WWF Survivor Series

For its second year, Survivor Series once again took place in Richfield, OH, although the magic of the previous year's show was not there. Perhaps because Survivor Series '88 did not have any significant matches other than the tag team elimination bout. Survivor Series '87 had a women's bout, and was also an experiment. This show was also ravaged by injuries beforehand (legitimate ones), forcing several un-Pay Per View calibur wrestlers into some big matches. The only real good wrestling match on the card turned out to be the Tag Team Match. It was incredible. Superb moves, plus legends like the Rougeaus, Bret Hart, Arn Anderson, and the Dynamite Kid in the ring with each other. 20 guys, and they almost surrounded the ring on all four sides. All in all, for wrestling historians, check it out, but nothing special for passive fans.

I gave this one a 7, because I love the opening tag teams' match, but the 2 mid card matches were edited severely for VHS. About 3/4 of those matches were cut!

The tag match was great, because all teams were exceptional, even the Bolsheviks. The Powers of Pain, however, weren't. This is another example of their mediocrity. They survived the match, but all they had to do was beat the Conquistadors! The real story of this match was Bret Hart, who made 2 eliminations, although one was overturned. And the face turn of Demolition wasn't handled right. This is true because the fans didn't react the way they were supposed to. I'd like to know how Demolition was able to make the turn successfully.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan continued his tradition of eliminating himself and not caring, while Tito Santana was decent. Jake the Snake did surprisingly well when he was left alone against Andre, Rick Rude, Mr. Perfect, and Dino Bravo (I just realized that all four men have passed since then). His elimination of Rude was the highlight of the night.

Hulk Hogan was mediocre again in his second Survivor Series, eliminating Haku, someone who no one doubts he can beat. The real hero of this one was the Macho Man, who got rid of Terry Taylor (I loved the angle of him losing all the time and Heenan kicking him out for it) and Ted DiBiase. This match was good but could have been better; they used the Mega Powers-Twin Towers feud here for the sake of spectacle rather than substance. Did anyone want to see the Twin Towers blatantly get themselves disqualified?

No feuds were settled, except maybe the one between the Young Stallions and the Bolsheviks. But the role reversal of Demolition and the Powers of Pain was good for historians. And the matches were solid.

Your usual wrestling farce. It could have been better, as the second match is too long for it's own good, but it doesn't matter. If you are in for a wrestling history trip, you will get your fair share of fun along with the usual sense of repetition. 6.5/10!

After watching/reviewing the first edition of the Survivor Series recently, I gave it a rather average rating with the caveat that it needed to add something to the simple tag-team format. Unfortunately, the 2nd Annual Survivor Series (1988) stagnates instead, adding absolutely nothing to the proceedings.

If you like tag-team action, you'll like this event more than I. The tag format just isn't may favorite, and may prevent me from watching subsequent installments of this event.

What drags this '88 edition down even further is that I didn't really even get the feeling that too many character arcs were being advanced or created here. It just seemed like place-holding. The WWF still had some great personalities at this time in history, so it isn't a completely train wreck, but this is coasting in its highest form.

Thus, overall I was disappointed in the second installment of Survivor Series. If the event doesn't throw a few new things into the mix or find a fresher overall formula, I may not be tuning into subsequent installments.

The second annual survivor series. Starts off with a tag team match. Still in it's five man form. So 20 men in the ring at the beginning looks more like a battle Royal . After last year rather than considering reducing numbers. They have instead looked at camera angles. There is improvement in this aspect. So many great tag teams during this time a big double cross make it hard not enjoy this match. What follows is A night full of world champions future hall of famers making for an enjoyable evening