Hall’s WWE Survivor Series 1989 Review

Survivor Series 1989
Date: November 23, 1989
Location: Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois
Attendance: 15,294
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon, Jesse Ventura

For reasons I’ve never been able to explain, I’ve always had a soft spot for this show. It’s a show that doesn’t have any real impact on the bigger picture in WWE, but there are a lot of stars from this era included and quite the different kind of main event. On top of that, we have what is still the coolest Survivor Series team of all time. Let’s get to it.

We get some Saturday Night’s Main Event rapid fire promos to start, with wrestlers saying why they’re thankful.

Hulk Hogan: health, happiness, and his team of Hulkamaniacs.

Ted DiBiase: he’s rich and you’re not.

Jake Roberts: Damian and the DDT.

Demolition: that they don’t have to fight each other.

Randy Savage: that he is the only man worthy of being the Macho King.

Jim Duggan: Living in the USA.

Dino Bravo: That Earthquake is on his side.

Dusty Rhodes: His polka dots!

Big Boss Man: the justice he serves.

Brutus Beefcake: wrestling, cuttin and struttin.

Rick Martel: good looks.

Rick Rude: having the most ravishing body in the WWF.

Roddy Piper: that he isn’t Ricky Rude.

The Genius: being the world’s smartest man.

Mr. Perfect: being absolutely perfect (makes sense).

Bushwhackers: having a sardine stuffed turkey (makes sense).

Bobby Heenan: spending Thanksgiving with his Heenan Family

Ultimate Warrior: *incoherent rambling*

Vince McMahon narrates the opening, which features a look at the five matches, with the teams being shown in the individual squares with their team names featured. Dang I miss team names being a thing. Having “Team *insert wrestler’s name here*” is so lame.

Dream Team vs. Enforcers

Dream Team: Dusty Rhodes, Tito Santana, Red Rooster, Brutus Beefcake
Enforcers: Big Boss Man, Bad News Brown, Honky Tonk Man, Rick Martel

Slick and Jimmy Hart are here with the Enforcers and my goodness Beefcake’s music was awesome. Santana and Honky Tonk Man start things off but Martel offers a quick distraction so Honky Tonk Man can jump him from behind. This goes about as well as any of Honky Tonk Man’s offense as Santana is right back to slug away. A kick to the face puts Santana down though and it’s off to Martel, which of course fires Santana up.

Martel’s atomic drop is blocked though and Santana hits one of his own for a quick two. Boss Man comes in and gets armdragged so it’s off to Rhodes for the string of elbows. A thumb to the eye cuts Beefcake off though and Boss Man rakes his back. It’s off to Martel for a backbreaker but Beefcake is right back up, allowing Rooster to come in instead. Martel cuts that off with a knee in the corner though and it’s back to Honky Tonk Man for the dancing. As usual, Ventura and Monsoon have a rather interesting discussion about getting people who match up size wise, even comparing weights.

Boss Man puts Rooster down again and Martel drops a knee for two. Honky Tonk Man slugs away but rams heads with Rooster as commentary points out that Brown hasn’t been in yet (which isn’t surprising or a good sign). The double tag brings Santana and Martel back in, with Santana firing off the dropkicks. A big backdrop looks to set up the Figure Four but Martel gets out of it without much trouble.

Santana tries an O’Connor roll instead but Martel reverses into one of his own and grabs the trunks for the pin at 9:16. Rhodes comes in to face Martel (that’s a unique match) and actually hits a dropkick before it’s back to Beefcake to work on the arm. Rooster comes in and gets dropped just as fast, allowing Boss Man to grab a bearhug. That’s broken up and it’s off to Brown for the first time so he can drop Rooster in a hurry.

Some shots to the face have Rooster in more trouble and Brown does not like the referee’s count. Commentary talks about pie and it’s off to Boss Man, who accidentally forearms Brown. That’s enough to trigger a near fight so Honky Tonk Man tries to break it up. As you might expect, Brown is out of here and takes the countout at 15:25. Beefcake comes in to slug away at Boss Man, who cuts him off with an elbow to the face. It’s back to Honky Tonk Man, who gets caught with the jumping knee to give Beefcake the pin at 17:26 (with Ventura doing his traditional recap, which sounds like it’s out of a regular sports broadcast).

