Survivor Series - 2008

Survivor Series 2008 is from Boston.

Part 3 of the build is here; or you could click the Road to Survivor Series 2008 label to read the full three part build.  Or just go to the it begins post to read the whole story.  I've been doing this blog for four years now; I think it was 6 years ago that I started writing the story, but 4 since I decided to share it with you. 

(Dark – LWO (w/Primo) d. Tatsu/Noble
             Kingston d. Yakuza)

Your announce – Joey/JR/Striker – in the back, Josh. It's JR's 50th PPV, which gets some notice.

Big night tonight – we’ll get the return of the WWF GM, Ricky Steamboat as the special guest referee in Punk’s title defense against Jericho; MVP has held the IC for a full year and defends against the legendary Rey Mysterio – and in a shocking, shocking turn of events – Edge and the Blood Dragon are teaming up to challenge WMD for the tag straps. In the back, we see Matt enter – Josh asks for a word and Matt blows him off – we see Edge – by himself – Josh asks where the Blood Dragon is – where is Jeff Hardy? Edge says everything’s under control – and tonight he and the Blood Dragon will become tag team champions.

1. Fluorescent Box Match: Bradshaw/Henry d. Undertaker/Rhodes

-Two boxes in opposite corners (the corners where the tag partners aren’t) filled with fluorescent tubes – if a wrestler gets to the box, he can use the tubes. Bradshaw and Undertaker are in a program since summer: Taker got a DQ win at Summer Slam but then had to take a light tube beat down. Taker’s taken Cody under his wing in this program, Cody’s job is to take the beating. He takes it here – the other half of BIG (Khali and Yakuza) enters, trying to get to the light tube boxes – the Undertaker fights them off, but that leaves Cody alone to take a good beating from Bradshaw and Henry – the box gets opened – Cody is about to get smashed with light tubes – when he is saved by a fan who runs into the ring to pull him out.

Dustin Rhodes.

Dustin’s been gone awhile. He’s a former tag champ, he and Austin debuted together – taking the tag titles from Razor and Diesel at Rumble ’96. Dustin had been a two time NWA tag champ (w/Eaton and then with Windham). Austin would turn on him when he became Stone Cold, which would spin Rhodes curiously into the Goldust persona – he’d align with a group of large men also in the Goldust costume (Sid and the Harris brothers) as the Golden Girls. A disgusted Jeff Jarrett convinced him to embrace his southern heritage and he cast off the gimmick. Dustin feuded with Hunter for a year – and notably failed with Jarrett in an attempt to burn the American flag at XV (was it XV?)

Anyway, Dustin pulls his little brother out of the ring and carries him up the ramp – the full force of BIG then teams to take out the Taker – they take him out with light tubes – Bradshaw gets his pinfall - they set upon the prone Taker with light tubes – from the back comes PAUL, Taker’s longtime friend (he and Khali had a draw at Summer Slam) and also Kane (gone for awhile, he and PAUL, and occasionally the Undertaker – and once even Hulk Hogan) were Dead Men Walking, former tag champs – PAUL and Kane clean house – knocking all of BIG out of the ring – and they hit Yakuza with a double chokeslam onto some light tubes to get a pop.

2. Truth Killings (w/Kingston) d. Miz (w/Santino)

-Killings and Kingston are Young Money, protégées of Floyd Mayweather ; Miz and Santino are an enhancement comedy act; they’ve been feuding since summer; Kingston beat Santino at Summer Slam and now Killings beats Miz here. It’s not much more complicated than that. Hit the Auto Tune! Shaw-ty!

3. Match 4 of 7: Johnny Nitro d. Strong Style Shelton Benjamin

-This feud started on the road to WM 24; cocky heel Nitro and white meat babyface Benjamin are oil and water, with only their athleticism and desire to demonstrate that athleticism uniting them. They both lost in the TLC title unification main event at 24 (to Punk), after they left their respective hospitals, they continued their feud over the summer, starting this best of 7 series – that was stalled at 1-0 Benjamin when Nitro attacked Shelton’s knee, and that knee has been the story subsequent. Nitro beat Benjamin twice in the build to Survivor Series – and beats him again here – Nitro goes up 3-1, a seemingly insurmountable advantage, and the announce suggests that Benjamin’s knee may just not be able to hold up to Nitro’s offensive onslaught.

