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SURVIVOR SERIES 2001
November 18, 2001
Location: Greensboro, North Carolina
Arena: Greensboro Coliseum
Attendance: 10, 142
RESULTS:
â–º Christian retained the WWF European Championship when he pinned Al Snow following an Unprettier. As the WWF European Champion, Christian was guaranteed a position with whichever company won the main event.
â–º A bloody Commissioner William Regal pinned Tajiri following a power bomb. Following the match, Torrie Wilson, who accompanied Tajiri to ringside, was also the victim of a Regal power bomb.
â–º WCW United States Champion Edge defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Test to unify the two championships. The victory guaranteed Edge a position with whichever company won the main event.
â–º WCW Tag Team Champions the Dudley Boyz (D-Von & Bubba Ray Dudley) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions the Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff Hardy) in a steel cage match to unify the championships. Bubba Ray pinned Jeff Hardy after Hardy missed a swanton bomb from the top of the cage. Stacey Keibler accompanied the Dudley Boyz to ringside. The victory guaranteed the Dudley Boyz a position with whichever company won the main event.
â–º Test won an "Immunity Battle Royal," guaranteeing his employment for at least a year no matter who won the main event. Test was not originally scheduled to compete in the battle royal. He attacked Scotty 2 Hotty backstage and took his place in the match.
Eliminations: Shawn Stasiak was immediately ousted by Bradshaw and Faarooq. Bradshaw continued and eliminated Hurricane Helms. Perry Saturn was tossed by Albert. Test eliminated Faarooq. Chuck Palumbo eliminated Diamond Dallas Page, but was then himself eliminated by Lance Storm and Justin Credible. Chavo Guerrero and Hugh Morris ran in and entered the match, tossing Justin Credible, and then Funaki. Hugh Morris next eliminated Raven, but was then tossed himself by Albert. Chavo Guerrero was eliminated by Billy Gunn. Tazz eliminated Tommy Dreamer, then Crash Holly. Lance Storm tossed Spike Dudley. Bradshaw eliminated Steven Richards. Next out was Tazz, at the hands of Billy Gunn. Billy Kidman and Test eliminated Albert. Bradshaw tossed Billy Kidman. Test eliminated Lance Storm and Bradshaw simultaneously, and then eliminated Billy Gunn with the big boot for the win.
â–º Trish Stratus won the vacant WWF Women’s Championship when she pinned Ivory in a "Six-Pack Challenge" match that also included Jazz, Lita, Jacqueline, and Mighty Molly. The title was vacated when the WWF opted not to renew reigning champion Chyna’s contract. This was Trish’s first title win.
â–º Team WWF: WCW Champion The Rock, Chris Jericho, Kane, The Undertaker, & Big Show defeated Team Alliance: WWF Champion "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Booker T, WWF Hardcore Champion Rob Van Dam, & Shane McMahon in a team elimination match. This was the winner-take-all grand finale of the invasion angle.
Eliminations: Big Show fell victim to a Kurt Angle Olympic Slam, followed by a Booker T axe kick, a Rob Van Dam Five-Star Frog Splash, and Shane finished him following a big elbow off the top rope, giving Team Alliance the early advantage. Team WWF rebounded when Kane hit Shane McMahon with a chokeslam, followed by an Undertaker tombstone, and finally a Chris Jericho Lionsault that earned the pin. Kane was next eliminated, following a Five-Star Frog Splash. Steve Austin caught the Undertaker with a Stone Cold Stunner, and Kurt Angle covered him for the pin. The Rock rolled up Booker T for the pin, and Chris Jericho eliminated Rob Van Dam, evening up the sides. The Rock forced Kurt Angle to submit with the Sharpshooter, briefly giving the advantage to Team WWF, but Steve Austin rebounded and pinned Chris Jericho. Before he left, Jericho vented his frustration by attacking The Rock. Nick Patrick ran in and knocked out referee Earl Hebner, and then Patrick himself was knocked out. There was no referee, and Kurt Angle returned and attacked Steve Austin, revealing that he was a double-agent actually working for the WWF. The Rock caught Austin with a Rock Bottom, and covered him to win the match (and the war) for the WWF.
Survivors: The Rock
CARD SUBJECT TO CHANGE: Mike Awesome, Rhyno, Hardcore Holly, Taka Michinoku, and Kanyon were all announced as participants in the "Immunity Battle Royal" in the weeks leading up to the pay-per-view, but all were removed from the match due to injury or apathy. Test attacked Scotty 2 Hotty backstage and took his place in the battle royal... Vince McMahon was originally announced as a member of Team WWF, but he later asked Big Show to replace him on the team... The original plan was to have WWF Light Heavyweight Champion X-Pac face WCW Cruiserweight Champion Tajiri in a title unification match. X-Pac was out with an injury, so Tajiri was booked to wrestle William Regal instead. The Light Heavyweight Championship was never mentioned again (though the title belt itself was actually auctioned off by NWA-TNA when Sean Waltman briefly worked for the company), and the WCW Cruiserweight Championship was later renamed the WWF Cruiserweight Championship.
NOTES: This was a pretty historic event, all things considered, though it may not be remembered as such due to the generally poor handling and underwhelming impact of the entire invasion angle. This show marked the end of both WCW and ECW in any form, saw the unification of two WWF and WCW championships, and set up a major turning point in the direction of the company, the brand extension. The next night on RAW, the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, held by The Rock, was rechristened the World Title, and "Nature Boy" Ric Flair made a surprising return to the WWF and revealed that he now owned 50% of the company, having purchased both Shane and Stephanie McMahons’ shares of WWF stock. Ultimately, Vince McMahon and Ric Flair found they could not coexist as co-owners, and the company was divided into the RAW and Smackdown brands... Jim Ross and Paul Heyman did commentary for the event. Carlos Cabrera and Hugo Savinovich did Spanish commentary. Michael Cole & Jonathan Coachman handled backstage interviews. Howard Finkel was the ring announcer. Commissioner Mick Foley hosted the show from WWF New York... Lance Storm, Raven, & Justin Credible defeated Scotty 2 Hotty, Albert, & Spike Dudley in a match featured on the live Sunday Night Heat prior to the pay-per-view... The theme of the show was "Winner Take All." The theme song was "Control" by Puddle of Mudd, and promotional materials for the event featured Lita & Torrie Wilson looking incredible in camouflage.
Buck Woodward: The grand finale to the horribly failed Invasion angle. Just look at the team that was supposed to represent WCW and ECW: Austin? Angle? Shane McMahon? WWF couldn't even stand to let more than two "outside" talents into the main event, even though they now owned it all. ... The Dudleys vs. Hardys was another great match in their rivalry. ... I remember being ticked off that Regal vs. Tajiri was only three minutes long. They deserved a lot more. ... I hate to repeat myself, but it is incredible how WWF just totally dropped the ball with what could have been an absolutely huge angle based off of the "other big group" (WCW) attacking WWF, while the rebellious outsiders (ECW) wrecked havoc on both sides.
Mike Johnson: I actually watched this PPV from the VIP section of the old WWE New York restaurant. For a cool $125, fans could walk away with a PPV chair, a three course meal, a gift, and if they were sneaky, a WWE menu. I remember Mick Foley asking the fans if they heard any rumors on the Internet and someone yelled out that he was getting a divorce. He was asking if anyone knew he was leaving the company....The elimination match was a great, great main event but the sadly, the end of a badly screwed up Invasion storyline. That thing could still be going on today, but we all know that’s a story for a different article....This show was also the debut of Jazz, who got to debut as a member of the Alliance the day it died. Nice timing.
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