WWE Survivor Series 2004 Review
The 18th Survivor Series continued as the Raw and Smackdown presented several different kinds of matches to continue their storylines at the time.
It was a show that featured Raw and Smackdown storylines instead of giving it a Raw vs. Smackdown feel. Raw’s traditional Survivor Series elimination match got the main event spot while Smackdown’s elimination match was set for the middle part of the show.
There were some things I really liked about WWE in 2004, but most of them were earlier in the year. Brock Lesnar left the company after WrestleMania 20, which left a big void, so it was up to others to try to step up. That’s why guys like John Cena, Edge, Batista and Randy Orton were in featured roles on this show. They were the future and it was about building up guys like them. What about John Heidenreich? They certainly tried to build him up, but the success wasn’t there.
Here’s a poster and DVD from the show.
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WWE Survivor Series
Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio
November 14, 2004
The opening video package focused on some Survivor Series history and ended it on present day footage noting that only the strong will survive.
The Smackdown announce team of Michael Cole and Tazz welcomed us to the show as the crowd in Cleveland was ready to go. The Raw team of Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler were also at ringside. The Spanish announcers are also at ringside.
Cruiserweight Championship Fatal 4-Way: Spike Dudley vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Billy Kidman vs. Chavo Guerrero
Pre-match notes: Spike Dudley was the heel champion calling himself The Boss. I don’t remember that very well. Kidman was a heel that injured Chavo with a Shooting Star Press, so they had a story going into it. Rey was a face of course.
Kidman and Spike worked together on Chavo briefly until Kidman knocked down Spike with a dropkick. Mysterio with a facebuster on Kidman and he sent Kidman over the top to the floor. Rey and Chavo did a series of nearfalls. Spike attacked Rey from behind with a forearm shot to the back. With Rey on the apron, Spike hit a knee to the face to knock him down. Double clothesline spot by Spike and Chavo knocked them both down. With Kidman on the apron, Mysterio hit a hurricanrana off the top rope to take him down. That was great. Chavo launched Rey over the top to take out Kidman on the floor. Chavo hit a plancha over the top to knock down Rey and Kidman on the floor. Spike missed a plancha outside the ring. Chavo with a back suplex on Kidman. Spike with an atomic drop on Chavo as well as a clothesline. The announcers kept talking about how Spike had only a 25% chance to retain, which is basically telling you that Spike is going to retain. Spike sent Mysterio stomach first under the bottom rope leading to a hard bump on the floor for Mysterio. Tower of Doom spot time as Kidman did an electric chair to Chavo who did a superplex on Spike. That’s a popular spot in multi-person matches although usually the guy on the bottom is doing a Powerbomb to make it a safer bump. Mysterio back in the ring with a boot to Kidman, but Kidman came back with the BK Bomb. Kidman set up for the Shooting Star Press, but Chavo was there to shove Kidman to the floor. Spike knocked Chavo out of the ring. Spike with a running headbutt to Rey’s ribs. Mysterio countered the Dudley Dog and nailed a 619 on Spike. Kidman blocked Rey’s attempt to follow up. Chavo hit the Gory Bomb on Spike for two as Kidman made the save with a slingshot leg drop to the back of head of Chavo. Rey took out Kidman with a headscissors. Spike covered Chavo for the win at the 9:09 mark.
Winner by pinfall: Spike Dudley
Analysis: ***1/2 That was an exciting match that they worked at a very fast pace. If you’re doing a four-way match it doesn’t need to be too long because then it slows down too much. In this case, the length of the match was perfect because the pacing was just right. Good choice for an opener. I didn’t remember anything about the match going into it, but it was a lot of fun to watch.
Heidenreich was backstage with manager Paul Heyman, who told him he was going to get his jacket and he’ll be right back. Gene Snitsky went up to him backstage. Snitsky: “I like your poetry.” Heidenreich: “And I like what you do to babies.” Snitsky told him he’ll see him later. Heidenreich said he’ll see him soon.
Analysis: Tall weirdos. It was mildly funny due to the dialogue that they had.
