The Survivor Series 2005 Report

PPVs, Reviews, Wrestling DVDs

Show starts off with a rather less than stellar video package, with a narration that seems to be right out of a melodramatic e-fed. We are welcomed to the show by the then RAW Announce Team; Jerry Lawler, Joey Styles, and Jonathon Coachman. Man, I totally forgot them three ever teamed together. And we of course have Hugo and the other one, with Michael Cole and Tazz doing SmackDown.

Opening Contest: First out of Seven Series: Booker T w/ Sharmell vs. Chris Benoit
I hesitated in not calling Booker and Sharmell their new royal names. This was, of course, the beginning of the WWE sequel to their WCW Best of Seven Series; I don’t much care for a best of anything series unless we are guaranteed a good match every time. Benoit takes it right to Booker in the corner, pushing him into the corner, but Booker reverses it and forces him into the corner before he gets forced off by the referee. “Benoit” chant early on. Lock up and Booker gets an odd slam on Benoit, which Tazz covers nicely by calling a short powerslam. Lock up and Booker forces Benoit into the corner, Benoit reverses it before he gets knees into the gut of Booker before he punches Booker outside. Benoit invites Booker back in. Another lock up and this time Booker takes Benoit down, Benoit gets a reverse bear hug on Booker before he hooks the knee but Booker gets to the ropes. Booker rolls outside to some heat, and takes his time getting back in. Tie up ends up with a test of strength, Booker hooks the leg and looks to be winning but Benoit looks to be coming back so Booker nails a hook kick.

Booker irish whips Benoit and he comes back into an elbow by Booker. Benoit gets in a suplex on Booker, whips Booker into the ropes and back into a double axe for a quick pinfall. Benoit with knees to the stomach of Booker, forearms and elbows follow before Benoit whips Booker into the corner but Benoit runs into a high boot by Booker. Sideslam by Booker for another quick count. Booker hooks the arm, but Benoit gets to his feet and elbows Booker in the face, Booker knees Benoit in the gut and locks on an abdominal stretch which Benoit turns into an arm drag. Booker comes off the ropes and kicks Benoit in the chest, taking him down. Benoit gets up to his feet again for two kicks to the gut and a kick to the face, getting Booker a two count. Booker takes it to Benoit in the corner before he whips Benoit, hard, into the opposing corner. Booker with a bridge pin for a two count. Booker with a neckbreaker for another two. Benoit falls behind a suplex attempt by Booker and goes for the triple Germans but only nails one before Booker kicks him down. Booker gets a two count.

Booker irish whips Benoit and Benoit ducks, Booker gets Benoit with a kick to the gut. Booker goes for another kick but Benoit gets him with a dragon whip, goes for the Sharpshooter, but Booker gets him in a small package for a two count! Benoit with chops to Booker and some axe handles for a two count. Benoit gets a snap suplex for another two count. Benoit gets the triple Germans in! Benoit hooks the throat and goes up top, but Sharmell distracts Benoit and Booker attacks! Booker goes for a superplex but Benoit head butts him back down to the canvas and Benoit comes off the top rope with a swandive head butt, but misses! Booker gets a tight package, with his feet on the ropes, for the three count!
Winner: Booker T

I do have one problem about this match; it certainly wasn’t opening match material, and I say that because this match is upper-card material. Having said that, I don’t think that there was anything else that could have opened the show anyways. Good, but not fantastic, match. Seven out of Ten. I used to hate this match because it seemed slow and tedious, what a difference a year of reviewing matches makes then. Post match, the fans applaud for Benoit, but not in a Royal Rumble 2003 manner.

Backstage Eric Bischoff is practicing his karate techniques, before Vince McMahon comes over and wishes him luck for tonight’s match against Theodore Long. Bischoff says that tonight will be a hat trick for him; he will wipe the match with Long, team Raw will decimate team SmackDown, and that he’ll make history by screwing John Cena in his match tonight and that people will begin chanting “You screwed Cena”. Cena interrupts and makes the obligatory gay joke. McMahon asks Cena what’s good in the hood before he says the N word and struts past Booker and Sharmell, Booker does his “tell me he didn’t just say that” thing. Cute segment that got blown far out of proportion.

