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Random Network Reviews: Survivor Series 2005

July 25, 2015 | Posted by Kevin Pantoja
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Random Network Reviews: Survivor Series 2005  

Survivor Series 2005
November 27th, 2005 | Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan | Attendance: 15,000

The Survivor Series is always one of my favorite events. The big stories this time around seem to be the return of the Undertaker and a Raw vs. Smackdown traditional Survivor Series match. Batista and John Cena were still in the midst of title reigns that began way back at WrestleMania.

Our opening video package focuses on four things simultaneously. The Undertaker returning, the WWE Title match between John Cena and Kurt Angle, Ric Flair’s feud with Triple H and the Raw vs. Smackdown match. We have two commentary teams as Smackdown is represented by Michael Cole and Tazz, while Raw features Joey Styles, Jerry Lawler and Jonathan Coachman.

Match One in Best of Seven Series
Booker T w/ Sharmell vs. Chris Benoit

These two had a pretty legendary Best of Seven during their WCW days and this was the WWE recreating it. Chris Benoit outwrestles Booker early, gaining a mental advantage. After reviewing the Booker/Angle match during their odd feud over Sharmell, I’m pleased that this is just about the United States Title. Booker targets the midsection with side slams and the good old fashioned abdominal stretch. He goes do an arm related rest hold that comes off odd since it doesn’t fit with everything else. He does go to the back again, working Benoit over for a while. It looks like Benoit is going to turn the tide as he hits a German, but he then runs into a high kick. Even with that, Benoit busts out more Germans and the crowd is pretty hot. He does the throat cut signal, which is always weird to watch knowing what would happen in 2007. Booker fights him up top to avoid the diving headbutt, is knocked off but still moves when Benoit tries the headbutt. Booker then rolls him over with his feet on the ropes AND with Sharmell holding his legs.

Winner: Booker T in 14:39
Nothing on some of their original Best of Seven series but still a solid match. Booker worked a few too many rest holds to really make this enjoyable, though it made sense for the most part. The cheap finish would usually be frowned upon but as the first match in the series, it’s okay. **¾

Backstage, Eric Bischoff is wished good luck by Mr. McMahon. They bring up the Montreal Screwjob and stuff because it’s Survivor Series. Bischoff says he’s going to screw Cena. Cena of course, shows up behind Bischoff and cracks jokes. Then he sees Vince, gives him a pound and Vince drops the N word. Booker T hears it on the side and is like “TELL ME HE DIDN’T JUST SAY THAT”. Ridiculous and only done so Vince can show the world that he can say it and get away with it.

WWE Women’s Championship
Trish Stratus (c) w/ Mickie James vs. Melina w/ MNM

I loved the Mickie James/Trish Stratus dynamic. Since Melina had Trish abducted by MNM to get this shot, Trish is aggressive early, even diving out onto all three MNM members. Interestingly, since this is a cross brand match, Tazz and Joey Styles do commentary. Melina targets the back as she starts to show off the skill that would lead her to future title runs. She is still pretty green here though. Melina gets into a catfight with Mickie outside, which somehow doesn’t cause a DQ. MNM try to sneak in and hit the Snapshot on Trish but the referee catches them red handed and ejects them. Melina busts out a nice surfboard, as she is surprising me here for sure. Trish does her cool Matrix thing, but Melina has it scouted and clubs her down. Trish gets her handstand hurricanrana in the corner and a spinebuster for two. Chick Kick misses and Melina counters the Stratusfaction. She goes for a shoulder block, but Mickie moves Trish out of harm’s way. Trish then goes all Rick Steiner with a second rope bulldog to retain.