Intercontinental Championship: Shelton Benjamin vs. Christian (w/Tyson Tomko)
Analysis: Benjamin was the face champion that was a great athlete that didn’t have much of a character at this point. Christian was the heel doing his “Captain Charisma” thing with the bodyguard ally.
Benjamin showed off his athleticism early as JR kept talking about how great of an athlete Benjamin is. Shoulder tackle by Benjamin knocked down Christian. When Christian thought he sent Benjamin over the top to the floor, Benjamin came back with a springboard blockbuster-like move for a two count. Monkey flip by Christian saw Benjamin land on his feet and get a pinfall for two. Benjamin nailed a hard chop on the floor. Tomko distracted Benjamin, so Christian shoved Benjamin off the apron leading to Benjamin crashing into the barricade at ringside. Christian was in control for a bit as he hit a neckbreaker for two. Benjamin fought out of a chinlock, but Christian dumped him to the floor. Tomko drove Benjamin back first into the apron. Christian hit a reverse DDT off the middle ropes for a two count. Benjamin got some momentum back as he whipped Christian sternum first into the turnbuckle for the Bret Hart corner bump. Benjamin with clotheslines followed by a side Russian legsweep for two. Another pin attempt by Benjamin gets two. Benjamin nailed a reverse Fisherman’s suplex for a two count. Benjamin missed a corner splash and Christian came back with an Implant DDT for a two count. Tomko slid the IC Title into the ring, he jumped onto the apron to distract the ref and Benjamin kicked Christian to knock him down. Benjamin with a top rope clothesline for a two count that the crowd thought would be it. Tomko went into the ring and hit a boot to the face of Benjamin while the ref wasn’t looking since he removed the title from the ring. Great nearfall there. Benjamin hit a spin kick to knock Tomko off the apron. Benjamin hit a T-Bone Suplex on Christian for the pinfall win at the 13:23 mark.
Winner by pinfall: Shelton Benjamin
As soon as the match was over, JR suggested that this was a major breakthrough performance for Benjamin and said that Benjamin will be something very extraordinary.
Analysis: ***1/4 It was a good showcase match for Benjamin working against a guy that was also athletic like Christian. They worked at a fast pace at times, then slowed it down and Benjamin did a great job in making the babyface comeback. It was a quality win as they say in wrestling sometimes.
The great Kurt Angle was shown walking backstage. He walked up to Edge to say he didn’t appreciate what Edge wrote in his book about him. Angle mocked him for never winning the World Title. Edge said when his team wins he’ll get his World Title match and Edge bragged about taking out Shawn Michaels, which is something Kurt can’t do. Kurt said he could make Shawn tap in seconds. Eugene walked up to Angle backstage. He did the “you suck” thing to Angle, which led to Angle leaving.
Analysis: The Angle line about Michaels was a tease for their WrestleMania 21 match, which was set up at the Royal Rumble two months after this. Michaels was out of action with a knee injury for this event. Michaels vs. Angle was a dream feud that came to life and I loved every second of it.
A WrestleMania Recall video aired showing WrestleMania 14’s main event when Stone Cold beat Shawn Michaels for the WWE Title.
Kurt Angle led his heel team of wrestlers to the ring that included young wrestlers Mark Jindrak, Luther Reigns and United States Champion Carlito with his bodyguard Jesus.
The faces on Eddie Guerrero’s team made their entrances on their own: Big Show with a bandaged left ankle, Rob Van Dam, Eddie Guerrero and John Cena. Cena got the biggest pop because he was being groomed to be a WWE Champion at the next WrestleMania.
Analysis: This was around the time when Carlito and Jesus “injured” Cena by stabbing him in a bar, so they played up the idea that they didn’t know what kind of condition Cena would be in.
Cena went after Carlito and Jesus outside the ring. Cena punched Jesus all around the ringside area. They went all the way up the aisle into the backstage area with Cena throwing Jesus into a wall. The camera followed them in the back with Cena fighting Jesus off. Cena got rid of Jesus briefly, but was met with a clothesline to the back. Carlito jumped into a car with Jesus in the passenger seat. Cena tried to get them, but they left. Fans chanted “Cena” for him.
