Welcome everyone to the last WWF PPV of 1989, the third annual Survivor Series. Considering this is a “special” PPV with its own particular match type, some changes to the point system will be made. Considering one wrestler can very well be eliminated in seconds and still technically emerge victorious, only the survivors will get 1 point, while every member of the winning team (those eliminated included) will get 0.5. Each elimination will be worth 1 point, as usual.
The champions at this point are (not that it matters on this show, but still here it is):
- WWF Champion: Hulk Hogan
- Intercontinental Champion: The Ultimate Warrior
- World Tag Team Champions: Demolition (Ax & Smash)
The hosts are Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse Ventura
Live from Rosemont, IL
The Dream Team (Dusty Rhodes, Brutus Beefcake, Tito Santana & The Red Rooster) vs. The Enforcers (The Big Bossman, Bad News Brown, The Honky Tonk Man & Rick Martel)(w/ Jimmy Hart & Slick)
The team captains are Dusty and Bossman who are feuding over “justice”, but the biggest issue here is between Santana and Martel, the former Strike Force. Rooster plays chicken-in-peril to start, getting his crest beaten up by all the heels for a number of minutes. The heels do a solid work of cutting the ring in half and prevent the Rooster from tagging out. Bad News Brown, ever the lone wolf, wants nothing to do with this and never reaches for a tag. That is a great touch that I very much appreciate, with Brown staying true to his character all the way. Martel comes in and shows off a little bit more than he should, allowing Rooster to bring in Santana for the hot tag. And instantly the crowd wakes up! Santana is all over Martel for a very good babyface comeback, but then Martel rolls through a Tito roll-up for the first pin at 9:15.
- Tito Santana eliminated (1 point to Rick Martel)
I’d also like to point out the amazing heel in-ring work by Martel, constantly cheating in a way the referee can’t see. Little details like pushing the back of the hair really hard for a “takedown” is how a real heel should wrestle, and Martel does things like that all the time, and does them well. Meanwhile poor Rooster comes in to get his ass kicked a little bit more (god Terry Taylor must’ve missed the NWA a lot at this time…) and we have our first look at Sapphire in the audience. Sapphire was a massive fan of Dusty Rhodes – plant, of course – who would then join him shortly afterwards, with the two feuding most notably with Randy Savage & Sensational Sherri. Rooster pisses off Brown, finally bringing him in to get the beating of his life. Brown destroys Rooster until his teammates start giving him instructions. Brown is having none of that, so he simply walks away and gets eliminated via count-out at 15:26.
- Bad News Brown eliminated
With three guys left on each team, it’s down to Beefcake and Honky inside the ring. And just like that, Beefcake quickly pins Honky with a high knee to the face at 17:24.
- The Honky Tonk Man eliminated (1 point to Brutus Beefcake)
Martel comes in with a rather long chinlock on Beefcake to keep him down. Brutus strikes with a shoulder tackle and Martel retaliates with a hard knee to the mid section. Brutus flips over for a sunset flip, but Martel lands on top for the pinfall with a handful of ropes. The ref sees this though and finally catches Martel cheating, refusing to count which distracts Martel and allows Beefcake to roll over and complete the sunset flip for the pin and the elimination at 20:13.
- Rick Martel eliminated (1 point to Brutus Beefcake)
So this leaves Bossman alone against three. The Bossman Slam quickly (and FINALLY) puts the chicken away at 21:00, leaving it down to Brutus and Dusty for the babyfaces.
- The Red Rooster eliminated (1 point to Big Bossman)
Dusty and Brutus smartly work together against Bossman, tagging in and out to take over on the big man. Dusty fires away with the classic Dusty Rhodes fury of punches, knocking Bossman silly. A big fat running crossbody takes him down and puts him away at 22:02.
