During the Survivor Series countdown show, WWE presented the Top 10 moments in Survivor Series history.

Of course, a list like this can be followed by a discussion of “How could they forget this one?”

Let’s get to it.

10. Shawn Michaels wins the World title (2002)

This was the first Elimination Chamber match. Shawn had returned from a four-year absence due to a back injury. He beat Triple H in his return match at SummerSlam. Then he won Triple H’s title in the Chamber, which also included Booker T, Chris Jericho, Kane, and Rob Van Dam.

9. Iyo Sky dives off the War Games cage with a trash can on her head (2023)

Well, you can add “2024,” because she did it again this year!

8. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin hit by a car (1999)

This incident had far-reaching implications. It knocked Austin out of the WWF title match against The Rock and Triple H. The Big Show substituted for Austin and won the title. Mick Foley investigated the crime and discovered that Rikishi was the perpetrator. He said he did it for The Rock. When Austin returned, he went after Rikishi, and so did The Rock.

7. Rocky Maivia debuts (1996)

Speaking of The Great One, he debuted as a third-generation blue-chip prospect at Madison Square Garden. Rocky survived his match by eliminating Crush and Goldust.

6. WWF defeats The Alliance (2001)

Technically, this was the most important match in the history of the company, because the WWF would have disbanded if it had lost to the WCW-ECW Alliance. Kurt Angle was a double agent, and he helped Rock beat Austin to keep the WWF in business.

5. Becky Lynch beats Charlotte Flair in a champion vs. champion match (2021)

This was a clash of two of the Four Horsewomen (Sasha Banks and Bayley were the others). They would go on to headline WrestleMania in a Triple Threat match with Ronda Rousey.

4. The Rock and John Cena beat The Miz and R-Truth (2011) 

Rocky and Cena would end up headlining back-to-back WrestleManias against each other.

3. The Shield debuts to help CM Punk beat John Cena and Ryback (2012)

Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose debuted together as a destructive mercenary force that helped Punk retain the WWE title. All three men went on to win the WWE title. Ambrose has been in AEW since it started five years ago, racking up four more World titles as Jon Moxley.

2. CM Punk returns (2023)

A bitter split and legal battle between Punk and the WWE made this reunion very unlikely. At one point, Punk went to UFC and seemed to want nothing to do with pro wrestling. Then he came back to the ring in AEW, and everything went wrong in such spectacular fashion that he somehow ended up back in WWE.

1. Undertaker debuts (1990)

This became more significant over the decades as Taker built his legendary career. At the time, Ted DiBiase debuted “Kane the Undertaker” as his mystery partner, with Brother Love as Taker’s manager. Paul Bearer would take over after a few months.

WHAT ABOUT THESE?

Of course, the most glaring omission is the Montreal Screwjob of 1997, when Shawn Michaels won the WWF title from Bret Hart.

Another big moment was The Rock winning his first WWF title one year later in a parody of that finish.

Since I attended the first two Survivor Series, I’m partial to Andre the Giant winning the first main event in 1987 and the Demolition breakup with Mr. Fuji in 1988.