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By Wade Keller, Torch editor

KELLER'S WWE SURVIVOR SERIES PPV REPORT
NOVEMBER 18, 2007
LIVE ON PAY-PER-VIEW

After a video feature previewing the event, Joey Styles and Tazz introduced the show.

1 -- C.M. PUNK vs. JOHN MORRISON vs. THE MIZ -- ECW Hvt. Title Match

The two heels went after Punk at the start. All three are allowed in the ring at once. After Miz and Morrison chatted about strategy, Punk kicked Miz in the face and hit him with a crossbody seconds later for a two count. He then threw Miz and Morrison out of the ring, then dove onto both at ringside. He shouted, "What's my name?" He appeared to be wearing wrestling trunks a size or two too small. At 3:00 Miz and Morrison took over again. Miz knocked Morrison over the top rope to the floor at the first opportunity he had. Then he back suplexed Punk and scored a one count. It's always nice to see the not-often-enough-used one count for early-match pin attempts (because it makes two counts more dramatic if wrestlers have to "earn" them through sustained offense). Miz kicked at Morrison when he tried to get back into the ring a minute later. Morrison eventually battled Miz in the ring with Punk KO'd at ringside. Miz hit a cool running clothesline into the corner on Morrison. Morrison came back with a cool split-legged twisting moonsault for a two count on Miz. Miz flipped Morrison off the second rope with a head scissors into Miz who in effect powerbombed him. Punk covered Miz for a two count. Another nice sequence. Punk gave Miz a running knee into the corner followed by a bulldog for a near fall that popped the crowd. Punk lifted Morrisonfor a GTS. Miz charged at them, Punk ducked, and Miz knocked Morrison to the floor. Punk then gave Miz the GTS for the win.

WINNER: Punk in 8:00.

STAR RATING: **1/2 -- That's a good opener. Great energy, all-action, innovative spots, clean finish, popular wrestler comes out on top.

-Michael Cole and JBL were shown on camera. They talked about Friday's tag team title change on Smackdown, throwing to a clip of MVP attacking Matt Hardy after their loss. (For details, check out Keller's Smackdown Report 11/16 posted this weekend.)

-Kyrstal's replacement interviewed MVP backstage. She asked him if there is an explanation for his violent actions toward Hardy on Friday. He stared her down for about ten seconds, then said Hardy cannot walk without the aid of a crutch, which doesn't surprise him because his whole career was propped up with aid of a crutch - be it his brother Jeff Hardy or himself. He said nobody is better than him. He held up his U.S. Title belt.

2 -- MICKEY JAMES & TORRIE WILSON & MICHELLE MCCOOL & MARIA & KELLY KELLY vs. MELINA & BETH PHOENIX & VICTORIA & JILLIAN HALL & LEYLA

Ross noted that not since 1987 have ten women competed in a Survivor Series match. He said "ten divas," actually, but back then they were women wrestlers, not "divas." Ross noted that this wasn't an elimination match, though. Lawler said all women secretly hate each other. Ross questioned Maria's taste in men. Mickey hot-tagged in at 4:00 and went on a flurry of offense against Melina. Kelly and McCool knocked Glamazon off the ring apron before she could interfere. Mickie kissed Melina followed by a spin hook kick (that overshot) for the three count.

WINNERS: Mickie James's team in 5:00.

STAR RATING: 3/4*

-Pretaped promos aired with Randy Orton and Shawn Michaels, taped earlier in the day. Michaels talked about how Orton has made his life a living hell the past six months, so he wanted to take something from him - the WWE Championship.

3 -- LANCE CADE & TREVOR MURDOCH vs. HARDCORE HOLLY & CODY RHODES -- World Tag Team Championship

WWE should rename the tag team titles the "Jobber Duo Titles" since the champs are used as jobbers on Raw so often over the years, including last week on Raw. The Ambiguously Gay Duo, Holly & Cody, earned this title shot in a match that aired Thursday exclusively on WWE.com. They defeated The Highlanders and Brian Kendrick & Paul London. As Cody appeared to have the match won, Holly blind-tagged himself in to score the winning pin after an Alabama Slam. Standard, solid action at the start, with the babyfaces dominating early, then Cade & Murdoch getting in some sustained offense against Holly. Holly hot-tagged Cody at 7:00 and he cleaned house on both heels. Cody hit a top rope dropkick on Murdoch for a two count at 8:00. Cade made the save. Holly knocked Cade out of the ring. Murdoch, though, quickly came back and finished Cody with a backflip powerbomb. Ross and Lawler were shocked that Murdoch had that move in him. After the match, Holly yanked Cody to his feet and looked like he was going to chew him out, but instead he slapped him on the shoulder as if to forgive him, then left the ring without saying anything.