Analysis: Cena won back the US Title at the next Smackdown taping. I thought the stabbing angle was ridiculous and too over the top, but that’s what WWE did sometimes.
Survivor Series Elimination Match: Team Guerrero (Eddie Guerrero, John Cena, Rob Van Dam & Big Show) vs. Team Angle (Kurt Angle, Mark Jindrak, Luther Reigns & Carlito)
Pre-match notes: The Guerrero team were the faces while Angle’s team were the heels. Angle working with Jindrak and Reigns was a way to elevate them. Big Show had his head shaved shortly before this, so he was looking for revenge.
Carlito eliminated by leaving the building in a car
The match didn’t start when Cena chased Carlito. It started when Big Show tossed Jindrak into the ring. The faces worked well together early on. Double arm drag by Eddie on Jindrak and Reigns. Angle snuck in a cheap shot on Guerrero to give the heels control. Sidewalk slam by Reigns. When Guerrero came close to tagging out, Angle tackled him to prevent him from tagging. Overhead belly to belly suplex by Angle on Guerrero. Double underhook suplex by Reigns on Guerrero. Guerrero with a jawbreaker and flapjack on Jindrak, but Angle tagged back in to prevent Guerrero from tagging out. Long bearhug by Jindrak to build up the hot tag. Eddie nailed a hurricanrana and a hot tag to RVD against Angle. Spin kick by RVD on Angle, then a back kick and a Frog Splash connected on Jindrak, who was trying to help Angle. RVD kicked Reigns off the apron. Angle with a sloppy ROLLUP OF DEATH~! with his hands on the ropes to eliminate RVD.
Rob Van Dam eliminated by Kurt Angle
The faces were mad at Angle for cheating. Eddie snuck up behind Jindrak, who was tagged by Angle. ROLLUP OF DEATH~! by Eddie using the ropes eliminated Jindrak.
Mark Jindrak eliminated by Eddie Guerrero
Big Show tagged in, so Angle left the ring and brought in Reigns. Show attacked Reigns, but Angle distracted and Reigns dove at the injured left ankle of Show. Reigns bounced off the ropes, Show stopped him with one hand and Show hit a Chokeslam on Reigns to eliminate him.
Luther Reigns eliminated by Big Show
Angle was the last man left on his team. Angle countered a Chokeslam into an Ankle Lock on the injured left leg of Show. That led to Show kicking him out of the ring. Angle tried to leave, but RVD was in the aisle to tell Angle to go back into the ring. Show tossed Angle back in the ring. Cena picked him up and hit a FU. Eddie went up top with a Frog Splash on Angle. Show covered for the win at the 12:26 mark.
Kurt Angle eliminated by Big Show
Survivors: Eddie Guerrero, John Cena & Big Show
Analysis: **1/2 It was just an okay match although not as good as you might expect because it was booked like a dominant performance for the faces. Cena was on his way to a main event push, so of course, he was a survivor even though he didn’t wrestle much. Guerrero was team captain that main evented regularly most of 2004, which made sense for him to be a survivor. Big Show lasting until the end was a way to get revenge on Angle’s guys that humiliated him.
Maven was interviewed backstage by Jonathon Coachman, who asked Maven if he thinks he belongs in the main event. Maven was mad about it, so Snitsky showed up to attack him from behind. Snitsky shoved him into the set. Snitsky kicked him when he was down and tossed him into some production trucks. The camera focused on Snitsky grunting a lot as Maven came up bleeding.
Analysis: It was a way to weaken Maven going into the match. I don’t remember Snitsky having a feud with Maven, but I guess they did. It’s not like they were important members of the roster.
There was a video package hyping up Heidenreich vs. The Undertaker. Heidenreich cost Undertaker the WWE Title to set up this feud.
Heidenreich made his entrance in a straight jacket along with Paul Heyman as his manager. The Undertaker made his entrance alone. It was 14 years after his WWE debut.
