WWE Survivor Series 2017 Review

Samoa Joe soon followed, before Bálor, the last point of real interest, quickly succumbed to the deadly RKO. From that point on, it was a Wrestling Legends circle jerk, each of the superannuated stars massaging one another's hardened reputations with only Strowman around to mop up the ego-driven ejaculate. What was to be gained from slow-motion reruns of 2004's finest? Kurt Angle, bless him, is a transparent version of his former self, and him clumsily cuddling John Cena out the match served no purpose. At least seeing Kurt wrestle was something people wanted. Shane McMahonmania running wild was a different story.

The prodigal son turned full Jesus, swatting the interruption of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn away like midges on a nature trail, before lasting a full hour in the vice-like grip of an admittedly faded Angle's anklelock. Triple H watched on as Shawn Michael's legacy was swiftly flushed down the bog, before eventually, slowly, making a head-scratching save. And just to prove to everybody that yes, although he debuted when Terry Funk was still a relatively young man, he's still the biggest force in wrestling. Shane got the pin, but it was all about 'The Game'. Predictably, Hunter then claimed the win for Team Raw. Braun Strowman looked like a lost child holding the teacher's hand at the end; what expression will he pull when he inevitably loses to the dastardly Three H down the line?

Beyond the overblown spectacle and excessive running time, the 2017 edition of Survivor Series had one extra thing in common with Macy's annual Thanksgiving parade. Like those balloons once the show is over and the streets clear, there was a huge sense of deflation. In the end, a real let down.