WWE Survivor Series 2014: Power Ranking Every Match Card in Event History

WWE Survivor Series 2014 won't have to do much to surpass last year's event but will need a number of home runs to climb past the 1987 and 2001 editions of the pay-per-view.

Survivor Series has seen its share of peaks and valleys throughout its history. Its early years saw the top stars battle in traditional Elimination matches. In the early '00s, the event tapped into that bout again with high stakes and big names powering the action. In between, there were plenty of shows worth forgetting.

Can Team Cena vs. Team Authority surpass Team WWF vs. Team Alliance? 

Don't count on it. We'll likely never see a convergence of Hall of Famers with so much on the line as we did that night.

Not all of the 27 editions of Survivor Series have been as compelling as 2001's, though. 

Last year, I ranked how enticing the cards looked on paper. The following is a list of the best shows in the event's history, ordered by the strength of the undercard and the quality of the main event. Star power and big moments affected the rankings as well.

27. 1999

Main Event: Big Show vs. Triple H vs. The Rock 

Notable Undercard Matches: None

There wasn't a single classic on this card. Survivor Series 1999 didn't even offer up a half-classic.

The best match of the night was a solid outing featuring The Hardy Boyz with Edge and Christian vs. Too Cool and The Hollys. Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty Too Hotty was a fun act, but when they're are a part of a night's peak, that's a bad sign.

Featuring a 76-year-old Mae Young in tag action, a one-on-four Survivor Series match that lasted just a minute-and-a-half and a Shawn Stasiak match (even if it was Kurt Angle's debut) didn't help a tepid undercard.

A great final match may have pulled this card out of the last spot, but the Triple Threat for the WWE title was not that. It was sluggish, boring and had more chaos and screwjob booking than in-ring action.

It can't compete with Survivor Series' all-time-best show closers. 

26. 1991

Main Event: The Legion of Doom and Big Boss Man vs. The Natural Disasters and Irwin R. Schyster 

Notable Undercard Matches: The Nasty Boys and The Beverly Brothers vs. The Rockers and The Bushwhackers

Detroit played host to both this show and the 1999 edition of Survivor Series—both flops.

The main event would have been better off as midcard filler. Even with Hawk and Animal involved, this didn't feel like a marquee bout. This was mostly a case of supporting actors asked to play the leads.

Leading up to that clash, a slow, unappetizing battle between Hulk Hogan and The Undertaker decided the WWE title. This was when Undertaker's gimmick held him back, making him more horror-movie monster than in-ring destroyer. 

WWE, at the height of its cartooniness, sent out characters like Skinner, The Berzerker and The Warlord to fight in Elimination matches. That's not a recipe for a great undercard.

The Rockers and Company produced a solid outing, which was better than anything the 1999 show had to offer.

25. 1990

Main Event: Grand Finale Survivor Series match

Notable Undercard Matches: The Dream Team vs. The Million Dollar Team

For the first and only time in Survivor Series history, the winners of the Elimination matches went on to battle in a survivors-versus-survivors match.

The concept added higher stakes than usual and allowed fans to see Hulk Hogan, Ted DiBiase and The Ultimate Warrior twice. It didn't, however, lead to a tremendous match. The main event had big names but felt rushed and failed to compel.

The second and third Survivor Series matches of the night (the former being Undertaker's debut) were solid, good enough to keep this event out of the bottom of the list.

Other shows had more quality undercard matches and avoided putting out duds like The Alliance vs. The Mercenaries. 

24. 2013

Main Event: Randy Orton vs. Big Show

Notable Undercard Matches: Cody Rhodes, Goldust, The Usos and Rey Mysterio vs. The Real Americans and The Shield 

On paper, the 2013 Survivor Series didn't look great. In the midst of Daniel Bryan's surging popularity, WWE put Big Show in the main event instead. The buildup failed to get going as well.

Roman Reigns' spear frenzy and a tag match featuring Bryan and CM Punk against The Wyatt Family saved what would have otherwise been a pay-per-view rivaling 1991 and 1999 in terms of poor quality.

A crowded, muddled Divas match was the worst offering on a mostly weak undercard. Ryback vs. Mark Henry wasn't much better.

What sinks this show so low on this list, though, is the main event. Orton and Big Show have had good matches in the past against each other—this was not one of them.

A lifeless, stuttering effort ended with a cheap distraction finish and the distinct smell of disappointment wafting through the air.

23. 2006

Main Event: King Booker vs. Batista 

Notable Undercard Matches: Chavo Guerrero vs. Chris Benoit 

When an aging team of retired (or mostly retired) Superstars and a quartet of cheerleaders are the stars of one of the night's better matches, it's easy to see why Survivor Series 2006 ranks so low.