The Undertaker vs. Heidenreich (w/Paul Heyman)
Pre-match notes: Undertaker was the face. Heidenreich was a heel with a bad theme song that WWE tried to elevate by putting him against Undertaker. I looked at the result of the match during Undertaker’s entrance and noted the match time was 15 minutes. Why would they give a Heidenreich match that much time? I’m probably gonna skip on some play by play.
Undertaker was aggressive early with punches, elbow drops and he sent Heidenreich left arm first into the turnbuckle. Heyman distracted the ref, so Heidenreich sent Taker groin first into the ring post. Taker came back with forearms across the throat followed by a leg drop on the apron. Taker followed with the old school rope walk leading to a punch to the left arm of Heidenreich. Undertaker missed a corner charge, so Heidenreich got control with an elbow that sent Undertaker off the apron to the floor. More punches and kicks from Heidenreich. Chinlock by Heidenreich because he wants to put me to sleep. Clothesline by Heidenreich got a two count. More basic stuff by Heidenreich included another clothes and elbows. There was a replay of punches because the action is so boring we’re supposed to think that’s unique. Undertaker with a suplex. More punches by both guys. Heidenreich tossed him over the top to the floor. Undertaker drove him neck first into the top rope. Undertaker up top and he hit a flying clothesline that looks better than when Kane does it for a two count. Undertaker sent him into the top rope with snake eyes followed by a leg drop for two. Boot by Undertaker, but Heidenreich came back with a sidewalk slam. I think that was his first move in about ten minutes. Heidenreich went for the corner punches, so Undertaker did his Powerbomb out of the corner spot that he did all the time and it got a two count as Heidenreich grabbed the bottom rope. Back suplex by Undertaker to counter a sleeper attempt. Leaping clothesline by Undertaker followed by a Chokeslam. Undertaker hit a Tombstone to win the match at the 15:58 mark.
Winner by pinfall: The Undertaker
Post match, Undertaker had this confused look on this face. Tazz tried to put over Heidenreich as one of Undertaker’s biggest tests ever. I don’t think the fans ever believed that.
Analysis: * Yawn. Boring match that went too long that lacked any exciting moments. It should have been five minutes shorter. Maybe ten minutes shorter. I realize WWE wanted to see what they could get out of Heidenreich, but it was obvious he was bad in the ring. He was just a big guy that looked scary. A wrestler needs to be more than that especially in the 2000s. When people talk about the greatness of Paul Heyman, they ignore Heidenreich because he was not a very good performer. Sadly, this match didn’t end this feud. Poor Undertaker had to work with him at the 2005 Royal Rumble as well.
The Raw GM Eric Bischoff was interviewed by Maria in his office. Bischoff said that Maven may not be able to compete. Bischoff talked about how there’s no replacement because Triple H would just complain and he’s going to have a vacation for the next month.
A video package aired for the Women’s Title match between Trish Stratus and Lita. The story was that Trish taunted Lita a lot when she was forced to marry Kane and when she was pregnant followed by Trish taunting her after Lita lost the baby. Trish called her the “walking kiss of death.” Lita said she had waited a long time to get her hands on Trish with Trish saying Lita will lose to her like she lost the baby.
Analysis: It definitely felt like a more personal feud compared to what we were used to seeing for the divas.
The Women’s Champion Trish Stratus walked out first followed by the challenger Lita.
Women’s Championship: Trish Stratus vs. Lita
Pre-match notes: Trish was the cocky heel champion while Lita was the face looking for revenge.
Lita walked into the ring and nailed Trish with a punch to the face. Lita took her down and nailed more punches to the head. Trish left the ring, Lita followed and Trish tossed her face first into the announce table. Lita tripped her up and sent her face first into a chair. Lita went for a chair shot, the ref took the chair away, so Lita grabbed another chair. Lita swung the chair and hit a table at ringside that Trish’s head was under. She did it again. The idea was that Lita was hitting her in the head, but it really wasn’t that. The match ended in disqualification at the 1:24 mark.
Winner by disqualification: Trish Stratus
Analysis: 1/2* It was an angle more than a match, so the rating doesn’t matter. What’s disappointing is that this is supposed to be a major show and the only women’s match on the card was given less than 90 seconds. That’s rough.
