Survivor Series - 1991

Summer Slam is here.

Survivor Series – 1991 Detroit(Dark – Tito Santana d. Jake Roberts )

Gorilla and Bobby on the announce. Bobby spends the show talking about Flair.

1. Beverly Brothers d. Natural Disasters
-Beau! Blake!

2. Undertaker d. Hulk Hogan
-Chokeslam. Tombstone. On the one year anniversary of his debut, the Undertaker buries Hulkamania. It's quick and dominant. The stare down before the match is longer than the match. Sid appears as the Taker attempts to bodybag Hogan, chokeslamming the Dead Man himself - and when the Undertaker sits up, chokeslamming him again.

3. Ted DiBiase (w/Virgil) d. Mike Rotundo
-They lock up and do a couple of sequences – then Rotundo suddenly just drops, allowing Ted to cover for the win. Virgil hands Rotundo a briefcase as he exits the ring. Everybody's got a price, after all.

4. The Mountie Jacques Rougeau d. Bezerker
-The Mountie rolls on. Jacques is the Mountie!

5. Shawn Michaels d. Marty Jannetty
- The end of the feud. Another terrific match, Shawn establishes his dominance over his former tag partner it’s a clean, definitive win for Michaels. Following the match, Shawn is the one to offer a hand to Marty…Marty hesitates….then accepts!!

But Shawn pulls the hand back and superkicks Jannetty one more time.

Poor, dumb, coked up Marty.

Shawn poses over Marty, smirks, has the announce say that he's left the building.

6. Tags: Road Warriors d. Slaughter/Boss Man
-One year into their unbeaten title run – the Warriors squash White Power.

7. IC Title: Roddy Piper d. Bret Hart
-Switch. The 22 month IC run, Bret’s second IC run after an 18 month tag run – is over. Storyline is the same one they used at WM VIII – Piper’s torn conscience – will he cheat to win or demonstrate some honor….

Well, in this world, Piper’s really a heel – so when the moment comes and he has to decide whether to use the ringbell or not – he uses it. Piper wins his second IC title by nailing Bret over the back of the head with the ringbell and getting the fall. It's not a swerve, he made a legit face turn, but given the chance to win his 2nd IC strap, he took it.

After, Piper continues to attack, 'cause he has the taste of blood now, driving the bell into Bret’s ankle repeatedly, until he is stopped by a fan…

Good God – it’s Owen Hart!

It’s the first time Owen’s been seen since WM V – and he draws the huge favorite son pop as he saves his brother. Owen driving Piper from the ring. Big Owen Pop!

8. WWF Title: Ric Flair (w/Hennig) d. Davey Boy Smith
- Woooooo. Flair becomes the first man since, oddly enough, the original Nature Boy, Buddy Rogers, to win both the NWA and the WWF titles. It’s Flair’s 4th World Championship. Hennig gets shots in during the match to establish his value at ringside, Bobby stays in the booth to cheerlead. Finish is clean, figure four submission.

Flair and Perfect celebrate - Bobby joins them as the show ends.

The year ends with Starrcade – okay, the NWA is about to go through a stretch of an embarrassment of crazy talent – between now and say, 1995 when Hogan arrives – every PPV will be a contender for the best PPV of all time. In actuality, they didn’t use their talent very well and their shows weren’t this good – but in this world, what you need to watch is the NWA. Here, Bagwell and Page each make their PPV debuts as a heel tag team. Pillman, now a face after being kicked out of the Horsemen, gains revenge by beating Taylor Rick Rude goes over Marc Mero. Steve Austin goes over Luger. The Steiners retake their tag belts from Eaton and Dustin. The new US Champion is….Ricky Steamboat, who recall, just worked Summer Slam in August. The Dragon goes over AA. And Sting drops the NWA title to Jushin Thunder Liger, one of the greatest juniors of all time, and absolutely in his prime right now in the early to mid 90s, on loan from New Japan. It’s a great PPV – arguably the best to this date.

Starrcade – 1991 Norfolk
NWA Title: Jushin Thunder Liger d. Sting
US Title: Ricky Steamboat d. Arn Anderson
Tags: Steiners d. Eaton/Dustin
Steve Austin d. Lex Luger

Rick Rude d. Marc Mero
Vader d. Cactus Jack
Brian Pillman d. Terry Taylor
Mark Bagwell/DDP d. Tracey Smothers/Abdullah the Butcher

On the road to the Rumble, Monster Sid continues squashing people, The Mountie continues his impressive winning streak, and a fight breaks out in the back between Tito and Martel. Again.

DiBiase enters on Prime Time Wrestling, the studio audience boos, you know, pointing their thumbs down in a disapproving manner. Ted says he’s one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, he’s been Intercontinental Champion – and now he’s going to do what no man in the WWF has been able to do in over a year – beat the Road Warriors…

And to help him do it, he introduces his tag team partner….Mike Rotundo. DiBiase and Rotundo heel up all winter, harpooning the Warriors whenever possible.