Ron Simmons, Sgt. Slaughter, Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes defeated The Spirit Squad was a solid opener, better than expected given how old these legends were at the time. Guerrero and Benoit followed with a good, well-worked match for the U.S. title.

There's little reason to watch the show beyond that, though.

Team Cena vs. Team Big Show was one of many OK matches on the undercard. It didn't have the terrible offerings that Survivor Series' worst events had but had nothing to make it stand out.

A poorly paced and stumbling main event capped things off. This was one of Batista's worst matches, hampered by a lack of chemistry. That's enough to hold this show back from a higher ranking in favor of other shows where the main events were at least decent. 

22. 1994

Main Event: Undertaker vs. Yokozuna (Casket match)

Notable Undercard Matches: Bret Hart vs. Bob Backlund

Survivor Series 1994 offered mostly middle-of-the-road entertainment.

Backlund's win over Hart was the exception. It was a well-told story with plenty of technical wrestling. Hart's family at ringside added to the emotional weight, as did seeing Backlund experience a career revival in his 40s.

That wasn't a classic, though, and was not enough to carry this event any higher on the list.

The rest of the night saw OK outings from teams led by Razor Ramon, Shawn Michaels and Ted DiBiase. Even with Jerry Lawler leading a caravan of mini-clowns, it was the main event's failure that most hurt the event. A mostly uninteresting Casket match (even with Chuck Norris involved!) was not the way to end this night.

21. 1993

Main Event: The All-Americans vs. The Foreign Fanatics 

Notable Undercard Matches: The Heavenly Bodies vs. The Rock 'n' Roll Express

Much like Survivor Series 1994, there were a lot of average matches on the card and no great ones. The teams invading from Smokey Mountain Wrestling put on the best show, but too few WWE fans were connected to them.

The main event boasted Lex Luger, The Undertaker and The Steiner Brothers on the babyface team. That star power added to a decent match, but it won't ever be in the conversation on Survivor Series' best bouts.

Had the Elimination match with Bastion Booger and Men on a Mission been left out, this would rank a touch higher. That was the low point of the night, being both silly and slow.

Even with a slightly better undercard than the 2000 event, this sits below that thanks to work from Steve Austin and Triple H.

20. 2000

Main Event: Steve Austin vs. Triple H (No Disqualification)

Notable Undercard Matches: The Rock vs. Rikishi 

Survivor Series 2000 was a night of letdowns, star power or not.

William Regal vs. Hardcore Holly, Ivory vs. Lita and the opening mixed-tag match all disappointed. Kane, Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero, Kurt Angle and The Undertaker all bolstered the show with their names, but none of them produced a standout match.

The event gets this high on the list on the strength of a fun, solid clash between The Rock and Rikishi and the main event. Triple H and Austin always had great chemistry, and this night was another display of it.

Their physical match was easily the best on a subpar night. It's by far the best main event of the editions of Survivor Series ranked so far.

19. 2010

Main Event: Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett

Notable Undercard Matches: Daniel Bryan vs. Ted DiBiase, Dolph Ziggler vs. Kaval

Minus Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov vs. The Nexus, the 2010 Survivor Series undercard delivered. Bryan, DiBiase, Ziggler and Kaval as well as Sheamus and John Morrison all put on quality performances.

The night's first four bouts ranged from good to very good.

Things tailed off some from there. Natalya's title win was a strong addition to the show even if the match itself wasn't.

Orton vs. Barrett with John Cena as referee did well to play up the Nexus storyline but didn't fully capitalize on the energy of the buildup. While far better than the Casket match in 1994 and Booker T vs. Batista in 2006, it wasn't nearly as great as the best main event in Survivor Series history. 

18. 2003

Main Event: Goldberg vs. Triple H

Notable Undercard Matches: Team Bischoff vs. Team Austin

While Triple H vs. Goldberg was not as satisfying as Steve Austin vs. Triple H or Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett, the 2003 Survivor Series gets this high on the list thanks to a classic on the undercard.

Eric Bischoff and Steve Austin both captained teams with control of Raw on the line. The lineup featured everyone from Shawn Michaels to Chris Jericho, Orton to The Dudley Boyz.

A variety of talents combined to create one of the most compelling Elimination matches ever.

The rest of the card featured both Shane and Vince McMahon in underwhelming gimmick bouts. Those at least weren't the kind of silly fare (e.g. clown suits) that hurt Survivor Series in the early '90s. 

