Fight For Survival at The Series in D.C.

The Verizon Centre, Washington D.C played host to the 23rd Annual Survivor Series on Sunday evening. Much of the build up had been surrounded by the twp triple threat matches for the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships. Also on the card, there were three traditional five-on-five elimination tag team matches, pitching several rivalries against each other. The only match that wasn't either an elimination tag team or championship match was the, somewhat surprise, bitter rivalry between two former best friends, Batista and Rey Mysterio.

But first up was the team of The Miz (Captain), Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Dolph Ziggler, and Jack Swagger versus John Morrison (Captain), Finlay, Shelton Benjamin, Evan Bourne and Matt Hardy. The rules of the match are as follows: It's a normal tag team match, but every time a superstar is pinned, taps out, or gets disqualified, they are immediately eliminated until one team has been completely eliminated.

Evan Bourne and Jack Swagger are starting things off. Bourne going for multiple quick-pin attempts, but comes up short each time. Swagger hits a big suplex and tags in Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler is tossing Bourne around like a rag-doll right now. Ziggler continues the assault a bit more before tagging Swagger back in. Swagger works Bourne over some more and tags in Ziggler.

Bourne eventually fights his way free and tags in Matt Hardy.Hardy and Bourne hit some double-team offense before Bourne is tagged back in. Bourne hits a shooting star press on Ziggler, pins him and Dolph Ziggler is now eliminated.

Quickly thereafter, Drew McIntyre comes in and hits a double-arm DDT on Bourne for the pinfall. Evan Bourne is now eliminated.

Finlay is in now and he and McIntyre are going at it. McIntyre tags in Sheamus who hits a big kick to Finlay's face. Sheamus pins Finlay and now Finlay is eliminated from the match.

Hardy is in now and he and Sheamus are battling back and forth. Sheamus eventually makes the tag to The Miz. Miz hits a ton of offense on Hardy before tagging out. Swagger is in now continuing the assault on Hardy. Morrison is tagged in. He and Swagger go back and forth until Morrison hit the Starship Pain on Swagger for the pinfall. Jack Swagger is now eliminated from the match.

Miz and Shelton Benjamin are going at it now. Miz hits The Skull Crushing Finale' on Benjamin for the pinfall. Shelton Benjamin is eliminated from the match.

McIntyre hits his DDT finisher on Hardy for the pinfall. Matt Hardy is eliminated from the match. Finish comes when Sheamus hits a running powerbomb on John Morrison to eliminate him and end the match.

Winners and Survivors of the Match: SHEAMUS, DREW MCINTYRE, AND THE MIZ

Next up was the match between "The Animal" Batista (who was performing in front of his hometown) against former best friend Rey Mysterio. Since the tragic death of Eddie Guerrero in 2005, these two men have looked after each other both in and out of the ring, but three weeks ago at another PPV called Bragging Rights, when the two men were involved in a fatal four way match against CM Punk and The Undertaker, the latter of which had pinned The Animal to successfully retain his World Heavyweight Championship.

Immediately after the match ended, WWE announcer Josh Mathews attempted to interview the two friends, who were standing in the ring, Mysterio trying to revive Batista, who had just suffered a devastating Tombstone Piledriver. As the interview commenced, Batista seemed to turn on Rey, saying that he was the reason why Batista wasn't World Champion and that for being his best friend, he has a funny way of showing it.

Rey, somewhat confused, tried to reason with Batista, but The Animal then preceded into a furious rage, delivering a huge spinebuster and then relentlessly assaulting the much smaller Mysterio. This all led up to a match this past Sunday night between the 6'6", 295 lbs. Batista against the 5'6", 175 lbs. Mysterio.

Mysterio started the match well, his quick feet and amazing agility—which must be seen to be believed—to ground the aggressive and rage-driven Batista, hitting his signature move, the 6-1-9 eary on. But The Animal was soon unleashed.

Mysterio tried a springboard frog splash, but Batista quickly converted this into a truly devastating spear, causing Mysterio to stop his offence. This was quickly followed by a spinebuster, and Batista was in full control, with Mysterio at his mercy. The huge man then delivered three huge Batista Bombs to his opponent, leaving referee Jack Doane with no choice but to call for the bell and end the match early.

