10 Most Underrated Matches From WWE Survivor Series
Which matches deserve your undivided attention?
We're less than a week away from the 30th edition of WWE's second-longest tenured pay-per-view, the November tradition of Survivor Series.
This event's been home to dozens of famous - and infamous - moments, and matches that have helped shape WWE into the sports-entertainment juggernaut that it is today. Fans have seen breathtaking performances, heartbreaking screwjobs, shocking debuts, and many more at the Survivor Series.
Over the past several years, WWE has done a great job re-establishing the November pay-per-view as one of the year's premier events. After a run of mediocre events with mediocre matches and memories to suit, WWE returned Survivor Series to form beginning with the WWE debut of Sting in 2014 and the return of The Undertaker in 2015. The 2016 edition will feature the in-ring return of Goldberg as he takes on Brock Lesnar in a rematch from WrestleMania XX.
All of these moments stand out as highly acclaimed presentations and they will only add to the overall legacy that is the Survivor Series, but what about the matches that flew under the radar? Not every quality encounter from the Survivor Series is as fondly remembered as it should be.
With nearly 30 years of events in the books, there's more than a handful. The following 10 matches have taken place at Survivor Series but are greatly underrated.
10. The Grand Finale Match Of Survival (1990)
By 1990, WrestleMania had been firmly established as the Mecca of all WWE pay-per-view events, but the Survivor Series event was a draw in itself with top superstars coming together to form superteams. The 5-on-5 elimination matches were reduced to 4-on-4 in 1989, and it allowed for shorter, more action-packed matches throughout the entire event.
WWE added the Grand Finale Match of Survival in 1990 where, after the 5 advertised traditional Survivor Series matches took place, all of the remaining survivors would compete in one final contest in the main event. No additional details were provided regarding the format of the Grand Finale and some expected it to be an "every man for himself" battle royal style of match.
Instead, the main event was another tag team elimination bout where the surviving babyfaces teamed against the surviving heels. WWF Champion Ultimate Warrior, Hulk Hogan, & Tito Santana vs. The Visionaries (Rick Martel, Power & Glory, & The Warlord) & Ted DiBiase saw both Hogan and Warrior leave victorious to close the show. While the in-ring action wasn't as great as the undercard, the concept was one that many fans expected would become a Survivor Series tradition.
As a concept, the Grand Finale was greatly underrated. It looked great on paper but was not received well backstage and WWE never used the idea again.