Lita slammed Trish down face first. Trish had a bloody nose. Lita applied a rear naked choke submission. Trish freaked out about her nose. Referees tried to break them up, but Lita shoved Trish from behind and sent her into the ring post. Fans chanted “Lita” as Lita left up the aisle with referees forcing her to the back. Trish was helped to the back by a doctor and referee.
Analysis: Trish sold the broken nose angle for a few weeks.A few weeks later they had their famous Raw main event match where Lita won the title to get her full revenge in the storyline.
Team Guerrero was in the locker room as Smackdown’s GM Teddy Long showed up and said he needed to talk to Cena. Long congratulated Cena on a speedy recovery. Long said he’s ordering Carlito to defend the US Title against Cena on Smackdown.
Analysis: That’s what I mentioned earlier with Cena winning back the US Title on the next Smackdown.
A video package aired to set up WWE Champion John Bradshaw Layfield against Booker T. Booker pinned JBL in a tag match and beat Orlando Jordan to earn a title shot. There was even a point where announcer Josh Mathews pinned Orlando Jordan thanks to Booker. JBL said if Booker wins the WWE Title then he’ll leave Smackdown forever.
JBL made his entrance in the limo with his buddy Orlando Jordan. Good reaction for Booker T, but not great.
WWE Championship: John Bradshaw Layfield (w/Orlando Jordan) vs. Booker T
Pre-match notes: JBL was heel WWE Champion that had a reign of about five months by this point. Booker was the face challenger that had a lot of momentum going into the match.
They had a slugfest early on. Booker blocked a hip toss and hit a clothesline followed by a standing back kick. Neckbreaker by JBL followed by a forearm to the back. Booker with a back body drop leading into a clothesline that sent JBL over the top to the floor. Eye poke by JBL on the floor. He tossed Booker over the announce table. Booker tripped him up on the table. Jordan hit a cheap clothesline on Booker on the floor as JBL went back in the ring. Knee to the ribs by JBL slowed down Booker. Boot to the face and elbow drops by JBL earned a two count. The crowd isn’t into the match as JBL applied a chinlock. JBL went to the top for nothing, so Booker cut him off with a superplex. Both guys were down for a bit until JBL sent Booker out of the ring. Jordan got some punches in, but Booker stopped him by sending him into the ring post. JBL went after Booker and Booker hit a Book End on JBL on the floor. Superkick by Booker on Jordan on the floor. Booker went back in the ring to break the count and sent Jordan into the barricade. Booker sent JBL into the steps at ringside. Booker hit a scissors kick on Jordan on the floor. Booker rolled JBL into the ring, Booker went up top and connected with a missile dropkick for a two count as JBL grabbed the bottom rope. Booker with a sidewalk slam. Jordan distracted Booker, which allowed JBL to move out of the way of a somersault leg drop called a Harlem Hangover. JBL got a two count as the crowd continued to be pretty quiet for this match.
Booker countered a headlock with a back suplex. Spin kick by Booker and bicycle kick (think of Sheamus’ Brogue Kick) for a two count. Jordan tripped up Booker as he ran the ropes while the referee Nick Patrick was looking at JBL. It led to JBL hitting a DDT for two. Booker whipped JBL into the corner leading to JBL crushing the ref in the corner. Jordan jumped into the ring to knock Booker down. Jordan grabbed a chair, but announcer Josh Mathews ran out to knock Jordan off the apron. JBL crushed Mathews with a boot to the face followed by a stiff clothesline. Booker came back with a jumping side kick on JBL, then Booker knocked Jordan off the apron and JBL nailed a scissors kick for the two count as another ref Charles Robinson ran down to the ring. Jordan pulled Robinson out of the ring to break up the count. Jordan in the ring and Booker hit a Book End to take him down. JBL had the WWE Title in his hands, so he hit Booker in the head with it. The original referee Patrick woke up to count the pinfall win for JBL at the 14:43 mark.