17. 2008

Main Event: John Cena vs. Chris Jericho

Notable Undercard Matches: Team Orton vs. Team Batista, Team HBK vs. Team JBL

Bombs contrasted with standout matches. For everything that made fans roll their eyes (e.g. Undertaker vs. Big Show in a Casket match), there was something worth cheering like Team Orton vs. Team Batista.

The uneven show featured the universally panned match between Edge, Triple H and Vladimir Kozlov. On the other hand, it also had a strong opening Elimination match boasting the likes of JBL, Shawn Michaels and Rey Mysterio.

Cena and Jericho delivered the performance of the night in an addition to Cena's greatest hits collection.

Y2J also headlined the 2004 show, another up-and-down event that just edges this one out with the help of stellar athletes. 

16. 2004

Main Event: Team Orton vs. Team Triple H 

Notable Undercard Matches: Shelton Benjamin vs. Christian, Fatal 4-Way for Cruiserweight Championship

Excellence opened and closed the show. Flops in the middle bring down the 2004 Survivor Series in the rankings, though.

The undercard saw Spike Dudley outlast Chavo Guerrero, Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman in a fun, high-flying match. Benjamin and Christian topped them, giving this show its second good match.

In between that and the strong main event, Heidenreich vs. The Undertaker and JBL vs. Booker T disappointed. The former dragged in the middle. The latter featured an overeager booking team.

Those bouts aren't anywhere near the level of awful that we saw from lower-ranked events. That fact and an entertaining main event loaded with top-tier talent push this card this far up the rankings. Put Randy Orton, Triple H, Edge, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho and Batista in the same match, and success is all but guaranteed. 

15. 1989

Main Event: The Ultimate Warriors vs. The Heenan Family

Notable Undercard Matches: Rude Brood vs. Roddy's Rowdies, The Dream Team vs. The Enforcers

In Survivor Series' third year, star power was abundant.

A night of Elimination matches saw 15 men who are now in the Hall of Fame (and several like Randy Savage who should be in) go to battle. When Hulk Hogan and Savage are in separate midcard bouts, you know you have a stacked card.

There was no real classic here, but there were several good outings. Warrior's team going up against Bobby Heenan and Company was by no means a great main event, but like most of the show it was fun and solidly entertaining.

It featured fewer duds than the shows it surpasses on this list, even though The King's Court vs. The 4x4s was underwhelming.

14. 1988

Main Event: Traditional Elimination match

Notable Undercard Matches: Tag Team Elimination match

A lot like the 1989 show, the second-ever Survivor Series event benefited from a solid undercard and a good-not-great main event.

The tag team Survivor Series match was its peak. WWE made good use of its strong tag division, pitting The Rockers, The Hart Foundation, Demolition and others against each other.

The card offered a total of just four matches, which meant less filler and more time for the teams to shine.

As for the main event, it's turned out to be better than it looked on paper. Why Hillbilly Jim and The Red Rooster were in this spot is a mystery, but the final match turned out to be a solid way to cap off the night.

A lack of great matches keep this ranking any higher. Its consistency has it move past other editions with more flops, though.

13. 1997

Main Event: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart

Notable Undercard Matches: Kane vs. Mankind

Survivor Series 1997 will always be remembered for The Montreal Screwjob—the night WWE forced Hart to part with the WWE title and had him fuming on his way to WCW.

The drama surrounding that incident is only part of the story, though. Michaels and Hart, the company's two best workers at the time, pulled off another outstanding performance together. Their chemistry ranks among the best between rivals, as they proved that night.

Their performance in the main event is enough to mostly make up for a spotty undercard.

Kane and Mankind put together a good brawl. The Nation of Domination vs. The Road Warriors, Ken Shamrock and Ahmed Johnson was just below that outing in terms of quality.

What keeps the 1997 Survivor Series out of the top 10 despite the stellar main event is the two horrendous Elimination bouts that opened the show. The Truth Commission vs. The Disciples of the Apocalypse struggled to engage with both a lack of stars and in-ring action.

12. 2012

Main Event: CM Punk vs. John Cena vs. Ryback

Notable Undercard Matches: Team Ziggler vs. Team Foley, Big Show vs. Sheamus

On a successful night, WWE delivered even in unexpected spots.

Team Brodus vs. Team Tensai looked to be a dud waiting to happen. It's not as if Brodus Clay and Tensai had a reputation for greatness. The teams put together a good opener, a match that Team Ziggler vs. Team Foley would surpass.

Add Big Show and Sheamus' good chemistry and intense style, and the undercard was a strength of the show despite its flaws. 