Owen promos, introduced by Mooney as the future of the WWF, the favorite son of the WWF….Owen thanks the fans for remembering him – saying that three years ago his ankle was shattered – and there were times he didn’t think he’d make it back – but now that he is ready to represent the Hart Family with pride.

Enter Michaels. Oddly enough, phrases like future of the WWF and favorite son of the WWF irritate him. Michaels says maybe Owen should consider, you know, winning a match on PPV before proclaiming himself the future of wrestling. Mooney interjects that he, in fact, used that term - Michaels superkicks him to the floor. "Don't interrupt me, bitch."

And then to Owen, "I don't like you, I don't like your brother, I don't like your family, I don't like the Dungeon, I don't like Canada, and I don't like..."

And then Owen drops him with an enzuguiri.

Two weeks before the Rumble, Bret returns, he has been out since SSeries with the ankle injured by Piper. Bret/Davey Boy are going to tag against Flair and Piper – the reunion of the Hart Foundation tonight on Prime Time Wrestling! But Bret never makes it to the ring – he’s laid out by Piper and Flair in the back – they attack the ankle again and leave him laying. Davey Boy is left to face Flair and Piper alone – he fights valiantly, but the heels have the upper hand – Owen runs in – looking to take his brother’s place and make a tag – Owen enters, getting the heat segment, big pop for Owen – and he has Flair ready to submit with the sharpshooter – when he is superkicked by an entering Michaels. Michaels beats on Owen – Flair and Piper beat on Davey Boy – both faces incapacitated…Bret limps his way down the aisle to attempt to save his family – but all three heels take him out – Flair applying a figure four – Michaels elbowdropping Bret – Piper using the ringbell again to further damage Bret’s ankle..

The three heels, take a picture, the three heels, Flair, Shawn, Piper, stand over the Hart Foundation.

The week before the Rumble, Bret's the guest on Piper's Pit.

Bret comes out in a wheelchair. Piper mocks him as Bret says he won't be able to fulfill his rematch clause at the Rumble. More mocking. Piper baits Bret, saying he was looking forward to beating him again, but it looks like he'll have a night off.

Bret says that it sounds like Piper wants the easy way out - but if he had any guts, he'd put that belt up anyway.

Piper rises, well, well, I'm the Intercontinental Champion - it's a week before the Rumble, anyone in the back worthy of challenging for my belt already has a match set - it's not like a clown like Duggan deserves a shot.

Bret says, what about a former IC Champ? What if a former IC Champ meets you in Albany at the Royal Rumble?

Piper says, please - Rude's gone, DiBiase and Chico have matches, you already said you can't go - what did you do, dig up Valentine or Pedro?

Bret: No, someone else. Someone you've never beaten. Someone you can't beat, Piper.

Piper gets hot - says he'll put up the title against anyone, bring him out - he doesn't care - bring him out...

Pomp and Circumstance.

Savage tears the set down, drags Piper into the ring, and elbowdrops him.

So, we're ready to go. Flair in the rematch against DBS. Piper defends against Savage in a No DQ. Road Warriors continue their run against DiBiase and Rotundo. Michaels meets Owen, good god! It's Royal Rumble '92! Call your cable company!

Survivor Series 1990

Summer Slam and the build are here.
Survivor Series 1990 Hartford(Dark – Dustin Rhodes d. Lanny Poffo)

Gorilla and Piper on the announce. Piper's full time color guy now, so while he remains a heel, he moves incrementally toward being more accessible to the audience. By the time he returns to the active roster in mid-91, he's basically a babyface.

Show begins with Okerlund in the ring. “Ladies and Gentlemen, Hartford, Connnecticut, please welcome back to the World Wrestling Federation, one-half of the greatest tag team in WWF history – the British Bulldog, Davey Boy Smith!”

Davey Boy – gone for two full years since losing his last shot at Bret’s IC title, enters. It’s face Davey Boy – he apologizes to the fans for how he was when he was last here, asks their forgiveness, and says the man he really needs to apologize to is his former tag team partner, his brother in law, the 2 time intercontinental champion, the best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be, Bret the Hit Man Hart…

Bret’s music. Bret. Big pop. He’s Bret Hart, after all.

Davey Boy apologizes, extends his hand – Bret refuses. Bret says that he turned on him, he turned on the family, he joined up with that awful Perfect to injure Owen and it’s been nearly 3 years and Owen can still barely walk much less wrestle…

Perfect’s music. Perfect, with the secret service, to the ring. Perfect basically says Owen was a pussy and Bret’s jealous because he’s never been WWF Champion and he, Perfect, will tonight be the first WWF champion of the modern era to hold his belt for more than one year..

Bret says the only reason that's the case is that he hasn't fought him. And if he had any guts, he'd get in the ring right now.

Hennig leaps into the ring, the secret service, unprepared, stays on the outside.

Bret and Perfect fight, we do a moment of pause – and Davey Boy shows his true colors by siding with Bret – press slamming Hennig completely out of the ring for the face pop – Davey Boy is back! Hennig is caught by the waves of security and bodysurfs back to the aisle.

Bret still refuses to shake Davey's hand, brushing him off and leaving the ring.