WINNERS: Cade & Murdoch in 9:00 to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles.

STAR RATING: *3/4

-Ross & Lawler, then Styles & Tazz, and then Cole & JBL each had a few words about the traditional ten-man elimination tag match that had been reduced to a nine-man match due to Matt Hardy's injury.

-Backstage, Todd Grisham interviewed Kane, Triple H, Rey Mysterio, and Jeff Hardy backstage. Jeff said what MVP did puts them at a disadvantage. As Jeff spoke, Hunter looked like he was posing for a casket scene in a movie with his arms crossed, head hanging, and eyes closed. Rey said being down five on four makes them feel right at home because he's been an underdog his whole life. Kane said he's never an underdog. He added that he doesn't have to get along with them. "I mean, this guy once accused me of being a murderer and then pretended to have sex with a manequin and said it was my dead girlfriend." Hunter bashfully said, "Sorry about that, man." Jeff said, "That reminds me, man, you put me in the hospital before." Hunter said, "My bad, sorry." The crowd laughed at Hunter more with those two moments than most of his DX stuff. Hunter said what's great about the Survivor Series is everyone can put their past problems behind them all in the name of doing something terrible to something else. Kane nodded and Hardy and Rey agreed. Lawler said as odd as that sounds, it made sense, too. It's great that they acknowledged that history. Little things like that really pay tribute to long-time fans and address the proverbial elephant in the living room that WWE too often ignores in those situations. It also added a nice backstory to the match as fans will wonder if they're going to get along in the heat of battle.

4 -- TRIPLE H & REY MYSTERIO & JEFF HARDY & KANE vs. MR. KENNEDY & MVP & BIG DADDY V (w/Matt Striker) & FINLAY & UMAGA

Kennedy came out first and did some mic work on the stage. His mic wasn't turned on at first, but he did declare that he will be the ultimate survivor. As he talked, there was a chainsaw noise in the background briefly. Lawler said you can't build a reputation on what you say you're going to do. As Finlay walked to the ring, Ross said it was the 57th history Survivor Series elimination match in the 21 year history of the Survivor Series. Triple H's ring entrance was last, as it should have been. The unflattering underlighting wasn't used this time for his ring entrance. It opened with Kennedy vs. Rey with some nice action. Several frequent tags led to Daddy V getting in offense against Hardy. When Kane tagged in, he hit Daddy V with a flying clothesline off the top rope. Finlay interfered, but Kane chokeslammed him. That gave Daddy V an opening, and he flattened Kane with an elbow drop to eliminate him first at 5:00. KANE PINNED.

Triple H entered the ring for the first time. He was flattened by a Daddy V clothesline, but then rolled out of the path of a splash. Styles pointed out Daddy V has yet to be pinned since joining ECW. Umaga tagged in and he and Hunter renewed their feud. Rey eventually tagged in and hit Umaga with a 619 and a West Coast Pop 2 leading to a near fall. Umaga followed up seconds later with a Samoan Spike to finish off Rey. REY PINNED.

That left Triple H and Hardy against all five heels. In other words, a typical Raw match for Super H. The heels took turns beating on Hardy for a few minute, but Hardy then scored a pin on MVP after a Stunner, getting revenge for Matt. MVP PINNED.

At 14:00 Hunter tagged in. He gave Kennedy a spinebuster. Daddy V interfered, but landed on Kennedy by mistake. Hunter knocked Daddy V out of the ring, then scored the pin on Kennedy. Hardy dove onto Daddy V at ringside, but Daddy V caught him and rammed him into the ringpost. Shortly thereafter, Daddy V crushed Hunter and Hardy in the corner of the ring, but Hardy and Hunter came back and double-DDT'd Daddy V and Hunter scored the three count. DADDY V PINNED.

A fresh Finlay then worked over Hunter right away. Hardy tagged in and he and Finlay battled for a few minutes. Hunter got the hot-tag at 20:00. Cole said they had never seen Hunter vs. Finlay before. Hunter took Finlay down with a sidewalk slam, then signalled for a Pedigree. Umaga broke it up at 21:00. Finlay went for the Celtic Cross, but Hunter blocked it and hit the Pedigree for the win. FINLAY PINNED.

