WWE Survivor Series 2015: 7 Most Memorable Moments in Event's History

With a lengthy history as one of WWE's most successful pay-per-view shows, Survivor Series has had more than a few standout moments over the years.

It's important to point out that they've not all been memorable for the right reasons, but regardless, they are moments that are still talked about to this day.

Whether they're classic matches that fans could still rewatch today or just huge swerves that caught fans completely off guard, memorable moments have been plentiful for Survivor Series lovers.

With the prospect of a WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament at this year's show, hopes are high that the 2015 edition of Survivor Series can deliver something equally as spectacular.

But for now, here are the seven most memorable moments we've seen at Survivor Series.

7. Paul Heyman Sells out (2002)

When the 2002 edition of Survivor Series rolled around, Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman were pretty much untouchable as a duo.

Lesnar had torn his way through everyone and everything in the company, and Heyman was by his side every step of the way.

He faced Big Show at the 2002 event, aiming to extend the lengthy streak which had already seen guys such as The Rock and The Undertaker fall short in attempting to tame Lesnar.

But this time, there was no triumph for Lesnar, largely thanks to Heyman's memorable turn.

Heyman laid the referee out as he counted a certain three-count for Brock, leading to Lesnar chasing him around the ring. However, as Heyman snuck away, Big Show was waiting for Brock, dropping him and successfully pinning him to claim the title.

The result turned Lesnar babyface and split up one of the most successful partnerships of the past decade. As we know, though, they would reunite in impressive fashion in the years to come, still entertaining WWE fans to this very day.

6. Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart (1996)

Credit: WWE.com

Toward the end of 1996, Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart had become WWE's hottest and most popular feud.

Both men were delivering standout matches no matter who they were fighting against, and their clash at Survivor Series that year was the one everyone wanted to see. Shawn Michaels vs. Sycho Sid might have been the title match and the main event on the card, but this was the real bout of the night in most fans' eyes.

It was a mat classic and a match that still stands the test of time to this very day. It enabled Hart to secure his legacy as one of the greatest wrestlers of his generation, but perhaps more importantly, it pushed Austin up into an elite bracket.

His performance more than matched Hart's, and it quickly became clear that a star had been born that night. As we all know, the two would go on to have a few more bouts, including the shocking classic at WrestleMania the year after, but this was the night where Steve Austin became a true WWE star.

5. The Birth of the Chamber (2002)

Credit: WWE.com

WWE has always had a brave track record with its innovative new matches. Hell in a Cell proved to be a big hit when it debuted, but just a few years on from that, the company moved the bar higher once again.

WWE would introduce a new structure, the Elimination Chamber, at the 2002 Survivor Series show, one that is still used to this day. The Elimination Chamber was a fearsome, brutal structure that instantly looked to have no mercy when it came to taking no prisoners.

The inaugural match in the structure saw six men compete for the World Heavyweight Championship, and they were six of the hottest talents in WWE at that time. Triple H, Kane, Rob Van Dam, Shawn Michaels, Booker T and Chris Jericho all became part of history that night, as The Game attempted to emerge victorious through one of the most brutal and bloody battles in history to retain the belt.

He would fall short, ultimately. It was Michaels who finally saw Triple H off when the bout reached the final two, delivering a famous victory to secure what was an incredible comeback to the pinnacle of WWE.

But that night, the Chamber itself was the star. It instantly became a firm favorite with WWE fans, which is why it has its own pay-per-view show, dating back to 2010.

4. History Begins (1990)

As we all know, this year is the 25th anniversary of The Undertaker's involvement with Survivor Series. He has been in some of the biggest matches in the event's history, but it's back in 1990 where it all began.

A side interest that night was the hatching of the egg that the company had promised for weeks on end, with The Gobbledy Gooker being the one who would step out of the shell and instantly become a misfit in WWE.

But what was interesting that night was that although fans had a real interest in who was in the egg, they also witnessed history, as The Undertaker was revealed to be Ted DiBiase's mystery partner for his traditional elimination match against The Dream Team.

It was one of the most alluring entrances in history and has truly stood the test of time even to the present day. The Undertaker's ringwalk instantly gave him the feel of someone big, someone important and someone who fans should care about.

He played the role to perfection, and The Undertaker was inevitably an instant hit.

And above all else, he was near unstoppable in the ring. It was one of the best executed debuts in history and instantly soared The Undertaker to the top of WWE. 25 years on, he still holds a similarly impressive position.

3. The Shield Debut on WWE TV (2012)

Credit: WWE.com

2012 was set to be a fairly run-of-the-mill edition of Survivor Series, in truth.

CM Punk's title reign, then a year in length, was never really felt to be in doubt when taking on John Cena and Ryback in the main event of the show.

The match itself was fairly standard...until the chaotic ending.

Fans of NXT were completely aware of who Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose were on that night in 2012. But what surprised them was why they were acting together, having never stood together as a trio before.

For those who didn't know the identities of these three men, it only made things even more confusing. Ryback looked on course for a shocking win before the men who quickly became known as The Shield jumped over the barrier, laid him out and set down a real marker for the years ahead.

They quickly established themselves as the most fearsome trio in WWE's recent history and went on an unprecedented run of success, which has since continued beyond their split.

That night, The Shield made a huge impact. But nobody could have predicted how big a hit they'd be in the years to come.

2. The Rock Sells out (1998)

In something very similar to this year's Survivor Series, the 1998 edition featured a tournament that would determine who would become the new world champion in WWE.

The Rock and Mankind had battled their way through to the final, and with The Rock quickly establishing himself as the company's top babyface, he had a big hurdle in his path in the form of Mankind and Vince McMahon.

However, little did people know that the man who everyone was quickly learning to adore would turn heel in the most dramatic way possible. 

It was only a year on from McMahon screwing Bret Hart in Montreal, but he pulled another huge swerve on WWE fans by having The Rock emerge as Vince's chosen one, turning heel in the process.

It was one of the most shocking turns in history and a memorable ending to a pay-per-view with so many matches and so much action.

Will history repeat itself 17 years later, perhaps with even a relative of The Rock's, Roman Reigns, turning heel as well?

1. The Montreal Screwjob (1997)

Credit: WWE.com

In all seriousness, how could anything else have been at the top of this list? Even if Survivor Series makes it to 100 pay-per-view shows, there won't be a single moment that will top this one.

It's one of WWE's most controversial moments in history and one which seemed to break beyond the barriers of just professional wrestling.

There's not much you can say about it that hasn't been said already. But to determine exactly how it's the most memorable moment in Survivor Series history, you only have to look at the legacy of that one night in Canada today.

It's only a few years since Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels buried the hatchet live on a taping of Raw, and it's still mentioned by wrestling fans all across the globe.

It was a moment that defined Hart's wrestling career. It's probably the one thing people will discuss when they're pushed for one moment from Shawn Michaels' and Vince McMahon's careers in the business, too.

The Montreal Screwjob was a moment of pure wrestling infamy. As mentioned right at the beginning of this slideshow, not every moment on this list would be memorable for the right reasons.