- Big Bossman eliminated (1 point to Dusty Rhodes)
Winning team: The Dream Team (0.5 points to everyone member)
Survivors: Dusty & Beefcake (1 point to them)
- Rating: I don’t know if I’m in a good mood, or maybe it’s because this was the opening match, but I really liked this. I’ve seen other reviews from multiple other websites calling this average and even boring, but I very much enjoyed this. Even though I will say it’s nothing out of this world and it’s not particularly memorable, it had some very good stuff. I loved Martel’s work, he was by far the highlight of this match in terms of the wrestling, taking every opportunity he could and then some to take shortcuts. I love that, it’s a lost art in wrestling to see heels wrestling like… heels! Also Bad News Brown being the lone wolf and walking away like he did the prior year. It makes sense according to his character and sometimes that’s all that is needed. Also, the crowd was very much alive for this (particularly for Dusty but also for Santana) and that made it better, in my opinion. Good opener. ***1/4
After the match Bossman gets his heat back, hitting Brutus in the mid section with the nightstick before destroying poor Dusty with it. Slick handcuffs Dusty and Bossman continues the beating, eventually leaving him with a black eye and a cut above it.
The 4x4s (Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Bret Hart, Hercules & Ronnie Garvin) vs. The King’s Court (Randy Savage, Dino Bravo, Canadian Earthquake & Greg Valentine)(w/ Sensational Queen Sherri & Jimmy Hart)
The captains here are Savage and Duggan, with Savage having beaten Duggan for the ‘king’ moniker/gimmick in the summer. So they’re also the bigger (and really, the only) feud in this match. I’d also like to mention Earthquake, who made his debut a few weeks earlier by joining Bravo and leaving the IC Champion Ultimate Warrior laying.
Hercules gets to run wild on RANDY SAVAGE to start, so you know he is jobbing in quick fashion here. Valentine comes in but walks into a Hercules atomic drop, and here comes Duggan. And the crowd comes alive. HOOOOOOOOOOO! Duggan whips Valentine into the corner and brings in Garvin, who was also doing nothing in the WWF and probably missing the NWA and his days of wrestling Ric Flair for the World Title. We get Garvin vs Valentine for a while, though, so that’s nice. Garvin throws some chops with extra mustard before Valentine tags in the big Dino Bravo. Bravo scores with an atomic drop on Garvin and he too tags out, bringing in Hercules. Hercules takes down Bravo with a number of clotheslines, before Bravo takes him down with a clothesline of his own. In comes Earthquake to finish the job on Hercules with his splash at 3:57.
- Hercules eliminated (1 point to Earthquake)
Hercules turned into quite the geek jobber to the stars after the babyface turn and split from Heenan. It’s honestly shocking as he was (one would assume at least) a Vince McMahon kind of guy, obviously on steroids, was still over with the audience and was actually a very solid in-ring wrestler.
Duggan comes in for the 4x4s but he too is no match for Earthquake. Bret enters and gets on all fours behind Earthquake while Duggan goes for a shoulder tackle, finally getting the big man off his feet. Valentine and Garvin both tag in yet again, with Valentine in control. He goes for the figure four with Garvin blocking and rolling through for a nearfall. Valentine brings in Savage who strikes with the classic Macho Man flying double axehandle on Garvin. Back to Valentine for another chop exchange with Garvin. Garvin brings in Duggan and the 3 Point Stance clothesline gets rid of the Hammer at 7:32.
- Greg Valentine eliminated (1 point to Jim Duggan)
Savage joins the action immediately after the fall to take back the advantage for his team. He brings in Earthquake for a massive elbow drop, but Duggan’s out of there and Earthquake goes down. Off to Bravo and Garvin, with Garvin taking him down to set up the classic Garvin Stomps. Garvin tries to follow up with a hold but Bravo goes after the eyes to break free. And it’s off to Randy Savage and Bret Hart! Great match these two had two years prior to this at a Saturday Night’s Main Event with the roles reversed, so it’s nice to see them clash again. Hart runs wild with an atomic drop quickly followed by a knee, so Savage is out of there in a hurry. In comes Bravo for the heels while Bret tags Garvin back in, and the sidewalk slam puts Garvin away at 11:17.
