WWF Survivor Series

The Survivor Series events from 1992-1995 were pretty average. When I watched Survivor Series 1996 I was pleased because it was a return to form for one of my favourite PPV events of the year.

The card was so memorable for so many reasons. Jake "The Snake" Roberts made his first Survivor Series appearance since the 1991 event. The Rock (then known as Rocky Maivia) made his debut and overcome the odds in a heated match. And we also got to see the return of veteran wrestler Jimmy Superfly Snuka.

In addition to the elimination matches we got to see Bret Hart battle Steve Austin in a brilliant match and Sycho Sid and Shawn Michaels assembled an awesome encounter for the WWF Championship.

Bart Gunn, Jesse James, Aldo Montoya and Bob Holly vs. Sultan, Billy Gunn, Sal Sincere and Bradshaw Survivor: Bart Gunn Doug Furnas, Phil Lafon, Henry Godwinn and Phineas Godwinn vs. Owen Hart, British Bulldog, Leif Cassidy and Marty Jannetty Survivors: Doug Furnas and Phil Lafon

With Paul Bearer suspended in a cage above the ring, the Undertaker defeated Mankind

Marc Mero, the Stalker, Rocky Maivia, and Jake Roberts vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Jerry "the King" Lawler, Crush and Goldust Survivor: Rocky Maivia

Bret "Hitman" Hart defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin via pinfall.

Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Yokozuna, Savio Vega and Flash Funk battled Vader, Faarooq, Razor Ramon and Diesel to a double disqualification

Sycho Sid defeated Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship

Overall Mark: B+

Here we go survivor series 1996 were the past and future meet Rocky Maivia followed by Jake the snake with big intros . Undertaker and Mankind continues there historic feud stone cold hitman need I say more not every match is brilliant but enough here to make this one very watchable.

I tend to judge any Survivor Series event by the quality of its singles matches. The mixed tag matches are usual random configurations with little momentum behind them.

Using that criteria, this event features some great individual matches...

-I feel like Undertaker and Mankind could have a match every other PPV and still have it be entertaining. They are just a great fit for each other.

-Stone Cold vs. Bret Hart is an epic match and finally showcases how WWE is getting Steve Austin "right" now in terms of persona and theme. Despite being the "heel" of the match, his pop and reaction was easily the equal of the beloved Hart.

-Shawn Michaels vs Sycho Sid loses a bit of the momentum, but still manages to be a solid display of both pure power and high-flying antics. Sid just never really got the "push" needed for this match to feel important.

On a different note, it is nice to see Jim Ross an established part of the broadcast team by this point. I actually look forward to the days when McMahon leaves the booth and lets Ross take the lead with everything, as Ross truly is one of the greats.

Overall, Survivor Series '97 is a really solid event for the WWE. The mixed tags are business-as-usual for this event, while the singles matches surrounding them really elevate it to greater heights. A good way to wind down the '96 PPVs considering where the business was when the year started.