Neither Cesaro vs. R-Truth nor Eve Torres vs. Kaitlyn was anything special. They compare favorably to Survivor Series' worst matches, though.

Ryback, Cena and Punk's effort in the main event was entertaining, the Triple Threat stipulation being used well. As their good match neared its climax, one of Survivor Series more memorable moments occurred: The Shield debuted, leaving Ryback out cold amid a mess of broken wood. 

11. 2011

Main Event: The Rock and John Cena vs. The Miz and R-Truth

Notable Undercard Matches: CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio, Dolph Ziggler vs. John Morrison

This was about far more than The Rock's return to the ring after years away.

One of the more consistent undercards in Survivor Series' history preceded The Rock's return bout. Punk began his historic title run with a moving win over Del Rio. Ziggler and Morrison both looked fantastic in an opener for the United States Championship.

Aside from Big Show and Mark Henry's energy-deficient clash, the show was fun to watch from open to close.

The Rock and Cena's win wasn't a classic by any means, but it was a good match buoyed by The Rock's presence. The clash between partners helped make it memorable as well.

10. 2005

Main Event: Team Raw vs. Team SmackDown

Notable Undercard Matches: Triple H vs. Ric Flair (Last Man Standing), Booker T vs. Chris Benoit

Had WWE not scheduled Teddy Long vs. Eric Bischoff, the 2005 Survivor Series would have found itself even higher on the list.

That was the one blemish on a show that was otherwise solid at its worst. Like the 2011 edition of the event, it featured a consistently entertaining undercard. Benoit vs. Booker T began their best-of-seven series with plenty of momentum. Flair and Triple H told a great story with violence and weapons.

Throw in a battle between John Cena and Kurt Angle, and it's hard to find many weak points in the show.

A star-studded main event capped things off: Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio and Kane all went to battle in a memorable Elimination match. 

9. 2007

Main Event: Undertaker vs. Batista (Hell in a Cell)

Notable Undercard Matches: Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels

A classic pushes this show past the 2005 and 2011 shows despite some terrible matches on the undercard.

Other than Orton and Michaels' excellent work, there wasn't much to love before the main event. The Great Khali vs. Hornswoggle, as one might expect, was a train wreck. The 10-Diva tag was a mess.

A decent Traditional Survivor Series match between Team Triple H and Team Umaga helped counteract that some.

It was the blood-soaked, hard-hitting battle inside the Hell in a Cell that pushes this event into the top 10, though. One of the better bouts inside that structure, it was the kind of match that makes slogging through a show well worth it.

The surplus of consistent events earns it a higher ranking than the 2007 Survivor Series, even with that classic on the card.

8. 1998

Main Event: The Rock vs. Mankind 

Notable Undercard Matches: Steve Austin vs. Mankind

It's hard to judge the 1998 Survivor Series next to its peers. It's the only one that featured a tournament format, a structure that aided the show despite a lack of great matches.

The pursuit of the WWE title and Vince McMahon's need to control the outcome created a cohesive, compelling story that elevated a show with a number of OK bouts. 

Aside from Mankind vs. Austin and the finals of the tourney, none of the matches are worth watching on their own. As a whole, though, they were part of a buildup to a great climax. The Rock's collaboration with McMahon, which mirrored the events of The Montreal Screwjob, ranks among the most memorable moments in the event's history.

7. 1992

Main Event: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart 

Notable Undercard Matches: Mr. Perfect and Randy Savage vs. Razor Ramon and Ric Flair

Buoyed by its two best offerings, the 1992 Survivor Series climbs into the top 10 even with another bomb of a Casket match with The Undertaker and other misfires. 

Had Big Boss Man vs. Nailz or Yokozuna vs. Virgil been any better, this event would climb even higher. As it stands, a tag match between four Hall of Famers was the highlight of the undercard. Perfect, Ramon, Savage and Flair made their match feel like a secondary main event despite its early placement in the show.

The excellence between Michaels and Hart, though, is what earns this event its spot.

Years before their match in Montreal, the two young studs tore the house down in Richfield, Ohio. Some of their other bouts might have gotten more attention, but this was certainly one of the many classics in their storied rivalry.

6. 1995

Main Event: Diesel vs. Bret Hart (No Disqualification)

Notable Undercard Matches: The Bodydonnas vs. The Underdogs, Team Michaels vs. Team Yokozuna

The 1995 show served as a blueprint of how to execute a successful Survivor Series.

Its undercard featured a fun opening bout that featured lesser-known stars like Hakushi and Rad Radford. The match offered them a chance to try to steal the show, something they would have done had The Hitman not delivered so well in the main event.