Second Contest: Women’s Championship: Melina w/ MNM vs. Trish Stratus (Champion) w/ Mickie James
Stratus starts off by taking down Melina with a Lou Thesz with mounted punches before Melina rolls out of the ring and is comforted by MNM. Stratus goes to the top turnbuckle and gets a cross body on all three members of MNM and picks Melina up by the hair before Nitro and Mercury threaten her. Stratus spins Melina around with a hair drag before she gets in the spinning headscissors takedown. Melina up into elbows by Stratus, Stratus gets sent into the corner by Melina but Melina runs into a high double boot by Stratus. Melina with forearms to the back of Stratus. Melina hooks Stratus with the ropes and pulls on her hair, before she kicks her right in the gut, before she sets Stratus up at the ropes again and gets her with a headscissors. Melina sets Stratus up in the corner and foot chokes her, but Stratus sends her into the corner and replies the choke.

Melina with a rake to the eyes before she gets a kick right to the face of Stratus and gets dragged out of the ring by James, and a catfight ensues between the two. The referee is checking on them allowing for MNM to set Stratus up for the snapshot, but the referee notices and sends Nitro and Mercury backstage! Melina with a takedown to Stratus followed by rights. Stratus up into a clothesline by Melina, before Melina slams Stratus face first back into the canvas and locks her in a surfboard submission hold. The fans get behind Stratus and Melina releases the hold. Stratus fights off Melina and goes for the Stratusfaction but Melina sends her into the ropes and back into a spinning face plant for a two count. Banshee moment. Stratus ducks the clothesline but Melina gets an axe handle to her gut for a two count.

Stratus blocks the rights by Melina and fights her off with elbows. Stratus sends Melina into the corner but runs right into the elbow, but Melina goes up and gets hit with the Stratusphere! Melina runs into a spinebuster by Stratus for a two count. Stratus sets Melina up for the chick kick but Melina ducks, only to get a different kick right to the face! Stratus goes for the Stratusfaction again but Melina pushes her onto the apron and goes for a spear, but James drags Stratus out of the way and Stratus kicks Melina away. Stratus goes up top and comes off with a top rope bulldog for the three count.
Winner and Still Women’s Champion: Trish Stratus

One of Stratus’ more under appreciated matches, not her best but I would certainly put it right up there with some of her matches with Molly Holly or Victoria. Seven out of Ten. Diva standards, don’t forget.

Backstage Triple H is taping up his wrists. This takes us into a video package for Triple H vs. Ric Flair. The fact that the two where ever good friends is hardly brought up, and instead it’s made out to be a simple hatred, which was probably the correct decision.

Third Contest: Last Man Standing: Triple H vs. Ric Flair
HHH attacks Flair during his entrance, not even allowing him to remove the robe, in the aisle way. HHH slams Flair into the security rail and punches away at him before he sends Flair into the ring for mounted punches. HHH whips Flair into the ropes and back into an elbow. HHH kicks Flair out of the ring and grabs a chair from ringside, but Flair attacks him with a kendo stick! Flair with chops and punches to HHH through the audience, HHH gets some shots in as well and shoulder body tosses Flair to the ringside area. The referee gets a five count on Flair before HHH picks him up and takes him back down with a suplex. Flair gets up onto the apron and gets taken into the ring by a suplex from HHH. HHH with elbow drops to Flair and rights to the face of Flair in the corner, but Flair fights him off with chops and punches. HHH sends Flair outside between the middle and top ropes. HHH sends Flair face first into the steel post, before he rummages under the ring and pulls out a screwdriver and takes it to the forehead of Flair! HHH sends Flair back into the ring and continues the assault with the screw driver before Flair escapes the ring. Back in the ring HHH punches Flair down and drops some knees. Flair looks to be fighting HHH off with chops but before any legit fight can be made, HHH sends Flair back outside. HHH clears off one of the announcer’s table but Flair sends HHH right into the steel steps! The referee begins the ten count and gets to about five, before Flair gets HHH with a chop, HHH with an eye poke and spinebuster to Flair. HHH gets on the microphone and tells Flair to get up, and he’ll put him down for good, and stay down, but Flair grabs HHH in the groin! HHH slams the microphone over the head of Flair, knocking him down. HHH clears off another table and sets Flair up on it for a Pedigree, but Flair flips him over and sends him through the Spanish announcer’s table! The referee gets a nine count, with HHH getting up just in time.

