Before the Network: Survivor Series 2009

It was every wrestling fans dream come true when the WWE Netwok was announced in 2014. For years fans had to use torrents or tape/disc trading (my preferred method for years) in order to obtain old WWE, WCW and ECW shows. If you wanted to re-watch a PPV that you really liked after you paid $39.99 for it then you either needed to dish out $14.99 for the DVD or have it recorded onto a DVD. It really is amazing how many things changed with the Network, and I am forever grateful. The other night I was trying to decide what to watch before I went to bed. I wasn’t in the mood for an old episode of SmackDown or one of the original programs (which are my usual go to choices). Instead I wanted to watch a WWE PPV from the past as I realized I have utilized that portion of WWE Network the least in this new era we live in. By February 2014 I had already watched (some multiple times) and reviewed every WWE PPV, so that was not what I was drawn to when they became available.

Nearly three years have now passed since WWE Network started and I think I have only watched 29 archived WWE PPVs from start-to-finish, and that was within the first 2 months of the Network when I did a complete WresstleMania rewatch. Opinions change over time, as do taste in wrestling. In the last 3 years I have become a huge fan and follower of puro, mainly NJPW. In addition to that I have truly been exposed to what women can do inside the ring. These are only two things that could change my opinion of an older show, there are plenty more, and I am looking forward to seeing how (or if) my opinion has changed on some of these shows that I have not seen for 5+ years.

Each show will be randomly generated HERE. If a PPV from ECW, WCW or before WrestleMania XXX generates then I simply hit refresh. At some point I will throw some of those items in but that is not currently what I am looking for. I realize that at this point there are dozens of other reviews for these shows floating around the internet. Because of that I will not do a lot of play-by-play, but am going to try to bring you a more unique reading experience.

NOW ONTO THE SHOW

When this show popped up I was excited as Survivor Series is the next big WWE PPV and then sat to ponder what I actually remembered from the show. The two triple threat title matches involving tag team partners was really the only match that came to mind. I decided instead of looking up details on the card, I would just go in blind. Opening video package runs down the card and adds to my excitement for the show. The two big title triple threats are mentioned, along with 2 survivor series tag matches and Batista vs Mysterio. I would estimate the last time I watched this show to probably be in 2011.

MATCH ONE: Traditional Survivor Series Match – Team Miz (The Miz, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Drew McIntrye & Sheamus) vs Team Morrison (Evan Bourne, Finlay, Matt Hardy, Shelton Benjamin & John Morrison)

What I Remember: The Miz was really catching fire at this time and was highly entertaining in his role as the US champion. McIntyre and Sheamus were both guys that I was not feeling at the time in their young careers, I certainly was not anticipating Sheamus to win the WWE Title the following month. I was really digging the Morrison vs Miz fued, along with all the Marty vs Shawn comparisons. No idea what I rated the match originally but just by looking at the talent I am expecting something in the ***-***1/2 range.

Match Thoughts: The first thing that stands out during the entrances is that Finlay had transitioned to using the cheery Hornswoggle music, I hated that theme for him. Of the members on Miz’s team, 4 of the 5 are currently still employed by WWE. The same can not be said about Morrison’s team, all members of that team have been future endeavored (though Benjamin may have resigned). Commentary did a lot of talk about McIntyre feuding with Finlay on SmackDown during the match, I do not remember their feud at all. The Finlay vs Sheamus stare down was really cool, and then Sheamus hit the brogue kick for a three count. Sheamus at one point during the match accidentally hit Brad Armstrong with a knee to the head, causing a concussion. That has to be the first and only time I can recall that happening. It is ironic that the one man on Team Miz that is no longer with the company, was pushed the strongest of anyone else on his team with two eliminations and lots of hype talk from commentary.

The match came down to a 1-on-3 for Morrison vs Miz/Drew/Sheamus and he really had no chance. The match, which was built around the Miz vs Morrison feud, took a backseat to that and instead told the story of dominating heels putting on a pedestrian match. I feel let down.

RESULT: Team Miz wins @ 20:52 (SOLE SURVIVORS: The Miz, Drew McIntyre & Sheamus)
RATING NOW: **1/2
RATING THEN: ***1/4
That is a significant drop with nearly a full star. Ironically enough that was split with what I was expecting on this viewing.

Backstage there is a segment with Christian, MVP, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth and Mark Henry. Christian says he feels uncomfortable being the only member of the team that is… and then he is cut off by his four friends telling him not to worry about it. Christian then says that he is the only one from ECW. A little more banter led to Christian cutting a rap that says “4 of us are black and 1 of us are white”. I loved this segment then and I still do now.