Martel comes in to chinlock Beefcake for awhile before cutting off the comeback attempt. Beefcake tries a sunset flip but Martel grabs the rope, which gets caught by the referee. Martel lets go of said ropes and gets sunset flipped for the pin at 20:13. It’s off to Rooster vs. Boss Man, with some forearms staggering Boss Man, who comes back with the Boss Man Slam for the elimination at 21:01 (Slick’s over the top celebration has me thinking he deserves to be in the Hall Of Fame). Beefcake comes in to hammer away and Boss Man is gassed, allowing Rhodes to hit a crossbody for the final pin at 22:03.

Rating: C+. The match isn’t some classic, but it’s a good, fun match with the teams having some nice star power involved. The featured attraction was of course the captains, but you also got more of the eternal Santana vs. Martel feud. As usual though, the Survivor Series offers some less than common combinations, which helps to fill things out. Nice opener here.

Post match Boss Man jumps Beefcake and cuffs Rhodes to the rope. The beatdown is on with the nightstick until Beefcake runs back in with the clippers for the save.

In the back, the Boss Man is very proud of what he did because Rhodes is a THIEF (true, as he stole Boss Man’s hat).

The 4×4’s are ready for the King’s Court, with Bret Hart calling it the team’s finest hour. Well I don’t think the match will be an hour, and since it’s their first match, it kind of has to be their best time. Hercules doesn’t see any problems, which is the most imposing statement. Jim Duggan says the team is ready for anything. Like a watermelon tossing contest?

4x4s vs. King’s Court

4x4s: Jim Duggan, Bret Hart, Ronnie Garvin, Hercules
King’s Court: Randy Savage, Dino Bravo, Canadian Earthquake, Greg Valentine

Queen Sherri and Jimmy Hart are here with the Court, though the 4x4s have matching 2x4s to even it up a bit. Are we sure the measurements are right, or should it be the 2x8s? Duggan jumps Savage on the floor as Monsoon tries to sell the boards as just being a symbol of the team rather than weapons. Ventura: “I got a bridge for sale Monsoon. You interested?” Savage is sent inside and gets beaten up by Hercules, who makes the mistake of throwing him into the wrong corner.

Valentine comes in and gets beaten up by a variety of good guys, with Garvin’s chops even impressing Ventura. It’s off to Bravo, who catches Garvin with an atomic drop but it’s back to Hercules for the clotheslines. Earthquake comes in though, drops Hercules in a hurry, and hits the Earthquake for the first elimination at 3:57.

Duggan gets to try and can’t do much with his running shoulders, at least until Hart comes in to trip Earthquake down (you have to hate this Canadian on Canadian violence). Bravo comes back in and drops Garvin, allowing Valentine to drop an elbow. Valentine’s Figure Four attempt is kicked into the corner so Garvin can get a quick two. Savage isn’t about to allow the tag though and fires off those snap jabs. It’s back to Valentine for the chop off but Duggan gets a blind tag and hits the three point clothesline for the pin at 7:31.

Bravo is in next and punches Duggan into the corner, allowing Savage to hit the jumping neck snap across the rope (that always looked great). Earthquake misses the elbow though and Garvin comes in to chop the fire out of Bravo. That sets up the Garvin Stomp but Bravo breaks up the Sharpshooter (Garvin’s version) and it’s off to Savage vs. Hart, with the fans immediately liking this idea. Hart quickly gets the better of things and Savage bails out, allowing Bravo to get beaten up instead. Garvin comes in and walks into Bravo’s good looking side slam for the pin at 11:17.

Duggan gets to slug away at Earthquake and sends him into Hart’s boot. A double clothesline puts Earthquake down so it’s back to Savage, with Hart telling him to bring it. Savage actually gets distracted and Hart kicks him down, followed by the backbreaker for two. Hart gets a boot up in the corner but misses a middle rope elbow.

Bravo grabs the bearhug before it’s back to Earthquake for the rather lengthy lifting choke. The big elbow gets two so Bravo comes back in, only to get taken down by the legs. That and a few shots are enough for Hart to get over to Duggan, who misses an elbow (the move of the match) so Savage can take him into the wrong corner. That’s broken up as well and Hart comes back in, only to miss a charge into the post. A shoulder breaker sets up Savage’s big elbow to pin Hart at 19:06.

