Survivor Series 1994 Review

Yokozuna and Undertaker faced off for the second time in 1994 in a Casket Match in the main event.

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​It's not a show that will live that long in the memory, but I seem to be in the minority that thought Survivor Series 1994 was a pretty good show, dare I say I probably enjoyed it more as a three hour PPV than Wrestlemania X, even. There was nothing exceptional on this show, but the build of Diesel culminated in a very strong angle at the beginning of the show, and everything - even the Lawler/Doink comedy match was good or better for the rest of the night.

The Teamsters (Diesel, Shawn Michaels, Jeff Jarrett, Owen Hart and Jim Neidhart) vs The Bad Guys (Razor Ramon, 123 Kid, British Bulldog, Fatu and Sione).

I had this pegged as the best match of the evening. Took a while to get going with nobody getting an elimination within the early stages, but this built a great platform to allow Diesel to standout when he eventually got into the match. Those quick fire eliminations accelarated the match at a great lick with the Diesel Shawn breakdown building. While The Teamsters all getting counted out at the end, leaving Razor as the sole survivor, was perhaps a contrived finish, the story with Shawn and Diesel was great here. This, I thought, was how you build a star.

READ ABOUT THE RISE OF DIESEL IN THE WWF

The Royal Family (Jerry “The King” Lawler, Sleazy, Queasy and Cheesy) vs Clowns 'R Us (Doink The Clown, Dink, Wink and Pink)

I really wanted to hate this match, I really did. But there really was some decent comedy here, by WWF standards for sure. The midgets interacted really well with Lawler and Doink, and I genuinely laughed when Lawler climbed on top of Queasy and got dropped face first. While this was Survivor Series, this match got pretty old as soon as Doink was eliminated. I'd also say this match was poorly placed, likely should've been in between the two main events.

Bret Hart (with The British Bulldog) vs Bob Backlund (with Owen Hart) for the WWF Title

The stipulation, while adding to the story, really took away from the match. It rendered much of the match unimportant as impact moves couldn't be capitalised upon The wrestling was decent, but no better, as Bret and Backlund's styles seemed to clash throughout. Match turned when Bulldog knocked himself out running after Owen and hitting the ring steps. Owen dialed up the drama, begging his mother to throw in the towel as Bret was locked in the Cross Face Chicken Wing... forever. Quite the logic that Owen was acting as a heel trying to end the match, despite the fact that Bret was out for the count in the ring, Owen basically saved his career. That being said, excellent drama if a little prolonged. Backlund wins when Bret's mother Helen throws in the towel.

Guts and Glory (Lex Luger, Adam Bomb, Mabel and The Smoking Gunns) vs The Million Dollar Team (King Kong Bundy, Bam Bam Bigelow, Tatanka and The Heavenly Bodies)

Probably the least eventful match on the show, but this was by no means a bad match. The aim was to get over Bundy as a big threat – leading to match with Undertaker down the line – they did that. Luger looked good in his 1 on 3 spot, The Smoking Gunns looked very good when they got the license to show off some good tag team moves. Bam Bam does a great moonsault. This match was fine, whether getting behind Bundy is a great move I don't know, but they certainly managed that here.

READ: JUST WHERE DID IT GO WRONG FOR LEX LUGER IN THE WWF

The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) vs Yokozuna (with Jim Cornette & Mr Fuji) in a casket match with Chuck Norris at the Special Guest Enforcer

This match was very good, particularly if you're a big a fan of Yokozuna as I am. They both worked hard and there were some really nice moves, including a particularly devastating rock bottom from Yokozuna. Undertaker needed his win back in the casket match from the Royal Rumble, and he got that here. Chuck Norris was involved in the match about as much as you would want him to be, although his spin kick to Jarrett wasn't anything to write home about.

All in all I thought this was a very good show. Forgetting the comedy match, Diesel, Razor, Backlund, Bundy and Undertaker all came out of this show looking stronger than they did going in. Job done.