1. Demolition Smash/Crush d. Demoliton Ax/Bravo
-Smash/Crush continue unbeaten as the new Demolition. They have spikes, don’t forget that. This wraps up Ax, maybe Dino too.

2. Undertaker d. Jimmy Snuka
-Obviously, this is what they lights going out in arenas the past couple of months was in reference to. They do the full heel Undertaker thing – he’s a mystery opponent here – “who is this man, what does he want….it’s very scary.” It’s the Undertaker, we do it the same way. Match, after a brief Taker no sell, is two moves. Chokeslam, Tombstone. Taker puts Superfly in the bodybag – Taker carries the bag out of the ring. We have a new monster heel. No Bearer.
Undertaker gimmick is basically the same, once he starts wrestling competitive matches, he should work more like the post-gimmick dead man, who was a better worker.

Settle in. He'll be here awhile.

3. Baseball Bat on a Pole: Hulk Hogan d. Dusty Rhodes (w/Dustin)
-Okay, we’re wrapping this one up. Hulk and Dusty were a tag team, recall, then Dusty turned heel. They each won one match. Dustin's the guy who climbs the pole, no foreshadowing pun intended, Hogan winds up with it, puts it to Dusty, gets the fall. Dustin attacks after the match, taking the bat to Hogan – but is stopped by Dusty, who scolds him. You know, ‘cause Dusty’s really just a good guy after all – Dustin pouts, leaves, and Hogan and Dusty do a legends pose thing.

4. Ted DiBiase d. Shane Douglas
-Ted, clean. Ted looks even more smug than normal. Has an “I’ve got a secret” smile. Young Douglas continues to take his lumps

5. The Male Model Rick Martel d. Marty Jannetty
Competitive match – finish comes when Shawn superkicks his former partner out of his boots allowing Martel the pin. ‘Cause, you know, we haven’t done Shawn/Marty yet.

6. Tags: Road Warriors d. Orient Express
Squash. When the year started they were NWA champs – now they’re WWF champs. Strap ‘em up. They bury the Orients. They get the Warrior pop.

7. IC: Bret Hart d. Shawn Michaels
We love this feud for three reasons (1) every match great, the most important thing to me (2) these two had a specific oil and water chemistry (3) they're gonna hate each other. Fun! Marty runs in for retribution, hits the rocker dropper on Shawn – Bret covers, but Shawn kicks out – Bret pins him soon after, however Marty attacks, gets in a couple of shots – leaves Shawn laying.

8. WWF Title: Curt Hennig (w/Brain and Secruity) d. Kerry Von Erich
Hennig could carry anyone to a good match in 1990. Squeaky clean win – no interference – no Savage – Hennig has held the belt for over a year. Mr. Perfect. It’s a Flair-like title run, one good match after the next, the heel keeps the strap. Of course, in my world, Flair held the NWA title for 4 years and his current run is about the hit two years – so maybe we shouldn’t be comparing.

Hennig feels it as the show ends, yelling out, "Hey Savage...Hey Hit Man...When am I gonna get me some Competition?" Hennig and the Brain laugh and it is a manly laugh.

Pomp and Circumstance. Place comes unglued.

Hennig freaks out - the security swarms into the ring

But it's not Savage - coming to the top of the aisle is DiBiase.

"Bobby...Champ....don't panic. It's not Randy Savage. But it could be, Bobby. Anytime I wanted to pull that security, it could be. And if I hadn't paid off these men (the Natural Diasters enter to stand behind Ted) that title wouldn't still be on your waist, Perfect. And you know that wasn't the first favor I did for you, Bobby (recall the previous machinations by which Ted's money helped Hennig gain the strap). You owe me Heenan.

And at the Royal Rumble - I'm coming to collect. Everybody's got a price - and it's time to pay yours."

Hit Ted's music. Ted laughs. Hennig questions the Brain who looks like his dog has just died as the show ends.

The Rumble is in Miami.

Perfect is concerned, does he really want to wrestle Ted at the Rumble – can he trust Bobby? Is Bobby selling him out in the way he sold out Rick Rude? That’s your storyline. Bret will be facing Rick Martel, getting his first ever singles title shot. The Road Warriors continue as top card monsters – Demolition continues as bottom card monsters. Shawn and Marty hook it up for the first time ever. Dustin Rhodes is a bratty young heel. Davey Boy Smith has returned to the ring as a face. And the Phenom continues.  It's Royal Rumble '91!

1990 ends with Starrcade. Terry Taylor gets a win! Steiners keep. But the Horsemen lose their belts – AA drops to Stan Hansen, the big cowboy best known for his work in Japan – and Flair, after two years, loses to Sting – it’s Sting’s first NWA title.

Starrcade – 1990 St.Louis
NWA Title: Sting d. Ric Flair
US Title: Stan Hansen d. Arn Anderson
Tags: Steiners d. Rock n Roll Express
Great Muta d. Rey Mysterio, Sr.

Bobby Eaton d. Chris Adams
Lex Luger d. Mike Rotundo
Terry Taylor d. Konan
Doom d. Sid/Spivey