4. Brian Kendrick (w/Colt) d. Matt Hardy

-Big picture – Matt’s been a top guy since Edge slept with Lita. Matt beat Flair at XXII and he and Edge spent a year building to their main event blow off, Hell in a Cell main event for XXIII. Matt won that match – but got the hell kicked out of him by GDI (Punk, Colt, Kendrick, et al.) postmatch. Matt was gone a year – he returned at the close of XXIV, hitting the Twist of Fate on Punk from the top of the ladder. Matt got his shot at Punk and the WWF title at Summer Slam, but fell short (as did Jeff in his IC shot earlier that night) in part because of a Sliced Bread #2 hit by Kendrick. That would be enough for this match – except for the crazy twist over this past week when Edge tabbed the Blood Dragon as his partner tonight (the Matt/Edge storyline has been good, I think – Hardys and E/C came up together as young boys ten years ago, E/C saw an opportunity to get ahead, on the night the Hardys won the tag straps – E/C joined the Clique – kicking off a multi-year long collision feud, where, with the Dudleys, the men nearly killed each other. Edge nailing Lita led to the collapse of the then babyface Clique, and led to Edge beating Christian {he told Christian that “as his brother” he would never lie to him – and he never slept with Lita} in a Loser Leaves Town. Jeff returned after years away to aid his brother in the program {but Jeff couldn’t beat Edge – or CM Punk, and during a several month program with Punk, Jeff adopted the alternate persona of the Blood Dragon, which looks sort of like Jushin Liger}. Punk preyed a little upon the unstable Jeff – and his analysis, oft repeated – was that Jeff’s need no longer to be a Hardy, no longer to be Matt’s brother, led to this schizophrenic breakdown. Jeff’s IC loss at Summer Slam was another crack to his ego – Jeff eliminated Matt from the number one contender’s battle royal – which was another crack in the Hardys relationship. They hadn’t spoken in a couple of months, as Matt had told us, Jeff disappearing after the battle royal – until this past week Edge’s search for a partner ended – when he unveiled the Blood Dragon)

It’s still unfolding here – Matt’s noticeably distracted – shaking his head throughout the match – Kendrick is in his “the Brian Kendrick” chickenshit heel persona (Colt has a cast, Matt broke his arm over the summer). Josh has continued throughout the show his search for the Blood Dragon – and during this match – on the video wall – Josh finds him (there was announce speculation that Jeff would reconsider, that despite whatever’s going on with he and Matt – he just wouldn’t be Edge’s partner) but there he is – in the back – Josh asks him “Why – Jeff – why are you doing this” – and the Blood Dragon (in the costume) just shakes his head and continues walking.

That distraction, distracting both the official and Matt – allows Colt to slip in the ring and club Matt with the cast – which allows Kendrick to take control – soon thereafter is Sliced Bread – and that’s the pinfall for the biggest win of Kendrick’s career.

Kendrick does the big celebration – Matt sits in the ring and stares at the video wall – his brother, his baby brother – is going to team with his mortal enemy – right here, in this very ring!

5. Parking Garage Brawl:  Randy Orton (w/Dean) d. Steve Regal
Surrounded by cars in the parking garage, Orton gets a win in as rough and tumble a brawl as decency will allow and Orton can maintain.  Orton's really looking for gravity here - that's why the alliance with Malenko, in whom we've invested a great deal of time establishing as legitimate.  Orton formed Defiance, a stable with Malenko and the Juggernaut (Umaga) at 24 by aiding the Juggernaut in defeating Fit (Orton debuted his punt to the head, called the Golden Goal - Fit's been out since).

