WWF Survivor Series Showdown (November 24, 1991)

Original Airdate: November 24, 1991 (taped November 11)

From Utica, New York; Your Hosts are Vince McMahon and Bobby Heenan

Earthquake v Big Boss Man: Why does Vince sound like Lee Marshall tonight? Boss Man charges in, but gets clobbered, and Earthquake works him over. Elbowdrop misses, allowing Boss Man to get fired up, and he tags Earthquake with a big boot. Series of rights and lefts topple the big man, and Boss Man keeps unloading until Earthquake is tied in the ropes. That draws Irwin R Schyster out, and the distraction allows Earthquake to nail Boss Man from behind. IRS is quick to add a cheap shot, of course, and the Earthquake goes to work. Meanwhile, Vince puts his hand in our pockets, telling us to dial in to a hotline to vote on whether President Jack Tunney should reinstate Randy Savage. Yeah, I wonder how people would feel about that? Earthquake dumps him over the top, and starts working Boss Man’s right hand, to prevent him from using the nightstick. Interesting psychology. Boss Man manages a leg-feed enzuigiri for two, so IRS distracts him again. Boss Man fights that off, so Typhoon and Jake Roberts run out to back Earthquake up, but they’re quickly met by WWF Tag Team Champions the Legion of Doom! The whole thing is called as DQ win for Boss Man at 11:24. Even though you could see that finish coming a mile away, the actual execution was really weak. Bad match, regardless. ¼*

Recently WWF Champion Hulk Hogan was a guest on the Funeral Parlor, when Ric Flair came out to confront him, cutting a brilliant promo on him to set up their dream match. This was classic Flair, complete with the NWA World title belt - in one of the only times you’ll ever see the classic Big Gold belt and Winged Eagle together. Hulk cuts his own promo, but he’s rudely interrupted by Undertaker, who clobbers Hulk with the urn, and chokes him down until Randy Savage and Roddy Piper can make the save with chairs! This was an awesome segment

Blake Beverly v Luke: Blake attacks from behind while Luke is doing… Luke things… and unloads in the corner. Cross corner whip, but Luke reverses, and it’s butt biting time. Shoulderblock earns a nice oversell from Blake, and Beverly bails. Blake stalls, until Genius can run interference, and Luke chases him around. Inside, Blake manages a corner whip, and a backbreaker follows. Oklahoma stampede gets him two, but a 2nd rope headbutt drop misses, and Luke schoolboys at 6:42. Too bad they didn’t book Beau/Butch, this would have been four-stars. DUD

Gene Okerlund brings WWF Tag Team Champions the Legion of Doom and Big Boss Man out, and they’re short a partner (as Sid Justice has been injured), but are ready to go to Survivor Series even if it’s handicap rules. But, they’d much rather go it with Randy Savage as their replacement partner, if Jack Tunney would just approve it. Better call that Hotline, kids! It’s not like it’s your money, dial now!

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Yesterday on Superstars, Jake Roberts cut a venom laced promo on Randy Savage, and Macho took the bait - charging the ring, and getting himself attacked by Jake’s cobra. I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen the full segment, and not the clipped version that they showed at the top of Survivor Series. It’s a tremendous promo from Roberts, and an incredible performance from Savage (with great supporting work from Miss Elizabeth and Roddy Piper). Still one of the best, most memorable segments of all time 

Gene brings Jake Roberts, Irwin R Schyster, and the Natural Disasters out, and Gene is certain that Randy Savage will be reinstated for Survivor Series. So call in that order now, just as soon as you finish paying for the Hotline call. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? They don’t deliver, and make you order yet another show a few days later to see Savage get his hands on Jake? I mean, how likely is that? Not like it’s ever happened before. Anyway, another strong promo from Roberts here, though not on par with the one from Superstars. The other guys are just window dressing here

Million Dollar Belt Match: Virgil v Ted DiBiase: Ted schools him early on, but a criss cross ends in the champ hiptossing him. Again, and a schoolboy follows for two. Small package gets another two, so DiBiase bails to the outside to break the momentum, but still ends up caught in a headlock on the way back in. Virgil takes him to the mat in the hold, but Ted fights to a vertical base, and gets into the corner to force a break. Cross corner whip, but Virgil reverses, so Ted throws an elbow to block a charge. Ted dumps him to the outside for Sensational Sherri to attack, and a vertical suplex gets him two on the way back in. He grounds the champion in a chinlock, as Vince accuses him of a hair pull, and Heenan, of course, dives right on that. Too bad it wasn’t Jesse Ventura, that would have become a classic exchange, on par with the ‘anything’s legal outside of the ring’ one with Tony Schiavone. DiBiase with a fistdrop for two, and it’s back to the chinlock. Bodyslam sets up a 2nd rope back elbowdrop, but Virgil dodges, since DiBiase can never hit anything off the middle rope. Virgil makes a comeback, and the Russian legsweep gets him two. Corner whip sets up a ten-punch count, as Repo Man shows up to steal the belt. Virgil goes after him, so Repo bashes him with it, and Ted hooks the leg at 10:48. This was perfectly competent, and exciting enough, even if pretty basic. Afterwards, Ted humiliates Virgil, so Tito Santana runs in to make the save. * ¼ 

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Gene brings Jim Duggan out to talk about a replacement partner since Jim Neidhart is out of Survivor Series, and Hacksaw introduces Sgt. Slaughter - who is now back to being a babyface and proud American. That was a really abrupt about face, and felt like it needed a lot more time before anyone was going to accept him in the role again. I mean, he was literally burning the flag a few months before this, and now we’re supposed to buy him as an American hero again?

On Superstars, Gene brought WWF Champion Hulk Hogan, and people are saying that Hulkamania will be dead and buried after crossing paths with Undertaker at Survivor Series. Thankfully, Hulk still has enough self confidence at this point to avoid burning any issues of the Observer 

Roddy Piper v Hercules: Scuffling to start, and Piper tries a takedown, but Hercules tags him with an elbow to put Roddy down. Hercules works a double knucklelock, so Piper goes to the eyes, and starts slugging at him. Hercules gets control in the corner, and dumps Roddy to the outside, but Piper uses a slingshot sunset flip for two on the way back in. Hercules tries a backdrop, but Piper kicks him in the kisser to block, and a bulldog gets Hot Rod the pin at 4:44. I mean, you weren’t expecting this to be, like, good, were you? DUD

Gene brings Ric Flair, Ted DiBiase, Mountie, and Warlord out for more hype. This was pretty weak, though

BUExperience: For a hype and build up show, the two best parts (Hogan/Flair, Savage/Roberts) had nothing to do with the actual Survivor Series card (and, sadly, not the WrestleMania VIII card, either). This was okay enough, but hardly essential.