Hart and Sherri do a rather adorable dance on the floor as Duggan comes in for some clapping to get the fans behind him. That’s fine with Earthquake, who fires off the knees in the corner. Everything breaks down though and Duggan whips the other three into each other to clear the ring, much to the fans’ delight. Back in and Duggan clotheslines Savage and Bravo at the same time but gets elbowed (LEARN A NEW MOVE!) by Earthquake. Savage’s running crotch attack in the ropes misses but Sherri low bridges Duggan outside. A VERY fast countout (from that rascally Danny Davis) finishes Duggan at 23:25.

Rating: C-. I’ve never cared for this match and that was the case again here. It’s rather long and while the ending picks up a bit, along with Hart vs. Savage, there are some long stretches without much happening. The results got pretty one sided near the end, with Duggan’s countout being a rather lame finish. He’s in there three on one and can’t take a pin?

Post match Duggan clears the ring with the 2×4.

Dusty Rhodes is really banged up. End of injury update.

The Genius gives us a poem about how dumb the fans are.

Million Dollar Team vs. Hulkamaniacs

Million Dollar Team: Ted DiBiase, Warlord, Barbarian, Zeus
Hulkamaniacs: Hulk Hogan, Jake Roberts, Ax, Smash

It feels like these team names were used every year. DiBiase and company (including Mr. Fuji) don’t even get an entrance, while Hogan gets quite the reaction. The villains won’t let the Hulkamanics in so Roberts whips out Damian to clear the ring in one of the coolest entrances you’ll find in wrestling (from the most awesome team ever). Things settle down and Zeus wants Hogan, with the six partners having to hold them back.

Roberts is ready to start but Zeus requests, and receives, Hogan. They shove each other a few times and Hogan’s running shoulder…leaves hogan down (Ventura: “WHOA!”). Hogan slugs away to no avail, with even a running knee not managing to stagger Zeus. A rake to the eyes lets Hogan slam him but Zeus is right back up to drop Hogan again. Zeus snaps his neck and chokes away, with the referee trying to drag him off (by the neck), which is enough for the DQ at 3:21 (he’s not a wrestler so this is the best thing they could do).

The rest of the Million Dollar Team can’t drag Zeus off, with DiBiase having to offer money to get him to leave. DiBiase comes in and drops a bunch of knees to the back to keep Hogan in trouble. Hogan fights out rather quickly and brings in Smash, who does exactly as the name implies. Hogan comes back in for a middle rope ax handle and the triple pounding drops DiBiase does. This has Ventura losing it for the referee not calling that a DQ (fair enough).

Ax drops DiBiase with a clothesline but it’s off to Barbarian, who takes over without much trouble. A shoulderbreaker drops Ax but Barbarian misses the middle rope elbow. Warlord comes in and gets beaten up, only for Fuji to trip Ax down and give Warlord the pin at 9:51. It’s off to Roberts (hey he gets to do something) to slug away on Warlord before Smash tries a slam but gets poked in the eye. DiBiase comes in for the falling fist drop but Smash knocks him down again.

Ventura wonders why Smash won’t tag, even as he grabs a hot shot. Barbarian comes in off a blind tag though (Roberts is losing it on the apron, trying to tell Smash what’s going on) and the top rope clothesline gets rid of Smash at 13:44. Roberts comes in and he’s immediately beaten up as well, with a backbreaker sending him into the corner. A big swing only hits air and it’s back to DiBiase, who is smart enough to deck Hogan on the apron so Barbarian can get in a cheap shot.

DiBiase grabs a piledriver (Ventura: “IT’S OVER! IT’S GOTTA BE!”), with Roberts getting a foot on the rope. Barbarian misses the top rope headbutt though and that’s enough for the tag to Hogan (Ventura: “Uh oh.”). House is quickly cleaned and Hogan clears the ring but the Powers Of Pain are back in to give him a spike piledriver….and that’s a double DQ at 19:51. Ventura loses it and goes into a great rant about how that makes three people disqualified for hurting Hogan and, well, he kind of has a point. With Hogan mostly done, DiBiase comes in for the Million Dollar Dream.

Hogan goes does until Roberts comes in for the save. A double ax handle is knocked out of the air though and it’s a fresh Roberts coming in to beat on DiBiase. Some knees to the back of the head have DiBiase in more trouble so Virgil comes in for a distraction. The DDT drops Virgil in a hurry but DiBiase gets in a cheap shot and pins Roberts with feet on the ropes at 23:41. So it’s DiBiase vs. the mostly done Hogan with a clothesline giving DiBiase two. The chinlock goes on for a bit until Hogan fights up for a double clothesline. Back up and DiBiase’s suplex triggers the Hulk Up and the big boot into the legdrop finishes DiBiase at 27:33.