Regal came to the aid of his frenemy Finlay - he took the Juggernaut out, he hit Orton with his car (that's why we're in a parking garage) but tonight he takes a Golden Goal himself.

There's a plot development here that leads to the finish - with Regal in control one of the encircled cars suddenly rams into him - the chaos as the car (with an unseen driver) strikes Regal and then screeches away allows Malenko to put on the clover leaf - and Orton to nail the Golden Goal.

A bloody Orton stands astride the broken body of Regal - Orton/Malenko...and who....who was driving the car....Defiance has taken out another man.

6. Tag Team Titles:  Edge/Blood Dragon d. WMD (w/Arn)
Edge comes out alone to take on Cena/Leviathan, the announce speculating that maybe Jeff thought better of it - maybe whatever demons are currently possessing Jeff's mind that caused him to agree to partner with Edge have taken the evening off.  Edge has to take a bit of a beating early - he deserves it and the muscleheads are happy to oblige.

Then the Blood Dragon (in the full costume/mask) comes to the ring and awaits the the tag.

Now, the announce doesn't refer to this, but there's been enough video in the build so the fans are well aware - but please recall what happened at the Rumble.

At the Rumble - Edge/Jericho took on Michaels/Helmsley for the straps - Edge/Jericho was a surprise alliance, and it appeared that Edge had turned in the aftermath of 23.  He had not - he swerved Jericho in that match and the heels pounced.

So here we are, Edge about the tag in the Blood Dragon - important that the announce never says "wait - remember the Rumble?" as that would tip the hand - I'd like it if the fans thought that was the direction we were going here, that Jeff would turn his back on Edge for the comeuppance.

That doesn't happen - instead what happens is the Blood Dragon goes full house afire and eventually he hits the Swanton and gets the fall on Leviathan. 

Edge and Jeff Hardy, shockingly, are tag team champions. 

Edge is thrilled, raising the belt high - the Blood Dragon (still masked, which isn't weird, as we've been planting that as normal forever) seems conflicted - looking at the belt - staring at Edge -- and Matt Hardy, in absolute disbelief, comes to the top of the ramp.

I like a shot of Edge, sneering, smirking Edge - standing with the Blood Dragon in mid ring - Edge mocking Matt - Matt's mouth agape, Matt frozen - Matt underneath the TitanTron as it all goes down.  The Blood Dragon doesn't celebrate with Edge - Edge extends a hand - but the Blood Dragon blows him off - exiting the ring - the Blood Dragon goes up the ramp with the title belt - and he just walks right by Matt - brushing past him as Matt is frozen in what clearly has to be as traumatic a happening as could ever occur to him in a wrestling ring.  His brother - and his mortal enemy - tag team champions of the world.

7. IC Title: MVP d. Rey Mysterio
-This is just a wrestling match, they go hard, Porter gets him with a roll up.

The build was (1) Porter's hit a year as IC Champ (he's got some type of celebration here, a special fireworks thing or girls, some type of "champ for a year" thing- he's longest running IC champ in over a decade (Cactus Jack) - and that's designed to rebuild this belt since it has to be subordinated while we did that belt split.  Porter's the modern athlete (he's Ochocinco) he tweets during matches, he wears expensive suits, he hits his catchphrase (I Run This) and he wants to build his brand.  Rey's on the short list for greatest wrester ever, he's a triple crown legend, but injuries have taken him away for good parts of the past couple of years.  Is MVP going to ascend further up the ranks - can Rey return to form?

Not complicated - they have the best match they can have, it's 50/50 and Porter gets him with the roll up at the end.  Done.  MVPs run continues. 

8. WWF Title: Chris Jericho d. CM Punk (w/Maria and Colt): Guest referee, Ricky Steamboat.
-Well, look what happened here.

-In 1999, Chris Jericho arrived in the WWF to revive the Hart Foundation - he wore the #7 Foundation hockey jersey (only given to champions - and Jericho was an NWA Champ), he beat Waltman for the IC in his first match at Survivor Series.

