By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S WWE SURVIVOR SERIES REPORT
NOVEMBER 22, 2009
WASHINGTON D.C. AT THE VERIZON CENTER

-A video package aired with some clips of past Survivor Series including footage of the Ultimate Warrior. Then highlight packages aired on tonight's top matches.

-Michael Cole introduced Survivor Series as the second-longest running event in WWE history.

1 -- THE MIZ & DOLPH ZIGGLER & JACK SWAGGER & SHEAMUS & DREW MCINTYRE vs. MATT HARDY & SHELTON BENJMAIN & JOHN MORRISON & EVAN BOURNE & FINLAY

Cole, Matt Striker, and Jerry Lawler called the match. Striker said more people enjoy The Miz than are willing to admit it. The heels worked over Bourne early. Striker said Miz attended the very first Survivor Series and "that's where the dream began." At 4:00 Bourne came back against Ziggler. He tagged in Hardy, who hit a second rope axe handle and Side Effect. He then tagged Bourne again who hit his shooting star press for the elimination. ZIGGLER ELIMINATED AT 4:00.

Drew McEntyre jumped a worn out Bourne afterward with a boot to the face and impact DDT for the pin. BOURNE ELIMINATED AT 5:00.

Finlay battled McIntyre next. They made a big ordeal of Finlay vs. Sheamus given their shared Irish heritage. They had a staredown, but when Finlay looked away briefly, Sheamus gave him a jump thrust kick to the face and scored a pin. FINLAY ELIMINATED AT 6:00.

Sheamus battled Matt next. Hardy's tan looked very spray-on overdone next to Sheamus's lack of pigment. As Miz battled Hardy, Striker said Miz is now with WWE, "the ultimate reality show." Hardy took a beating from the heels for a sustained period. Morrison finally tagged in at 11:00 against Swagger, scoring a quick two count. Morrison fended off attempted interference from Miz, then hit Swagger with a springboard roundkick. The other heels interfered and chaos broke out. Things settled with Swagger vs. Morrison again, with Morrison hitting Starship Pain for the win. SWAGGER ELIMINATED AT 12:00.

Miz jumped Morrison from behind after the pin. Lawler said "the referee who started the match" was replaced because he got a concussion. It's so odd to hear announcers try to avoid saying referee names, in this case Scott Armstrong. They replayed Sheamus inadvertently kneeing Scott from behind during chaos earlier. Ouch. Miz gave Shelton his Skull Crushing Finale for the pin. SHELTON ELIMINATED AT 15:00.

Striker pointed out that three of the five remaining wrestlers are from Friday Night Smackdown. Hardy flew off the ropes with a legdrop on McIntyre for a two count. He climbed to the top rope. Sheamus distracted him. McIntyre then ducked Hardy's moonsault bodyblock. He followed with his impact DDT for the win. HARDY ELIMINATED AT 18:00.

It came down to Morrison against McIntyre, Miz, and Sheamus. Miz tagged in and trash talked Morrison. When Morrison knocked him down, he tagged in Sheamus. Morrison knocked Miz off the ring apron with a kick, getting a crowd pop, but Sheamus caught him with a boot as he launched off the middle rope. Sheamus followed with a running edge for the win. MORRISON ELIMINATED AT 21:00.

WINNERS: Miz & Sheamus & McIntyre at 21:00.

STAR RATING: **1/2

-They went backstage where Kofi Kingston, MVP, R-Truth, and Mark Henry were discussing strategy. Christian stood behind them and didn't participate. Christian said he's different than they are. Henry said they all have goal. MVP said they've got his back. R-Truth said it's all about winning. Christian said, "Seeing as I am the only one who is from ECW..." The other four laughed because they assumed differently. Christian guessed they meant that they thought he felt different because he's the only Canadian. Christian then broke into a rap and said: "Team Kofi Kingston, looking for a fight, four of us are black, and one of us is white. What's up?! What's up?!" HIs teammates then laughed and then Christian joined in.

2 -- BATISTA vs. REY MYSTERIO

A video package aired before the match on this feud. Cole said he didn't think Batista was capable of this. Rey kicked Batista in the leg in the opening seconds. When he went for a 619, Batista bailed out to ringside. At 2:00 Rey went for the 619 again, but Batista caught him. He then set up a Batista Bomb. Rey punched out of it and head scissored Batista through the ropes to the floor. Rey dove off the apron onto Batista at ringside at 3:00. Striker said Batista is one of the few people to have seen Rey without his mask since he's visited him at home with his family. Yeah, Batista and the late-'90s Nitro audience. Rey went for a frog splash, but Batista lifted his knees. Batista followed with a spear and a spinebuster. He then hit two Batista Bombs. The ref checked on Rey. Batista delivered a third Batista Bomb. The ref called off the match.