Winner and Still WWE Women’s Champion: Trish Stratus in 6:31
Big props to Melina for surprising the hell out of me here. Trish doesn’t get enough credit for good she became, getting a very good match out of Melina at this point in her career. The Mickie interaction worked to build that angle and Melina looked great. Makes me wish Trish stuck around longer as she could have done great work with more girls. **¾

Last Man Standing Match
Ric Flair vs. Triple H

These two had a bloody steel cage match at the previous Pay-Per-View. Ric Flair is the Intercontinental Champion but it isn’t on the line here due to the personal nature here. To show this, Triple H attacks during Flair’s entrance. Flair busts out a kendo stick to wail on Triple H and they go into the crowd. It’s short lived, which is good since I think too much crowd fighting can hurt. Our first “count” spot comes after Flair takes a suplex on the outside. We get sadistic when Triple H gets a screwdriver and drives it into Flair’s skull. Flair is oozing red, more than usual. The screwdriver stuff is sick and commentary, mainly Joey Styles, does an excellent sell job on it. Flair gets in some chops, but he is an absolute mess. He tosses HHH into the steps. Triple H shrugs it off with a spinebuster on the outside. He takes a microphone to taunt Flair, so Ric responds with the TESTICULAR CLAW! A mic shot breaks it, so Triple H goes for a Pedigree through the announce table but Flair reverses and sends him through it with a backdrop. OHMYGOD from Joey Styles. Inside, Triple H is back in charge with a chair. Flair hits R2 to reverse a Pedigree on it again with a low blow before using the chair himself. I thought he’d go for the ring spot figure four but instead just pulls Triple H’s groin into the post like eight times. It’s like the body part he chose to work over in the match was Triple H’s penis. The Figure Four gets applied, Flair uses the ropes for leverage which is smart since it’s no DQ. It doesn’t keep Hunter down, as he gets steel steps and takes out Flair again. He finally connects with the Pedigree but Flair is up. He is up after a second and flips HHH the bird. Flair eats a third Pedigree and is up again, so HHH put shim down for good with a great looking sledgehammer shot to the back of the neck.

Winner: Triple H in 26:57
Stiff, bloody and violent, which is exactly what a Last Man Standing match should be. They told a great story and both guys came out looking really good. Commentary gets points for being on point throughout. My biggest gripe is that it went on a bit too long. It seemed like if they shaved a few minutes off, it could have been a classic. ****

Backstage, Team Smackdown has a discussion. JBL is gushing over Randy Orton, who has won at the previous two Survivor Series, while Rey Mysterio and Bobby Lashley are kind of just like, “whatever”. World Champion Batista shows up, saying he should lead. Rey and Bobby agree, JBL protests but then is like “sure, just don’t kick my ass.” Orton reluctantly agrees too.

Edge and Lita appear, unscheduled. Commentary ponders if he is going to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase. He says he’s going to debut the Cutting Edge soon before turning to Dmitri Young in the front row. Young was a member of the Detroit Tigers at the time. Cheap heat works doesn’t it? He rags on Detroit sports although it’s funny that the Tigers would go on to make the World Series. Promos on PPVs are not something I enjoy, but I did get to see Lita, who was stupid hot during this era.

WWE Championship
John Cena (c) vs. Kurt Angle

Our special guest referee is Kurt Angle’s buddy Daivari. A back and forth exchange starts this and when John Cena gets the upper hand, Daivari shows clear favoritism. I’d say this show is a contender for first show where the Cena hate started to shine. Daivari doesn’t count early and the fans pop for it, even more when Angle gets the Ankle Lock applied. Cena gets free and slaps Daivari, who goes to disqualify him but Angle stops him. Daivari gets taken out, so a fair official comes down as Angle tosses Cena around. “Cena Sucks” chants are loud. Cena begins the rally but the crowd wants none of it. Angle takes out the fair ref and low blows Cena. THE STRAPS ARE DOWN! A new ref comes down to count a near fall after the Angle Slam. Kurt is so frustrated that he takes out another referee until Charles Robinson, a Smackdown official, comes out. Cena hits the FU and Robinson counts the 1-2-3.

Winner and Still WWE Champion: John Cena in 13:56
I had hopes that this would be better. John Cena has usually been able to deliver with the right opponent, and Kurt should be that guy but the copious amounts of shenanigans took away from what we had here. **

Eric Bischoff vs. Theodore Long
Here we have a General Manager vs. General Manager match with cross brand commentary again. Smackdown commentary has been playing up the “no respect” card tonight. Smackdown is basically Rodney Dangerfield. Since they aren’t wrestlers, they stall a ton as the fans chant “boring.” There are two referees in this thing. Bischoff chokes Teddy, who uses his shoe to break it. That’s kind of a heel thing to do isn’t it? Out comes Smackdown’s newest Superstar, the Boogeyman, making his debut I think. He hits the pump handle slam on Bischoff and Teddy pins to win. Why wasn’t there a DQ?