Medical staff rushed down to the ring to check on Mysterio's well-being, but Batista wasn't done then. He grabbed a steel chair from outside the ring, placed it on the ground, and gave Mysterio another stunning Spinebuster, leaving Rey incapacitated. He was stretchered out of the arena, to a stunned WWE Universe.

Winner: BATISTA, Although the referee called for an end early, I shall give Batista the win.

Next up was another Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Tag team match. This one was very much the story of four rivalries. The first of which was between the teams captains, Kofi Kingston and "The Viper" Randy Orton. At Bragging Rights, Orton had an Iron Man match against John Cena, which The Viper lost, meaning he could never challenge for the WWE Championship again.

During this match, Orton's compatriots Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes (The Legacy) came out and attacked Cena whilst Orton was recuperating. This attack was stopped suddenly by the Ghanaian Kingston, who raced out and chased Legacy out of the ring. Orton then blamed his loss solely on Kingston, and attacked him the following evening on Monday Night Raw. Kingston took exception to this and in return for Orton's actions, he severely damaged Orton's brand new Nascar, which Legacy had bought him, destroying the painwork and windshield.

The second rivalry was not as intense. This was between The World's Strongest Man Mark Henry and his partner MVP, and the previously mentioned Legacy. These two teams had had matches over the last three weeks, and it finally boiled down to the two being apart of much bigger teams at the PPV.

The final rivalry was between the current ECW Champion Christian and the English brawler William Regal. The two had been facing off in ECW, much to the disapproval of Tiffany, the General Manager, who had denied Regal a chance at the ECW Championship on many occasions.

The last rivalry, although not as severe as the others, was between CM Punk and R-Truth. On Friday Night Smackdown just two nights before, Punk had loaded a trashcan full of cigarettes, alcohol, and prescription medication, to once again prove his "Straight Edge" life. R-Truth then came out, attacked Punk, and put him in the can with the products.

The match starts off with Randy Orton against Mark Henry. Orton, the smaller man in weight, delivered his signature move the RKO early in the match, quickly eliminating the 418 lbs. man. Next in are R-Truth and CM Punk, and after some very silky moves from Truth, Punk finally counters a clothesline, by hitting his signature move, the Go To Sleep, thus eliminating Truth.

After a few fistfights between various superstars, the match is finally back in control of team Orton, with Ted DiBiase controlling Christian. But the Extreme Champion reverses an Irish Whip, and hits a Killswitch, Christian's signature move, to eliminate DiBiase. Cody Rhoes gives Christian no chance of recovery, by climbing into the ring immediately applying pressure to Christian.

The two men manage to tag out, tagging in Regal and MVP. MVP gets some early offence to the Blackpool Brawler, and he is rewarded by hitting the Playmaker, his special move, eliminating Regal. This is followed by a couple of quick tags and nearfalls. After much deliberation, MVP and Rhodes are left in the ring. As MVP is about to hit the Ballin' elbow drop, Orton distracts him, giving Rhodes a chance to hit Cross Rhodes, a devastating finishing maneuver, eliminating MVP.

Almost immediately, Christian is tagged in by Kingston, and the ECW Champion reverses an attempted leapfrog by Rhodes, turning it into an excellent killswitch, taking Rhodes out of the match, leaving both teams with two men each.

After some confusion, nearfalls, and many distractions and missed opportunities, normality is restored. Christian attempts a corner spear, but Orton moves out of the way, making his opponent crash into the ring post, made of 100 percent metal. This allows time for Orton to adjust himself into a perfect position for an RKO, eliminating Christian, leaving Kingston against Orton and Punk.

Orton exits the ring, leaving Punk and Kingston in the ring to battle it out, whilst The Viper looked on, looking menacing. CM Punk goes for a clothesline, but Kofi jumps out of the way-this guys jumping is simply incredible-and gets the roll up for the pin, leaving only Orton and Kingston.

Winner and sole survivor of the match: KOFI KINGSTON

Immediately, Orton climbs into the ring, but he had very little time—six seconds in-fact—to attack, allowing Kingston ample time to hit Trouble in Paradise, his finishing move, to pin Orton. The crowd erupts and all I could do is applaud this excellent match, especially the speed and agility of Kofi Kingston, who is slowly becoming my favourite superstar.

