10 Greatest WWE Pay-Per-Views Of The '90s
4. Survivor Series 1996
Survivor Series '96 is the second pay-per-view to make the list that emanated from Madison Square Garden, but it's not the last.
Halfway through '96, the WWF underwent a cataclysmic shift when longtime, distant rival WCW took over the wrestling industry as the most popular promotion. Although the pieces were there for what would eventually become the company's saving grace in the Attitude Era, the WWF in November of '96 still had a long way to go.
WWF Champion Shawn Michaels vs. Sycho Sid and the returning Bret 'Hitman' Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin headlined the event. Due to an overwhelming support for the heels in Sid and Austin, this event is considered by many to be the unofficial birth of the Attitude Era.
The event is also remembered for the blowoff match to the classic Undertaker/Mankind feud of 1996.
Fans were severely disappointed with the night's surprise mystery competitor that, rumored to be a returning Randy Savage, turned out to be 53 year-old Jimmy Snuka. Still, Survivor Series was made memorable thanks to the debut of The Rock (Rocky Maivia) and being the final PPV event for longtime main-eventer Yokozuna.
At least for one night in late 1996, the raucous New York crowd helped to make the WWF feel like the top promotion once again.