HHH grabs a steel chair from ringside and puts it in the ring, but Flair drags him inside for chops. HHH off the ropes with a knee face buster. HHH knocks Flair down and grabs the steel chair and goes to hit Flair with it… but drops the chair! HHH punches away at Flair, but Flair gets right up only to get taken back down again by HHH! HHH drags Flair to the chair and goes for a Pedigree on the chair but Flair gets in a low blow! Flair gets the chair and HHH turns into a chair shot! Flair helps HHH up only to bite away at his forehead! Flair with punches to the face of HHH, and chops in the corner, punches to the chest and stomach, and a punch to the groin! HHH runs into a high elbow in the corner by Flair, Flair rolls out of the ring and trips HHH, and sends him groin first into the steel post! Flair slams HHH’s knees up against the steel pole to boot! Flair drags the steel steps away and continues to use the steel post as a weapon! Flair rolls back in and gets an elbow to the back of HHH’s knee, and bites his thigh! Flair kicks away at the legs of HHH and drops a knee to the face. Flair helps HHH up only to again send him down with an elbow to the back of the knee, and sets up for the Figure Four but HHH kicks him off! Flair goes for the Figure Four again but HHH kicks him out of the ring! Flair trips HHH again and positions him knee the steel pole again, and attacks his leg with a steel chair! Flair locks on the Figure Four and pulls on the ropes! HHH taps, but the match can’t be won via submission. Flair releases the hold and the referee begins counting yet again. HHH stops the ten count and clotheslines Flair down. HHH gets the top of the steel steps and sends them into the ring.

HHH slams the steel steps right into the face of Flair. HHH goes for another shot but Flair drop toe holds HHH face first into the steel steps! The referee begins the ten count, but both get up before the ten count. Flair gets the upper hand and irish whips HHH, but HHH comes back with a Pedigree!! Flair gets to his feet and HHH nails another Pedigree! Flair gets to his feet yet again, and gives him the bird! HHH punches away at Flair and then nails yet another Pedigree! But Flair gets up AGAIN! HHH leaves the ring and pulls out the trusty sledgehammer from underneath the ring! HHH hits Flair in-between the shoulders with the sledgehammer and gets the ten count!
Winner: Triple H

A forgotten classic between these two, and another under appreciated match, but still not the whole ten yards. It’s close, though. Nine out of Ten. Yet another match that has grown on me more over time. This feud, even though it was over with this match, would be the beginning of Ric Flair taking on more surprisingly violent and risky matches, such as Ladder Matches, in the WWE.

Backstage, Trish Stratus and Mickie James are being interviewed on WWE.com

Orton is backstage with JBL, Lashley, and Mysterio ranting. Orton calls Batista the weak link in tonight’s match, JBL agrees calls him stupid. Mysterio speaks in Spanish. Eventually, Batista turns out to be standing behind Orton, and JBL pretty much washes himself of all blame by blaming Orton. Batista says that he should be the leader in the match tonight, Mysterio agrees but JBL yells before agreeing, Lashley shakes his hand, and Orton eventually caves in. Good segment, made by JBL and Batista.

Edge and Lita come out. Edge talks that soon they will debut The Cutting Edge and says that he will cut right to the bone and ask the questions no one else can ask. Edge puts down some random local sports celebrity… I instantly lose all care for these “put down the town'” segments. Every time. Although, Edge calls the guy Mark Henry, which was a pretty nice one I must admit. Lita has a chuckle worthy bit where she is about to vouch for Edge’s testicles. Edge eventually leaves with Lita.

Video package for John Cena vs. Kurt Angle’s WWE Championship match.