- Ronnie Garvin eliminated (1 point to Dino Bravo)
Duggan goes after Earthquake again, again with the same luck – none. So Bret joins him yet again to even things up, connecting with a double clothesline. It’s back to Bret and Savage, and hopefully it stays like this for a good while. Savage gets tied in the ropes so Hacksaw and Bret can both beat him up. Once Savage gets away from there, Bret is waiting for him and catches him with a backbreaker for two. Small package gets two more. Bret tries to follow up with the middle rope elbow, but in comes Bravo to break that up and put Bret in a bearhug. Off to Earthquake for some choking as Bret plays face-in-peril. Savage comes in while Bravo holds Bret for an attack, only for Bret to move out of the way and the heels collide for a good pop. That always gets a nice reaction. Bret gets the hot tag to Duggan, but Duggan tags Bret back in a few moments later. That’s… not very smart. And indeed, Bret misses a charge to the corner on Bravo and takes one of his classic badass turnbuckle bumps. Bravo tags in Savage, Macho Elbow, sayonara Bret at 19:06.
- Bret Hart eliminated (1 point to Randy Savage)
And we’re left with a three-on-one situation. Second match of the night, second time this is happening. There are more ideas to use in these kind of matches, dear WWF agents of the late 80s! Earthquake goes for the kill on Duggan with the big splash but Duggan blocks, backdrops Bravo and clotheslines Savage to clean house. And the crowd loves it. HOOOOOOOOOO! The heels regroup and get back in, only for Savage and Bravo to run right into a Hacksaw double clothesline… but Earthquake comes in with a cheapshot from behind to take over. Off to Savage for the double axehandle. Savage goes up but misses and eats an atomic drop by Duggan. Bravo gets up on the apron to get the ref’s attention, allowing Sherri to pull the ropes on the other side and knock Duggan over and out to the floor. Earthquake connects with a forearm right to the back of the head, putting Duggan down and out for the count of ten and the win for Savage’s team at 23:25.
- Jim Duggan eliminated
Winning team: The King’s Court (0.5 points for each member)
Survivors: Savage, Bravo & Earthquake (1 point to them)
- Rating: I wasn’t feeling this one as much as the opener. Sure, it had its moments – such as the nice exchanges between Savage and Bret or Valentine and Garvin, but that was pretty much all. The match suffered from featuring the exact same final scenario as the opening match, with Duggan being left against three opponents like the Bossman. Only this one had a dumber ending and got no one over. This was not horrible or anything, but it’s very forgettable and an easy recommendation to skip, as it’s way longer than it needed to be at nearly 24 minutes. *1/2
And then Duggan beats up the survivors with the 2×4 after the match… like the loser of the opening match did. I’ve already talked about this enough, but the final five minutes or so of both matches (plus the post-match angles) felt exactly the same and that doesn’t help this show.
Mean Gene announces Dusty Rhodes is injured. Meanwhile, The Genius has a Thanksgiving poem for us.
The Hulkamaniacs (Hulk Hogan, Jake Roberts & Demolition (Ax & Smash)) vs. The Million Dollar Team (Ted DiBiase, Zeus & The Powers of Pain (The Warlord & The Barbarian))(w/ Virgil & Mr. Fuji)
Before you even start thinking there’s a small chance the heels win this match, they get a back-from-commercial-like jobber entrance, while Hulk’s team gets INDIVIDUAL ENTRANCES FOR EVERY MEMBER!!!! Come on now! The heels prevent the Hulkamaniacs from entering the ring so Roberts gets the snake out of the bag to clean house. We’re underway with Hogan and Zeus while Monsoon says we’ve been waiting for this for months. Wasn’t this in the main-event of SummerSlam or are we ignoring that? Might just be me dreaming, but I think I already saw Hogan pinning Zeus at that show. There was no reason for them to extend this feud, but here we are. Hogan hits a shoulder block but is the one who takes the bump and falls on his ass. Zeus no-sells some more so Hogan, hero to millions, rakes the eyes and body slams him… which Zeus no-sells. Again. And then Zeus chokes him until he’s DQ’d at 3:21.