A decade later, here we are. 

-In 2006, CM Punk, who had built his WWF name as the man whose refusal to wrestle on TV led to the creation of GDI Wrestling - the Tuesday night Sci Fi program - won the number one contender's battle royal (only man ever to do it from position 1) and beat Ric Flair at Survivor Series to take the Undisputed World Title and end the reign of the 51% Solution.  In a shocking - shocking - turn of events, Punk threw down the WWF (and NWA) title belt, proclaiming himself the GDI World Champion (as represented by the ECW belt) and shattering the company in pieces.

Two years later, here we are.

Ricky Steamboat defended the WWF Title at the first Wrestlemania - and has been in general manager type positions throughout the decade in TNA (where his chief nemesis was Punk) ROH (where his chief nemesis was Punk) and in the WWF in a couple of stints - this most recent starting after Survivor Series 2006 which his task being to put right what CM Punk made wrong.

There have been twists and turns. 

But here we are.

Steamboat, gone on his Asian talent search, returns to accept Punk's demand that he be guest referee.

Jericho, gone over the summer after his loss at 24 to Edge (who swerved him at the Rumble) was a surprise entrant (at #30) at the battle royale - he eliminated Edge and with all the years of history behind him - as a Hart - as the man left to carry on the most important WWF legacy - and as a man who has failed carrying that legacy, who has let the emotional pressure of that legacy break him multiple times - Jericho is here.

And Punk, with his boy Colt and girl Maria - the hated, cocksure Punk - master of mind games, Punk who has withstood every challenge - who has always come out on top in his WWF career - Punk is here.

Steamboat, early in the match, sends Colt and Maria to the back after an attempted distraction.  There are, throughout the match, a few Punk/Steamboat confrontations, in the way you'd expect to see them. 

They go head up - Jericho locks on the Walls - Punk breaks the hold.  Punk hits the Pepsi Plunge, Jericho kicks out.  Eventually Punk's attempt to hit the GTS is turned into another Walls - and Punk submits. 

Jericho wins the WWF Championship.  Jericho wins the Triple Crown. 

He gets the celebration alone - after Steamboat puts the belt around his waist - Jericho gets the moment in the ring by himself - no longer "the cocky Hart" - no longer JerichoDark or the Lizard King - he's #7 - and just like Dynamite, Bret, Davey Boy, Owen, and Benoit - Jericho takes his place as WWF Champion.

It's a big emotional celebration - Punk looks on mournfully, alone in the aisle.

The following night at the close of RAW is another tradition - the passing of the Triple Crown trophy.

All the boys surround the ring, as we've done with every previous winner, and the previous holder of the cup, as we've done every time, hands the Triple Crown to the new holder.  There's a highlight package.  It's what we do.

The last triple crown winner was Benoit.  You may recall that he returned to WWF (his career ended at the hands of Lashley) the week after 23 for Flair's retirement ceremony.  And he gave the trophy to the man who held it before Benoit, Rey Mysterio.

So it's Rey who comes to the ring - he hands Jericho the Hart-Guerrero Memorial Triple Crown - the highlight reel from Jericho's career plays - after which, in the middle of all of the boys out around the ring and up the ramp - Punk/Colt/Kendrick attack Ricky Steamboat.

It's a complete sucker attack, they jump him and pound the WWF GM down until pulled off.  It's full on chaos - Punk/Colt/Kendrick have attacked Ricky Steamboat, leaving the GM bloody and laying in the middle of the triple crown ceremony.

One assumes there will be consequences.

That's Survivor Series 2008 (and the next night).  Steve Regal hit by a Golden Goal, Johnny Nitro up 3-1 on Shelton Benjamin, Edge and The Blood Dragon are, in an unbelievable twist, the new tag champs, and your new WWF Champion and Triple Crown winner -- Chris Jericho.

I'll be back in December for the The road. to the Rumble. 

Road to Survivor Series 2008 - Part 3

Part II of the 3 part build can be found here.  You can also click the label for the full 3 part build.  Or you can start with the "it begins" post and read the 25 year history straight through, which is my suggestion if you're new and obsessive.

