10 Fascinating WWE Survivor Series 1996 Facts
Shawn Michaels was Roman Reigns before Roman Reigns.
Ahh, New York, New York. The first Survivor Series to ever emanate from the hallowed halls of Madison Square Garden (thus completing MSG's Big Four checklist) did not disappoint. The 1995 event was excellence in a time of rot, while 1996 bore the fruits of marked improvement. More than one year into the Monday Night Wars, WWE was showing inclination to punch up their product, and the 1996 Survivor Series well-reflected that willingness to go in different directions.
New York has long been WWE's cultural barometer, and their reactions to certain individuals at Survivor Series proved to be interesting. On the one hand, you had Steve Austin, in the midst of the biggest rise he'd ever embarked on in his career. The baleful "Stone Cold" character brought out the best in him, and he in turn made WWE television something a little more difficult to turn away from. New York regarded Austin on the same level as opponent Bret Hart, and the rise would continue.
Life was less grand for Shawn Michaels, who was dropping the WWE gold to Sycho Sid. The Garden chewed him up like other corporate push-hards after him, and would go a long way in deciding character alignments in 1997 and beyond.
Here are ten facts about the 1996 Survivor Series you may not have known.
10. The Pre-Show Match Was A Who's Who Of Attitude's Future
WWE tacked on one extra Survivor Series elimination match for the pre-show "Free For All", and what a doozy it was. Badd Ass Billy Gunn, JBL, Rikishi, and Salvatore Sincere did battle with Bart Gunn, Road Dogg, Hardcore Holly, and Justin Credible. That's some pretty serious names for a pre-show match, don't you agree?
It wasn't as special in 1996. With the exceptions of Sincere and Bart, everybody else was playing much different characters, ones that were far less impressive than what their futures had in store for them.
Instead, heel cowboy Billy Gunn, Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw, The Sultan, Double J Jesse James, Bob "Spark Plug" Holly, and Aldo Montoya took part in a throwaway pre-show match at the 1996 Survivor Series. Makes much more sense. Nonetheless, that's still a pretty impressive group of guys who were a gimmick change or two away from their greatest career runs.