- Zeus eliminated
So yeah, this was done because A) Zeus wasn’t good at all in the ring and B) they were going to have another match in December because THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE FOR HOGAN TO FEUD WITH AND THIS FEUD MUST CONTINUE. I’m glad the WWF Champion has had zero feuds over the title in his seven-month reign as the title holder since WrestleMania. I’ve always hated this feud and I still do. Despite all that, RIP Zeus.
DiBiase works over Hogan for a while before he brings in Roberts. Roberts and DiBiase were the other people feuding heading into this match – and at this point, they’re the only feud left, with Zeus being gone. Off to Demolition for some BADASS pounding on DiBiase. That was loud and looked awesome! Even Hogan joins them for a three-on-one beating, but his punches look and sound weaker. Nice try Hulkster, but no, that’s their deal. DiBiase finally gets a shot with a back elbow and he tags out to the Powers of Pain. They work together against Ax, whose brief comeback gets killed by a trip from Mr. Fuji. Warlord drops a half-assed elbow for the pin to make it three-on-three at 9:50.
- Ax eliminated (1 point to The Warlord)
Smash comes in after his partner’s elimination, but now he’s the victim of the heels’ double-teaming. Basically, it’s the same sequence as before, only with Smash instead of Ax. Off to DiBiase (finally) but he misses the middle rope million dollar elbow. Smash stunguns DiBiase and goes for the cover, having not seen Barbarian get the blind tag on Ted. The ref lets him know, and Smash gets up and turns around right into a flying clothesline from Barbarian to put the tag team champions away at 13:42.
- Smash eliminated (1 point to The Barbarian)
We have the Rockers, the Hart Foundation, the Fabulous Rougeaus, the Brainbusters and other great-to-legendary teams on the roster, but these two are pinning both members of Demolition on PPV. I really hope these two don’t get pushed to the moon again after this show, because their work is not enjoyable. There’s a reason fans from any era know or at least have heard of the teams I mentioned up above. When it comes to the Powers of Pain… I’m not sure if many have. Anyway, moving on.
Off to Roberts as now he gets to play victim to the Powers of Pain’s generic heel offense. They literally irish whip Roberts into the turnbuckle about four consecutive times as I nearly fall asleep. Some minutes later Roberts finally gets to show some life by avoiding a diving headbutt from Barbarian, and Hulk Hogan gets the hot tag to finally switch gears. I have never been happier to see Hogan in my life! Hogan comes in and runs wild on Barbarian before Warlord comes in for a cheapshot. Hogan tried to fight back on both of them at the same time, but they continued to ignore the ref’s count and gave him a double spike piledriver. The ref finally has had enough and calls for the bell at 19:51. And both get eliminated!! FINALLY!!
- The Powers of Pain eliminated
Hopefully it picks up from here, but god it’s already been twenty minutes. Nothing’s been REALLY bad but the Powers of Pain’s boring and super basic offense (not in a good way) makes it harder to sit through.
We’re down to Hogan and Roberts for the babyfaces with only DiBiase left for his team. Hogan is still out from the spike piledriver by the Powers of Pain so DiBiase puts him in the Million Dollar Dream, with Roberts having to come in and save. Hogan gets out of there and gets some rest, with Roberts coming on to face his nemesis DiBiase. Roberts comes in hot with three consecutive knees to the back as this gets three hundred times better and more interesting in a hurry. Roberts adds a clothesline, drawing Virgil up on the apron. Roberts brings him in and plants him with a DDT, but before he can get back up, DiBiase drops a quick million dollar fistdrop on Jake to put him out at 23:42.
- Jake Roberts eliminated (1 point to Ted DiBiase)
And we’re down to Hogan vs DiBiase, with Hogan still injured from all the attacks by Zeus and the Powers of Pain. DiBiase clothesline gets two. DiBiase hits the chinlock but Hogan gets out of there quickly and they collide with a double clothesline for the double KO spot. They both get back up but Hogan has his back turned to DiBiase, who gives him a back suplex. Hogan hulks up though, and you know what follows. No no no, YOOUUU, wham wham wham, off the ropes big boot, big leg, thanks for coming Ted & co. at 27:32.