Fourth Contest: WWE Championship: Guest Referee: Daivari: Kurt Angle vs. John Cena (Champion)
In a moment I’ve totally forgotten about, the “You Suck” chants get bleeped out. Lock up and Angle gets taken into the corner but Daivari does a kick five count and Cena lets go. Angle takes Cena down and targets the knee of Cena, Cena kicks him off but Angle continues the assault by locking on an inverted ankle lock only to get kicked off by Cena. Cena with a hip toss and arm bar, but Angle sends Cena into the ropes. Cena comes back with a shoulder block, off the ropes with another shoulder block before Angle rolls outside and Daivari holds Cena back. Angle kicks Cena in the gut and elbows him on the back of the neck. Angle punches away at Cena in the corner and sends Cena into the opposite corner but runs into a high boot. Cena with a hiptoss to Angle and suplex, Cena with the pinfall but Daivari refuses to count. Cena gets tripped and Angle locks on the Ankle Lock! Cena tries to get to the ropes, and eventually does but Daivari kicks his hand! Cena kicks Angle off and Angle runs into a spinebuster, and Cena slaps Daivari! Daivari goes to disqualify Cena, but Angle stops him, and Cena shoulder blocks Angle into Daivari! Angle drags Cena outside and sends him face first into the steel steps before he hits him with a belly to belly. Back in the ring, a new referee comes down and gets Angle a two count over Cena. Angle with mounted punches on Cena, before he hits a suplex and gets a pair of two counts. The crowd has duel chants going on, one for Cena and one for Angle, while Angle has a reverse bear hug on Cena. Cena elbows him off and comes off the ropes with a cross body for a two. Cena with right hands to Angle, but comes off the ropes into a belly to belly by Angle!

Angle with a knee to the head of Cena before he kicks away, and a “Cena Sucks” chant is now dominant. Angle with a backdrop on Cena for a two count. Angle hooks the knee of Cena and locks in an STF, Cena gets in elbows and Angle lets go of the knee and turns it into a rear choke hold but Cena turns it into a jawbreaker! Cena ducks a clothesline and nails a DDT! The two exchange rights and Cena comes off the ropes with a shoulder block. Clotheslines and back drop by Cena follow and Cena nails the five knuckle shuffle. Angle gets to his feet and takes out the referee! Cena goes to attack Angle but Angle low blows Cena, and calls for another referee! The straps are down and Angle nails the Angle Slam! One! Two! No! Angle sets Cena up on the top turnbuckle and nails Cena with a superplex! Angle covers but only gets another two count! Angle goes up top and jumps off with a moonsault, but misses! Cena goes for the F-U but Angle grabs the referee and pulls himself down, and clotheslines Cena! Angle takes the referee out with an uppercut, and puts Daivari back in the ring! Charles Robinson comes down the aisle and tries to enter the ring, and Cena DDTs Daivari, so Angle is stuck with Robinson! Cena with the F-U out of nowhere for the three count!
Winner and Still Champion: John Cena

I had totally forgotten about how hot this match was, and another match that is better now than it was this time last year. What is it with this show so far, everything is better than I remember it being? Seven out of Ten. It was far too quick to be anything more, and even though it felt rushed at times, it certainly put emphasis on the fact that Kurt Angle needed help like Daivari to defeat Cena, which means it was successful in telling its story.

Fifth Contest: General Manager’s Match: Eric Bischoff vs. Theodore Long w/ Palmer Cannon
Ugh. Long and short of it is that Boogeyman ends up getting involved for some crazy reason and wins the match for Long.
Winner: Theodore Long

I don’t know how they thought this would be a good idea, because this was “bowling shoe ugly”, as JR would say. -Five out of Ten.

Backstage, Batista leads his team through the rest of the SmackDown Rosters. Shawn Michaels does the same to his team through the RAW locker room. This, of course, leads to a video for the Team RAW vs. Team SmackDown Main Event.

Main Event: Survivor Series Match: Team SmackDown vs. Team RAW
Team SmackDown: Batista, JBL w/ Jillian Hall, Rey Mysterio, Bobby Lashley, and Randy Orton w/ Bob Orton.
Team RAW: Shawn Michaels, Carlito, Chris Masters, The Big Show, and Kane

