Card Subject To Change: Repackaging WWE Survivor Series 1989

By Survivor Series' third instalment, the show started to gain traction. The teams were more cohesive, the feuds organically developed, allowing teams to form more seamlessly and the team names, sometimes hokey, sometimes inspired, provided a stronger sense of solidarity.

There were, however, three notable absences that were substituted to varying levels of success. Bad News Brown filled in for an injured Akeem just long enough to abandon his teammates again while Earthquake and Bobby Heenan himself stepped into the ring to cover the more problematic circumstances surrounding the vacancies left by 'The Widowmaker' Barry Windham and one half of the Brain Busters, Tully Blanchard. Others still, while adequate enough partners, would have better served another team, rivalry or capacity on the evening.

As with previous entries, the same three protocols apply when reassembling the pay-per-view's lineup:

-All competitors predeceased at the time of the original show's are ineligible for placement.

-Superstars under the employ of rival promotions at the time of the event are also ineligible.

-Injuries, contractual disruptions and personal schedule conflicts occur in a vacuum and are resolved in time for appearance.

So, how does the 1989 edition of WWF's Autumn Classic unfold now?

Tito Santana (captain), The Rockers and Koko B. Ware versus Rick 'The Model' Martel (captain), The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers and Dino Bravo (with Jimmy Hart).

Six of the participants in this match had a ready made feud leftover from their confrontation at SummerSlam three months before. The fallout from the demise of Strike Force intensifies as Tito Santana and Rick Martel take control of opposing sides, with Santana bringing The Rockers and 'The Birdman' into a full aerial assault while Martel leans on fellow countrymen The Rougeaus and entrusts Dino Bravo to serve as the team's anchor.

The official's attention diverted by 'The Mouth of the South' Jimmy Hart, Martel scores the first elimination, blinding Koko with the Arrogance atomizer before securing a Boston Crab submission. Martel targets his former tag partner next, but Santana evades the spray and Dino Bravo takes the friendly fire, rendering him helpless as Tito picks up the three count. Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty collect stereo pinfalls on The Rougeaus, leaving Martel on his own.

Struggling to catch a breather as Santana whips him from pillar to post, 'The Model' finally outwits The Strike Force captain by countering through an attempted Flying Forearm into an inside cradle with a handful of trunks for leverage. Martel is ultimately unable to slow the pace of his remaining partners however, and Shawn Michaels logs the deciding fall following a top rope Rocker-Plex combination.

Survivors: The Rockers