- Ted DiBiase eliminated (1 point to Hulk Hogan)
Winning team: The Hulksters (0.5 points to every member)
Sole survivor: Hulk Hogan (1 point to him)
- Rating: This was solid at times but mostly a struggle to sit through. I’ve had just enough of the Powers of Pain and their ridiculous push in the tag division, while the actual legendary teams are in the undercard wrestling Boris Zhukov or something. They were not interesting at all and dragged this match way down. Zeus getting DQ’d early was very predictable as Zeus wasn’t getting pinned weeks before their match at No Holds Barred in December – and no, I am NOT going to review that. Have mercy on me! The match was never bad, it’s just predictable in a lot of ways and way too long. And boring. But solid. Also interesting to see Hogan working a midcard match on a PPV. **
Randy Savage and Zeus cut a promo in the back promoting the steel cage tag team match at No Holds Barred.
Meanwhile, Hogan and Beefcake meet in the locker room to celebrate their respective wins. Eventually they to cut a promo on Savage and Zeus, who come out and beat up the babyfaces.
Roddy’s Rowdies (Roddy Piper, Jimmy Snuka & The Bushwhackers (Butch & Luke) vs. Rude’s Brood (Rick Rude, Mr. Perfect & The Fabulous Rougeaus (Jacques & Raymond))(w/ The Genius & Jimmy Hart)
Piper and Rude are the team captains here, having been involved in one of the best feuds of that year since the summer. There’s also the undefeated Mr. Perfect involved in this match. Perfect outwrestles the babyfaces to start, so the Bushwhackers bite him to turn things around. Even Snuka joins them and bites him. Well that’s certainly an effective way to do it! Perfect is out of there in a hurry, tagging in Jacques Rougeau. Jacques says not so fast, and he does a big flip over the top to the ring followed by a big celebration. “WOOHOOO!” This is hilarious! Snuka wants to go, but… not so fast! Jacques wants to show off his nip ups. He does a couple of them while Gorilla says that’s impressive for someone with his weight. I’ll have what Gorilla Monsoon had this night. Snuka has had enough of Jacques’ little games, taking him down with the classic Snuka chop off the ropes. Snuka hits a backbreaker and the Superfly Splash is enough to put Jacques away at 4:01.
- Jacques Rougeau eliminated (1 point to Jimmy Snuka)
Rude and Perfect come after Snuka at the same time, but he sends their heads against each other for a double headbutt. Or as Monsoon used to say, the DOUBLE NOGGIN KNOCKER! It’s off to Perfect for the bad guys, with Piper’s team using quick tags to stay in control. Perfect runs away again and brings in Raymond Rougeau, while Piper comes in. And the crowd stands up! Piper gets in a quick roll-up for two before walking into a savate kick by Raymond that gets two. Piper catches him with a piledriver for the pin at 7:30.
- Raymond Rougeau eliminated (1 point to Roddy Piper)
With both Rougeaus eliminated, this leaves Perfect and Rude for their team against all the members of Piper’s team. And we get an interesting match up, with Piper facing off against the undefeated Perfect. I wouldn’t mind watching this singles match on a big stage! Perfect snaps Piper’s neck to take control early, before a Piper slingshot into the turnbuckle sends Perfect flying all the way to the floor in a typical Perfect bump. Butch comes in for a while but Piper is back in shortly afterwards again. He runs wild on Perfect with his classic series of punches, and Perfect sells the last one with a flip bump. Gorilla Monsoon: “WHAT A PUNCH, THREE SIXTY!” I love good old Gorilla! Butch comes in to bite Perfect’s ass (no, I am not making it up, it happened) but Perfect rolls through to steal a pin and get rid of Butch at 10:46.
- Bushwhacker Butch eliminated (1 point to Mr. Perfect)
Luke comes in to replace his partner while Perfect brings in Rude. Luke bites Rude’s face for a while, but Rude simply kicks him in the gut to stop that, and the Rude Awakening turns this into a tag team match at 12:14.