MATCH 2: Batista vs Rey Mysterio

What I Remember: I LOVED this feud. Batista was a killer heel in late 2009 until his departure in 2010 and this feud with Mysterio really was the perfect start to all that. If I recall correctly this match is going to be a squash, but they had a strong match the following month at Armageddon, followed by a good cage match on SmackDown.

Match Thoughts: Neither man is still with the company. The video package before the match really gets me excited to see Big Dick Dave squash little Rey. The feud is driven by Batista being upset with Mysterio not stepping aside to let Dave win the World Title at Bragging Rights. There was a waiver signed by Mysterio before the match, waving Batista of all responsibility for the punishment Batista was going to inflict. This is a time that I enjoyed Matt Striker on commentary as I feel like Vince kept him reigned in. He would make great notes about small parts of history between these guys, now-a-days on Lucha Underground I typically find myself groaning at his comments. The first 3-4 minutes were spent with a lot of Rey trying to hit his offense with Batista countering. Rey finally hit the 619 but then got cocky doing the Guerrero shimmy on the top. Batista began to murder Mysterio with 2 Batista Bombs as the DC fans chanted “one more time”. The referee called the match off after the third bomb to a mixed reaction from Batista’s hometown fans.

After the match Batista grabbed a chair. Batista sat in the chair for a few seconds, just starring at Mysterio a the fans chanted “Batista”. Batista then delivered a devastating spinebuster on to the chair, which elicited more chants of “Batista”. Batista did all the right things to try to look like a heel here, but it’s hard when you are in your hometown as a freshly turned heel. Rey got the stretcher job.

RESULT: Batista by TKO @ 6:50
RATING NOW: **1/2
RATING THEN: **1/2
No change in the rating, a fun squash match.

In the back Randy Orton runs down all of his teammates for their failures.

MATCH 3: Traditional Survivor Series Match – Team Orton (Randy Orton, CM Punk, William Regal, Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase) vs Team Kingston (Kofi Kingston, Christian, Mark Henry, R-Truth & MVP)

WHAT I REMEMBER: I loved the Kingston vs Orton feud and really thought it was going to be a launching pad for Kofi. I fully anticipated that by now Kingston would have had at least one run with either the WWE or World Title, instead he hit the glass ceiling until he found The New Day. Both of the young members of Legacy also looked to have bright futures after a fantastic trilogy against DX for the previous three months. I was frustrated with the ECW use of Regal as he had been squashed by Christian in their SummerSlam ECW match. Both teams have a lot of talent so here’s hoping this out performs the early 5-on-5 that I was let down by. Current feuds lined up as such:
MVP/Henry vs Legacy / Regal vs Christian / Orton vs Kingston… and then there is Punk and Truth who I do not recall feuding at the time.

MATCH THOUGHTS: Orton is the only man from his team still active in WWE, though it seems he is close to becoming a “special attraction”. Kingston, Henry, Regal and Truth are still with WWE, all with very different roles. Before the match starts Cole makes not of MVP knocking off DiBiase and Henry beating Rhodes on Superstars in the weeks leading to this match, this was back when the show was still new and they put a little effort into it. 7 years later and Truth is still doing basically the same rap on the way to the ring. Not a huge fan of Henry, Truth, Regal and DiBiase being eliminated so early in the match but that is something we often see in these types of matches. By the end of the match we were down to Punk & Orton vs Kingston, really the only three men that mattered to WWE in the grand scheme of things at the time. Kingston and Punk worked most of the final 5 minutes. Once Kofi pinned Punk Orton came in, at Trouble in Paradise and was also pinned. Biggest pop of the night so far with Kingston winning the match.
RESULT: Team Kingston (SOLE SURVIVOR: Kofi Kingston) @ 20:47
RATING NOW: ***
RATING THEN: ***1/2
The first 3/4 of the match just did not do much for me. The match just felt like it was building for that one moment and while it was nice, it makes me sad that Kofi really got nothing out of it.

MATCH 4: World Heavyweight Title Triple Threat Match: Undertaker (c) vs Big Show vs Chris Jericho

WHAT I REMEMBER: Jeri-Show was then, and still is now, one of the best make shift tag teams WWE has had. At the time the two had been the champions since the summer and now they face off as opponoets against The Undertaker. This was a match that I was looking forward to as Jericho and Undertaker had never faced off even in a singles match and this was about as close as we have come still. They did face around this time in a singles match on SmackDown but it would have been great to see a singles feud between the two.

