Stuffing, sweet potato casserole, and suplexes. For decades, professional wrestling was a Thanksgiving tradition in the Mid-Atlantic.
More than 10,000 wrestling fans would fill the halls of the historic Greensboro Coliseum every year for Jim Crockett Promotions annual Thanksgiving Day show – which regularly attracted the NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
In time, the tradition evolved into the extravaganza known as “Starrcade,” which ultimately became the tentpole event for the NWA and its eventual successor, WCW.
To counterprogram the NWA’s veritable supershow, former WWF owner and CEO Vince McMahon devised “Survivor Series.” In the intervening years, the show has been christened as one of the Big 4 events – alongside “WrestleMania,” “SummerSlam” and “Royal Rumble.”
For decades, the featured attraction was the “Survivor Series” elimination match – pitting two teams against each other to determine the sole survivors. Some of the event’s greatest matches have eschewed the show’s titular format, though – in favor of more traditional matchtypes.
In the spirit of tape trading, here is a compilation of my own – featuring some of those superlative performances.
Ric Flair & Razor Ramon vs. Randy Savage & Mr. Perfect
Survivor Series ‘92
Nov. 25, 1992
Ric Flair has never fancied himself a great tag team wrestler, but “The Nature Boy” was an unassuming master of the Southern tag formula. So much so, that some of his best work in the nineties came in tag scenarios. Go figure.
This is one such scenario. Here, Razor Ramon is the perfect complement to Flair’s trademark cowardice – providing the brawn to “Naitch’s” brain. Bobby Heenan’s commentary ties the whole affair together – favoring Flair and boisterously berating Mr. Perfect.
Randy Savage is always a net positive, too. Just icing on the cake.
Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
Survivor Series ‘92
Nov. 25, 1992
No, this isn’t the “Montreal Screwjob.” This is an earlier installment in Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels vaunted rivalry, and arguably their best, at that.
This is Hart and HBK near the peak of their powers, with as little friction as humanly possible. What else can I say?
Heavenly Bodies vs. Rock ‘n’ Roll Express
Survivor Series ‘93
Nov. 24, 1993
The Southern tag formula is the greatest form of expression in professional wrestling. Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson were its masters, perfecting the ebb and flow with style and subtlety. Here, they’re facing the Heavenly Bodies for the Smoky Mountain Tag Team Championships.
This bizarre match was the product of the WWF’s short-lived relationship with Jim Cornette’s Smoky Mountain Wrestling.
Cornette’s ringside antics and Jim Ross’ commentary only added to the affair, bringing true Southern charm to the WWF.
Triple H vs. Ric Flair
Survivor Series ‘05
Nov. 27, 2005
Ric Flair’s last man standing match against former apprentice and Evolution stablemate, Triple H, was one of his last true hurrahs.
At 56, Flair was in the late autumn of his career, but still found a way to steal the show. Much of that can be attributed to his intimate familiarity with his opponent. “The Game’s” ring generalship was paramount, guiding the elder statement to one of his best performances of the aughts.
Daniel Bryan vs. Brock Lesnar
Survivor Series ‘18
Nov. 18, 2018
Daniel Bryan and Brock Lesnar’s battle for brand supremacy told a tale as old as time, with one addendum. What if David turned heel a week before he faced Goliath? Maybe he would have kicked Goliath below the belt while the Philistine’s weren’t looking.
Unfortunately, Goliath wasn’t an NCAA freestyle wrestling champion.
Lesnar is the strata of three of pro-wrestling’s most fascinating archetypes: the amateur turned pro, the cagefighter turned ‘rassler, and the bullish wrecking machine. If you combined Dr. Death Steve Williams, Ken Shamrock, and Stan Hansen: you’d be in the right ballpark. In contrast, Bryan has always been the pro-wrestler’s pro-wrestler. Here, the indie-darling turned “WrestleMania” main eventer was forced to reckon with that Frankenstein’s monster of a wrestler. A nigh impossible feat for any man.
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