WWE Survivor Series 2011: Rapid Reaction to the Annual November Spectacular

By now you have read all of the reviews and previews and predictions surrounding the Survivor Series pay-per-view. There were plenty of news-worthy events coming out of the annual event, not the least of them being Sin Cara's injury, CM Punk's WWE Championship win, and The Rock's return to the ring.

While others have written reviews of the shows, analyzing the outcomes and what it means for those involved, not everyone has the opportunity or luxury of reading a full-length article. For those not looking for a long, drawn out recap, this is rapid reaction. Each match is highlighted and summarized, with writer opinions, in the form of a single paragraph.

Join me as I take a rapid look back at the 2011 Survivor Series event.

United States Championship Match: Dolph Ziggler Def. John Morrison

Dolph Ziggler is far and above anyone else in the mid-card of WWE. He is ready to move up the ladder. John Morrison is on his way out the door. That did not stop him from having a very, very good match to start this year’s broadcast. The crowd’s "We Want Ryder" chants indicated that a different match should have occurred here, perhaps with Ryder going over in his home town and winning his first solo WWE title.

WWE Divas Championship Match: Beth Phoenix Def. Eve Torres

Beth and Eve continue to show flashes of spectacular chemistry, both working in new moves, even if they were not always on the same page. The involvement of the "lumberjills" was stupid, since only Kelly Kelly and Natalya actually did anything of note. The finish of the match, with the Glam Slam off the top rope, was memorable and gave the match a feeling of legitimacy and prestige, even if the rest of the contest failed to deliver in the same way their Vengeance match did.

Traditional Survivor Series Tag Team Match: Team Barrett Def. Team Orton

The Sin Cara injury was scary and could have been far worse than it was.

For those of you who have read my articles before, you know I am the furthest thing from a Sin Cara fan possible but in no way do I wish injury on anyone. The former Mistico can be lucky he didn’t make that jump over the ropes and injure himself more severely.

As for the match, it was a solid, if unspectacular, elimination tag match. Cody Rhodes received a hell of a reaction and odds are Vince will think long and hard about pushing him towards the main event on Smackdown.

Barrett and Hunico also looked very good on the heel side of things, surprising since I was sure Hunico would be first eliminated.

It still surprises me that Kofi Kingston is not in the main event on either of the brands. Sheamus was eliminated and allowed to look good in doing so. I smell a feud with Cody in the very near future.

Barrett got a much-needed win and appears to have his full momentum back. Kudos to Orton for continuing to put guys over in a way not seen by "He Who Rises Above Hate."

World Heavyweight Championship Match: The Big Show Def. Mark Henry (DQ)

In no way did this one live up to their underrated battle at Survivor Series.

It was a solid affair here, if not boring, though.

Henry worked the previously injured ankle of Big Show in a nice touch of continuity and storytelling. The near falls and high-impact moves were missing in this one, which is something you would come to expect from a battle of behemoths.

The top rope elbow drop from Show was spectacular and a moment fitting of Madison Square Garden.

A cop-out finish, but it keeps both men strong heading into what should be the blow-off match between the two at TLC, if the injury angle at the end of the contest isn’t meant to get Henry off of television.

WWE Championship Match: CM Punk Def. Alberto Del Rio

An excellent WRESTLING match. The storytelling here was phenomenal, as Del Rio repeatedly targeted the arm of CM Punk in preparation for the cross arm bar.

Punk countered much of Del Rio’s offense with his own signature spots. It is the little things that make Punk as good as he is. Not being able to use the injured arm during the attempted GTS is one of them.

The Anaconda Vise for the submission win was a nice throwback to the Ring of Honor and ECW days.

The celebration for Punk was as equally excellent as Punk has a way of making each major title victory seem more important than most others.

Celebrating with the fans, the people most responsible for his latest push, was a nice touch. Kudos to WWE for bringing The Fink in to make the moment that much more special.

Never Before, Never Again: John Cena & the Rock Def. the Miz & R-Truth

Did anyone NOT see the finish coming?

Big pop for The Rock, as expected, and major heat for Cena. The Miz and Truth, in the long run, did not benefit AT ALL from this match, other than the potential pay-per-view pay-out.

This was The Rock and Cena show, as it was advertised. Rock looked spectacular between the ropes, to the point that it would be hard to tell he had taken off seven years. The heat spot on Cena in the middle of the match was PAINFULLY boring but the crowd, and the group of guys in my house, came alive when Rock re-entered the contest.

The confrontation between Rock and Cena at the end of the show was another in a long line of teasers for their Wrestlemania match. If Rock shows up in Miami and performs at the same level he did in New York, Cena is going to have a very difficult time trying not to be upstaged.

Overall Show

Not a bad show, but not a great one either. The MSG crowd generally elevates the work of even the worst performers on the show and, for whatever reason, that did not happen tonight. Those who are typically bad were their normal, putrid selves. Those that were great remained that way. The matches expected to deliver did and those that were not did not. A solid show, if nothing else.

Wrestler of the Night: CM Punk

Great technical wrestling match? Check. Historic, Madison Sqaure Garden moment? Check. WWE finally giving fans something they have been yearning for? Check.

CM Punk the wrestler of the night for Survivor Series 2011? Check.