WINNER: Batista via referee stoppage at 7:00.

STAR RATING: * -- Not really a full-fledged match. It was the start of one. It ended up being more of an angle than an actual match that made Batista seem dominant over Rey.

-Afterward, Batista brought a chair into the ring and sat down on it and leaned over Rey, who was still down. Batista picked up Rey over his shoulder and slammed him onto the chair. Some fans chanted, "Ba-ti-sta! Ba-ti-sta!" Medics put Rey in a neck brace and strapped to a back brace. Cole said no one can ever explain to him what Rey did to deserve that. He criticized Batista for not even going for a pin.

-They went backstage to Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase, William Regal, and C.M. Punk. Orton said when the team was formed, he thought he'd feel better about it than he does now. He chastised each for failing to perform lately up to their standards and hold title belts. When Orton got to Punk, "Well, Randy, we expected our leader to lead by example and not get humiliated by Kofi Kingston at Madison Square Garden." Rhodes and DiBiase took exception. Orton said everything can change with a win, so it's what they need to do and what he expects them to do.

-They plugged the three-hour Raw guest hosted by Jesse Ventura tomorrow night.

3 -- RANDY ORTON & CODY RHODES & TED DIBIASE & C.M. PUNK & WILLIAM REGAL vs. KOFI KINGSTON & MARK HENRY & MVP & R-TRUTH & CHRISTIAN

Henry opened against Orton. Henry knocked each of the heels of the ring apron. Then he put Orton in a mid-ring bearhug. As Regal distracted the ref, Legacy distracted Henry, then Orton hit an RKO for the pin. HENRY ELIMINATED AT 1:00.

The heels huddled up at ringside to plan the next elimination. Punk battled Truth for a minute, ending with Punk scoring a clean win with the Go To Sleep. TRUTH ELIMINATED AT 3:00.

Christian entered against Punk next. DiBiase tagged in against Christian and was quickly pinned with a sunset flip. DIBIASE ELIMINATED AT 5:00.

Kingston battled Regal next. MVP tagged in and quickly pinned Regal after big kick to the face. REGAL ELIMINATED AT 7:00.

Rhodes entered next with a crossbody at MVP, but MVP rolled through for a believable near fall. Christian tagged in against Cody next. Orton tagged in and hit a dropkick on Christian for a two count. Cody ended up finishing MVP with the Crossroads a minute later. MVP ELIMINATED AT 10:00.

Kofi went for a quick cover on Cody, scoring a near fall. Christian and Kofi worked over Cody for a minute. Christian gave him his Kill Switch for the win. CODY RHODES ELIMINATED AT 11:00.

It was down to Orton & Punk vs. Kofi & Christian. The crowd popped when Christian gave Orton his Kill Switch, but Punk broke up the count. Orton then gave Christian an RKO seconds later for the win. CHRISTIAN ELIMINATED AT 13:00.

Orton moved in against Kofi, then instead tagged Punk and took a breather. The crowd booed. Striker said Kofi and Punk are former tag team champions and know each other very well. Orton watched some good action and near falls between Kofi and Punk at ringside, standing on the floor and leaning on the ring apron. After several minutes of very good exchanges - the best action of the night - Kofi finished Punk. Orton was distracted by Orton, leading to Punk going for a roll-up, but Kofi rolled through for the win. PUNK ELIMINATED AT 21:00.

Orton charged into the ring, right into Trouble in Paradise. Kofi scored the pin. Cole did a very good job selling the moment. He said Kofi just beat two former World Champions in six seconds. ORTON ELIMINATED AT 21:00.

WINNER: Kingston in 21:00.

STAR RATING: ***1/2 -- Very good Survivor Series style match, with Punk-Kofi being the highlight. Another effective elevation of Kingston as a top tier babyface.

