WWF Survivor Series 1992

Survivor Series 1992 saw the WWF reboot the entire concept. This year, instead of adding a standard match to the elimination festivities – they ran a standard card, with only a token elimination match – instead deciding to give fans more satisfying conclusions to ongoing feuds.

From Richfield, Ohio; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Bobby Heenan – because where better to reboot Survivor Series than the same arena the entire concept started out to begin with?


Opening Match: The Headshrinkers v High Energy: Samu starts with Owen Hart, and tosses him around a bit, giving Owen a chance to oversell. He uses his speed to take control, unloading with a series of dropkicks, and Koko B. Ware tags in to hit a couple of his own. Fatu gives it a try, but Koko makes the mistake of trying to attack a Samoan's head - and gets clobbered. The Headshrinkers cut the ring in half, but get distracted by Koko's neon parachute pants, and Samu misses a Stinger Splash, allowing the tag to Owen. He's a house of arson (which is ironic, considering he was nearly a fireman), hitting dropkicks, bodypresses, and spinkicks. He gets overwhelmed two-on-one, however, and a Fatu flying splash finishes at 7:38. They weren't reinventing the wheel here, but it was an adequate opener. I appreciated Koko's sell job of the heat segment - not coming in to help Owen during the 'house of fire' comeback - as most babyfaces usually do run back in, completely neglecting the fact that they were just beat up for the entire match. ¾*

Nightstick Match: The Big Bossman v Nailz: A Nightstick Match is a nightstick on a pole - once it's retrieved, it can be used as a weapon. This came about when Nailz (a guy doing in ex-con gimmick - who ironically would attack Vince McMahon in real-life not long after this, and end up in court), came to the WWF for revenge on Bossman, claiming he was his guard in prison, and that he abused him with the stick during that time. Why Nailz continued to wear an orange DOC jumpsuit after his release, though... well... that one was never explained. Maybe the guy could move on easier, and be a lot happier if he just got himself a nice pair of corduroys. They go right at it, with Nailz choking away, but Bossman stops a stick climb attempt. Slugfest won by Bossman, but Nailz slams him off of the top when he goes for the stick. Backbreaker, and Nailz grabs a chinlock. Yep, I know if it were me, trying to kill the dude who brutally abused me in prison, that's what I'd go with. A cuddly chinlock. Nailz makes another attempt, but Bossman crotches him on the top, and Bossman grabs it. He gets off a couple of shots, but Nailz gets hold of it, and retaliates. He gets too jazzy, however, and the Bossman slam finishes at 5:43. The match was tame, though as I kid - watching on VHS in an era that didn't contain tons of blood and gimmick matches - I remember worrying that it was going to be something crazy. 'Object on a Pole' matches were all the rage in the fall of '92 - with WCW also running one at Halloween Havoc - but this wasn't much of anything. It was all punch-kick, but even that lacked the intensity that a blowoff of this nature needed. Further, neither man properly getting to use the stick for revenge really hurt the match, and concept. Luckily, the bookers realized the lack of chemistry going in – and had them wrap it up quickly, instead of saddling everyone with fifteen minutes of awkward grappling. ¼*

Rick Martel v Tatanka: Martel had stolen Tatanka's ceremonial eagle feathers to set this one up. Martel slaps him around to start, so Tatanka responds with a backdrop, and a pair of dropkicks to put Martel on the outside. Martel regroups, and catches him with a stungun back inside. He grabs a long front-facelock - less as a resthold, and more to allow the crowd to turn their attention to Doink (at this point a weird clown) (okay, that won’t help you. Try again – at this point a weird evil clown, not yet officially debuted, but showing up at ringside during matches, and taunting kids). Eventually, after everyone's noticed, Tatanka wrestles out, and he unloads with tomahawk chops. Flying version, and the Samoan drop finishes at 11:04. This went along fine, but the Doink section caused them to literally stop, which, well, literally stopped the action - to a grinding halt - for a good five minutes. Dull match, overall, as Doink was like some fancy set of golf clubs your friends get, and put out at an otherwise fun party. You know that party ain’t gonna move along until everybody stops to look at them – and your friend will front-facelock you, if necessary. ¼*

