10 Best WWE Survivor Series Main Events Ever
7. Orton’s Reign Goes Up In Flames (2005)
Depending on your stance regarding Survivor Series' format since 2016, this is the precursor to either herald or revile. What isn't in dispute, however, is when RAW and SmackDown truly are putting their five best available men and women into combat, magic tends to happen and this is the template.
Capitalizing yet again on their video game series, WWE opted for their first ever 'SmackDown versus RAW' Survivor Series elimination match on the heels of the second installment dropping less than two weeks prior to the PPV. Shawn Michaels captained World Tag Team Champions Kane and The Big Show, Chris Masters and Carlito against World Heavyweight Champion Batista's SmackDown squad of Rey Mysterio, JBL, Bobby Lashley and Randy Orton, who was a late addition following the untimely passing of Eddie Guerrero during the show's build.
Despite his late-game heroics and rallying from down 3-1, Michaels ultimately fell to the combination of a steel chair decoy by recently eliminated JBL and an RKO from Orton to give SmackDown the decision. Randy's revelry would be abbreviated, however, as fellow Blue Brand comrades hoisted him onto their shoulders for a bird's eye view of the apocalypse. From the stage, a lightning bolt struck and incinerated an idle casket and Orton could only watch in horror as The Undertaker burst forth from the flames and unleashed Hell on everyone friend or foe in his path.
The Legend Killer had found the one dragon he couldn't slay, and it was about to cost him his soul.