Survivor Series 2008 is coming next month from Boston.


WWF Championship: CM Punk v. Chris Jericho: Special Guest Referee: Ricky Steamboat

-In Part II of the build, Jericho (from position 30) won the Number One Contender’s Battle Royal (eliminating Edge, who was alone in the ring when Jericho entered) to get this shot.

Chris Jericho is the most psychologically fragile wrestler in this world; and Punk the greatest manipulator maybe who we’ve ever seen. That’s the storyline as we head to Survivor Series.

Jericho arrived in 1999 to revive the Hart Foundation after Owen’s departure (not a euphemism; he didn’t die in the ring in this world; yes, Owen’s still dead, that’s not how this works). Jericho was temperamentally different from the Harts, more “Clique” like in demeanor than the stoic, serious minded Foundation. Maybe that’s why he, despite a willingness, was never able to grab full leadership reigns of the family. His unease..perhaps the stress caused by having to wear that crown, manifested itself in his trying to grab onto help – in the form of Lance Storm, whose betrayal of him caused a downward spiral (Jericho becoming JerichoDark, a Raven like figure) and then in the form of Trish (their alliance took both of them into depraved, Sid and Nancy like places, Jericho turning heel for the first time in the WWF, becoming the Lizard King, and eventually causing him to leave the company after drunkenly bottoming out). Jericho returned, in shape and clear eyed, a year ago, with a new ally – Edge – much as Jericho debuted after Owen’s death – his return came after Benoit’s death. We read that as Jericho again saying subtextually “I’m ready – I’m your guy – you can trust me” – but also he (perhaps too easily) trusted Edge (needed Edge?) to aid him in filling that void.

Edge of course screwed Jericho at Rumble ’08, re-aligning with the Clique – then Edge beat Jericho clean at XXIV – much speculation if that again pushed Jericho over the edge as he went missing all summer – but he returned at the Battle Royal unexpectedly and now is headed to Survivor Series.

Jericho is serious, older, more Hart-like – he seems focused and ready.

But he’s facing Punk – and Punk looks to split his mind open the way he has done throughout his entire career. From day one, Punk’s dominant characteristic has been as the puppetmaster – pitting the other indie guys against each other – swaying the locker room leaders to line up in his corner as he challenged Flair for the title two years ago – getting his own show after throwing down the WWF Title belt (GDI, on Tuesday nights) torturing the Hardys – Jeff becoming the Blood Dragon and, as shown in recent months, becoming severed from Matt (Jeff eliminated Matt at the battle royal – the tension increasingly thick between the two men from Summer Slam all the way to today) and most prevalently, tormenting Steamboat – not just in his role as the general manager of the WWF – but, as noted, in similar positions in both ROH and TNA – Punk v. Steamboat has been a theme of American Counterfactual wrestling for the bulk of this decade.

And that continues in this build – in addition to Punk trying to manipulate Jericho (a Trish appearance, the way she’s done sometimes, would be good – some sort of attempted sexual come on to Jericho, perhaps that ends with she and Maria making out…excuse me…I need a moment of private time…) Punk keeps cutting promos on the absent Steamboat (he’s in Japan recruiting more talent, that’s from where he got Yoshii Tatsu, now wrestling on GDI – first in an alliance with, then in opposition to, Jamie Noble). Punk (along with Colt and Maria, always in the angle, don’t forget) has a fox and the grapes moment regarding Summer Slam – having Steamboat count the fall when he beat Matt to retain the title was good – but not as good as if Steamboat had to officially referee the whole match – had to fasten the title belt around his waist following the match – had to raise his hand in the air and proclaim for the world that CM Punk was the World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Champion.

Punk is greedy, the way heels are – and his constant begging for Steamboat to be the referee pays off.