The other Elimination match had bigger stars, Shawn Michaels, Yokozuna and Sycho Sid chief among them. Elsewhere, a number of Japanese female wrestlers impressed in a good outing. 

Hart and Diesel capped things off with one of Survivor Series' better main events, a tale of a brawler battling a technician, a hero overcoming a monster. Only a higher concentration of quality matches from other shows knocks this one out of the top five.

5. 2009

Main Event: John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H

Notable Undercard Matches: Team Kingston vs. Team Orton

As good as Bret Hart vs. Diesel was, Cena's survival against both members of D-Generation X was even better. In what was an emotional thrill ride from the first superkick onward, three of WWE's biggest names ever collided over the WWE title.

The night also featured an excellent Elimination match with a bevy of young stars including Cody Rhodes, CM Punk and Kofi Kingston.

There is no stellar match on the card beyond the one on the marquee, but other than the Divas bout they were all at least good. So many editions of Survivor Series are weighed down by terrible matches. The 2009 edition did not feature any of those.

The competition stiffens at this point in the rankings. It's not so much about what the shows lack but about measuring greatness against greatness. 

4. 1987

Main Event: Andre the Giant's team vs. Hulk Hogan's team

Notable Undercard Matches: Tag Team Survivor Series match

The first Survivor Series set the proverbial bar mighty high.

None of the four matches on the card were duds. Some of the best female wrestlers ever met in a Survivor Series match. Jake Roberts, Ricky Steamboat and Randy Savage led a star-studded team in the first traditional Elimination match ever.

Those were both good outings with plenty of big names. A classic followed.

The roster's best tag teams faced off in an Elimination match that still ranks as one of Survivor Series' best.

Follow that up with a fun, novel (at the time) main event featuring the company's two franchise stars Hogan and Andre, and it's hard to top the 1987 edition of the show. A trio of events did, though. Thank stellar performances from Hall of Famers for that.

3. 1996

Main Event: Sycho Sid vs. Shawn Michaels

Notable Undercard Matches: Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart

Credit four men for pushing the 1996 Survivor Series this high up the list.

Austin and Hart's rivalry led to a number of masterworks; this was certainly one of them. Brawling met mat wrestling when the established Hart met the rapidly emerging Austin. Michaels and Sid didn't surpass that effort but came through with a main event with that all-important big-fight feel.

Those matches alone were worth the price of a ticket.

The show also boasted a solid Elimination match featuring The Godwinns and Owen Hart and a good brawl between Mankind and The Undertaker. There weren't outright flops elsewhere on the card, although it was hard to watch the "fake Diesel" and "fake Razor Ramon" gimmicks. 

A quality undercard, a classic and a strong main event don't outweigh what Survivor Series accomplished in 2001 and 2002, though. A pair of the greatest matches in that event's history is the reason why.

2. 2001

Main Event: Team WWF vs. Team Alliance

Notable Undercard Matches: Edge vs. Test, The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boys (Steel Cage)

The 2001 Survivor Series showed off what a traditional Elimination match could be at its best. Star power filled the ring as wrestlers battled for the fate of two companies.

The main event featured two current Hall of Famers (Steve Austin and Booker T) as well as five surefire future inductees (The Rock, Chris Jericho, Undertaker, Kane and Big Show). Those men didn't disappoint. The bout highlighted all involved, and its high stakes made it as compelling as wrestling gets.

Before that showdown, a tag team cage match and the unification of the Intercontinental and United States Championships were the highlights of the undercard. This event would challenge for the top spot here if it didn't also feature a few disappointments, Tajiri vs. William Regal included.

1. 2002

Main Event: Elimination Chamber match

Notable Undercard Matches: Triple Threat Tag Team Elimination match, Big Show vs. Brock Lesnar

It's going to take near-perfection to top Survivor Series 2002.

The show began with a fun Elimination Tables match, moved on to cruiserweight action with Billy Kidman and Jamie Noble before featuring Big Show's shocking win over Lesnar. Paul Heyman's turn against his client to back the giant was a huge moment on a night filled with momentum.

The Guerreros survived an outstanding tag team battle before a classic main event took place.

Chris Jericho, Kane, Booker T, Triple H, Rob Van Dam and Shawn Michaels battled in the first-ever Elimination Chamber match. That contest took the survivor theme to a new place, combining the violence of a cage match with the drama of a traditional Survivor Series match.

Micheals' emotional win capped off a surprising comeback from injury and put an exclamation point on the greatest edition of Survivor Series to date.