Winner by pinfall: JBL
Analysis: *3/4 It was a slow and plodding match, which was JBL’s style. He was a much better talker than he was an in-ring performer. It was also JBL’s style to win matches in a very cheap manner, so that’s what happened here. I thought there was too much of the cheap stuff so much that it was overbooked to the point that it hurt the quality of the match quite a bit. Booker came close to winning, but nobody really believed he was going to win. By this point, it was pretty obvious that JBL would carry the WWE Title all the way to WrestleMania in order to put over the rising star in Cena.
Post match, JBL celebrated with the WWE Title and gave a big hug to his Chief of Staff Orlando Jordan for all of his help.
There was a backstage scene of Triple H, Batista and Ric Flair in the locker room. They talked about how they are going to run Raw after they win at Survivor Series. After Hunter left, Batista said he can’t wait for his week to run Raw.
Analysis: There was a tease of Batista’s big push as he started to feel more confident even though he was still loyal to Triple H.
A video package aired about the problems on Raw with Triple H’s Evolution group trying to take control of Raw, but Randy Orton led the faces against them. The stipulation for the main event was the four guys that win this next match then each member of the team gets to have control of Raw in four straight weeks.
Analysis: I liked that there was a reward for the winners. I wish WWE did that every year, but they don’t.
The face team entered for the main event. The leader Randy Orton was the last man with no sign of Maven. Orton turned face about two months before this when Evolution turned on him after he won the World Title at SummerSlam 2004.
The heels walked out with World Champion Triple H, Batista and manager Ric Flair walked out to the Evolution theme song, which is a great track. Snitsky made his entrance. Edge had his great theme song by this point.
Team Orton (Randy Orton, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho & Maven) vs. Team Triple H (Triple H, Batista, Gene Snitsky & Edge w/Ric Flair)
Pre-match notes: Orton’s team were the faces while Triple H’s team were the heels. I didn’t recall Snitsky wrestling in a main event, but there he is.
Benoit started with Edge. Orton faced off with Snitsky. Jericho tagged in and Snitsky hit him with a clothesline. Hunter got in and ate a back elbow from Jericho. Running knee to the face by Hunter to Orton. Batista tagged in with a powerslam on Orton. Edge tagged in with a dropkick on Orton. Clothesline by Orton took down Edge leading to Benoit tagging in. Benoit took out all the heels with suplexes including three German Suplexes in a row on Triple H. Benoit suplexed Edge onto Hunter. Benoit up top and he hit a headbutt on both Hunter and Edge for a two count on Hunter as Snitsky made the save. Benoit slapped a Sharpshooter on Triple H with Snitsky making the save for Hunter again. Benoit slapped the Crossface on Edge with Batista making the save with a forearm shot. Triple H capitalized with a Pedigree. Edge covered for the pin on Benoit.
Chris Benoit eliminated by Edge
Analysis: I thought that was a weak elimination and I think they missed up who the legal man was as well.
Edge tagged out with Snitsky and Hunter arguing about who made the tag. Snitsky shoved Hunter down. Batista broke it up. Jericho tripped up Hunter with the Walls of Jericho with Batista breaking it up. Orton knocked down Orton and Snitsky. Facebuster by Jericho on Hunter. Flair held Jericho’s leg when he tried a Lionsault. The ref saw it, so he sent Flair to the back. Batista nailed a running shoulder tackle on Orton and Jericho. Spinebuster by Batista on Jericho. Orton grabbed the World Title and hit Batista in the head with it while the ref wasn’t looking. Jericho hit an enziguri kick on Batista to eliminate Jericho.
Batista eliminated by Chris Jericho
Jericho hit a dropkick on Edge that sent him crashing onto Snitsky on the floor. Batista clothesline on Jericho when he wasn’t looking and Batista finally left. Snitsky hit a back body drop on Jericho followed by some blatant choking. Edge got in a kick, but Jericho came back with a modified neckbreaker. Snitsky went back in for his team and tossed Orton out of the ring while he worked on Jericho. Hunter and Edge double-teamed Orton on the floor. Jericho hit a DDT on Snitsky to take him down. Maven was still a bloody mess, but he stumbled his way down to the ring. He was attacked nearly two hours earlier and still had blood on him. Maven hit a flying forearm smash on Snitsky followed by punches for the others. Maven dumped Edge over the top and a back elbow to Triple H followed by a bulldog off the ropes Snitsky was bleeding above the left eye. Maven turned around and Snitsky hit him with a chair to the head.