Steamboat still doesn’t appear on camera (you don’t see him until the PPV – you gotsa pay for that shit!) but we hear via the announce that he accepts – he will return from the Pacific Rim to be the special guest referee for the main event at Survivor Series 2008! CM Punk v. Chris Jericho for the WWF Title!

IC Title: Montel Porter v. Rey Mysterio

-Porter, with his three thousand dollar suits, his top of the line smartphones, his tweeting during matches (anytime someone wants to steal that idea from me, you’re welcome) has been IC Champ for a full year since winning from Orton at Survivor Series 2007.

That’s one of the storylines headed to this match – maybe the main storyline – Porter’s going to be champion for a full year – no one has had the IC for a full year since Cactus Jack a dozen years ago. The IC was intentionally devalued for a couple of years when there were 3 separate heavyweight titles, or rather, it was an unintended consequence but one that was done consciously – so as now the company is once again unified and there are only two singles belts – the IC is being rebuilt – and Porter’s run is doing that.

For MVP it’s about securing his empire, putting himself into the company of – well, of legends, like Cactus Jack – and like Rey Mysterio.

MVP wants this match – wants it badly - he says it’s part of the plan – the plan he designed from a jailcell – get trained by a great wrestler like Booker T – form a tag team with his friend Elijah Burke – make his bones early by punking out a legend – and that was Rey Mysterio. Nothing personal, Rey, Porter says – but when I took you out a year and a half ago – that was just an old prison trick – go up to the biggest guy on your first day and smack him around. You ain’t the biggest guy – but you got a triple crown.

(Recall, in the summer of ’07, Heat was feuding with LWO – Book and Rey were on the periphery of that – and as part of the build for Rey/Book at Summer Slam, Porter punked a still recovering from injury Mysterio out. That led to his being upbraided by Book – which led to Porter’s turning on both Book and Burke)

And that’s where MVP picks up his story again – it was all part of the plan – take out Rey to get noticed – then drop his partner – and turn on his mentor.

Check. Check. Check.

That left Porter free to whip Orton and take his belt a year ago.

Check.

Then do something no one’s done in over a decade – hold the IC belt for a full year.

Check.

So now it’s time for the next thing – to beat a legend – an immortal – clean in the middle of the ring.

It’s time to pick the bones of Rey Mysterio.

That’s what he needs to do.

So that’s the MVP part of it – the Mysterio part is there’s an open question (asked by Striker) of how much he has left. Two long absences in recent years, causing him to miss multiple Wrestlemanias, has taken the steam out of his career – Rey was the top wrestler in the company – a 2 time WWF champion – a triple crown winner – but now the question is he still the top guy – or is he a guy who used to be the top guy. Rey was quickly eliminated (by Porter) in the battle royal – which was his much hyped return to the company, his first match since losing the WWF title to Benjamin at Rumble ’08. So – as Porter builds his name – Rey attempts to salvage his.

Tags: WMD: Leviathan/John Cena (w/Arn Anderson) v. Edge/Mystery Partner

-WMD is a full on no-selling muscle tag team – they’re the Road Warriors. I think by this point at least Dave paints his face and wears spikes to the ring. They have no inner lives, it’s the opposite of what I like – they are full on cartoon characters – they give screaming promos and shake the ropes and have catchphrases and hit power moves and the grown ups (like me) either boo or fast forward and the kids buy their merch. Arn never tells anyone they don’t know how to work.

It’s the second tag run for both men, Leviathan was a Horseman, Flair’s last protégé – Flair and Arn turned on him at one point, but they’ve all made up now, as evidenced by Flair, as guest ref at 24, hitting Michaels with the ball shot allowing WMD to take the straps from the Clique. Cena and Orton were upstart boy tag champs.

WMD beat Michaels and Hunter at Mania – then kept over Hunter and Edge at Summer Slam – Michaels has been gone since Mania, seen only in extensive and numerous highlight packages that pop in out of nowhere displaying his record ten title wins (2 WWF, 2IC, 4 tags) with the end tag: He is Risen and blinding white light. Hunter vanishes after the battle royal – leaving only a very frustrated Edge.