- Bushwhacker Luke eliminated (1 point to Rick Rude)
Snuka replaces the eliminated Luke for the babyface team, but walks into a fantastic dropkick by Perfect. Still one of the best in the history of the business to this day. He had a perfect dropkick indeed, no pun at all. Off to Rude for a while as he hits the chinlock, before bringing Perfect back in. Snuka almost steals it with a roll-up for a great nearfall, and Snuka strikes with a headbutt. Snuka follows that with a flying forearm before they collide with each other for a double KO spot. Double tag off to the big rivals and team captains, with the crowd coming very much alive for that confrontation. Piper runs wild with his usual flurry of punches. Piper follows with a backdrop as Rude bails. Piper goes after him and takes the fight to the outside. They fight all the way to the backstage area and it’s a double elimination as a result of a double count-out at 18:35.
- Roddy Piper & Rick Rude eliminated
We’re left with a singles match – Perfect for Rude’s team, Snuka for Piper’s. Perfect picks up the pace with a series of quick armdrags followed by a dropkick that sends Snuka flying to the outside. Snuka comes back in with a really nasty chop in the corner. High crossbody by Snuka gets two for another great nearfall. I love how the crowd buys into each and every single pinfall attempt on Perfect, who still had never been pinned. Snuka whips Perfect into the turnbuckle, Perfect blocks that and grabs a quick Perfectplex for the three and the victory at 21:27.
- Jimmy Snuka eliminated (1 point to Mr. Perfect)
Winning team: Rude’s Brood (0.5 points to every member)
Sole survivor: Mr. Perfect (1 point to him)
- Rating: Good match, mostly carried by Mr. Perfect who was there for a very long time for his team. Everything was done well in this match, with the double elimination by Piper and Rude making sense and extending their program. Even the tag teams of the Bushwhackers and the Rougeaus got their little moments to shine – the Rougeaus via Jacques’ ridiculous yet funny show-off skills, and the Bushwhackers with the biting. In the end, Perfect got to extend his undefeated ‘perfect’ gimmick with a win over a big legendary name like Jimmy Snuka, but not before Snuka got a number of believable nearfalls on him. Good stuff. **3/4
Main Event: The Ultimate Warriors (The Ultimate Warrior, The Rockers (Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty) & Jim Neidhart) vs. The Heenan Family (André the Giant, Haku, Arn Anderson & Bobby Heenan)
Warrior and André are the respective captains. Heenan is wrestling here instead of Tully Blanchard, who (along with Arn) was about to leave the company anyway. The heels went after the babyfaces before Warrior could even make his entrance. He finally came out for the save and to get the match officially underway, knocking André to the outside with a clothesline over the top for the quick count-out elimination at 0:27.
- André the Giant eliminated
André could barely walk at this point in his life, so this was not a surprise. Haku replaced André while Neidhart came in for Warrior’s team. André was hit a couple more times by Warrior and the Rockers while he was walking to the back. Anderson tried to distract the ref only for Neidhart to hit him, but that allowed Haku to superkick Anvil in the back of his head and eliminate him at 3:32.
- Jim Neidhart eliminated (1 point to Haku)
Michaels joined the ring to pick up the pace a little bit. The Rockers used quick tags and their quickness and agility to throw Haku off his game, as Haku catched a flying Jannetty on his arms only for Michaels to dropkick them as Jannetty landed on top for a nearfall. Arn tried to help his partner but the Rockers connected with a double superkick on both of them. Warrior got in with a backdrop only to miss an elbow. Haku wanted to tag in the fresh Heenan, but Heenan demanded the tag to Anderson instead. Awesome work by Heenan as usual while Gorilla gets to verbally destroy Heenan on commentary. And here come the weasel chants! Heenan gets tagged in for the first time in the match, but he’s out of there immediately after kicking Jannetty in the gut. Anderson comes in for a knee, Haku hits a superkick and Heenan comes back in for the easy pin, but it only gets two. Heenan adds a kneedrop to the back of the head to eliminate Jannetty anyway at 8:53.
- Marty Jannetty eliminated (1 point to Bobby Heenan)
Remember what I mentioned about the Powers of Pain pinning both members of the legendary Demolition? Well as you can see, the Rockers were busy being pinned by an inactive heel manager on the same show. There you go.
