WWF 1991 Survivor Series Showdown

November 24, 1991

Your hosts are Vince McMahon and Bobby Heenan

Earthquake w/ Jimmy Hart vs. Big Bossman

Bossman is attacked as soon as he enters the ring. Earthquake stays in control with Heenan says Bossman is “on the take.” Earthquake targets the back as the announcers talk about the Survivor Series and how Sid Justice has not been replaced and his team is going in with a 3 vs. 4 disadvantage. Bossman fights back and finally knocks down Earthquake after a flurry of strikes. Bossman slides outside and chases Hart around. Bossman heads back inside and headbutts Earthquake before raking the eyes as Heenan calls this “great wrestling.” Earthquake once again targets the back as Vince does not believe Jake Roberts’ claim that his snake biting Randy Savage was an accident. Earthquake and Bossman trade strikes in the corner as Vince talks about the possibility of Savage being reinstated this week. Earthquake is tied up in the ropes but now IRS heads out to the ring just before the break. The match returns with Earthquake attacking a distracted Bossman from behind. IRS lands a few cheap shots behind the ref’s back. Earthquake now works the arm then gets some advice from IRS. Bossman is tossed outside and gets stalked by IRS but ends up punching him out. Bossman heads back in and fires away on Earthquake as two phone numbers flash on the screen to vote for Savage’s reinstatement, which costs $0.79. Bossman charges but gets backdropped outside as we will find out about the reinstatement tomorrow. Earthquake stomps Bossman’s leg then goes back to working the arm. Bossman fights back and knocks Earthquake into the corner but Earthquake goes back to the arm. Bossman catches Earthquake with an enziguiri as both men are down. Bossman gets up first and covers for two. IRS drags Bossman outside then Bossman frees himself and heads inside where he drops Earthquake with a clothesline. Typhoon & Jake Roberts now head out so Bossman grabs his nightstick. The Legion of Doom back up Bossman now and the ref rings the bell for the DQ (10:00) *1/4.

Thoughts: A long, boring match. I guess slightly better than their match last month at the Battle Royal at Albert Hall show. Anyway, the purpose here was to hype the Survivor Series match but without Sid or Savage being reinstated there is little reason to care. And we learned a vote will determine whether or not Savage will in fact get reinstated.

Replay of the Funeral Parlor where Hulk Hogan was attacked by The Undertaker.

Blake Beverly w/ The Genius vs. Bushwhacker Luke

On Challenge, they announced Shawn Michaels vs. Beau Beverly. That would have been better. Heenan says that Hulkamania will get buried at the Survivor Series. Blake attacks Luke and beats him in the corner. Luke fights back and bites Blake on the ass before hitting a clothesline. Blake bails as Luke plays to the crowd then sneaks out and uses a double noggin-knocker. Vince then warns us about the graphic nature of Savage getting bit by Jake’s king cobra as they are showing the uncensored footage because they are in a prime time slot. Blake finally returns then Luke grabs a side headlock. Genius grabs Luke’s leg in a spot anyone could have seen coming from a mile away as Luke chases Genius backstage then we reach commercial. The action returns with Luke avoiding a corner splash then firing away. Blake bounces Luke off of the corner after reversing an Irish whip then struts around. Blake drops Luke with a slam after ramming him into the corner and covers for two. Blake then heads up top but misses and Luke trips him up and uses a cradle for the win (6:25) 1/4*.

Thoughts: A bad match for a feud without any heat to hype a Survivor Series match that has been talked about less than anything else on the card.

Another ad to call the “Reinstatement Voteline”

Gene Okerlund welcomes Big Bossman & Legion of Doom to the interview platform. They talk about fighting for everyone in this country that believes in justice. Hawk then talks about spontaneous human combustion as he promises that will happen to their opponents.

We are now shown the uncensored footage of Savage being bitten by Jake’s king cobra. They show a closeup of the snake biting away while Jake slaps Savage across the face.

Okerlund now has Jake’s Survivor Series team on the interview platform. Jake tells he might or might not leave his snake in the bag. Jake then tells us that deep down, Savage has no desire to get into the ring with him after what has happened. He calls Savage a gutless liar that hides behind the skirt of a woman then says if he does show up, it will not be his fault with what happens. The other members of the team use generic stuff to hype the match too. Okerlund then tells Elizabeth if Savage does show up then he will not be home for Christmas. The stuff from Jake was great.