MATCH THOUGHTS: The video before the match teased that there could be some dissension between Show and Jericho after Jericho “accidentally” hit Show on SmackDown. Jericho and Taker spent a good portion of the early match wrestling each other while Show was outside of the ring. Show would get involved again and stopped Taker from tapping out to The Walls of Jericho. The dissension was further teased when Jericho brought one of the FIVE title belts from ringside in and accidentally hit Big Show. Jericho and Show finally going at it was highlighted by Show swatting Jericho like a fly when Chris attempted a codebreaker.

RESULT:Undertaker by submission @ 13:37
RATING NOW: ***
RATING THEN: ***1/4
Enjoyable contest and so far the best of the night. Jericho vs Taker took up more time than any other interaction, which was certainly the right call.

Backstage Miz, Sheamus and McIntyre reminded us why they are AWESOME.

MATCH 5: Traditional Survivor Series Match – Team Michelle (Alicia Fox, Beth Phoenix, Jillian Hall, Layla & Michelle McCool) vs Team Mickie (Eve Torres, Gail Kim, Kelly Kelly, Melina & Mickie James)

WHAT I REMEMBER: Women’s Division 2016 > Divas Division 2009. This was the only match not shown in the earlier video package. Unlike the other two elimination matches, these teams entered together. Alicix Fox is the only one of these 10 ladies still in WWE, though Mickie James has been announced for what could be more than a one-off with Asuka the night before Survivor Series at NXT: Takeover.

MATCH THOUGHTS: Matt Striker reminded us that Jillian’s Christmas album was a thing, and actually charted the iTunes chart. Watching the match I really just can’t help but wonder what some of these ladies are doing now. Beth Phoenix was my favorite lady of the post-Trish diva era and reminded me why here. She was allowed to run wild and get a few eliminations early, before James eliminated her. Alicia Fox of 2009 is just about as talented as Alicia Fox in 2016, how is it that she is still with WWE? In a first for the night, the babyface team gets to the final stretch being in the driver’s seat as James and Melina are left against McCool. Melina pinned McCool (both were champions of their shows) for the victory.

RESULT: Team Mickie @ 10:38 (SOLE SURVIVORS: Mickie James & Melina)
RATING NOW: **
RATING THEN: *
This was certainly not on the level of what we expect out of the ladies in 2016 but it was not as bad as I had originally led myself to believe. Just a basic 10 minute match.

MAIN EVENT: WWE Title Triple Threat Match – John Cena (c) vs Shawn Michaels vs Triple H

WHAT I REMEMBER: This was the match I was most looking forward to on the show. By this point Cena had faced both members of DX in singles matches at WrestleMania, and both matches were very good. Michaels was starting to wrap up his career at this point, which looking back on makes me incredibly sad. This would be Michaels’ last shot at the WWE Title on PPV.

MATCH THOUGHTS: Michaels and Triple H entered together with the DX music, which is very odd. The match started with Michaels delivering Sweet Chin Music to HHH to a huge pop from the crowd and shock from Cena, great moment. Cena and Michaels wrestled much of the first 5 minutes alone as apparently the SWM was really devastating. HHH returned to save Michaels from an AA through the table, only to put Shawn through with a spinebuster of his own. I am pretty sure Michaels returned from the table bump faster than Hunter did from the SWM at the 2 second mark. HHH tossed Cena out the ring and we were left with Act III of the match: Triple H vs Shawn Michaels. This triple threat is the vert definition of a bunch of 4-5 minute singles matches while the third dude gets some rest. Great spot with Michaels hitting Hunter with the SCM, only for HHH to fall into a pinfall on Cena as Michaels fell out of the ring. The final third of the match did get away from the 1-on-1 formula which was welcome by that point. Cena would hit the AA on HHH for the victory.

RESULT: John Cena by pinfall @21:13
RATING NOW: ****
RATING THEN: ***3/4
A slight bump up in the rating, these three really busted their asses to put on a great main event.

FUN FACT: 14 of the 23 wrestlers on this show are still with WWE in at least a semi-active wrestling role in October 2016.

7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

Looking at the snowflake different between then and now, it basically doesn't exist. On this review it was an average of 2.833, down from 2.875 last time. Nothing was exceptionally bad, which is always a plus. A show that has it's main event deliver will always help the grade too, and this show did just that. I felt let down by both of the men's 5-on-5 matches as I felt both could have been better but at least Kingston vs Orton was entertaining.