After that incredible match, it was time for the first title defence of the night, the match between The Undertaker and The Big Show and Chris Jericho. Show and Jericho—dubbed JeriShow—were the current Unified Tag Team Champions and had been powering through the Raw and Smackdown rosters like a hot knife through butter. Just to give all you none wrestling fans an idea of how big the Big Show is, he is 7'0", and 485 lbs., the world's largest athlete, a true bahemouth.

A Bragging Rights, Big Show turned on his team, Raw, by taking out two of it's superstars, allowing Jericho, who was on the opposing team, Smackdown, to pick up the pin. Big Show, unbeknown to Jericho, had struck a deal with Smackdown General Manager, Theodore Long, to put him in a match at this PPV with The Undertaker. The next week on Friday Night Smackdown, Jericho voiced his disapproval-which appears to be a running theme throughout the WWE—and ordered to be in the match too, making it a triple threat match. Long approved of this and made the match.

I would say I'm surprised by Jericho's inclusion, but I'd be lying.

The match begins, and immediately JeriShow starts double teaming the Champion, peating him down hard. Just as it looks like JeriShow has taken out The Undertaker from the match, The Phemon begins the fight back, knocking the Big Show out of the ring—which is no easy feat—leaving Taker to get the upper hand on Jericho.

This offence was gut short, however, as Big Show pulls Taker out of the ring. Undertaker sends Show head first into the ring post and he goes back up to the ring apron. Jericho tries to surprise Taker with a springboard dropkick, but Taker connects with a big fist instead. Taker goes for Old School, but Jericho crotches Taker on the top turnbuckle. Jericho hits a series of suplexes on Taker and tries a pin but Taker is able to kick out at two.

Jericho now has Taker in the Walls Of Jericho, his famous submission move. He's got him in the middle of the ring and Undertaker has nowhere to go. Big Show comes from behind finally and chokeslams Jericho to break up the near-submission. Jericho and Show are battling each other now as it appears to be every man for himself.

Taker clotheslines Big Show out of the ring. He has Jericho up for The Last Ride but Jericho, unbeknown to Taker, had the title belt and blasted Taker with it to avoid the big slam. He immediately pins Taker, but somehow Taker manages to kick out at two.

Undertaker hits a Tombstone on Jericho and tries to pin him, but Big Show hits the knockout punch on Taker to break it up. Big Show goes for a pin but Jericho breaks it up in time. Jericho now tries pinning Taker and Show breaks it up. Jericho tries a Codebreaker but Big Show tosses him aside and then blasts him with the knockout punch. Big Show tries hitting Taker with the KO punch but Taker is able to avoid it.

Taker now has Big Show in the Hell's Gate submission. Big Show eventually taps out, and Undertaker wins the match by submission to retain his title.

Winner and still World Heavyweight Champion: THE UNDERTAKER

The third elimination tag team match of the night was the Divas match, often my favourite match for different reasons (*cough* their athleticism is amazing). This match pitched two rival champions against each other, Women's Champion Michelle McCool, Alicia Fox, "The Glamazon" Beth Phoenix, Layla and Jillian Hall against Diva's Champion Melina, Mickie James, Gail Kim, Eve Torres, and Kelly Kelly (my personal favourite).

Layla and Kelly start the match, with Layla getting the upperhand, but Kelly should never be written off, as is proved when she hits a leg drop and eliminates Layla.

McCool gets in, and begins the attack on Kelly, who eventually gets away and tags in Gail, who tries a huracanrana, but McCool reverses this into a move called Style Clash, thus pinning and eliminating Kim.

Next in are Jillian and Eve. This mini contest ends quickly when Eve pins Hall, which is then quickly followed by Phoenix hitting her finisher—name I am unsure about, though I have been told it is called The Glam Slam—and Eve Torres is eliminated.

This is then followed by the same fate to Kelly, as she received a very nasty looking Glam Slam, eliminating Kelly (much to my disappointment).