Michaels and Orton start off. Lock up and Orton takes Michaels into the corner and gets counted off by the referee. Another lock up and Orton again takes Michaels into the corner. Orton slaps Michaels and Michaels replies with one of his own. Lock up and Michaels gets a headlock takedown, Orton with a headscissors making Michaels release the hold, Michaels gets a headlock, Orton with headscissors, repeat and Michaels slaps Orton down into the second turnbuckle. Michaels with chops to Orton in the corner, Orton sends Michaels into the opposite corner but runs into a high boot. Orton with an uppercut for a two count. Orton with right hands to the forehead and scoop slam follows, knee drop by Orton misses and Michaels tags out to Masters. Masters with shoulder blocks to Orton’s shoulder, but Orton rakes the eyes and gets a knee to the face of Masters. Masters sends Orton into the corner for chops before he sends him off the ropes into a shoulder block for a two, broken by JBL. Orton with an uppercut and tags out to Lashley. Lashley gets a powerslam on Masters and sends Masters into the corner, but Lashley runs right into the turnbuckles and turns into a clothesline by Masters. Masters goes for the Masterlock early on but Lashley stops him from hooking it and elbows Masters off and nails a belly to belly, before Masters tags out to Carlito! Lashley throws Carlito into the ring. Carlito with a right hand to Lashley but Lashley clotheslines him down and nails a running powerslam for a two count. Lashley sends Carlito into the corner by Lashley runs into a high elbow and Carlito tags out to Michaels. Michaels goes up top right away but gets thrown into the ring by Lashley. Scoop slam by Lashley, belly to belly follows but Carlito tries to attack Lashley from behind only to get hit with the Dominator! Lashley goes to hit Michaels with the Dominator but Kane nails him with a Chokeslam! Michaels covers Lashley for the three count and the first elimination.

Mysterio in right away with shots to Michaels. Mysterio off the ropes with a low dropkick to the knee of Michaels but Mysterio runs right into a knee by Kane. Michaels tags out to Masters. Masters in with elbow drops and mounted punches to Mysterio. Masters picks up and drops Mysterio with a military press, before tagging in Kane. Kane misses an elbow drop and Mysterio with some low dropkicks and standing moonsault for a quick pinfall attempt. Mysterio runs right into a boot by Kane. Kane sends Mysterio right into the corner and works the lower back of Mysterio. Kane with a backbreaker to Mysterio for a two count. Kane sends Mysterio back into the corner and picks him up in a bear hug, but Mysterio escapes with head butts and bites the forehead! Kane throws Mysterio off and Mysterio slides under Kane and tags out to Batista! Batista in with spears in the corner to Kane and a running clothesline in the opposing corner, but Batista runs into a high elbow and Kane attacks the bandages of Batista before he knocks Team SmackDown off of the apron. Kane turns around into a spear by Batista! Michaels and Carlito into spears, Batista throws Masters out of the ring! Show in and goes for a Showstopper Chokeslam to Batista but Batista with a low blow to Show. 619 to Kane, Kane turns into the Spinebuster by Batista for the elimination. Batista turns around into the Showstopper Chokeslam for a two count, very close to a three. Show knocks Team SmackDown off of the apron, as he and Kane nail Batista with a double chokeslam for the three count. JBL goes for a Clothesline From Hell on Big Show, but Show catches him in a choke! JBL with a low kick and JBL gets an eye poke and comes off of the second rope with a cross body but Show catches him and nails him with a scoop slam. Show with a big boot to Orton and catches Mysterio, who jumped off of the top rope, and throws him into the corner. Orton drops Show throat first off of the top rope and JBL connects with the Clothesline From Hell… but Show is still moving around! Mysterio with the 619! Mysterio tags out to Orton, who comes in with the RKO! Orton tags back out to JBL, who connects again with the Clothesline From Hell and… Show is still moving! Mysterio in with the seated senton for the three count, finally eliminating Show!