Winner: Theodore Long in 5:25
That was a total mess. This show has been pretty good so far, but that was pretty terribly executed. There was a lot more that could have been done to promote the brand war. DUD

In a cool moment, Team Raw and Team Smackdown are both shown walking backstage and their respective locker rooms cheer them on.

Team Raw (Shawn Michaels, Big Show, Carlito, Chris Masters and Kane) vs. Team Smackdown (Batista, Bobby Lashley, Randy Orton, JBL and Rey Mysterio)
Based off of pure talent, Team Smackdown has a pretty clear advantage. Commentary is absolutely at war during the entrances. Tazz seems especially angry to the point where I expect some NAPOLEON RAMPAGE! Shawn Michaels and Randy Orton start things, having a solid back and forth. We get a cool moment when Chris Masters and Lashley come face to face. Remember when these guys were going to be big deals? Lashley wins out, so Masters tags Carlito who wants none of him. I’d be able to take Lashley more seriously if he didn’t have earrings on. Lashley hits the Dominator on Carlito but can’t get it on the legal man, Michaels. Kane chokeslams him from the apron, Shawn covers and he’s surprisingly first out at 7:17. Tazz is lighting up Lawler for his dated jokes. Mysterio gets worked over until Batista gets the hot tag. He is basically a mummy here as he’s all bandaged up from recent attacks by Raw. Rey sneaks in a 619, followed by a Batista spinebuster and Kane is eliminated at 11:41. Before Kane leaves, he and Big Show double chokeslam Batista to rid the match of the World Champion at 12:27.

Big Show ends up taking a bit of a beating, though he gets up after a Clothesline from Hell. JBL tags Mysterio who hits a 619 and tags Orton for an RKO. One more Clothesline from Hell and the West Coast Pop dumps Show at 14:28. We’re down to a 3 on 3 situation. A big brawl ensues, causing Michaels to be down outside for a bit. Carlito does some decent work until he runs into a Clothesline from Hell and is gone after 17:35. Chris Masters enters and survives some near falls. However, he falls victim to a 619 and springboard leg drop at 19:12, leaving it all up to HBK. If you recall, he had a phenomenal comeback performance in 2003 so he’s not new to being the last man remaining. Shawn is rolled inside and takes the 619, but when Rey goes to springboard in, Shawn hits him with a devastating Sweet Chin Music and he’s gone at 20:30. JBL runs in for a sneaky Clothesline from Hell, only for Shawn to duck and nail another Sweet Chin Music! JBL is eliminated at 20:44 and it’s down to a one on one situation. RKO is blocks but Orton dodges Chin Music. Shawn dives out onto Orton and starts to his that signature offense. The way Shawn sells the effects of the match so far is magnificent. He hits the elbow and tunes up the band, but JBL gets involved. Shawn takes him out but turns into an RKO to end this.

Winners: Team Smackdown (Sole Survivor: Randy Orton) in 24:01
Really fun traditional Survivor Series match. Shawn Michaels is spectacular in these matches and everyone was used very well. I think it could have been better, so while a tad disappointing, it was still good. ***¾

As the Smackdown roster comes out and hoists Randy Orton on their shoulders, we hear some GONGS. Druids appear with a casket and stand it up in the entrance as Orton looks on. It’s odd that the Smackdown roster is behind him talking like there is nothing going on. Lightning hits the casket, it catches fire and Undertaker still bursts out from it. It’s symbolic because Orton won a casket match against Taker and set it on fire. Orton hides behind the roster and Undertaker just beats the hell out of all of the jobbers. His beard is pretty awesome here. Orton flees to close the show.

7.0
The final score: review Good
The 411
I rather enjoyed that show. It started out very well with three really good matches before the WWE Title match severely disappointed. Then the General Manager match sucked pretty hard. The main event was good but nothing must see. You should see Ric Flair/Triple H and hell, the Women’s Match is a good one to check out for any Melina fan. This is a solid but unspectacular show and that’s fine.
legend