Survivor Series (2005)

Survivor Series (2005)
Promotional poster, showcasing The Undertaker
Tagline(s)	The Beginning of the End
Theme song(s)	"Lights Out" by P.O.D.[1]
Information
Promotion	World Wrestling Entertainment
Brand(s)	Raw, SmackDown
Sponsor(s)	NovaLogic's Delta Force: Black Hawk Down
Date	November 27, 2005
Attendance	15,000[2]
Venue	Joe Louis Arena[3]
City	Detroit, Michigan
Pay-per-view chronology
Taboo Tuesday (2005) Survivor Series (2005) Armageddon (2005)
Survivor Series chronology
Survivor Series (2004) Survivor Series (2005) Survivor Series (2006)

Survivor Series (2005) was the 19th annual Survivor Series professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It took place on November 27, 2005, at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan and consisted of six professional wrestling matches involving wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown brands.

In the first of two main event matches, WWE Champion John Cena defeated Kurt Angle to retain his title. The second main event was an interpromotional 5-on-5 Survivor Series match, in which Team SmackDown (Batista, Rey Mysterio, John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL), Bobby Lashley, and Randy Orton) defeated Team Raw (Shawn Michaels, Kane, The Big Show, Carlito, and Chris Masters) after Orton last eliminated Michaels. In another match, Triple H defeated Ric Flair in a Last Man Standing match.

Background

The event's card consisted of six professional wrestling involving wrestlers from either Raw or SmackDown, WWE's two brand divisions.

The main leading rivalry leading into the event was between the Raw and SmackDown brands as a whole, rather than individual wrestlers. The rivalry began on "WWE Homecoming, a special episode of Raw on October 3 when Raw's general manager Eric Bischoff stopped a match involving SmackDown wrestlers by turning the lights off. In return, Bischoff's SmackDown counterpart, Theodore Long, interrupted a Raw match. As a result, wrestlers from the two brands started a brawl^[4] and interfered in the other's show before facing each other in a tag team match at Taboo Tuesday; SmackDown's Rey Mysterio, Jr. and Matt Hardy defeated Raw's Chris Masters and Gene Snitsky.^[5][6] After Taboo Tuesday, Bischoff and Long agreed that teams from each brand would face each other in a 5-on-5 Survivor Series match, while the two managers would wrestle in a singles match at Survivor Series.^[7] The teams feuded on both shows, and Batista, the captain of the SmackDown team, suffered an injury after being attacked several times.^[8] Eddie Guerrero was originally scheduled to be on Team SmackDown,^[9] but due to his death on November 13, 2005, he was replaced by Randy Orton.

Stage setup for Survivor Series

Another rivalry heading into the event was between John Cena and Kurt Angle, over the WWE Championship. Their feud began in August, when Bischoff chose Angle as the number one contender to the WWE Championship.^[10] Angle failed to win the title at Unforgiven, due to Cena being disqualified.^[11] The two squared off against each other again at Taboo Tuesday in a Triple Threat match that also included Shawn Michaels, and again Cena retained the title.^[12] On the November 7 edition of Raw, Angle refused to compete in a tag team match pitting him and Chris Masters against Cena and Michaels due to the "you suck" chants from the audience.^[13] Angle finally agreed to compete if Bischoff silenced the crowd and let him have a special guest referee. Angle chose Daivari, who favoured Angle and Masters throughout the match and ultimately disqualified Cena and Michaels for using a chair, which he had ignored earlier when it had been used by Masters.^[13]

The rivalry between Triple H and Ric Flair began at WWE Homecoming, when Triple H returned to WWE television after an absence of three months.^[4] The two had been aligned since 2002, as members of Evolution, and were partners in a tag team match on the show. After they won the match, Triple H attacked Flair with a sledgehammer.^[4] The week after, Triple H explained his actions, saying that he realized Flair was no longer the legend he was, and he needed to stop Flair.^[14] Flair and Triple H met in a steel cage match at Taboo Tuesday, which Flair won.^[6] A Last Man Standing match was made between the two for Survivor Series.^[13]

Event

Kurt Angle with Daivari, his special guest referee

Before the event aired live on pay-per-view, a match was contested on Sunday Night Heat between Juventud (accompanied by Super Crazy and Psicosis) defeated Simon Dean.^[16]

In the first pay-per-view match, Booker T (accompanied by Sharmell) faced off against Chris Benoit in the first match of their "Best of 7 series" for the vacant WWE United States Championship. The match started with Booker T exiting the ring when Benoit gained a slight advantage. The match went back and forth for the first half before Booker T took control. The match saw interference by Sharmell, as she distracted Benoit, who was on the top ropes. After Benoit missed a free fall headbutt, Booker T won the match with a pin using the ropes for leverage. Booker T took a 1–0 lead in the series.^[17][18]

In the following match Trish Stratus (accompanied by Mickie James) defended her WWE Women's Championship against Melina (accompanied by Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro. Stratus immediately took control until Melina fought back. When Nitro and Mercury interfered, the referee ejected them from ringside. Melina kept control until Stratus fought back with forearm shots. Stratus pinned Melina after a diving bulldog to retain the title.^[17][19]

