Since its inception in 1987, Survivor Series has become one of WWE's biggest premium live events. Survivor Series has always been about survival with traditional Survivor Series elimination matches taking centre stage. Survivor Series became about brand supremacy in 2005, and 2017 when the brand split was reintroduced. Nevertheless, the importance of Survivor Series has changed over the years with Survivor Series being viewed as the weakest of the traditional "Big Four" events.
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Survivor Series is still a big deal in some fans' eyes as it's a Thanksgiving tradition, and there have been some shocking moments at the event. Some results that happened at Survivor Series were unexpected, but some results didn't surprise the fans in the slightest.
10 Genuinely A Surprise: Nikki Bella Defeats AJ Lee (Survivor Series 2014)
Flashbacks To WrestleMania 28 For AJ Lee
AJ Lee is one of the greatest Divas Champions in WWE history, and she entered her Divas Championship match with Nikki Bella as the favorite at Survivor Series 2014. Nikki's twin sister Brie accompanied her to the ring, and Brie had been the servant for her sister since she lost to her at Hell in a Cell 2014, and the 30 days were almost up.
Before the match began, Brie appeared on the apron and she kissed AJ Lee. This was shades of what happened at WrestleMania 28 when AJ kissed Daniel Bryan and he lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Sheamus. Nikki took advantage, and she executed the Rack Attack on AJ to become a two-time Divas Champion, and she went on to become the longest-reigning Divas Champion in history with this reign.
Event | Match Length | Match Type | Stipulation |
|---|---|---|---|
Survivor Series 2014 | 0:33 | Singles match | WWE Divas Championship match |
9 Painfully Obvious: Batista Defeats King Booker (Survivor Series 2006)
The Animal Gets His Hands Back On The Championship He Never Lost
Batista was desperate to regain the World Heavyweight Championship at Survivor Series 2006 from King Booker as he reluctantly relinquished the title 10 months prior in January 2006 when he was injured. The odds were stacked against King Booker as he could drop the championship if he got himself disqualified or counted out.
It was fairly obvious that the Animal was going to regain the World Heavyweight Championship from Booker at Survivor Series. He resorted to using the World Heavyweight Championship which Booker attempted to hit him with.
Event | Match Length | Match Type | Stipulation |
|---|---|---|---|
Survivor Series 2006 | 13:58 | Singles match | World Heavyweight Championship match. King Booker could lose the title via count-out or disqualification. Batista's last chance to challenge for the title as long as King Booker was the champion. |
8 Genuinely A Surprise: The Rock Defeats Mankind (Survivor Series 1998)
The People's Champion Becomes The Corporate Champion
Mankind was the favorite to win the Deadly Game tournament at Survivor Series 1998 for the vacant WWE Championship. Mankind defeated Duane Gill, Al Snow, and Steve Austin to reach the tournament. He squared off with The Rock in the final, who defeated Big Boss Man, Ken Shamrock, and The Undertaker en route to the championship match.
There was guaranteed to be a first-time WWE Champion and the closing stages were shocking. Rock cinched in the Sharpshooter, and it was a recreation of the Montreal Screwjob with the McMahons calling for the bell. Rock was awarded the WWE Championship, and it was a swerve with Rock turning heel and Mankind becoming a babyface.
Event | Match Length | Match Type | Stipulation |
|---|---|---|---|
Survivor Series 1998 | 17:17 | Tournament final | WWE Championship |
7 Painfully Obvious: John Cena Defeats Chris Jericho (Survivor Series 2008)
Big Match John Returns To Boston To Win The World Heavyweight Championship
John Cena had a herniated disc in his neck at SummerSlam 2008, and he returned three months later at Survivor Series 2008. Cena challenged Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight Championship in the main event in front of his hometown fans in Boston.
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This was a decent match between Cena and Jericho but it wasn't a surprise that Cena was the favorite in this match. He defeated Jericho after he executed the AA for his first World Heavyweight Championship reign.
Event | Match Length | Match Type | Stipulation |
|---|---|---|---|
Survivor Series 2008 | 21:19 | Singles match | World Heavyweight Championship match |
6 Genuinely A Surprise: Big Show Defeats Brock Lesnar (Survivor Series 2002)
Big Show Ended Brock Lesnar's Unbeaten Run
Big Show was Brock Lesnar's latest challenger for the WWE Championship at Survivor Series 2002, and Lesnar had an unbeaten run. The World's Largest Athlete moved from Raw to SmackDown, and he was looking to end Lesnar's WWE Championship reign.
