WWE Survivor Series 2015 (WATCH) Date: November 22, 2015 Location: Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia Commentators: Michael Cole, JBL, & Jerry “The King” Lawler Interviews: JoJo
The show opens with Lilian Garcia singing a beautiful rendition of the national anthem which, in light of news leading into the event about a terrorist threat at the Philips Arena, seemed only right.
“Semi-Final Match in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tournament” – “Non-Title Match”
Roman Reigns vs. Alberto Del Rio (WWE United States Champion) w/Zeb Colter
Since his return to the WWE at last month’s Hell in a Cell event, Alberto Del Rio has looked better than ever. But his job on this night was to make Roman Reigns look even better. This, for me, could easily be considered the match of the night if the Diva’s match wasn’t so good. Though the outcome was never in question, well placed false finishes and strategic psychology gave the match an unpredictable, urgent feel it sorely needed. On several occasions Del Rio looked like he might pull off the upset. In then end, however, Reigns capitalizes on a Del Rio mistake and advances to the Championship Final via the spear.
Winner: Roman Reigns (Pin)
“Semi-Final Match in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tournament” – “Non-Title Match”
Dean Ambrose vs.Kevin Owens (WWE Intercontinental Champion)
If there’s one Superstar who has benefited the most from this tournament it has to be Dean Ambrose. Languishing in the mid-card for some time (Ambrose hasn’t been on PPV since Sept.) Ambrose took advantage of the tournament opportunity, stepping up his game and proving that he is a World Champion-in-waiting. In Kevin Owens, Ambrose found a perfect opponent and the two brought the best out in each other with the limited time they had to work with. Another psychologically driven match, this one felt like it could go either way until Ambrose connected with a beautiful hurricanrana followed by “dirty deeds” to score the pin and move on to face Reigns in the Championship Final.
Winner: Dean Ambrose (Pin)
“5-on-5 Survivor Series Elimination Match”
Ryback, The Lucha Dragons (Kalisto & Sin Cara), and The Usos (Jimmy & Jey) vs.
King Barrett, Sheamus (2015 Mr. Money in the Bank), and WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston, & Xavier Woods)
This is a tale of two matches. While the New Day were involved it was a fun, energetic “Survivor Series” match. When Kofi and Xavier walked out on the match after Big E was eliminated by Jey Uso the match fell apart, dragging on for over five minutes before Sheamus, without taking out a single babyface, was finally eliminated by Ryback via “shell shock”. I’m not sure what was supposed to be accomplished in this match, but having a relatively fresh Sheamus being unable to eliminate even Kalisto from the match before being eliminated himself made Sheamus look weak. I’d be remiss if I failed to mention the humorous New Day pre-match promo that is worth checking out.
Winners: Ryback, Kalisto, & Jey Uso (5-2)
WWE Divas Championship
Paige vs. Charlotte(c)
This was one of the most anticipated matches of the night both from both an athletic and storytelling aspect. And to me, at least, it lived up to expectations and was my pick for match of the night. A match worthy of the Intercontinental or United States title, it is easily one of the best pure women’s wrestling matches in WWE PPV history. Paige, the Diva’s Kevin Owens, and Charlotte are tailor made for each other. Charlotte’s mean streak is the perfect match for Paige’s narcissistic entitlement complex. After nearly 15 minutes of action Charlotte spears Paige off the barricade and rolls Paige back in the ring before getting the win via “figure-eight”. The only drawback to this match was the crowd, which seemed out of it for most of the night, to be honest.
Winner: Charlotte(c) (Submission)
“Grudge Match”
Tyler Breeze w/Summer Rae vs. Dolph Ziggler
Easily the weakest match of the night this one felt like what it was, a time killer to bridge the gap between the Diva’s match and the main events. Breeze is looking better with each week while Ziggler continues to look strong. This is only one match of a lengthy program so there’s no need for anyone to light their hair on fire over “lost momentum” or “dead career” talk for Ziggler, they have to establish Breeze somehow. Breeze wins with the “unprettier”.
Winner: Tyler Breeze w/Summer Rae (Pin)
“Tag Team Grudge Match”
The Brothers of Destruction (Kane & The Undertaker) vs. The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt & Luke Harper) w/Braun Strowman & Erick Rowan
After an incredible video package and equally incredible entrance complete with a massive casket displaying the many incarnations of The Undertaker, this wound up being the nostalgia act many thought it would be. After about ten minutes The Undertaker hits the “tombstone” on Luke Harper to put the Wyatt Family to rest. Though it seemed to play a very small part in the match itself, Undertaker appeared to tweak his right knee as he and Kane took out Erick Rowan, limping noticeably early in the match.
“WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tournament Final”
Roman Reigns vs.Dean Ambrose
This was, to me at least, the worst possible way for this tournament to end. The problem wasn’t the participants but in the fact that they had no time to work with and no story to tell. After weeks of teasing an Ambrose/Reigns showdown this match felt rushed and pointless at times. It wasn’t a terrible match, just rushed, too focused on the big move. In hindsight it is clear that WWE was far more interested in setting up the big swerve than giving fans a proper pay-off to the story we’ve been watching unfold. I’m not saying I expected Sting/Luger or Bret/Owen, but I did expect something better than what we got. In the end, Reigns connects with the spear and wins the title.
Confetti flies, pyro goes off, two friends embrace, and Triple H offers to shake Reigns hand. After a moment Reigns spears the COO and leaves him laying, only to turn around into a “brogue kick”. Sheamus, fresh and rested, cashes in his “Money in the Bank” contract and the bell rings.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Sheamus vs. Roman Reigns(c)
Reigns kicks out of the “brogue kick” and tries to shake the cobwebs as Sheamus preps for another “brogue kick”. Reigns ducks the kick, bounces off the ropes, and runs smack into a hellacious, second “brogue kick”. Sheamus hooks the leg and wins the match for his 4th World Heavyweight Championship. Afterwards Sheamus shakes Triple H’s hand and embraces the COO as he celebrates. A crushed, nearly teary Reigns lies shocked on the mat as the PPV fades to back.
Winner: Sheamus (Pin)
Final Rating: Average
While WWE sold Sheamus’s cash-in as a shocker, most fans saw it coming, even expected it. Though the two semi-final matches and the Divas Championship match were great matches it’s not enough to save the rest of the card. After a slew of memorable and largely solid PPVs this year, Survivor Series 2015 felt like a let-down. I understand Rollins’ injury forced a total rewrite but surely, with all the talent at their disposal, we could have gotten a better PPV.
Did you watch Survivor Series 2015? If so, let us know what you thought of it below.
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I enjoyed the pre-show Survivor Series elimination match. IMO, with the exception of New Day, the main show elimination match should have swapped places with this one. I hated seeing Neville eliminated. He’s a young man. It’d have benefitted him to stay, even score the win for his team and have a veteran who has nothing to prove (Dudleyz and/or Goldust) be eliminated as they’re at a point now where a loss/elimination won’t hurt them. Or WWE could have had the entire team survive and do a clean sweep out of the opposition. Speaking of Goldust, enjoyed his return. He got a well deserved pop and hasn’t looked better. Liked that they continued the brotherly feud and mentioned Cody’s transformation into Stardust. We may end the brother vs brother match at WM32 if WWE continue building that feud.
Not a fan of Del Rio’s direction with this whole Mexi=America or whatever it is they’re doing. But Roman Reigns vs Del Rio did what it was supposed to do as Del Rio played his role of getting Reigns to advance well. I enjoyed Ambrose vs Owens as I’m a fan of both talents. The New Day was the BEST part of the Survivor Series elimination match as Brock Allen states. After they left, I stopped watching the match. Didn’t like Paige bringing up Reid Flair on RAW. But the match was great! Probably the match of the night. Ziggler vs Breeze….two talents I am a fan of in a feud that underutilizes both of them as it hasn’t been given all that much attention which benefits no one because it had me not paying attention to this match which is sad considering who are involved in it. I agree with Brock Allen on Reigns vs Ambrose. I couldn’t have put it any better myself. Reigns vs Sheamus….I didn’t expect it, but wasn’t as Sheamus’ cash-in either. When a cash-in happens, sometimes, the MITB talent loses a match, then cashes later in the night. If you want proof, watch WM31. Rollins lost to Orton, but closed out WM on top as the World Champion. Same with Sheamus. Difference is Rollins was booked heading into WM than Sheamus was ever since the Irishman returned. He had a better run before his injury.
I saved the BOD vs two members of The Wyatt Family to review last for a reason as that’s because I had more to say on this than any other match. Taker’s clean win via Tombstone and the Kane & Taker entrance were the best parts of this. After all the hype and all that they did for Taker’s 25th, the actual anniversary didn’t really live up to my expectations. I though this should’ve been 2 on 4 or 4 on 4 elimination match (even though Strowman’s green) because it wasn’t two members of the Family, Bray and Harper taking Taker and Kane out and carrying them over their heads. It was all 4, the entire Wyatt Family doing that. So it only made sense to me if the match was gonna happen to have all 4 face the BOD and maybe one or two other talents joining them to even things up. And a 4 on 4 elimination match would’ve been a nice throwback to Taker’s debut which was an elimination match.
