WWE Survivor Series popularized traditional tag team elimination matches in the business. The ludicrous match type features four or five superstars in one corner against the opponent team. The last remaining member, or survivor (if you will), gets the win for his team.
Traditional tag team matches at Survivor Series have (arguably) delivered for the past 36 years of the event’s existence. The storyline, for the most part, has remained consistent; in-ring work has (arguably) improved. I say arguably because purists may find flaws in today’s in-ring psychology and storylines.
Having said that, let’s take a look at some of the best WWE Survivor Series traditional tag team elimination matches:
Team Austin vs. Team Bischoff
Event: Survivor Series 2003
Steve Austin picked: Shawn Michaels, Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Bubba Ray Dudley, and D-Von Dudley.
Eric Bischoff picked: Chris Jericho, Christian, Randy Orton, Scott Steiner, and Mark Henry
Winners: Team Bischoff
If you’re looking for one of the gutsiest performances in wrestling, look no further than Shawn Michaels’ work in this 5-on-5 Survivor Series elimination match at WWE Survivor Series 2003. I didn’t mention Cody Rhodes’ career-defining performance at Hell in a Cell because even the thought of the match makes me uncomfortable.
Michaels, for better or worse, took a massive beating in this match that left him in a pool of his own blood. Still, the Heartbreak Kid fought with everything he had to protect Steve Austin’s future in WWE. Unfortunately, a run-in from Batista turned the tables for Michaels as Orton capitalized on the moment for the win – claiming the first of his many wins in traditional Survivor Series elimination tag team matches.
Team Cena vs. Team Authority (WWE Survivor Series 2014)
John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, Erick Rowan, Big Show, and Ryback vs. Seth Rollins, Kane, Luke Harper, Mark Henry, and Rusev
Apart from Big Show’s 1000th heel turn, this match between Team Cena and Team Authority was great from bell to bell. WWE brought an unexpected twist to the match by getting Cena eliminated instead of having him run roughshod over the heels.
The exchange between Dolph Ziggler and Seth Rollins was one of the best of the night. The two had such great chemistry and always brought out the best in each other. The main event also featured the WWE debut of Sting. The Icon showed up in the nick of time to help Ziggler turn the tide in his favor.
Since Team Authority lost, they were removed from power, but not before making their return to the ring in one of the more weirder angles in WWE at the time.
Team Raw vs. Team SmackDown
Event: WWE Survivor Series 2005
Raw members: Carlito, Chris Masters, Kane, Shawn Michaels & The Big Show
SmackDown members: Batista, John Bradshaw Layfield, Lashley, Randy Orton & Rey Mysterio
Winners: Team SmackDown
Looking back at this match, one can only hope that Triple H gets the build to this year’s Survivor Series right. The Game has done a solid job so far of setting the ground for brand warfare at the November 25 premium live event.
Speaking of brand warfare, you’re looking at perhaps the greatest Raw versus SmackDown match to take place at a Survivor Series event. The build to the match itself was fantastic with the parking lot brawl between the two teams nothing but chaotic.
When it comes to in-ring storytelling, this main event stands as one of the best Survivor Series traditional tag team elimination matches of all time. After all, you had a prime Shawn Michaels and a prime Rey Mysterio produce one of the greatest spots of all time in a wrestling match.
It was pure clinic from bell to bell. And the post-match angle, they don’t do them like that anymore.
Team WWE vs. Team Alliance (Survivor Series 2001)
WWE: Chris Jericho, Kane, The Big Show, The Rock, and The Undertaker
Alliance: Booker T, Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Shane McMahon, and Steve Austin
Winners: Team WWE
If there’s one true “end of an era” moment in WWE, it’s the end to the 2001 Survivor Series. The November 18th PPV event witnessed one of the greatest line-ups ever assembled under the WWE umbrella – barring a few names who either missed the event due to injury or weren’t signed at the time.
The whole build-up to the main event was nothing short of spectacular. From Steve Austin getting a massive pop to him turning his back on WWE, Team WWE versus Team Alliance had the wrestling business in a chokehold with emotion, drama and excitement.
Things took a turn for the worse when Kurt Angle joined Team Alliance in the lead-up to the event. The match itself had two shocking turns as Chris Jericho betrayed The Rock and Angle cost Austin the match.
It was an incredible 45 minutes of pure action with one of the most shocking endings to an all-around solid PPV.
Team Raw vs. Team SmackDown (WWE Survivor Series 2016)
Raw members: Braun Strowman, Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins
SmackDown members: AJ Styles, Bray Wyatt, Dean Ambrose, Randy Orton, and Shane McMahon
Winners: Team SmackDown
2016 brought much-needed change to the WWE landscape. The brand split finally happened after years. Storylines got better and the renewed feud between Raw and SmackDown took in-ring action up by a notch.
Perhaps the best example of in-ring storytelling and buildup from 2016 is the Team Raw vs. Team SmackDown traditional elimination tag team match at WWE Survivor Series. Not only was the match good on paper, it looked absolutely fantastic inside the ring.
From Roman Reigns breaking Shane McMahon in half with a mid-air spear to The Shield (they united for a brief moment) taking out AJ Styles with a triple powerbomb through the announce table, this match had the right dose of action, drama, and crowd reaction.
Honorable Mentions
- The Wild-Card Match (Survivor Series 1995)
- Million Dollar Team vs. the Dream Team (Survivor Series 1990)
- Team Piper vs. Team Flair (Survivor Series 1991)
- Team Hogan vs. Team Andre (Survivor Series 1987)
- Team Orton vs. Team Batista (Survivor Series 2008)
Also read: Report: Roman Reigns Not Scheduled For WWE Survivor Series