Randy Savage and Mr. Perfect v Ric Flair and Razor Ramon: Kinda odd this going on mid-show, considering it was promoted as the main event - over the title match. But, then, when did Savage ever get to go on last during this run? WrestleMania VIII, SummerSlam '92, here - all main event matches shuffled into the midcard - and then he was shuttled into a broadcast position by '93. No wonder the guy bailed to WCW in '94. Great angle here, too, as Flair got the WWF Title off of Savage in September after playing mind games with him, so to up the ante, Savage recruited Flair's 'executive consultant' Mr. Perfect – though that part of the angle was re-written into the story quickly when The Ultimate Warrior bailed on the WWF (time 2 of 3) a couple of weeks before the show, originally scheduled to be Savage's partner. This angle is actually far superior, and also gives us Perfect's return to the ring for the first time since SummerSlam '91. Perfect and Ramon start, and Perfect out smarts him - spitting at him to goad him into charging - and then taking control. Nice bit, as Ramon was still a 'newcomer' at this point. Flair tags in, and Perfect backdrops him. Dropkick, and he unloads with chops. Flair flip sends him right into Savage, and he tags in for a flying axehandle. Series of jabs, and the hangman's clothesline draws Razor in - so he gets one, too! It was a war of attrition maneuver, however, as the interference was strictly distraction, enough to allow Flair to jump him, and they cut the ring in half - focusing on the back, and cheating outrageously. Perfect - the former Flair henchman - gets sick having the tables turned on him with Flair's evil ring psychology, and teases walking out. Ramon chokeslam gets two, as Perfect halfheartedly makes the save - yelling at Savage as much as Flair and Ramon. Flair goes up top, but Savage catches him with a slam, and finally gets the tag. Perfect's a house of arson - unloading on Ramon. Necksnap! Atomic drop! Kneelift! But the heels double team, and Savage is still too battered to make the save. Razor's Edge, but Perfect counters with a backdrop. Perfect-plex, but the referee is bumped, and Flair breaks it up. He gets one for his troubles, but Ramon breaks that one up, and they gang up on Perfect until the referee throws it out at 16:29 – officially a disqualification win for Savage and Perfect. Savage comes back to life, wielding a chair (like super-zombie Savage!), makes the save, and it's turkeys for everyone! Match was a fuckton of fun - with wonderful selling from Savage, engaging drama from Perfect, and hard work all around. Not a classic, but certainly a solid, well worked match, suitable of its status on the card. ** ¾

Yokozuna v Virgil: Virgil bounces off Yoko a couple of times, so he tries a pair of dropkicks, but eats a savate kick to stop that effort. Belly to belly suplex draws 'ooohs' from the crowd, and a sidewalk slam hits. Legdrop, but he misses a blind charge, and Virgil makes the mistake of trying a schoolboy – getting sat on. Banzai Drop finishes at 3:34. This was just a squash - only weeks after Yoko's debut. ¼* Yokozuna still looked somewhat human at this point, as he was just a BIG big man - not yet becoming morbidly obese, and immobile. Afterwards, Virgil does a stretcher job, and warns the WWF roster, and particularly Champion Bret Hart, of the threat that is Yokozuna.

Survivor Series Elimination Match: Money Inc and The Beverly Brothers v The Natural Disasters and The Nasty Boys: In the only Survivor Series match of the night, they pay tribute to the concept in two ways: holding the match altogether, and the fact that this is double-elimination rules - a la the 20-man Tag Series matches from '87 and '88. Also interesting is that everybody in the match was a heel the year before - some of them even teaming (Beverly's/Nasties, IRS/Natural Disasters). Typhoon and Blake Beverly start off, and Blake tries to use speed, but the guy's a typhoon, and shit, so he gets... um... waved. I don’t know. Call FEMA. Learn more. Brian Knobs gets tagged, hitting a faceslam, and Jerry Sags hits a pump handle slam, but they keep losing focus, asking for Money Inc to tag in. Ted DiBiase obliges (after the Beverly's sack Sags' sack), and hits a suplex. Money Inc cut the ring in half, but stupidly pass to the Beverly Brothers (come on - why would DiBiase recruit them?! Even at nine years old, I thought of them as a joke), and Earthquake 'quakes Blake at 9:25. DiBiase has a special all white outfit on for the occasion, though, so he tells IRS not to worry about it - he's got it. The power of post-Labor Day whites doesn't seem to help him, however, as he gets overpowered by the entire face team, and bails to IRS. IRS side suplexes Earthquake for two, and they cut the ring in half on the big man. DiBiase flying axehandle misses, however, and Typhoon gets the tag. He's a house of water (a water destroying house?), but a smooth bit of double teaming trips him up, and IRS pins him at 15:45. Sags immediately capitalizes, however - not even allowing IRS to get to his feet - before diving in with a cradle, and that's that at 15:50. Good ending, to a so-so match – as the main issues were the Disasters (just dropped the WWF Tag Titles to Money Inc a few weeks before) and the Nasties (wanted the belts, but the manager they shared with Money Inc wouldn’t get them a shot – so they turned face) were dealt with adequately, but most of the action was of the punch-kick variety. Still, good use of the one-and-only Series match of the evening. ¾*

Coffin Match: The Undertaker v Kamala: This was the WWF's first try at a Casket Match, to find specialty suitable for The Undertaker, but at this point it's still called 'Coffin,' and it ends by pinfall - with the loser then shoved into the box. Kamala sells the fear of the coffin  brilliantly - eyes bugging out of his head - and practically shitting himself. So, yeah, not exactly a Mankind-level threat to the Undertaker here. Bell rings, and Kamala literally runs away, but 'Taker stalks, and hits the ropewalk forearm. They spill to the outside, and Kamala tries weapons (steps! Chair!), but 'Taker has the power of the urn, and shit, so no go. Kamala tries a bunch of slams (though, really, if chair shots and steel steps didn't work...), and some splashes, but shockingly, 'Taker sits up from that, too. 'Taker clocks him with the urn, and we're done at 5:27 - in a very muted ending. Seriously - no jumping clothesline? No chokeslam? No tombstone? Afterwards, 'Taker rolls him into the coffin, and methodically nails it shut. Match was certainly a DUD, though they kept it short, and inoffensive.