Warrior got in with a bearhug on Arn, who went after the eyes to escape. Haku got tagged in, but Warrior had a bearhug waiting for Haku as well. Warrior turned that into an atomic drop before Haku could cheat his way out like Anderson did, and Michaels came in with a great dropkick for two. Back to Arn and Warrior, who whips Anderson into the turnbuckle. Back to Michaels for a top rope splash with a little extra push from Warrior. Haku came in but missed something off the top, allowing Michaels to hit a high crossbody to eliminate Haku at 12:54.
- Haku eliminated (1 point to Shawn Michaels)
Heenan came in with a number of half-assed punches to Michaels, but quickly tagged Anderson in once Warrior got the tag from Michaels. Off the ropes into a double headbutt for the double KO spot. Back up and Anderson’s spinebuster knocks Michaels’ smile right off his face. Count to twenty, ref. Michaels is gonzo at 15:47.
- Shawn Michaels eliminated (1 point to Arn Anderson)
That leaves Warrior alone against Anderson and Heenan, with Gorilla saying it’s one-on-one as Heenan doesn’t count. The interactions between these two will never get old! Warrior ran wild with shoulder tackles before Anderson knocked him over the top and to the outside. Heenan asked for the tag, but he quickly tagged out once Warrior came back inside. Warrior sent Anderson into Heenan to knock him off the apron anyway, which the crowd loved. Gorilla slam followed by the Warrior Splash put Anderson out at 18:19.
- Arn Anderson eliminated (1 point to The Ultimate Warrior)
We’re down to Warrior and Heenan, who nearly has a heart attack once he looks at a furious Warrior across the ring. Warrior catches him and sends him into the turnbuckle for the famous Bobby Heenan flip turnbuckle bump. And a second one. Heenan has had enough and is more than happy to take the count-out loss, but Warrior grabs him and puts him back in the ring. The shoulder tackle sets up the Warrior Splash for the win at 20:28.
- Bobby Heenan eliminated (1 point to The Ultimate Warrior)
Winning team: The Ultimate Warriors (0.5 points to every member)
Sole survivor: The Ultimate Warrior (1 point to him)
- Rating: This match was all about Warrior getting to beat up Heenan in the end, and it was all building up to that moment. There’s nothing wrong with that as the match was good enough, and the crowd loved each and every second of it. Warrior main-evented this show and did really well, so there’s no surprise he moved up the ranks shortly afterwards. The match was solid. **
Heenan does a half-assed selljob for Warrior on his way up the ramp. Heenan wasn’t the biggest Warrior fan and was hurt by Warrior a few times during their feud, so I wasn’t shocked to see this. It’s quite noticeable if you’ve ever seen Bobby Heenan sell an attack by a major babyface. Warrior runs to the back and nails Heenan with one last clothesline to the back on his way up the ramp to close the show.
END OF THE SHOW
Final thoughts: The only way I’d recommend this show is based on historical reasons. It’s not a horrible or even a bad show, but it’s incredibly boring at times and it’s something I will never want to go back and see ever again. But again, if you’ve never seen it, do it. The second match really feels like a repetition of the opening bout in more ways than one, and Hogan’s match had three eliminations by disqualification. There were negative points like these and much more, but there’s also great stuff such as Mr. Perfect’s performance, Warrior beating up Heenan to close things, and a very nice surprise in the opening match which was much better than I expected. Overall, I give it a high 4/10.