Million Dollar Title Match: “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase w/ Sensational Sherri vs. Virgil (c)

Heenan is gushing all over Sherri then accuses Virgil of switching the diamonds that were originally on the Million Dollar Belt. DiBiase takes over Virgil with a hip toss then taunts the crowd. Virgil comes back with a few hip tosses of his own then uses a school boy for a nearfall. Virgil plays up to the fans as DiBiase talks things over with Sherri. DiBiase lands a few shots but whiffs on a clothesline as Virgil nearly puts him away with a small package. DiBiase takes a breather outside then returns as Virgil works the arm. Virgil switches to a side headlock but DiBiase cheap shots him in the corner. Virgil then eats an elbow smash on a charge in the corner before getting tossed outside. Sherri kicks Virgil while DiBiase distracts the referee then she gouges his eyes. We head to break and return with DiBiase still in control. DiBiase fires away in the corner then taunts the crowd again as Heenan makes fun of Virgil. DiBiase hits a suplex for a two count then cuts off a comeback with a knee smash. DiBiase gets another nearfall before applying a chinlock as Sherri anxiously paces around. DiBiase hits a slam then heads to the middle rope but misses a falling back elbow drop. Virgil gets up and lands several jabs. He then hits a few clotheslines before hitting a leg sweep for two. Virgil sends DiBiase into the corner but now we see the Repo Man sneak down and steal the Million Dollar Belt. Virgil reaches through the ropes and grabs him but gets whacked by the belt as Sherri distracted the ref then DiBiase covers for the win (9:46) **1/4. After the match, El Matador runs out and gets in DiBiase’s face. DiBiase tries a cheap shot but Matador was ready and fires away before sending DiBiase over the top rope with an atomic drop.

Thoughts: The match itself was just okay but this really signaled that the company gave up on pushing Virgil in the midcard underdog face role. DiBiase also bought off Repo Man to help him regain the title that he had custom made. Matador running out for the save sets up a program with DiBiase. Not only did Matador take The Dragon’s spot on the Survivor Series card he also replaced him in this feud, which was originally supposed to be Dragon/DiBiase.

Gene Okerlund welcomes Hacksaw Jim Duggan to the interview platform. Duggan introduces us to 1980’s USA Men’s hockey olympic coach Herb Brooks in the crowd then talks about finding a man to replace Neidhart and knows what is in this man’s heart and soul. He then brings out Sgt. Slaughter as his partner while Slaughter comes out and salutes the flag then recites the “Pledge of Allegiance.” This was expected after what we saw take place on Challenge.

Skinner vs. El Matador

Matador backs Skinner into the corner as Heenan once again runs down Slaughter. Skinner ducks between the ropes to break an armbar then starts yelling at the crowd. Matador runs over Skinner, who bails and takes a breather outside. Skinner heads halfway up the aisle then returns to the ring. Matador works a headlock despite Skinner’s best efforts to escape. Skinner is finally able to get in some offense as he dumps Matador outside then heads out and roughs him up. Vince says we will have an interview with Ric Flair later on in the show as we head to break. The match returns with Skinner gouging Matador’s face and using other cheap heel tactics. Skinner uses a chinlock as the announcers talk about everything else going on except for this match and its not like I can blame them. Skinner hits a slam then heads up top only to get caught with a punch to the gut. Matador hits a pair of dropkciks and a knee lift then uses the flying forearm for the win (11:27) *.

Thoughts: Man, did Skinner suck in the ring. This match was a snoozer but it gave Matador a credible win heading into his new feud.

The Hulk Hogan interview with Gene Okerlund from Superstars airs.

Hercules vs. Roddy Piper

Herc is still rocking his Power & Glory tights. They fight over a lockup to start as Piper takes control. Hercules hits Piper with an elbow smash and brings him to his knees with a test-of-strength. Hercues fails to block a sunset flip then Piper pokes his eye. Piper chops down Hercules but Hercules fights back. Piper pumps up in the corner then goes nuts. Hercules dumps Piper outside but Piper returns and lands a few shots before using a bulldog for the win (5:02) *1/2.

Thoughts: Not much to this match other than giving Piper a TV win. Hercules was on his way out and not part of plans going forward.

Okerlund welcomes Ric Flair, Bobby Heenan, and Mr. Perfect to the interview platform to join the rest of their Survivor Series team. Flair puts over Mr. Perfect’s technical ability and the fact he gets his advice while Perfect tells us that Hulkamania is on the downfall. The other members of the team run down the guys they are feuding with as Flair puts them all over.

The show ends with the announcers plugging the hotline as Tunney will give us the results tomorrow.

Final Thoughts: We saw a title change but most of this show was hyping up the Savage Reinstatement Hotline. The action overall was quite bad though and did nothing to change your mind on whether or not to order the PPV.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Tuesday: WWF 1991 Survivor Series

Wednesday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 11/30/91

Thursday: WWF Madison Square Garden 11/30/91

Friday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 12/1/91

Saturday: Mid-South Wrestling 10/13/83

Sunday: WWF This Tuesday in Texas

Monday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 12/7/91