That left Umaga alone against both Hunter and Hardy. Hunter avoided a corner splash by Umaga, tagged in Hardy, gave Umaga the Pedigree before leaving the ring, and then Hardy hit a Swanton for the pin.

WINNERS: Triple H & Jeff Hardy team at 22:00

STAR RATING: ***1/4 -- Good elimination style match.

-They showed Shaq in the crowd.

-Backstage, William Regal told a pacing Hornswoggle to have a seat and rest his legs. He wouldn't sit. Coach looked on with a smile. Vince McMahon walked in and asked how everyone was doing. Hornswoggle hugged his leg immediately. Vince asked Regal and Coach to leave. Vince had a little sit-down talk with his son. He said McMahons are used to winning even when underdogs. He brought up beating Time-Warner and Ted Turner, beating the U.S. Government, and "that one time in Pakistan, but that's another story." He said the McMahon's are impervious and fearless and warriors and omnipotence flowing through their veins and grapefruits the size of the Grand Canyon and they stick together. (Get that, Shane!) Hornswoggle was all psyched up and smiling after that pep talk.

-Cole said he's all confused now. He wanted to know why he made the match in the first place. JBL said it was to prove his love.

5 -- HORNSWOGGLE vs. THE GREAT KHALI

Shane McMahon came out and introduced his father, and then his little brother Hornswoggle. Cole and JBL pointed out it was the first time those two have ever been seen together. Runjin Singh asked the ref to explain the rules to both competitors in a mid-ring pre-match staredown. As the ref Charles Robinson explained the rules, Singh interpretted them for Khali. The crowd chanted "We Want Shaq!" Cole said not even Shaq would get in the ring with Khali. Hornswoggle looked over at Shaq, drawing a pop from the crowd.Vince got in Shaq's face. JBL said Shaq may pull a Ron Artest and jump out of the crowd and into the action. Vince grabbed a house mic and said: "That's too damn bad what you want. I don't care what you want. Now start the match." Hornswoggle began to take off some of his outfit so he had more mobility against Khali. He kicked his leg to zero effect. He then kicked Singh, knocking him to the floor. Then he blew green mist in Singh's eyes. Khali eventually slapped Hornswoggle to the mat. Shane jumped out of his chair. Vince held him back and told him it's tough love. Khali then set up a the head vice hold. Finlay attacked Khali from behind prompting the ref to call for a DQ. Singh entered the ring, but Finlay shoved him to the site and then beat on Khali with his shillelagh. Then he helped him to the back. Vince and Shane walked to the back. Vince didn't seem thrilled with the way the match played out.

WINNER: Khali via DQ in 3:00.

STAR RATING: n/a

6 -- RANDY ORTON vs. SHAWN MICHAELS -- WWE Hvt. Title match

After a video package on this feud and ring intros, the ref held the belt up as Michaels and Orton stood mid-ring waiting for the bell. Michaels grabbed Orton's head, torqued and twisted it, and literally rode Orton at one point for the first four minutes. He then knocked Orton to the floor and flipped onto him with a moonsault bodypress. Just to get it out of the way early, Michaels applied a Sharpshooter at 6:00. Orton crawled over to the bottom rope to force a break. A thumb to the eye gave Orton his first advantage at 7:00. Orton settled into a chinlock bodyscissors combo on the mat. At 10:00 they had a mid-ring battle of chops. Orton won the battle when he hit Michaels with a standing dropkick. Michaels hit a top rope elbow at 12:00. He signalled for Sweet Chin Music and stomped the mat. The ref warned him not to do it or he'd be DQ'd. Orton covered, so Michaels surprised him with a small package. Nice spot to show Michaels was thinking of clever strategy to outsmart Orton. Orton came back by reversing a crucifix attempt by Michaels into an awkward cover for a two count. Michaels took Orton to the mat and applied a crossface - obviously, no longer called the Crippler Crossface. Orton crawled toward the bottom rope and eventually draped his boot over the bottom rope. Orton, out of nowhere, hit a powerful clothesline to take over. Ross called a "huge turning point in the match." Orton followed up with an inverted backbreaker. Orton set up a Legend Killer Punt, but Michaels stepped out of the way and applied an anklelock. Michaels is drawing signature moves from several former WWE wrestlers. Orton escpaed and then kicked Michaels head-first into the ringpost. Orton followed up with an RKO attempt. Micahels avoided it, was going to go for a superkick but stopped, and then Orton RKO'd him for the clean win.

WINNER: Orton in 17:00.