For me the best match was Paige vs Charlotte, and I will normally use the diva match for a bathroom break. Felt like the Brothers of Destruction match went by too fast as did the Ambrose vs Reigns title match which was better than I thought it would be. Overall it was entertaining enough but fell way short of last years show, but then again having a surprise visit by Sting will boost any ppv. Maybe there is just too much star power away right now, Orton, Cena, Rollings, etc. but at least Del Rio is back! Hoping to see a mass call up from NXT to infuse some excitement into the product. James Storm, Somoa Joe, Finn Balor, Apollo Crews, etc.
Most positive for this show is the folks that attended the show, giving the finger to a threat in the form of ISIS, making the statement, that these idiots can not scare people away.
Regarding the show itself, the problem yet again is the sheer lack of boldness that WWE has been suffered from the recent years: why not turn either Ambrose or Reigns heel? Or something completely out of the box unpredictable..
Again, I understand the pressure from re-writing due to the Rollins incident, and the issue with the ISIS threat might also have had some sort of impact on the roster, but main problem the recent years imo is still, that there are way too many ppl working on the creative and writing team, hence, there’s a No direction Home-storylines.
But.. the Undertaker entrance was -like always- really cool.
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I enjoyed the pre-show Survivor Series elimination match. IMO, with the exception of New Day, the main show elimination match should have swapped places with this one. I hated seeing Neville eliminated. He’s a young man. It’d have benefitted him to stay, even score the win for his team and have a veteran who has nothing to prove (Dudleyz and/or Goldust) be eliminated as they’re at a point now where a loss/elimination won’t hurt them. Or WWE could have had the entire team survive and do a clean sweep out of the opposition. Speaking of Goldust, enjoyed his return. He got a well deserved pop and hasn’t looked better. Liked that they continued the brotherly feud and mentioned Cody’s transformation into Stardust. We may end the brother vs brother match at WM32 if WWE continue building that feud.
Not a fan of Del Rio’s direction with this whole Mexi=America or whatever it is they’re doing. But Roman Reigns vs Del Rio did what it was supposed to do as Del Rio played his role of getting Reigns to advance well. I enjoyed Ambrose vs Owens as I’m a fan of both talents. The New Day was the BEST part of the Survivor Series elimination match as Brock Allen states. After they left, I stopped watching the match. Didn’t like Paige bringing up Reid Flair on RAW. But the match was great! Probably the match of the night. Ziggler vs Breeze….two talents I am a fan of in a feud that underutilizes both of them as it hasn’t been given all that much attention which benefits no one because it had me not paying attention to this match which is sad considering who are involved in it. I agree with Brock Allen on Reigns vs Ambrose. I couldn’t have put it any better myself. Reigns vs Sheamus….I didn’t expect it, but wasn’t as Sheamus’ cash-in either. When a cash-in happens, sometimes, the MITB talent loses a match, then cashes later in the night. If you want proof, watch WM31. Rollins lost to Orton, but closed out WM on top as the World Champion. Same with Sheamus. Difference is Rollins was booked heading into WM than Sheamus was ever since the Irishman returned. He had a better run before his injury.
I saved the BOD vs two members of The Wyatt Family to review last for a reason as that’s because I had more to say on this than any other match. Taker’s clean win via Tombstone and the Kane & Taker entrance were the best parts of this. After all the hype and all that they did for Taker’s 25th, the actual anniversary didn’t really live up to my expectations. I though this should’ve been 2 on 4 or 4 on 4 elimination match (even though Strowman’s green) because it wasn’t two members of the Family, Bray and Harper taking Taker and Kane out and carrying them over their heads. It was all 4, the entire Wyatt Family doing that. So it only made sense to me if the match was gonna happen to have all 4 face the BOD and maybe one or two other talents joining them to even things up. And a 4 on 4 elimination match would’ve been a nice throwback to Taker’s debut which was an elimination match.
For me the best match was Paige vs Charlotte, and I will normally use the diva match for a bathroom break. Felt like the Brothers of Destruction match went by too fast as did the Ambrose vs Reigns title match which was better than I thought it would be. Overall it was entertaining enough but fell way short of last years show, but then again having a surprise visit by Sting will boost any ppv. Maybe there is just too much star power away right now, Orton, Cena, Rollings, etc. but at least Del Rio is back! Hoping to see a mass call up from NXT to infuse some excitement into the product. James Storm, Somoa Joe, Finn Balor, Apollo Crews, etc.
Most positive for this show is the folks that attended the show, giving the finger to a threat in the form of ISIS, making the statement, that these idiots can not scare people away.
Regarding the show itself, the problem yet again is the sheer lack of boldness that WWE has been suffered from the recent years: why not turn either Ambrose or Reigns heel? Or something completely out of the box unpredictable..
Again, I understand the pressure from re-writing due to the Rollins incident, and the issue with the ISIS threat might also have had some sort of impact on the roster, but main problem the recent years imo is still, that there are way too many ppl working on the creative and writing team, hence, there’s a No direction Home-storylines.
But.. the Undertaker entrance was -like always- really cool.