Finally, here are the points for the wrestlers on this show:
- Brutus Beefcake: 6.25 points (3.25 for star rating + 2 for two eliminations by pin + 1 for surviving)
- The Ultimate Warrior: 6 points (2 for star rating + 1 for surviving + 2 for two eliminations by pin + 1 for main-eventing)
- Mr. Perfect: 5.75 points (2.75 for star rating + 1 for surviving + 2 for two eliminations by pin)
- Dusty Rhodes: 5.25 points (3.25 for star rating + 1 for an elimination by pin + 1 for surviving)
- Hulk Hogan: 4 points (2 for star rating + 1 for surviving + 1 for an elimination by pin)
- Rick Rude: 3.75 points (2.75 for star rating + 1 for an elimination by pin + 0.5 for winning – 0.5 for being eliminated by CO)
- Randy Savage: 3.5 points (1.5 for star rating + 1 for surviving + 1 for an elimination by pin)
- Dino Bravo: 3.5 points (1.5 for star rating + 1 for surviving + 1 for an elimination by pin)
- Canadian Earthquake: 3.5 points (1.5 for star rating + 1 for surviving + 1 for an elimination by pin)
- Shawn Michaels: 3.5 points (2 for star rating + 1 for an elimination by pin + 0.5 for winning – 1 for being eliminated by pin)
- Roddy Piper: 3.25 points (2.75 for star rating + 1 for an elimination by pin – 0.5 for being eliminated by CO)
- The Big Bossman: 3.25 points (3.25 for star rating + 1 for an elimination by pin – 1 for being eliminated by pin)
- Rick Martel: 3.25 points (3.25 for star rating + 1 for an elimination by pin – 1 for being eliminated by pin)
- Haku: 3 points (2 for star rating + 1 for an elimination by pin – 1 for being eliminated by pin)
- Arn Anderson: 3 points (2 for star rating + 1 for an elimination by pin – 1 for being eliminated by pin)
- Bobby Heenan: 3 points (2 for star rating + 1 for an elimination by pin – 1 for being eliminated by pin)
- Bad News Brown: 2.75 points (3.25 for star rating – 0.5 for being eliminated by CO)
- Jimmy Snuka: 2.75 points (2.75 for star rating + 1 for an elimination by pin – 1 for being eliminated by pin)
- Tito Santana: 2.75 points (3.25 for star rating + 0.5 for winning – 1 for being eliminated by pin)
- The Red Rooster: 2.75 points (3.25 for star rating + 0.5 for winning – 1 for being eliminated by pin)
- The Powers of Pain: 2.5 points (2 for star rating + 1 for each scoring an elimination by pin – 0.5 for each being eliminated by DQ)
- André the Giant: 2.5 points (2 for star rating + 1 for main-eventing – 0.5 for being eliminated by CO)
- Marty Jannetty: 2.5 points (2 for star rating + 1 for main-eventing + 0.5 for winning – 1 for being eliminated by pin)
- Jim Neidhart: 2.5 points (2 for star rating + 1 for main-eventing + 0.5 for winning – 1 for being eliminated by pin)
- Fabulous Rougeaus: 2.25 points (2.75 for star rating + 0.5 for winning – 1 for each being eliminated by pin)
- The Honky Tonk Man: 2.25 points (3.25 for star rating – 1 for being eliminated by pin)
- Jim Duggan: 2 points (1.5 for star rating + 1 for an elimination by pin – 0.5 for being eliminated by CO)
- Ted DiBiase: 2 points (2 for star rating + 1 for an elimination by pin – 1 for being eliminated by pin)
- The Bushwhackers: 1.75 points (2.75 for star rating – 1 for each being eliminated by pin)
- Jake Roberts: 1.5 points (2 for star rating + 0.5 for winning – 1 for being eliminated by pin)
- Demolition: 1.5 points (2 for star rating + 0.5 for winning – 1 for each being eliminated by pin)
- Zeus: 1.5 points (2 for star rating – 0.5 for being eliminated by DQ)
- Greg Valentine: 1 point (1.5 for star rating + 0.5 for winning – 1 for being eliminated by pin)
- Bret Hart: 0.5 points (1.5 for star rating – 1 for being eliminated by pin)
- Ronnie Garvin: 0.5 points (1.5 for star rating – 1 for being eliminated by pin)
- Hercules: 0.5 points (1.5 for star rating – 1 for being eliminated by pin)
And that is it for the WWF’s pay-per-views of 1989. Before closing the year, there is still an edition of SNME left for the WWF and StarrCade for the NWA. Once I finish the year, there will be a special year-end article to see who were the top wrestlers in the last year of the 1980s. Stay safe everyone!