WWF Survivor Series

Survivor series four on four traditional matches will not be the talk of tonight. First match of note or real merit was Kane versus mankind not for the wrestling. But the imagery of Kane throwing mankind round would help to build a myth of undertaker's brother.

Owen hart gets back into the ring with stone cold Steve Austin in front of the Canadian crowd following the career ending injury for most that stone cold received at the hands of Hart by tombstone . But of course tonight will be remembered for is the Montréal screw job Brett the hitman hart versus Shawn Michaels Overshadowing everything that comes before it. To become a decisive time in wrestling. The most talked about moment in wrestling . A moment of real change in wrestling that would shape, the careers of the individuals futures. Affecting the two biggest wrestling federations. With hindsight Sergeant Slaughter Ringside, Vince McMahon (Calls of get in the ring) a mountain of referees made it seem like something was up. There will always be the questions of how things would've gone down for everyone If these 20 minutes in Canada had gone another way. Who Were the real winners and losers on the night. Who was wrong and who was right and for years to come is still a debate being held today.

The 1997 Survivor Series event will always be primarily remembered for the "Montreal Screwjob". While nothing will change that negative connotation, this event was actually pretty remarkable in terms of signifying some very positive changes within the WWE.

For example...

-Kane bursts on to the scene (here battling Mankind), and he will eventually provide Undertaker with a worthy foe (something that had been desperately needed for quite some time). -The New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn & Road Dogg) really come together here, and they would be a fun pairing in the years to come. -Rocky Maivia (later "The Rock") takes a larger role in the Nation of Domination, presaging his breakout as a singles superstar right around the corner. -Steve Austin wrestles a great rematch with Owen Hart, especially considering Owen had nearly broken his neck with a botched piledriver in their previous matchup. -To be honest, even the Screwjob itself-where Vince McMahon, Shawn Michaels, and referee Earl Hebner only knew the true outcome of the match going in-paved one clear way forward. It was morally reprehensible and I would never outright condone such treatment of an icon like Bret Hart, but it led Shawn to D-Generation X (which thrived) and laid the roots for the "Mr. McMahon" character that would increasingly come out from behind the mic in short order.

So, even though the '97 Survivor Series will forever be branded with the controversial decision of its final match, this is truly the best WWE PPV of the previous 2-3 years to that point. The doldrums of the mid-90s seem to be ending as the company ramps up for 1998.

The Godwinns and the New Age Outlaws vs. the Headbangers and the Blackjacks Survivors: New Age Outlaws

The Truth Commission vs. Disciples of Apocalypse Survivors: Interrogator and Jackyl

British Bulldog, Jim "the Anvil" Neidhart, Doug Furnas and Phil Lafon vs. Vader, Steve Blackman, Goldust and Marc Mero Survivor: British Bulldog

The Road Warriors, Ken Shamrock and Ahmed Johnson vs. Nation of Domination Survivor: Ken Shamrock

Kane defeated Mankind via pinfall

Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Owen Hart to capture the Intercontinental Championship

Shawn Michaels defeated Bret "Hitman" Hart to capture the WWE Championship

Overall Mark: C+

Before I get to the obvious match, let me just say that this was a time when the WWE's or F's (whatever) mid-card was terrible. I'm not going to go over the under card as they were only there to fill up time.

Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Owen Hart - This match wasn't a good match, but is wasn't really supposed to be. It was just supposed to be Stone Cold re-establishing himself as the main mid-carder on his way to the top. All you had to do was see his beer belly to know that the pre-Summer Slam Steve Austin that Bret Hart said was the best wrestler in the world, was gone.

Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels - This match lets us see how Americans can't see past their own existence and how Canadians hate them for it. For all those who say get over it. What would you do if you carried a company for the majority of the 90's & was responsible for elevating Stone Cold Steve Austin to mainevent status? Bret Hart gave his life and sacrificed his marriage for the WWF only to be screwed like that in his own country. Not only would I not have let it go, but I wouldn't have left Montreal without making good use of my knuckle dusters.

Leave Bret Hart alone, he has every right to moan as long as he feels like it!

Probably the greatest PPV for argument of all time.

Of course this event is not only remembered for the infamous 'montreal screw-over, it signifies the return of a then injured Stone Cold Steve Austin to the ring to regain intercontinental championship from Owen Hart, and other great matches Vince McMahon lined up.

This is also in my opinion remembered for careful viewers, to see it is the first tme Vince McMahon left the commentators seat to be announced officially as the owner of the company. Well we all know why now don't we....

This is the final display of the Hart Foundation (despite the death of Brian Pillman a month before), as they united to see Bret down the ring, but yet failed to notice why Vince was hanging around ringside, until the infamous screw over, seeing Bret spit in Vince's face, and watching what seemed to be a bewildered Shawn Michaels escorted out the stadium by a blatantly guilty Gerald Brisco.

Most definitely worth the watch.