Edge says he deserves to wrestle Punk – he eliminated everyone from the battle royal – but Jericho came in at the end to screw him. He says he deserves to wrestle Porter – but all he wants to do is take on Mysterio so he’s frozen out. So he wants a rematch against WMD – and he says he will find a partner.

Everyone knows Edge doesn’t have a single friend, so there’s speculation on who that might be. And that speculation drives the program.

We find out, by the way, on the go home RAW before the PPV – Edge reveals his mystery partner.

After much build up. After much “Edge has a shocking announcement at the end of RAW – tune in – tune in”

Edge reveals his announcement.  His partner will be............


The Blood Dragon.

The Blood Dragon doesn’t appear during this announcement – just clips play of Jeff hitting highspots.

It’s a shocking “oh my god” (Joey says in his quiet voice like he did) ending to RAW – the smirking Edge announcing, impossibly, that the Blood Dragon would be his partner.

Which sends Matt into an unhinged frenzy – he appears on both GDI and then Fight Night demanding Edge (they can’t wrestle in a singles match ever again, said their contract for the main event at 23). Jeff’s been totally absent, Matt has said multiple times in passing, since their near confrontation after the battle royal (Matt hasn’t wanted to talk about it, the announcers keep asking “where’s Jeff”). Matt’s said “I don’t have any fucking idea” – having to get bleeped out, in the hopes of no longer being asked about his brother, it clearly being a sore spot.

Oh, this is a good time for this:

Matt Hardy v. Brian Kendrick

-Kendrick aided his longtime GDI ally Punk at Summer Slam, hitting sliced bread #2 during the title match . Not the first confrontation between the two – Kendrick was one of the lead jackals who, along with Punk, carved Matt and Edge up in the Cell following the main at 23. Matt eliminated Kendrick from the battle royal – and Matt is full on “I’m going to kill Brian Kendrick at Survivor Series” throughout the build. Kendrick does his super “the Brian Kendrick” chickenshit heel gimmick.

Kendrick avoids Matt during the build – running at every opportunity – begging off – until the aforementioned GDI after the go home RAW (which is why I’m bringing this up now) when Matt cuts a “Edge is a goddamn liar – my brother would never be his partner – he is a liar, this is a bait and switch – do not buy this PPV if you think you’re going to see the Blood Dragon” promo – which is interrupted by Kendrick, who sneak attacks Matt with a chairshot – and lays him out.

-Matt returns though at the end of Fight Night – he cuts the same promo on Edge – but is interrupted in the last image shown before Survivor Series – it’s on the TitanTron – it’s Edge talking to Matt – saying Edge is a lot of things, “but no one has ever called me a liar….oh, wait…everyone’s always called me a liar, that’s because I lie all the time, I lied to Jericho, I lied to the fans, I lied to you, Matt Hardy, when I said I was your friend while I was inside your girl…

(can we say that on MyNetwork TV? )

But – Edge says – as it so happens….

And then into the shot comes the Blood Dragon. The Blood Dragon standing right next to Edge.

“this time – I’m telling the truth. See you Sunday.”

So, that’s half the card:

Punk v. Jericho


Porter v. Rey


WMD v. Edge/Blood Dragon


Matt v. Kendrick

Two high profile gimmick singles matches in the middle of a very good Survivor Series card:

Parking Garage Brawl: Steve Regal v. Randy Orton (w/Dean Malenko)


Best of 7: Johnny Nitro (up 2-1) v. Shelton Benjamin

The Regal/Orton program grew out of the separate fights with authority figures that Orton and the Juggernaut (Umaga) had over protracted periods.  Orton fought with Dusty Rhodes in the NWA on Fridays - The Juggernaut with Steamboat on Mondays.  When Fit Finlay finally lost the NWA belt to Johnny Nitro - Steamboat reached out to him to use some of his noted tough guy enforcement on the then unbeaten Juggernaut at 23 (anytime you want to rehire Umaga, Vince, and blow out his hair, give him clothes, have him swigging a bottle of something, smoking enormous cigars that he lights with twenty dollar bills and driving up the arena just as his matches are about to begin, shoving people out of his way backstage, yelling out "I'm the Juggernaut, Bitch!" it would get over, I'm just sayin').  That fight was one that Finlay's longtime manager, Dean Malenko, did not want him to take - that dispute was the last one they'd have - as at Mania, the Juggernaut, Orton, and Malenko took Fit out - forming Defiance - Orton debuting the Golden Goal - his kick to the head that had put Finlay out of action.  Fit's longtime frenemy, Regal, too up Finlay's cause over the summer - stalking Defiance - eventually breaking the Juggernaut, submitting him in a Regal Stretch (the last we've seen of him - bring Umaga back!) and running over Orton with his car in a parking garage on the road.  Regal eliminated Orton from the battle royal - and Regal has set his sights on destroying Orton at Survivor Series.

The match is a Parking Garage Brawl - recall that match inside a circle of cars that Eddy/Cena had on real world Smackdown?  This is that - I like the idea of Orton and Regal working on the road - good for Orton to work with someone like that - and in terms of on screen, rubbing with Malenko and Regal will establish credibility with people like me.  Regal stalks Defiance - Defiance plays defense - there's a promo at some point where Orton responds to some announcer's "without the Juggernaut it's really just one guy" - comment by saying "Defiance is a movement - it's a way of life - do you really think I'm here by myself..."

Regal and Orton surrounded by cars - nowhere to run, nowhere to hide - at Survivor Series 2008.

Nitro and Benjamin is easy to explain - they had singles belts going into 24, but lost them to Punk in the TLC main event unification match.

Their feud started in the build to 24 - and has continued - with a Best of 7 Series underway - Benjamin won the first, before Summer Slam, but then Nitro targeted Shelton's knee in a sneak attack - and has continued to target his knee for months.  After the Battle Royal (they were both eliminated after a long stint by The Underground entrants, Swagger and DiBiase) they wrestle twice on TV - once on RAW, once on Fight Night.  Nitro wins both - and goes into Survivor Series up 2 matches to 1. 

At the bottom of the card:

Truth Killings v. Miz
Glass Light Tube Box Match: Undertaker/Cody Rhodes v. Bradshaw/Mark Henry

Killings and Kingston are Young Money - their pants hang extra low, they like to make it rain, there's a ton of autotune in their theme music - they were given the rub from Floyd Mayweather and that tie in is used anytime there's a chance.  They're in a feud with Miz and Santino, hapless comedy heels.  Bradshaw has a stable: BIG (Bradshaw Investment Group: The Wrestling Group to Big to Fail) and does a reverse Million Dollar Man bit - he has fans perform embarassing stunts and then demands money from them (like a bailout). Yakuza (Yang) and Khali are also in BIG, as it's multinational.  BIG destroyed old man Dusty Rhodes after the death of the NWA - young Cody came to his dad's defense - he was painfully outmanned - but to his defense eventually came the Undertaker - thrilling Bradshaw - who said this was a great opportunity for him to take down the WWF veteran.  PAUL returned at Summer Slam to help his longtime friend the Taker, and that's the essence of the program.

Bradshaw became a garbage wrestler in his program with the ECW veterans, picking up a love for glass light tubes - and now they get utilized to open the card - in all four corners of the ring - giant boxes filled with fluorescent tubes.  If you're able to get to the box and open it up - then you can use the tubes.

And that's the show. 

WWF Title: Punk v. Jericho
IC Title: Porter v. Mysterio
Tag Titles: WMD v. Edge/Blood Dragon
Parking Garage Brawl: Regal v. Orton
Matt v. Kendrick
Match 4 of Best of 7: Nitro v. Benjamin
Killings v. Miz
Glass Light Tube Box Match: Undertaker/Cody v. Bradshaw/Henry

Survivor Series 2008.  Probably coming around Thanksgiving.  Enjoy the show.