WWE Survivor Series 2015: Most Underrated Matches in Event's History

After almost three decades of history, the Survivor Series pay-per-view has seen its fair share of excellent matches.

In fact, there are too many to mention.

That's why some of those bouts have fallen to the wayside, victims of the PPV's storied legacy. Now it's time to revisit some of those underappreciated classics.

The following matches might not be the same bouts that come up in every discussion of Survivor Series, but they're compelling enough to hold their own against the greats.

If you're looking to go off the beaten path as you prepare yourself for Survivor Series 2015, you can do no better than take another look at these forgotten matches.

5. Test vs. Edge (2001)

Credit: WWE.com

Today, we often look back on the WCW/ECW invasion of the then-WWF as a disappointment—but it did produce some terrific matches.

On paper, this Intercontinental Championship and United States Championship unification match might not have looked too special. However, it certainly delivered the goods in the ring, with both competitors striving to put on performances worthy of the two historic titles at stake.

Test's raw power paired well with the agility and poise of Edge, which made for a wide range of possibilities. There was a little bit of brawling on the outside, some nicely worked reversals and a hugely effective closing sequence to boot.

It was varied stuff from start to finish, with taut pacing right up until the closing bell—certainly an overlooked gem.

4. Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart (1992)

Credit: WWE.com

There was a very famous match Survivor Series between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart—but this wasn't it.

While the encounter between these two legends at the 1992 edition of the pay-per-view might not have had the lasting impact of the Montreal Screwjob, it was certainly a very entertaining match.

Neither man was quite the finished product just yet; there were rough edges here and there, but they were evidence of athletes still perfecting their art. It's fascinating to see such an early chapter of a rivalry that most wrestling fans know quite a bit about.

Was this the definitive contest between Hart and Michaels? Of course not, but that didn't make it any less watchable. It's been unfairly passed over, but the bout delivered a compelling comparison piece to any one of the pair's more well-known matches.

3. Kane vs. Mankind (1997)

Credit: WWE.com

As you might expect from the two competitors involved, this one was a wild, unfiltered brawl.

Since it was Kane's in-ring debut, he was the focus. As such, the primary objective was to establish the Big Red Machine as a force to be reckoned with—and what better opponent for this purpose than the unhinged Mankind?

When he dealt damage himself or withstood a frenzied assault from Mankind, Kane looked nothing less than monstrous. However, the bout also found time to fill in some of the gaps on The Demon's relationship with Paul Bearer.

This wasn't a technical masterclass, nor did it need to be. It was a fun brawl and an excellent debut for a wrestler who would go on to endure for some two decades.

2. The Underdogs vs. The Bodydonnas (1995)

Despite a relative lack of star power, this five-on-five elimination match cut to the core of what makes this sort of contest a Survivor Series tradition.

The action never let up, and just about everyone involved got an opportunity to shine. Bob Holly—at this point in his career still wrestling as a race car driver—and the sorely underrated Hakushi were particular standouts.

The response to perennial loser Barry Horowitz's picking up a pinfall was likewise very memorable. This was a wholly midcard affair but pushed more than one program forward and shined a light on everyone involved.

There's a value to putting a spotlight on the more overlooked corners of the roster in this manner, and it's something that we should perhaps see more of today. More importantly, this was a match that remains satisfying as a self-contained contest, even 20 years after it played out between the ropes.

1. Los Guerreros vs. Edge and Rey Mysterio vs. Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit (2002)

If this bout featured the same talent contesting a singles championship, you can bet that it would be discussed far more frequently.

As it happens, it remains a little-discussed tag team elimination match that really deserves a lot more attention.

The "SmackDown 6" era of WWE's secondary weekly broadcast is always fondly remembered, and this bout demonstrated just why it was so good.

With the likes of Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio involved, there should be little doubt that the action made an impact. While these competitors all had their own unique styles, they meshed incredibly well in this sort of context.

Meanwhile, the fact that this was an elimination match was a nice nod to Survivor Series tradition that ultimately improved the quality of the bout.

Today, the influx of talent forged on the independent scene has brought a focus on ring work back to WWE, but it wasn't quite as much a priority at the time of this bout.

Despite that fact, this Triple Threat stands up against much of what came after it. As far as tag team wrestling in WWE is concerned, this was as close to the gold standard in terms of talent and ability as the division has ever come.

What's your pick for the most underrated match on a Survivor Series card? Let us know about it in the comments section below.