Next, Triple H met Ric Flair in a Last Man Standing match. Flair was still on his way to the ring, when Triple H attacked him and gained the early advantage. After attacking Flair's head with a screwdriver, Triple H continued using foreign objects throughout the match, including a folding chair, a sledgehammer, and the steel ring steps. The match went back and forth between Triple H and Flair. Triple H attempted to hit Flair with a Pedigree on the announce table, but Flair countered the move into a back body drop through another announce table. Triple H later performed the Pedigree three times on Flair, but Flair got up each time. Triple H then hit Flair in the back with a sledgehammer, and Flair did not get to his feet before the referee's ten count, giving Triple H the win.^[17][20] After the match, Edge and Lita came into the ring, and Edge announced that he would be hosting a new show on Raw entitled "The Cutting Edge". Edge noted that Dmitri Young was in the audience, and proceeded to criticize the sports teams of Detroit. Young replied by insulting Edge and his lack of a world championship.^[17]

The fourth match saw John Cena defending the WWE Championship against Kurt Angle, with Daivari as the special guest referee. Early in the match, Angle was able to apply the Ankle lock on Cena. Cena reached the ropes but Daivari kicked his hand off. An angered Cena slapped Daivari, who tried to disqualify him as a result. Angle, however, stopped him, and both men were knocked out of the ring by Cena. As Daivari was knocked down outside, a Raw referee came out to officiate. After Cena gained the advantage, Angle knocked down the referee, and executed an illegal low blow. Angle called for another referee, but failed to get the win after executing an Olympic Slam and a superplex. After Angle missed a moonsault attempt, Cena went for an FU; however, Angle countered by holding onto the referee, which led to Angle knocking down the referee. As the other referee was knocked out, a SmackDown referee came out. Cena then hit a DDT on Daivari and executed an FU on Angle, pinning him to retain the title.^[17][21]

Randy Orton, who was Eddie Guerrero's replacement in the 5-on-5 Survivor Series match

In the fifth match, the authority figures from both brands faced each other with two referees from each show officiating the match. Theodore Long, who was accompanied by Palmer Canon, started the match by avoiding Eric Bischoff's attacks. As Cannon climbed on the apron, and distracted the referees, Bischoff used his obi to choke Long. Bischoff continued to choke Long and applied the sleeper hold. Cannon distracted the referees again as Long hit Bischoff with his shoe. Bischoff then hit Long with a chop to the throat. The Boogeyman's music played with Bischoff sending the referees up the ramp to stop him. The Boogeyman was behind Bischoff, however, and he hit Bischoff with a pumphandle slam on Bischoff. Long took advantage and pinned Bischoff to win the match.^[17][22]

The final match was the Survivor Series match between Team SmackDown (Batista, Rey Mysterio, John "Bradshaw" Layfield, Bobby Lashley and Randy Orton) and Team Raw (Shawn Michaels, Kane, The Big Show, Carlito and Chris Masters). At first, the two teams alternated in taking control. The first wrestler to be eliminated was Lashley, who was chokeslammed by Kane and pinned by Michaels. Kane was then eliminated by Batista after a 619 from Mysterio and a spinebuster from Batista. After that, Batista was eliminated after a double chokeslam by Big Show and Kane. Big Show was eliminated next after a Clothesline From Hell by JBL, a 619 from Mysterio, an RKO by Orton, another Clothesline by JBL and a seated senton by Mysterio. Mysterio then pinned him for the elimination. Carlito was then eliminated, after JBL performed a Clothesline From Hell. Next, Mysterio hit a Springboard Legdrop on Masters for the elimination. Michaels went onto eliminate both Mysterio and JBL, after a superkick. Orton and Michaels were the final two men left from their respective teams. JBL then distracted Michaels, which made Michaels superkick JBL. As Michaels turned around, Orton executed an RKO on Michaels and pinned Michaels to win the match for Team SmackDown.^[17][23]

Following the match, SmackDown wrestlers came to the ring to celebrate with Orton when hooded figures carrying a casket came out. At No Mercy (2005) Orton had defeated the Undertaker in a handicap-casket and set the casket on fire. Now, lightning struck the casket and set it on fire; The Undertaker emerged and attacked several of the wrestlers while Orton and his father "Cowboy" Bob Orton evaded the Undertaker by leaving the ring.^[17][23]

Aftermath

The five-on-five Survivor Series match ended the rivalry between the brands. Eric Bischoff was fired as general mananger of Raw by Vince McMahon,^[24] who took control of the Raw brand as temporary general manager of Raw.^[25] McMahon soon started to feud with Shawn Michaels, whom he lauded for his part in the Montreal Screwjob, when Michaels told McMahon to move on.^[26]

After Survivor Series, John Cena and Kurt Angle continued their feud. Before being fired, Bischoff had proposed that Cena should defend his WWE championship in an Elimination Chamber match at New Year's Revolution.^[27] On the December 12 episode of Raw, Kurt Angle, Carlito, Shawn Michaels, Chris Masters, and Kane won matches qualifying them for the Elimination Chamber match.^[27] After the qualifying matches, Cena faced Angle's associate, Daivari in a "You Can't See Me" match, as it would see Cena blindfolded during the match. Cena won as he made Daivari submit to the STFU.^[27] At New Year's Revolution, Cena also won the Elimination Chamber match, last eliminating Carlito.

Randy Orton and The Undertaker fought each other at Armageddon in a Hell in a Cell match,^[28] which the Undertaker won the match, ending their feud.^[29] Triple H moved on to feud with The Big Show,^[30] and Ric Flair feuded with Edge over the WWE Intercontinental Championship.^[27] Chris Benoit continued to feud with Booker T throughout the rest of the year and into 2006; their "Best of Seven series" concluded in January. Randy Orton, who was Booker's replacement due to a kayfabe injury, defeated Benoit in the seventh and final match,^[31] giving Booker the WWE United States Championship. However, Booker would lose the title to Benoit the following month at No Way Out.^[32]

Results

References

External links

• Official 2005 Survivor Series website