4 -- UNDERTAKER vs. THE BIG SHOW vs. CHRIS JERICHO -- World Hvt. Title match

Jericho and Show went after Taker in the corner at the start, double-teaming him. When jericho clotheslined Taker over the top rope, Taker yanked Jericho to the floor and beat him up at ringside. Show moved at Taker, but Taker turned and met him with some body punches against the ring apron. Taker charged at Jericho with a big boot, but Jericho moved. Jericho took over on Taker and threw him into the ring at 3:00 where he stomped on him in the corner. Lawler said in the middle of fighting Taker, a fan shouted at him, "Go back to Toronto." Jericho fired back, "I'm from Winnipeg, you idiot."

At 6:00 Jeicho superplexed Taker. Show was KO'd at ringside as Jericho applied the Walls of Jericho in center-ring. Taker struggled to reach toward the bottom rope, but Jericho held his ground. Eventually Show re-entered the ring and chokeslammed Jericho. Taker countered Show's offense with a DDT. All three men were knocked out on their backs. Show set up a chokeslam at 10:00. Taker grabbed Show's throat also. Jericho entered and swung the World Title belt at Taker, but Taker ducked and it hit Show. Taker gave Jericho a big boot and scored a near fall. Taker set up a Last Ride, but Jericho, still holding the title belt, hit Taker with it to break up the momentum. He then crawled over and covered Taker for a near fall.

Taker set up Jericho for a Tombstone, but Show KO'd Taker with his signature punch. Jericho broke up his pin attempt. Show broke up a subsequent Jericho pin attempt. Show blocked a Jericho attempt at the Code Breaker, then KO'd him with his punch. Show taunted Taker with a chokeslam set-up. Taker countered with Hell's Gate and Show tapped out five seconds later. Taker looked very broken down on his walk up the ramp, although he appeared to be trying to hide it.

WINNER: Undertaker in 14:00 to retain the World Hvt. Title.

STAR RATING: **1/2 -- They told a nice story and kept the action and near falls at a good pace throughout despite some challenges in terms of Show's size and Taker's overall physical ailments. The Hell's Gate at the end started a little sloppy, but overall it was a good finishing sequence.

-Josh Matthews interviewed McIntyre, Sheamus, and Miz backstage. Miz said what Josh witnessed was just a taste of the greatness the three of them are destined for. Each took a minute to brag themselves up. Miz said there was never any doubt his team would win "because I am the Miz and I am awesome." Good "breather" segment that also drove home three young heels getting pushes who won earlier, which could have been lost in the events of the evening otherwise.

-They showed some National Guardsman sitting in the front row doing the obligatory fake fight with one another.

5 -- MICHELLE MCCOOL & ALICIA FOX & LAYLA & JILLIAN HALL & BETH PHOENIX vs. MICKIE JAMES & GAIL KIM & KELLY KELLY & EVE & MARIA

LAYLA ELIMINATED AT 1:00 by Kelly Kelly.

GAIL KIM ELIMINATED AT 2:00 by McCool.

JILLIAN ELIMINATED AT 4:00 by Eve.

EVE ELIMINATED AT 4:00 by Phoenix.

KELLY ELIMINATED AT 4:00 by Phoenix.

PHOENIX ELIMINATED AT 5:00 by Mickie.

FOX ELIMINATED AT 6:00 by Mickie.

It was down to Mickie & Melina vs. McCool. McCool beat up Mickie for a couple minutes, then Mickie tagged in Melina. This is a rare case of a heel in an elimination match being at a numbers disadvantage. MCCOOL ELIMINATED AT 10:00 by Melina.

WINNERS: Melina & Mickie James in 10:00.

STAR RATING: ** -- Rapid eliminations early, not unexpected. Settling into two on one at the end gave the match a sense of substance by the time it ended.

-A commercial aired for the newly named Dec. 13 "TLC" pay-per-view just three weeks from tonight. The commercial featured one clip after another of wrestlers landing on cables, being hit with chairs, or landing on ladders with crashing sounds.

-They showed Cole, Lawler, and Striker at ringside. They showed clips of what Batista did to Mysterio earlier. Then backstage Todd Grisham interviewed Batista. He asked him what possessed him to go that far. Batista asked Grisham if Mysterio was embarrassed tonight. Grisham wouldn't answer. Batista said, "Well, I was embarrassed for him."