After being eliminated, Snitsky hit Jericho with a chair to the back as well. Snitsky hit Orton with a chair to the back as well. Snitsky left.
Snitsky eliminated by disqualification
Triple H covered Maven to officially eliminate him.
Maven eliminated by Triple H
It’s Orton and Jericho for the faces against Hunter and Edge for the heels. Jericho kicked out of a pinfall attempt from Edge. Jericho with a back body drop on Triple H. Edge capitalized on that with a Spear to Jericho to eliminate him.
Chris Jericho eliminated by Edge
That meant that Orton was left alone against Hunter and Edge. Back suplex by Edge on Orton. Hunter got his chance in there with a DDT on Orton for two. Edge was back in there and he was met with a powerslam from Orton. A dropkick from Orton on Edge led to Triple H bumping to the floor. Orton punched Edge, so Hunter went back in the ring with a spinebuster. Hunter picked up Orton and Edge missed the Spear as Orton moved, which led to Edge hitting the Spear on Hunter. Orton hit the RKO on Edge to eliminate him. Good reaction for that.
Edge eliminated by Randy Orton
Analysis: It was an obvious spot that worked well.
The ref checked on Edge, so Hunter hit Orton with a low blow. Hunter set up for a Pedigree, Orton slipped out of it and hit an RKO outta nowhere for the pinfall elimination at the 24:31 mark.
Triple H eliminated by Randy Orton
Survivor: Randy Orton
Analysis: ***1/4 It was a good match especially in the last few minutes with some quick eliminations. Some parts of the match before that were boring. Most of the eliminations were well booked with some different ones such as Snitsky getting disqualified because he was crazy. The win for Orton was booked in such a way that it made him look like a huge star that overcame the odds against two top heels. It also made the RKO look like the most devastating finishing move in wrestling.
Orton celebrated the win as the crowd cheered him. It was a good ovation, but not that huge.
The show ended with Orton celebrating the victory with the announcers talking about how the next four weeks of Raw will have the guys from Orton’s team each having a week in charge of Raw. Orton’s celebration ended the show.
The show had a run time of 2 hours, 36 minutes.
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FINAL THOUGHTS
– At the time of this show, most people probably thought Orton’s win would lead to a WrestleMania match against Triple H. It didn’t happen because Orton turned heel and faced The Undertaker at WrestleMania 21. Batista ended up turning face and beat Triple H for the World Title at WrestleMania 21.
– I had completely forgotten about the cruiserweight match that started the show, but it was damn good. It was my match of the night as you’ll see below.
– The match times were off a bit. I thought the Undertaker/Heidenreich match should have been five minutes shorter at least. I would have given more time to the women’s match, but I know they went short because they were pushing an angle to set up their Raw main event match.
– I liked that there was a storyline surrounding the Raw elimination tag in order to give booking power to the winners. It made Orton’s win mean more.
– The crowd didn’t seem that interested in most of the show. I think it was a case of the product not being as strong by the end of the year. It was better earlier in 2004 with better storylines, more memorable moments and hotter crowds too.
Show rating (out of 10): 5
It was an average show with nothing exciting happening for three hours. It would have helped if there was a memorable title or something on the undercard to excite people.
OPINIONS
Best Match: Spike Dudley vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Billy Kidman vs. Chavo Guerrero
Worst Match: The Undertaker vs. Heidenreich
Most Memorable Moment: Randy Orton hits two RKOs in under two minutes to beat two top guys.
FIVE STARS
- Randy Orton
- Triple H
- Edge
- Spike Dudley
- Rey Mysterio
That’s all for me. Check out the full list of my WWE PPV Review archive right here. Thanks for reading.
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My contact info is below.
John Canton
Email mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter @johnreport