Summary
Originating in 1987,Survivor Serieswas created as an event to run oppositeJim Crockett Promotions’popularStarrcadeevent. The initial purpose was to continue feuds through elimination-style tag team matches.
Over time,WWEhas changed the format ofSurvivor Seriesseveral times. However, the show is still recognized as one of the “Big Four” events for the company.Survivor Serieshas produced some epic teams and survivors over the years, but some stand out more than others. These are the bestSurvivor Seriesteams.
10The Ultimate Warriors
Survivor Series 1989
While the earlySurvivor Seriescards often had the world champion’s team in the main event, the 1989 edition put the Intercontinental Champion’s team, the Ultimate Warriors, on last. He was joined by the Rockers and Jim Neidhart from the Hart Foundation to take on the team of Andre the Giant, Haku, Arn Anderson, and Bobby Heenan.
The Ultimate Warrior entered a feud with Andre the Giant and would be pushed to World champion six months after this event. The Anvil had already been a tag team champion and would win a second tag title in less than a year. Shawn Michaels is in the conversation of the greatestWWEsuperstar of all time, and Marty Jannetty was a renowned tag team specialist in his own right.
9Andre the Giant’s Team
Survivor Series 1987
At the very firstSurvivor Series,WWEchose to continue the rivalry between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant as the two captained teams in the main event of the first show. Andre filled his team withbig, beefy men, while Hogan’s team featured more athletic men.
In the end, Andre, Bundy, and the One-Man Gang managed to eliminate Hulk Hogan, setting up the unusual situation of Bam Bam Bigelow taking on three men by himself. Bigelow eliminated Bundy and the Gang before falling to Andre.
8Team Smackdown
Survivor Series 2005
It was abattle for brand supremacyas Raw and Smackdown sent five of their best in a traditional elimination tag team match. Smackdown was represented by the World Heavyweight Champion, Batista, who put aside personal problems with JBL and Randy Orton to improve the team.
The match came down to Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels, who was representing Raw. In the end, Orton beat Michaels for the second time in three years to be the sole survivor for the third straight year.
7Team Authority
Survivor Series 2014
This is a rare inclusion, as this was a powerful team that didn’t actually win its match. The main storyline at the time was the Authority vs. John Cena, and Triple-H put together a powerful team for the winner-take-all match. Seth Rollins, Luke Harper, and Rusev were all rising stars, while Kane and Mark Henry were almost always used as powerful men.
It appeared like this team was about to win the match when Big Show betrayed his teammates, leading to John Cena’s elimination. However, the debuting Sting stepped in and helped Dolph Ziggler overcome the odds to beat this team. But, without Sting’s interference, this team was a force to be reckoned with.
6Team DX
Survivor Series 2006
By 2006,WWEhad reached a point where it only ran one traditional elimination tag team match atSurvivor Series. This edition featured superstars from all three brands: Raw, Smackdown, and ECW. Degeneration X had reformed and was now working as faces withthe Hardy Boyzand up-and-comer CM Punk.
The team completed a clean sweep featuring the past, present, and future ofWWE. While both members of DX were already legends, the other three would go on to win World titles for one of the three brands over the next three years.
5The Warriors
Survivor Series 1990
One year after main eventing as Intercontinental Champion, the Ultimate Warrior was in the opener as WWE champion. He formed his team of Warriors with the Road Warriors, now known as the Legion of Doom, and the Modern Day Warrior, known in WWE as the Texas Tornado.
The team faced Mr. Perfect and the three members of Demolition; the Tornado and LOD were feuding with the four members of the Perfect Team at the time. The Ultimate Warrior won and advanced to the first and only winners match inSurvivor Serieshistory.
4The Hulkamaniacs
Hulk Hogan was kicking a feud with the Million Dollar Man in high gear while also wrapping up a feud with Zeus connected to the filmNo Holds Barred. Hogan teamed up with tag team champions Demolition and the most over man without a title, Jake Roberts, to take on Ted Dibiase’s team.
Hulk Hoganand The Hulkamaniacswere in command for most of the match, with Zeus getting eliminated early and the Powers of Pain, the Warlord, and the Barbarian, getting disqualified after eliminating both members of Demolition. It ended with Hogan celebrating after pinning Dibiase.
3Team Raw
Survivor Series 2017
Kurt Angle returned toWWEand helped lead the Raw team against the Smackdown team in 2017 as the two sides battled for brand supremacy. Angle teamed up with three ofWWE’s best at the time and an old rival to help get the win for Raw.
In the end,Triple-H turned on Angle, allowing his brother-in-law, Shane McMahon, to pin Angle. However, Triple-H knew better than to betray Braun Strowman, instead pinning Shane himself.
2All-Americans
Survivor Series 1993
WWEcontinued its attempt to get Lex Luger over as a babyface as he led the All-Americans against the Foreign Fanatics. Luger teamed up with collegiate wrestlers, the Steiner brothers, and brought in the Undertaker, who could strike fear into the heart of champion Yokozuna.
The match set up Yokozuna’sRoyal Rumbletitle defense against the Undertaker and ended with Luger defeating Lithuanian baddie Ludvig Borga. It was a bright spot on a less-than-stellarSurvivor Seriescard.
1Team WWE
Survivor Series 2001
WWEended the Invasion storyline with a bang despite most of the storyline being a whimper. The Rock, Kane, and Undertaker were threeWWEstalwarts, while Chris Jericho and Big Show were two guys often overlooked inWCW. The five all wanted to win it for their current company.
It was a wild event that included twoWWEdefectors and Vince McMahon’s son, Shane, joining oneWCWstalwart in Booker T and oneECWstalwart in Rob Van Dam. It ended with Kurt Angle revealing he was a mole and helpingWWEwin the day and end the Alliance.
