing Martel to scamper away.
Natural Disasters vs. Hulkamaniacs
Earthquake, Dino Bravo, Haku, Barbarian
Hulk Hogan, Big Bossman, Tugboat, Jim Duggan
Rating: C-. This was a lot more fast paced and energetic than you would expect. The continued practice of just teasing the encounter that the match is based on is getting REALLY old though as I guess they want to preserve the house show draws, because who would want to see a feud continue after a single match right? My goodness have things changed in the last twenty years.
Hogan beats up Heenan post match and poses. Piper cheering for Hogan is just wrong.
Some fans talk and get on my nerves. Well one fan signs who he likes which is cool.
Alliance vs. Mercenaries
Nikolai Volkoff, Bushwhackers, Tito Santana
Sgt. Slaughter, Boris Zhukov, Orient Express
Hogan, Warrior and Santana are ready.
Hulk Hogan/Tito Santana/Ultimate Warrior vs. Ted DiBiase/Visionaries
Posing ends the show.
Ratings Comparison
Warriors vs. Perfect Team
Original: C-
Redo: D
Dream Team vs. Million Dollar Team
Original: C+
Redo: C+
Vipers vs. Visionaries
Original: D+
Redo: D+
Hulkamaniacs vs. Natural Disasters
Original: C+
Redo: C-
Alliance vs. Mercenaries
Original: F
Redo: D-
Grand Finale Match of Survival
Original: D-
Redo: D
Overall Rating
Original: F
Redo: F
It sucked four years ago and it still sucks now.
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of Complete Monday Nitro Reviews Volume I at Amazon for just $4 at:
And check out my Amazon author page with wrestling books for just $4 at: