Survivor Series 2013

[Free For All]:
Brian Pillman pinned Sting with the DDT in 0:11:52.
Rating: ** 1/4

[Free For All]:
Jushin Liger and Kensuke Sasaki defeated The Head Hunters when Sasaki pinned
Head Hunter #1 after a lariat in 0:00:09.
Rating: *
(Jushin Liger and Kensuke Sasaki retained the WWF World Tag Team Titles.)
Click here to see highlights.

[Free For All]:
Rocky Maivia pinned The Giant after a DDT in 0:06:22.
Rating: * 3/4
Click here to see highlights.

Elimination Match:
Hayabusa, Rob Van Dam, Dean Malenko, Rick Steiner and Sabu beat
Cactus Jack, Steve Williams, Dave Finlay, Owen Hart and Brian Christopher 5
 falls to 0:
         x Van Dam beat S. Williams via the Van Daminator in 0:17:59
         x Van Dam beat Finlay via the Van Daminator in 0:19:44
         x Van Dam beat Cactus Jack via the Van Daminator in 0:22:13
         x Van Dam beat O. Hart via a flying bodypress in 0:23:54
         x R. Steiner beat B. Christopher via a Steinerline in 0:30:36
Survivors: Hayabusa, Rob Van Dam, Dean Malenko, Rick Steiner, Sabu
Rating: **
Click here to see highlights.

Elimination Match:
Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Dan Severn and Ken Shamrock beat
The Dudleys (Big Dick Dudley, Buh Buh Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley and Spike Dudley)
 4 falls to 3:
         x Buh Buh Ray beat Michaels via a power bomb in 0:02:14
         x Diesel beat Spike Dudley via the Jackknife in 0:13:39
         x D-Von Dudley beat Severn via the Dudley Cutter in 0:18:38
         x Big Dick Dudley beat Diesel via a spinebuster slam in 0:24:24
         x Shamrock beat D-Von Dudley via the Ankle Lock Submission in 0:37:28
         x Shamrock beat Big Dick Dudley via a mounted punch in 0:40:22
         x Shamrock beat Buh Buh Ray via the Ankle Lock Submission in 0:53:39
Survivors: Ken Shamrock
Rating: * 3/4
Click here to see highlights.

Elimination Match:
The Four Horsemen (Diamond Dallas Page and Ric Flair), Steve Austin, Arn Anderso
n and Hollywood Hogan beat The Four Horsemen (Bret Hart and The Undertaker), Chr
is Benoit, Toshiaki Kawada and Vader 5 falls to 2:
         x Anderson beat B. Hart via the Gourdbuster in 0:32:12
         x Page beat Kawada via the Diamond Cutter in 0:35:46
         x Vader beat Anderson via the Vader Bomb in 0:50:41
         x Vader beat Hogan via disqualification in 1:02:31
         x S. Austin beat Chris Benoit via the Stone Cold Stunner in 1:11:25
         x Page beat Vader via the Diamond Cutter in 1:23:24
         x S. Austin beat Undertaker via the Stone Cold Stunner in 1:34:51
Survivors: Ric Flair, Steve Austin, Diamond Dallas Page
Rating: **
Click here to see highlights.


Card rating: * 3/4


Match observations: 

Tonight's tag team title defense had to be one of the funniest moments in pro 
wrestling history. Just as Jim Ross and Jim Cornette went on discussing how
potentially long a match it could become, Sasaki hit a lariat out of nowhere and
ended it before it really got started. Time of match: nine seconds.

If one thing's for sure then we not know that the Head Hunters have had enough
shots at the champions Jyushin Lyger and Kensuke Sasaki already. It's time for
someone new.

Young Rocky Maivia upset the huge Giant in his first major WWF victory. If the
Rock continues going at this pace, Rob Van Dam should start looking over his
shoulder... NOW !

Speaking of the Intercontinental Champion... was he a one-man show or what ? In
the eyes of many he is the most exciting wrestler ever to hold the title and 
that covers quite some ground given WWF history. In previous years, the Survivor
Series has always been the place where new challengers were established but 
tonight, no such luck. Van Dam easily disposed of Cactus Jack, Steve Williams,
Dave Finlay and Owen Hart. With the exception of Finlay and Cactus (who even 
held the WWF World Title), all of these men are former holders of the 
Intercontinental Title. Is there anybody who can give Van Dam a run for his
money ? Only time will tell.

Shawn Michaels has to be one of the most frustrated men in the federation. He's
been training literally 24 hours a day for their big showdown with the Dudleys
and what happens ? Buh Buh gets the better of him and eliminates Michaels after
only two minutes. Is this what a title contender looks like ? Definitely not. It
does seem as though Michaels' best days are in the past.

The Dudleys, on the other hand, seem destined for WWF gold. While the Dudleys
were impressive in their match - as they've been ever since invading the WWF -
the real star of the match was Ken Shamrock. Being the only one left from his
team with the three "big" Dudleys remaining, he gutted it out and led his team 
to victory when nobody thought he would given the Dudleys' performance. Way to
go !

An interesting aspect should be noted concerning the traditional Wildcard 
Matches which take place at every Survivor Series: it seems as though the IC
title contenders don't care either way who they wrestle as long as they can
kick some butt. 

The "big guys" on the other hand, seem to stick together a whole lot more.
Chris Benoit and Arn Anderson never touched in the main event, even though they
were on opposing teams. Flair's Horsemen were even more reluctant to get in the
ring with each other. While both Flair and DDP had their run-ins with the Taker
over the one-and-a-half hours of non-stop action, when it ended up being them
and Austin vs the Taker, they refused to end the match and left it up to Austin
to eliminate him.

Austin, BTW, was never supposed to be on the card in the first place. Originally
it was supposed to be Yokozuna since he and Kawada are tag partners. However,
the former sumo suffered torn ligaments in his left knee courtesy of Ken 
Shamrock at SummerSlam and thus had to pull out of the match.

When WWF officials begrudgingly approached the suspended Austin since nobody 
else of any name value was available, he jumped at the opportunity of being able 
to beat up Chris Benoit, Vader and The Undertaker all in the same match... even 
if it meant he had to team with Flair, Anderson, Page and Hogan - all of whom he 
hates. 

In fact, it was painfully obvious Austin wanted nothing whatsoever to do with
either of them. He never even acknowledged Anderson. He tagged out to Flair once
and was tagged in by Hogan. Actually, DDP was the only person Austin did a 
double-team move with - ONE double-team move, that is. 

Despite the somewhat tricky situation, Austin got what he wanted: Chris Benoit !
Steve Austin's sole goal was to deliver one message to Benoit: "I'm ready and 
your @$$ is mine !", and exactly that is what he did. Not only did Austin gut it
out and fight his way out of Benoit's Crippler Crossface but he beat the reigning
WWF Champion with his patented Stone Cold Stunner. Benoit... your days may be
counted. The rattlesnake is closing in.

Too bad for Austin that his suspension lasts through the end of the year since
December's "In Your House" event will have a five-man round robin tournament to
determine who challenges Chris Benoit at the Royal Rumble. Austin would have had
to be a leading candidate for that spot but it's his own fault. Officials had no
choice but to suspend him following his attacks on Benoit, Flair and a number of
others.

The card for In Your House is shaping up rather nicely. Chris Benoit will defend
his WWF title against former mentor Ric Flair, Rob Van Dam will put his title on
the line against Brian Christopher and Lyger and Sasaki will face the winner of
the Cactus Jack/Sabu vs Kawada match from coming Monday's Raw. If Kawada wins,
he will be allowed to pick mystery man as his partner against the tag champs.

See you then !