Main Event: WWF Title Match: Bret Hart v Shawn Michaels: This was thrown together, and received very little build going in (most of the promotion focused on Savage/Perfect v Flair/Ramon), but is technically on top, as Hart had recently grabbed the WWF Title from Ric Flair at a house show, and the they slotted newly crowned Intercontinental Champion Michaels in as his opponent, after a series of departures left the roster a bit thinner than they had hoped. They fight like two rabid dogs over a collar-and-elbow - with the intensity Bossman and Nailz needed earlier, in a match where there isn't even an issue other than the basic 'both guys want the belt.' Hart wins with a takedown, and Michaels flips out - shoving him. Bret with an armbar, so Shawn, desperate, rips at Hart's hair, and reverses, only to be outwrestled again, and re-reversed. He tries to go for the hair again, but the referee is wise to it this time - keeping an eye on him - so Shawn jockeys around, grabs a handful, and reverses - but Bret counters into a hammerlock. Shawn can't do the hair trick from that position, so he goes for the ropes instead, but Bret keeps him planted. He manages a reversal, so Bret counters by dumping him to the floor. Shawn gets frustrated, gunning it back in without thinking strategy first, and Bret hits a bodypress for two. Sunset flip gets two, and he locks him right back in the armbar. Shawn gets sick of it, and outright decks him, but his arm is gone, and Bret easily manages to ground him back into another armbar. Shawn bails to the ropes, but Bret holds firm, so Shawn desperately hits a stungun. Battle in the corner ends with Bret getting posted - evening them up on the arm damage - and Shawn capitalizes with a single-arm DDT. Bret takes the chest-first corner bump for two, and Shawn grabs a long chinlock – officially taking the match down a notch. Would it have killed you to work the shoulder? Grab an armbar, if you really need a break - but chinlock? Still, it's a good day when Shawn Michaels is the weak link in any match. Bret wrestles out, and hits a swinging neckbreaker, but gets caught in a front-facelock. He claws his way out again, and hits a bulldog. 2^nd rope sailing elbow misses, however, getting Shawn two, and he hits a diving back elbow. Bret with an inside cradle for two, and a side suplex. Slingshot sends Shawn to the post, and in an interesting turnaround from future babyface Michaels matches, Bret does a version of the kip-up, signaling his comeback. He unloads, crotching Shawn on the ropes, and hits a backdrop for two. Russian legsweep gets two. Backbreaker, and the 2^nd rope elbow for two. Superplex for two. Rollup, but Shawn counters by dumping him. He doesn't have a moment to rest – the count building – and realizing he won’t win the title that way, he follows, and posts Bret before 'helping' him back in. Inside, he continues the assault to the back with a backdrop, and hits the Superkick – but this is still 1992 – and that one wouldn't get over as a finisher for about another two years (he was still using a modified side suplex at this point), so he doesn't even cover. He hits the Teardrop Suplex, but it only gets two. Criss cross, and Hart tries to catch him with a bodypress, but misses, and crotches himself in the ropes. Shawn tries a 2^nd rope flying dropkick, but gets caught coming down, and the Sharpshooter retains at 26:40. Match started off as a masterful psychological exhibition, but hit a wall when Michaels grabbed that chinlock – and then followed with the front-facelock. It got a lot better towards the end, once they started throwing comebacks at each other, but that long, dull portion certainly keeps it at ‘very good,’ and not in the upper echelon of wrestling classics. Michaels was still developing as a single at this point – as he could work a great high-flying tag style, but hadn’t quite mastered carrying main event-level matches, or cultivated a proper finisher yet. ****.

BUExperience: The format change was quite welcome – as with the thin roster available at the time, I shutter to think of the four-on-four combinations we would have had to sit through had they stuck with the usual. Further, the change allowed them to satisfyingly blowoff feuds in the right places – such as Bossman/Nailz, Tatanka/Martel, Undertaker/Kamala – as opposed to the standard Survivor Series scheme of ‘tune in next time!!!’ type-booking. The booking in general was good – giving proper time to better workers, and keeping guys like Nailz, Kamala, and Yokozuna short.

The atmosphere was also a lot of fun – with Bobby Heenan a delight on commentary (as he always was during Flair’s run), and Flair, Savage, Perfect, and Ramon spending most of the evening cutting dueling promos on each other. Fun stuff. ***