WWF Survivor Series

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.

It is now May 2004. This event took place in November 1997, Six and a half years ago. Even now Vince McMahon (owner of WWE) is trying to smooth things over with Bret, but Mr Hart will only return on the proviso that he can 'get revenge on Shawn Michaels or Vince McMahon' after what happened at this event. Three words Bret: GET OVER IT. It happened, its in the past, LET IT GO.

Every time I hear the term "The Montreal Screw-job" a shudder courses through my body. Bret Hart was leaving to go to WCW. He wanted the PPV match that people had payed good money to see, both in person & on Pay - Per - View from home to end in a massive brawl, and a double disqualification, then he wanted to ditch the WORLD Title the next night on TV and walk away. I'm sorry, but how would that have been better for anyone other than Bret himself, and his own fans? Neutrals will recall that titles in the WWF (as it was back then) were only ever surrendered due to injury, or other personal problems where the Wrestlers were left with no choice but to vacate their title. Even Shawn Michaels (who was fond of winning, but not very fond of losing his numerous titles) dropped the World Title to Stone-Cold Steve Austin at 'The Big One' Wrestlemania 14. What if he had refused? Austin winning his first World Title by being given it the next night on Raw wouldn't have had quite the same feel. Bret Hart's problem was that he couldn't handle not being the top dog anymore, and he wanted to spoil it for the fans by not doing the decent thing and letting Shawn win. A victory for Shawn after interference surely would have been a more acceptable way to end his tenure than what we got. Its just a pity that the owner was forced into doing something he didn't want to do by Bret's petulance.

Shawn Michaels was put in a precarious position. Whether he knew what was going to happen is fiercely debated even to this day, but even if he did, what was he meant to do? Refuse his chance at the World Title to show loyalty to someone who had dragged their feud into the schoolyard by saying his parents must be ashamed of their son Shawn? Why should he? The only person who screwed Bret Hart was Bret Hart, the minute he thought he was bigger than the Man and the company he was working for.

And on a side note, the only people that were really screwed that night were the fans, because controversial ending aside, the PPV was not memorable for anything else. The whole event had been built on the title match and it showed with a poor under-card. Normally any other Survivor Series (bar The woeful 6th Annual in 1992, which coincidently also had World Champion Bret Hart vs Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels for the World Title as the main event - which Bret won) would be recommendable, but not this one. Probably one of the hardest old events to get hold off, but unfortunately for all the wrong reasons.

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 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+

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.