A three on three brawl starts out, with JBL hitting Michaels with a fall away slam on the outside. Masters and Mysterio are the legal men. Masters tags out to Carlito. Carlito with the suplex to Mysterio for a two count. Carlito stomps away on Mysterio and blatantly chokes him, leg drop for another two count. Carlito locks in a sleeper hold. Michaels is out cold on the outside. The referee drops Mysterio’s arm twice, with Mysterio keeping it up the third time, and getting to his feet and elbowing away at Carlito. Carlito sends Mysterio into the ropes but runs into a boot and a lionsault but Carlito catches him, only to get nailed with a Clothesline From Hell by JBL who got in a blind tag! JBL gets the three count over Carlito! JBL takes it right to Masters with right hands, but Masters gets in a suplex for a two count. JBL with an eye poke, Mysterio tags himself in and comes in with a cross body off of the top rope which fails to take Masters down until JBL connects with a big boot, getting Mysterio a two count. Mysterio gets sent into the corner by Masters and Masters follows up with a spear, he goes for a second but runs into the steel post! Mysterio connects with the 619 and top rope leg drop, to eliminate Masters! JBL sends Michaels face first into the RAW announcer’s table before he sends him into the ring. Mysterio gets sent into the ropes and ducks Michaels but turns into a chop by Michaels. Mysterio with a drop toe hold and connects with the 619! Mysterio up top but jumps off into a Sweet Chin Music! Michaels covers Mysterio for the elimination! JBL comes in with a Clothesline From Hell attempt but Michaels ducks and nails the Sweet Chin Music for the pinfall! It’s down to Orton and Michaels.

Orton gets ready to hit the RKO and Michaels gets up, Orton goes for it but Michaels pushes him into the ropes and goes for the Sweet Chin Music but Orton rolls outside. Michaels gets a vaulting body press to Orton on the outside! Michaels rolls Orton back into the ring. Michaels gets sent into the ropes but comes back with an elbow to Orton, and jumps up to his feet. Orton to his feet and gets hit with an inverted atomic drop and clotheslined down twice, Michaels with a scoop slam before he goes up top and jumps off with a Diving Elbow, which connects! JBL is still at ringside and grabs a steel chair. Michaels sets up for the Sweet Chin Music but JBL rolls in with the chair, JBL misses with the chairshot and gets hit with Sweet Chin Music, but Michaels turns around into an RKO! One! Two! Three!
Winners: Team SmackDown
Survivors: Randy Orton

A fun match, which is something that seems to be taken for granted most of the time. That’s something I love about the Survivor Series matches, they’re usually fun. Certainly not the best match on the card, but thanks to the announcer’s being so blunt with each other I feel like it was a perfectly acceptable main event, and it helps that the match didn’t drag. When this match was done, Chris Masters and Bobby Lashley where still rather green but most of their flaws where masked, although Lashley had far too much time in the ring and dominance to be someone who was eliminated rather easy, and Michaels’ miracle return was rather silly considering, but that’s wrestling for you. Seven out of Ten. I enjoyed this. Afterwards, all of the SmackDown mid carders come down to celebrate with Orton. They hoist him up on their shoulder but the bells begin! The druids bring out a casket and it opens to reveal the Undertaker, but by open I of course mean it gets struck by lighting and ignited on fire. Of course. The Orton duo make a run for it and Taker destroys some random wrestlers. Taker poses in the ring as Survivor Series fades out.

So, Survivor Series 2005 comes in at;
Chris Benoit vs. Booker T: 7/10
Trish Stratus vs. Melina: 7/10
Triple H vs. Ric Flair: 9/10
Kurt Angle vs. John Cena: 7/10
Eric Bischoff vs. Theodore Long: -5/10
Team SmackDown vs. Team RAW: 7/10
Survivor Series 2005: 32/60

The Inside Pulse
Some good plus matches totally forgotten by the context and the stupid decisions that, sadly, needed to be made. Rendered almost totally useless by all the RAW vs. SmackDown matches that surrounded the PPV (Taboo Tuesday, the Eddie Guerrero Tribute Shows, Armageddon, and the Royal Rumble) even though the inter-branded factor was the main selling point, the fact that the opening match was done six times later (and had been done several times before) in the following months, the entire PPV almost depended on one single match, the Survivor Series Match because it was simply a much more hectic inter-branded match that had been seen in a while, and even the result of that was rendered almost useless with the Undertaker seemingly destroying the better half of SmackDown afterwards. All that effort to make SmackDown look like the superior brand only to have Undertaker make it look like one man could bull dozer through the roster. Otherwise a good, or at least acceptable, and over looked wrestling event if you’re watching it for the wrestling specifically instead of a solid sports entertainment show and definitely worth picking up if you see it cheap.

Enjoy Survivor Series 2006, ladies and gents!