STAR RATING: ***1/2 -- Typical strong match from Orton and Michaels. Not their best, not a match of the year contender, but an appropriate and satisfying match.

-As Orton celebrated, Ross praised Orton for staying focused and seizing an opportunity when presented with it. He said it's amazing that Orton is going to just keep getting better and better. Orton left the ring, then entered the ring. He lited a knocked out, limp Michaels and set him in the corner. He shouted, "Say it. I'm the best. I beat you. I'm the future. Say it! Say it! Say it, Shawn!" As soon as Orton stepped away, Michaels surprised him with a superkick. Orton went down and didn't move. Michaels lay next to him face-down, and eventually made his way to his feet. After a replay, Orton eventually stood and was shown leaving the ring, a little less cocky and satisfied with his win than he was a few minutes earlier.

-A commercial aired for WWE Armageddon. Then the Save_Us video. Then a long video package on Batista-Taker.

7 -- BATISTA vs. UNDERTAKER -- World Hvt. Title Hell in a Cell match

Good to see Smackdown get a PPV main event to keep the brand from seeing too much like the B-brand to Raw. It doesn't happen often enough, and obviously this is a match that absolutely had to be last. Taker went for an early clothesline, but Taker elbowed out of it and hit a clothesline of his own. Taker wound up a chairshot, but Batista speared Taker before he could use. Taker scored a two count at 2:00 after a clothesline. Taker went for a triangle choke, but Batista squirmed away. Taker beat on Batista at ringside for a couple minutes including a guillotine legdrop and a chair jab to the throat. Batista bled from his mouth. Taker walked the top rope, but Batista caught Taker and took him to the mat hard with a spinebuster. JBL said, "You can't coach power." They fought back to ringside at 8:00. Taker took control again and rammed Batista into the fence. Batista bled heavily from the forehead. Taker threw Batista back into the ring. JBL was at his best with his match analysis here. He said Batista's vision is now impaired against the best striker the business has seen. Back in the ring at 11:00 Batista hit a top rope superplex. When Batista crawled over for a cover, Taker slipped on the triangle choke. Great spot. One that wasn't around five and ten years ago, and the type of spot all main event wrestlers should emulate in their way to keep the style advancing. Back at ringside, Batista slammed the ring steps into Taker's had, bloodying Taker. Back in the ring, Batista mounted Taker in the corner and punched him. Taker lifted Batista out of the corner and gave him a Last Ride. Rather than make the cover, he got up and waited for Batista to get up, then executed a chokeslam for a two count. Batista brought a table into the ring and gave Taker a Batistabomb through the table. He went for the cover, but the ref wouldn't count until Taker's shoulders were actually on the mat. Batista dragged Taker to the mat and scored a near fall. Batista went to ringside again and grabbed the base of the ringside steps. Batista went for a Batistabomb on the steps, but Taker backdropped out of it, sending Batista onto the step base. He scored a two count. Taker then immediately hit the Tombstone. Cole and JBL declared the match over as Taker went for the cover, giving away unfortunately that Batista was kicking out. Thanks, guy. Batista did kick out. A blood-drenched Taker looked on in shock. Taker lifted Batista again and walked up to the step base, gave Batista the Tombstone on the steps base, dropped Batista to the mat, and scored a two count. The ref was pulled away just as he was about to hit the mat a third time. Edge had come out from under the ring and he Taker with a camera. JBL said it's all legal in a Hell in a Cell match. Edge grabbed a chair, set Taker's head on the stair base, and then bashed Taker with the chair. I guess the mortatorium on chairshot to the head that Vince McMahon spoke about in his CNN interview came to an end tonight. It struck Taker on the back of his head and back. Edge then dragged a limp Batista over to Taker and draped his arm over his chest. The ref counted to three.

WINNER: Batista in 20:00 to retain the World Hvt. Title.

STAR RATING: ***1/2 -- A good HIAC match. Not the best ever as these two are somewhat limited athletically without a smaller guy to "create movement," but there were some nice reversal spots and Taker's triangle choke spots were well done. The blood from both added to the intensity. The finish will upset some people because it wasn't a clean finish, but Edge has been gone long enough, and in a face-face match-up where we've had clean finishes before, this was a worthy way to transition away from it without leaving either top babyface proven to be better than the other.

-After the match, as Taker sat up, Edge ran back into the ring and bashed Taker with another chairshot. Again, what did Vince say on CNN about concussions changing their policy about chairshots to the head? Cole called it a harrowing scene.

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