Rating: C. I’ve always liked this match due to the people involved but it’s a really weird match. The villains are down a man shortly into the match and only have an advantage for a little bit, only to have the Warlord and Barbarian get disqualified so DiBiase is down again. I get Hogan winning in the end because it’s the 80s, but it’s weird to see him having the advantage in the match for so long. That entrance is still awesome though and that helps a lot.

Randy Savage and Zeus are ready for Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake on December 27 in No Holds Barred: The Movie and the Match.

Beefcake and Hogan celebrate in the locker room and are ready for a No Holds Barred Christmas. Queen Sherri comes in and threatens them, followed by some powder in the eyes. Savage and Zeus run in for the beatdown. This segment was why Hogan’s match didn’t headline the show.

We look at the two remaining matches. For reasons I can’t explain, the background music has always creeped me out.

Commentary talks a bit, with Ventura revealing that there has been pushing and shoving among the Heenan Family. That sounds ominous.

The Rude Brood is ready, with Rick Rude’s tights showing his team on one side and Roddy’s Rowdies on the back, with the latter all on tombstones. Those are AMAZING.

Roddy Piper has to take meat away from the rest of the team and then leads them in a chant about bones.

Rude Brood vs. Roddy’s Rowdies

Rude Brood: Rick Rude, Mr. Perfect, Jacques Rougeau, Raymond Rougeau
Roddy’s Rowdies: Roddy Piper, Jimmy Snuka, Luke, Butch

The Genius and Jimmy Hart are here with Rude and company but no Mr. Perfect, which has commentary flummoxed (what a great word). Perfect beats Luke down to start so it’s off to Butch, who starts off a parade of biting until it’s back to Snuka, who gets to face Jacques. A flip over the top brings Jacques, who is quickly dropped with a running headbutt. Snuka’s knee drop and a slam set up the Superfly Splash to get rid of Jacques at 4:00.

Perfect comes in but Rude accidentally low bridges him to start an argument. Luke snapmares Perfect into a knee drop and it’s off to Piper, who lets Perfect over for the tag to Raymond. A piledriver doesn’t work as Raymond backdrops his way out and kicks Piper in the chest. That doesn’t get him very far though as Piper is back with another piledriver (complete with a Rude hip swivel and a punch to Perfect on the cover) to get rid of Raymond at 7:31.

It’s back to Perfect, who loses a slugout with Piper. The beating has Perfect in more trouble so Butch comes back in for a bite. Perfect is able to grab a quick O’Connor roll to get rid of Butch at 10:46. Luke comes in to go after Perfect, including a headbutt to the ribs, meaning it’s off to Rude. That means the intensity picks up as Rude hammers away and grabs a quick Rude Awakening to tie it up at two apiece at 12:17.

Rude beats on Snuka and of course throws in some hip swiveling before sending Snuka into the corner. Perfect draws in Piper and chokes Snuka back into the corner, followed by a great dropkick for two, with the kickout sending Perfect onto the referee. The nerve hold has Snuka in more trouble but he manages a quick small package, which only annoys Perfect even more.

Perfect uses the boot to rake the eyes but Snuka drops him with a flying headbutt. The double tag brings in Piper to unload on Rude, including a spinning backfist of all things. They crash out to the floor and it’s a double countout at 12:34. That leaves us with Snuka vs. Perfect, with the former hitting some running shoulders.

Another nice dropkick puts Snuka on the floor and Perfect suplexes him back inside for two. They trade rollups for two each until Snuka hits a running chop in the corner. A spinning middle rope crossbody gives two but Perfect is right back with the PerfectPlex for the winning pin at 21:28.

Rating: C. So basically, the Bushwhackers and Rougeaus were just warm bodies until we got down to a good elimination tag match. Rude vs. Piper was a hot feud at this point and it would get even better in the coming weeks. Unfortunately once they were gone, it felt like a matter of time until Snuka got pinned and that’s exactly what happened.

Post match Snuka beats up Perfect and Genius but can’t hit the Superfly Splash.

The Ultimate Warriors are ready for the Heenan Family. The Ultimate Warrior pulls on Jim Neidhart’s beard but thankfully he doesn’t strangle him with tape this time (look it up).