6 -- JOHN CENA vs. SHAWN MICHAELS vs. TRIPLE H -- Triple Threat match for the WWE Title

Michaels and Triple H came out together to the DX music. Then Cena came out to his music. Justin Roberts's ring introductions have really crossed a line into obnoxious recently. Just too stylized with the sound of someone with a pasted on phony smile. If he toned it down 25 percent to where he was a year or two ago, our ears would thank him. Cena stood in one corner staring at Michaels and Hunter standing across the ring from him side-by-side. Lawler asked Cole and Striker whether they thought the winner would be Michaels or Triple H, since clearly Cena had no chance. Michaels, though, superkicked Hunter as the bell rang to knock him out of the ring. Cena made the "I'm totally shocked" face with his jaw dropped. Michaels stared off at the crowd which cheered wildly for him. An "HBK" chant broke out. Michaels escaped an Attitude Adjustment attempt with a DDT for a two count. Michaels took control of the match. The crowd chanted "Cena sucks." Michaels applied the figure-four leglock at 3:00.

At 5:00 Michaels fought Cena at ringside. Cena lifted Michaels for an Attitude Adjustment. Triple H made his first appearace since getting kicked and intervened on Michaels's behalf, only to then give Michaels a spinebuster through the announce table.

Triple H beat up Cena for several minutes in the ring as Michaels recovered slowly at ringside, scoring a few near falls in the midst of his signature methodical offense. Cena showed signs of life at 11:00 with some return punches. The crowd wasn't enthusiastically behind either of them as they went back and forth with fists and knees. Cena hit two flying shoulder blocks off the ropes, then hit a sideslam, setting up his "You Can't See Me" routine. He chopped Triple H in the head and waited for him to rise, then set up an Attitude Adjustment. Michaels returned to break that up. He shoved Cena shoulder-first into the ringpost, then turned to look at Triple H.

Michaels and Hunter circled each other, clearly not sure what to think of the other. Hunter shoved Michaels, sidestepped a charging Cena, and then turned back to Michaels, who chopped him several times. "Whoos!" filled the arena. Hunter fired back with a high knee and a face buster. Michaels fired back with a flying forearm. At 13:00 he climbed to the top rope. He slipped, which gave Cena time to run into the ring and knock Michaels down. The crowd booed again. Cena climbed to the top rope and flew off with a legdrop attempt. Triple H moved. Michaels then hit a top rope elbow on Cena. Striker declared, "This is why we love this craft" Hunter threw Michaels to the floor, then charged at Cena. Cena took Hunter down with a drop toe hold and applied an STF center ring. Michaels re-entered the ring after a minute and applied a crossface on Cena, releasing Hunter in the process. Cena lifted Michaels to escape. He applied an STF seconds later. Michaels reached the bottom rope to force a break at 16:00.

Michaels caught Cena with Sweet Chin Music out of nowhere, then climbed to the top rope. Triple H snuck in, but Michaels surprised him with a superkick. Hunter fell right on top of Cena, though, and the ref counted a believable near fall that popped the crowd. Both Cena and Hunter were slow to get up. Striker said people will never forget this match. Cena got up and gave Hunter an Attitude Adjustment. Michaels rolled into the ring and crawled toward Hunter to make the cover. Cena crawled over also. They both put their arms over Hunter and the ref counted, but Hunter kicked out, sparing us a dual champion situation.

All three were slow to get up. Michaels grabbed at Cena as he appeared ready to stand up. He shoved Cena and went for a superkick, but Cena blocked it. Hunter grabbed Michaels, but Michaels slipped out and set up a piledriver. Hunter backdropped Michaels into Cena's arms for an Attitude Adjustment attempt. Hunter saved Michaels and set up Cena for a Pedigree. Michaels superkicked Hunter. Cena then lifted Michaels and gave him an Attitude Adjustment onto Hunter, and then covered Hunter for the win.

WINNER: Cena in 21:00.

STAR RATING: ****1/4 -- They probably got a little cute by 30 seconds and overdid it, but other than that, they did a great job with the three-person format, breaking in into basically two one-on-one matches at first, and then a series of mostly well timed saved and near falls against each other. The fallout for Michaels and Hunter not working together at all, and thus giving Cena the opening to retain, will be a key storyline coming out of this show, obviously.

QUOTEBOOK

Matt Striker: "A lot of people call Matt Hardy the heart and soul of Friday night."

Miz: "While most men our age are depressed because they have to wake up in their mommy's basement and go to their low-paying, dead-end jobs, here we are, revolutionizing an entire industry."

Jerry Lawler: "In my last marriage, I went to put the wedding ring on and my wife gave me the wrong finger."

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