Lesnar showcased his tremendous athleticism throughout the match, and he was close to retaining the WWE Championship with an F5. However, Show's manager Paul Heyman betrayed him by pulling the referee out of the ring, and Show executed the Chokeslam on Lesnar and he clinched his second WWE Championship in four years at the event.
Event | Match Length | Match Type | Stipulation |
|---|---|---|---|
Survivor Series 2002 | 4:19 | Singles match | WWE Championship match |
5 Painfully Obvious: Team WWE Defeats The Alliance (Survivor Series 2001)
The Battle Lines Are Drawn For The Final Time
The Invasion storyline was coming to an end once-and-for-all in the main event of Survivor Series 2001. Team WWE fielded The Rock, Chris Jericho, Kane, The Undertaker, and Big Show on one side. They squared off with The Alliance's Steve Austin, Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Kurt Angle, and Shane McMahon in a traditional Survivor Series elimination match.
This was an entertaining match, and it was whittled down between Rock and Austin. Ultimately, Angle turned on the Alliance, and Rock finally got one over on Austin securing the win for Team WWE. There was no doubt that Team WWE was going to prevail with the Alliance ceasing to exist.
Event | Match Length | Match Type | Stipulation |
|---|---|---|---|
Survivor Series 2001 | 44:57 | Traditional Survivor Series elimination match | Winner Takes All Survivor Series elimination match |
4 Genuinely A Surprise: The Undertaker Defeats Hulk Hogan (Survivor Series 1991)
The Graveyard Challenge Sees Hulkamania's Title Reign Ends
Hulk Hogan was an unstoppable force in 1991 after he regained the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 7 from Sgt. Slaughter. Eight months later, the Hulkster put his WWE Championship on the line against The Undertaker. Undertaker made his WWE debut, 12 months prior at the 1990 Survivor Series and he was seeking his first WWE Championship reign.
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Hogan and Undertaker's WWE Championship match was historic as it was the first singles match and the first WWE Championship match to take place at Survivor Series. The finish was controversial as Undertaker executed a Tombstone on the chair and he covered Hogan to become the youngest WWE Champion at 26, a record he'd hold for a year and a few months.
Event | Match Length | Match Type | Stipulation |
|---|---|---|---|
Survivor Series 1991 | 12:45 | Singles match | WWE Championship match |
3 Painfully Obvious: Ronda Rousey Defeats Shotzi (Survivor Series 2022: WarGames)
The Baddest Woman On The Planet Cruises Towards Victory
Shotzi had an uphill battle to dethrone Ronda Rousey for the SmackDown Women's Championship at Survivor Series 2022 as Rousey had Shayna Baszler in her corner. It was a disappointing championship match, and there was a sense of inevitability with the outcome.
Shotzi gave a good account of herself, but she was never going to win this match. The Baddest Woman on the Planet overpowered Shotzi, and she retained the SmackDown Women's Championship with an armbar.
Event | Match Length | Match Type | Stipulation |
|---|---|---|---|
Survivor Series 2022: WarGames | 7:15 | Singles match | SmackDown Women's Championship match |
2 Genuinely A Surprise: Shawn Michaels Defeats Bret Hart (Survivor Series 1997)
The Montreal Screwjob Costs Bret Hart The WWE Championship
There's no love lost between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, and their WWE Championship match at Survivor Series 1997 was hotly anticipated. This was a rematch from their WWE Championship match at Survivor Series 1992, and WrestleMania 12.
Michaels was the reigning European Champion, but his title was not up for grabs. However, the Hitman didn't want to drop the WWE Championship to Michaels in Montreal. Ultimately, the Heartbreak Kid locked in the Sharpshooter, and Earl Hebner called for the bell with Hart screwed and Michaels escaping the arena as a three-time WWE Champion.
Event | Match Length | Match Type | Stipulation |
|---|---|---|---|
Survivor Series 1997 | 19:58 | Singles match | WWE Championship match |
1 Painfully Obvious: Brock Lesnar Defeats Rey Mysterio (Survivor Series 2019)
The Beast Incarnate Defeats A Fellow Veteran To Retain The WWE Championship
For the first time in four years, the WWE Championship was up for grabs at Survivor Series 2019 in a No Holds Barred match. Lesnar put his title on the line against three-time WWE World Champion Rey Mysterio. Lesnar had the size and strength advantage, and he was the heavy favorite to win this WWE Championship match.
Rey's son Dominik got involved and they both attacked Lesnar with weapons and they executed a double 619 and Frog Splash. That didn't worry the Beast Incarnate in the slightest as he went on to retain the WWE Championship with an F5.
Event | Match Length | Match Type | Stipulation |
|---|---|---|---|
Survivor Series 2019 | 7:00 | No Holds Barred match | WWE Championship match |