Ultimate Warriors vs. Heenan Family

Ultimate Warriors: Ultimate Warrior, Shawn Michaels, Marty Jannetty, Jim Neidhart
Heenan Family: Andre The Giant, Arn Anderson, Haku, Bobby Heenan

It’s a bad sign for Heenan’s team when Heenan can’t even captain the team named after him (he’s here because Tully Blanchard failed a drug test, basically ending his career). Andre beats up the Rockers and Neidhart before the Warrior even shows up. The Warrior runs in and the bell rings, with Warrior clotheslining Andre to the floor for the countout at 28 seconds. Neidhart comes in to beat on Anderson as Andre finally gets up, only to get beaten up by the Rockers.

Andre yells incoherently as Neidhart gets taken into the corner and is distracted by Anderson. Haku kicks Neidhart in the head and we’re tied up at 3:31. The Rockers start taking turns on Haku’s arm as Warrior doesn’t seem thrilled that he isn’t getting a tag. Haku catches Jannetty but Michaels adds a dropkick to knock them down. Anderson comes in and tries a double suplex on Jannetty, who gets saved by Michaels.

A double superkick drops Haku and Anderson and now it’s off to the Warrior. Some chops are cut off as Haku pokes him in the eye, only to get caught with a backdrop. Warrior’s elbow misses though and it’s off to…Anderson, as Heenan declines the tag and points Haku in the other direction. Jannetty comes in and misses a charge into the buckle, which is enough for Heenan to come in for some stompings. Haku’s superkick gets two and Heenan drops a knee, which is enough for the pin (holding the tights helps) on Jannetty at 8:54.

It’s back to Anderson, who begs off from Warrior. Anderson gets beaten up and it’s off to Haku to kick Michaels outside. Warrior picks Michaels up and brings him back inside, where Michaels rubs Anderson’s face into the mat. A double right hand drops Anderson and a Rocket Launcher gets two. Haku comes back in and an assisted high crossbody finishes Haku at 12:53.

So it’s Michaels/Warrior vs. Anderson/Heenan, with Michaels being sent outside. Heenan teases coming off the top but wisely thinks better of it. Instead Heenan comes back in to kick away as Anderson is looking spent (makes sense). Anderson comes back in and Michaels picks up the pace, only to charge into a spinebuster to give Anderson the pin at 15:48.

Warrior comes in and misses a charge to the floor, allowing Heenan to get in a few shots back inside. That just brings Warrior back up and the tired Anderson has to come back in and stomp away. Warrior just grabs him by the throat (Ventura: “DISQUALIFY HIM! HE DID IT TO ZEUS EARLIER!” Monsoon: “He can’t hear you.”) but Anderson fights up to take him into the corner.

Anderson still can’t get Heenan to come in so Warrior rams them together. The gorilla press drop into the splash finishes Anderson at 18:19, leaving Heenan alone with the Warrior. Heenan begs Anderson to come back and gets flipped upside down in the corner for his efforts. Heenan’s attempt to run off is cut off and it’s the shoulder into the splash to finish for Warrior at 20:28.

Rating: C+. There were good spots here, with the Michaels and Anderson/Haku stuff working well but the rest wasn’t exactly much to see. I did like the idea of Anderson getting all tired and annoyed at Heenan for not tagging, but much like the Hogan match, this felt more like a matter of time. It’s a fairly flat main event, albeit one with enough good action to keep you entertained.

Heenan staggers out and Warrior clotheslines him from behind. No wonder Heenan hated him.

The highlight package takes us out.

 

Results
Dream Team b. Enforcers last eliminating Big Boss Man
King’s Court b. 4x4s last eliminating Jim Duggan
Hulkamaniacs b. Million Dollar Team last eliminating Ted DiBiase
Rude Brood b. Roddy’s Rowdies last eliminating Jimmy Snuka
Ultimate Warriors b. Heenan Family last eliminating Bobby Heenan

 

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7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

Overall Rating: C. The action is only so good, but there is a certain lighthearted nature to this show that made it work. It’s pretty clearly just a way to get to the end of the year and the big cage match after Christmas, but you still had a bunch of feuds going on at the same time to keep things interesting. Trying Warrior in the main event spot was a sign of things to come, along with (very eventually) the Harts as singles stars. While it isn’t a great show, it’s a good look at who was around in this era, as Survivor Series tended to be back then.