Mickie James gets in and hits Phoenix with a crucifix, a very fine finishing move, which is followed by Phoenix's elimination, bringing her excellent mini run to an end.

Melina is finally in the match, and she hits a spear on McCool, then hits her with a sunset flip, and McCool is gone.

Winner and Survivors: MICKIE JAMES AND MELINA.

I must also say that, since her knee injury earlier this year, Michelle McCool's athleticism has inproved greatly.

It is now time for tonight's main event, the triple threat match for the WWE Championship, a match between WWE Champion John Cena and Triple H and Shawn Michaels.

Since the reunion of D-Generation-X, Michaels and HHH have been on a great run, fighting off The Legacy amongst many other opponents, but a few weeks ago on Monday Night Raw, guest hosts Kyle Busch and and Joey Lugano, two Nascar drivers, said that the two friends would compete against each other against Cena.

The bell rings and the first move, to the surprise of everyone, was Shawn Michaels hitting Sweet Chin Music on Triple H. Michaels and Cena square off with Micheals hitting a quick neckbreaker. Michaels chops away at Cena, and connects with a Thesz press. Michaels chops away at Cena in the corner, but Cena is able to fight back with a bulldog. Cena connects with a fisherman suplex, and he sends Michaels into opposite corners hard. Michaels ends up hung up on the top turnbucke, and Cena kicks away at him, getting him right in position for the AA, but Michaels fights out into a modified DDT.

Michaels hits Cena with a chop block that puts him on his back, and he continues to work over the knee, kicking away at it, and hitting another chop block. Michaels locks in the figure four, and Cena screams in pain. Cena is able to turn Michaels over, reversing the pressure and forcing Michaels to break the hold.

Michaels and Cena trade chops and punches respectively, with Cena getting the upper hand with a shoulder block. Cena goes for another shoulder block, but Michaels side steps him and Cena flies to the outside. Michaels launches himself over the ropes and wipes out Cena with a slingshot cross body. Michaels starts to take apart the announce table, but when he picks up Cena, Cena catches him in position for the AA.

Triple H breaks it up, but Michaels turns right around into a spinebuster through the table from the Game. HHH is working Cena over now, sending him back into the ring. Cena is fighting back now with punches, but HHH slows him down with a big spinebuster.

Multiple pin attempts from HHH on Cena come up short and the match continues. HHH sends Cena to the floor and now it's a staredown between HHH and HBK. HBK hits some atomic drops on HHH and goes to the top rope. HBK comes off but HHH catches him coming down with a high knee. Face-buster from HHH now. HBK hits a flying forearm out of nowhere. He kips up but HHH meets him coming up with a spinebuster. HHH attempts a Pedigree but HBK counters by back-dropping him.

HBK goes to the top rope, but Cena crotches him across the top. Cena climbs up in a different corner. He tries a leg-drop off the top onto HHH, but HHH moves just in tme. HBK hits a big elbow drop. HHH sends HBK to the floor. Cena locks in the STF on HHH out of nowhere in the middle of the ring. HBK comes from behind and locks in a crossface on Cena. Cena breaks the STF and stands up with HBK still on his back. HBK escapes the back door only to be caught in the STF himself.

HBK eventually makes it to the ropes to break the hold. HBK hits Sweet Chin Music out of nowhere on Cena and then again on HHH. HHH, however, lands on Cena after the kick. The ref begins his count but Cena somehow manages to kick out at two. The match continues!

Both men are slow to get to their feet, but when they do, Cena catches HHH with the Attitude Adjustment, but Cena looks exhausted. Michaels makes his way back into the ring, slowly, and both Cena and Michaels crawl to make the pin. Both men make the pin on Hunter, but Hunter kicks out at two anyways.

HBK tries Sweet Chin Music on Cena but Cena blocks it. Everyone tries their finisher in a row but HBK ultimately hits the Sweet Chin Music on HHH. Cena then connects with the Attitude Adjustment on HBK, slamming him onto HHH. Cena pins HHH and gets the one-two-three for the victory to retain the title.

Winner and still WWE Chamption: JOHN CENA

Overall, a great PPV. The best match was the WWE Championship match, but the Kingston/Orton match was truly epic also.

I'd give it a 7/10, more title matches would have been good.