Survivor Series (2002)

Background

On the September 2 episode of Raw Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff awarded Triple H the World Heavyweight Championship in the form of the Big Gold Belt. Later that night, Triple H successfully defended the title over Ric Flair but lost in a tag team match to both Ric Flair and Rob Van Dam towards the end of the show. The next week on Raw, RVD became the number one contender to the World Championship by defeating Chris Jericho, Jeff Hardy, and The Big Show in a Fatal Four-Way Elimination Match, but lost the Intercontinental Championship to Chris Jericho the next week after Triple H interfered. At Unforgiven, Van Dam faced Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship. Van Dam lost the title match after Ric Flair nailed him with the sledgehammer, allowing Triple H to finish him off with the pedigree, thus retaining the title. On the September 30 episode of Raw, Triple H defeated Bubba Ray Dudley to retain the World title. Then later that night, Kane won the Intercontinental Title from Jericho despite Triple H and Ric Flair interfering. The match was made between Triple H and Kane for No Mercy on October 20 with both Kane's Intercontinental Title and Triple H's World Heavyweight Title at stake. On the October 7 episode of Raw, Kane successfully singlehandedly defended the World Tag Team Championship (that he had won on September 23) in a four team Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match as The Hurricane were attacked earlier that night (by Triple H and Ric Flair) and was thus unable to compete. The next week on Raw, Kane and The Hurricane lost the tag titles to Christian and Jericho. Later that night, Triple H defeated RVD in a Canadian lumberjack strap match after Ric Flair nailed Van Dam from behind with the World title belt while the referee was distracted. At No Mercy, Triple H defeated Kane to win the IC Title and retain his World Title. The next night on Raw, Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff announced the first ever Elimination Chamber Match to occur at Survivor Series. Bischoff did this, as he wanted the Elimination Chamber match to be better than SmackDown's Hell in a Cell main event at No Mercy. On the October 28 episode of Raw, Bischoff stated that the Elimination Chamber would be a combination of WWE's Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, and WCW's War Games matches, in that a countdown timer comes from the Rumble and War Games, the enclosed cage format from War Games, and the elimination process from the Rumble and Series. Bischoff also added that the match will involve six superstars. This led to Bischoff revealing the six participants for the match; Triple H, Chris Jericho, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, Kane and Shawn Michaels. Later on that edition, when World Champion Triple H took on Kane in a Casket match, Shawn Michaels (who Triple H put out of action after their Unsanctioned Street Fight at SummerSlam) emerged from the casket and assaulted Triple H. To gain further payback, Michaels then nailed him with the Sweet Chin Music, allowing Kane to put Triple H in the casket and closed the lid to win the match. On the November 4 edition of Raw, Booker T and Kane defeated World Champion Triple H and Jericho in a tag team match after Michaels interfered again. Afterwords, Michaels accepted the offer of being part of the 1st ever Elimination Chamber for the World title at Survivor Series.

Brock Lesnar won the WWE Championship three months ago at SummerSlam against The Rock. Two months later at No Mercy, Lesnar defeated The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match to retain the title, pinning him after an F-5. On the October 24 episode of SmackDown, after claiming nobody on SmackDown could defeat him, The Big Show was traded to SmackDown, immediately issuing a challenge to WWE Champion Brock Lesnar, who accepted later that night. Later that night, after Lesnar and Undertaker cut promos to one another, the Big Show threw Undertaker off the stage, thus injuring his neck. The next week on SmackDown!, Lesnar faced off against Rey Mysterio, which ended in a no contest after Big Show interfered and tossed Mysterio into the crowd. Shortly after the match ended, Big Show slammed Lesnar through the announce table. The next week on SmackDown, after Lesnar defeated Eddie Guerrero in a non-title match, Big Show attacked Lesnar and slammed him off the stage. The next week on SmackDown, Lesnar's manager Paul Heyman was convinced more than anyone that Lesnar couldn't win, trying to talk him out of defending the title. Lesnar refused and decided to challenge Big Show to the ring. As Big Show came out, Lesnar drove him through the steel steps. Moments later, Lesnar took out Big Show with five chair shots then nailed him with the title belt, proving a point that Lesnar can beat The Big Show when they face off at Survivor Series.

The other main feud on the card was between three tag teams, Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit, Edge and Rey Mysterio, and Los Guerreros (Eddie and Chavo Guerrero), over the WWE Tag Team Championships. On the October 3 edition of SmackDown, General Manager, Stephanie McMahon announced an eight team tournament to determine the new WWE tag team champions for the previous pay-per-view, No Mercy. On that edition, Los Guerreros defeated Rikishi and Mark Henry in the first Quarter Final round. The following week on SmackDown, in the second Quarter Final round, Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit defeated John Cena and Billy Kidman while Edge and Rey Mysterio defeated WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and Tajiri to advance to the Semi-Finals tournament the following week. On the October 17 edition of SmackDown, Edge and Mysterio defeated Reverend D-Von and Ron Simmons to advance to the tournament. Later on that edition, Angle and Benoit advanced to the tournament by defeating Los Guerreros. At No Mercy, Angle and Benoit defeated Edge and Mysterio in the finals of a tournament to determine the first WWE Tag Team Champions. On the October 24 edition of SmackDown, Edge and Rey Mysterio defeated Los Guerreros in a number one contenders tag match to earn a shot at the tag titles. Later that night, the WWE Tag Team Champions, Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit fought each other in an Unforgiven return match, which Benoit won after interference from Los Guerreros. The following week on SmackDown, both Benoit and Angle cost one another their matches. Angle helped Edge defeat Benoit then later that night, Benoit returned the favor by helping Eddie Guerrero defeat Angle. Afterwords, Angle and Benoit brawled at the halloween party, ending with Angle delivering an Angle slam and Benoit bashing the bottle into Angle's head at the same time, knocking each other down. On the November 7 edition of SmackDown, Angle and Benoit lost the WWE Tag team titles to Edge and Mysterio in the best 2 out of 3 falls match after Edge pinned Angle in the third and final fall.

Another feud coming from the Raw brand was between Victoria and Trish Stratus for the WWE Women's Championship. At Unforgiven, Trish Stratus had captured her third Women's Championship from Victoria's mentor Molly Holly (who Trish lost the title to at King of the Ring on June 23). On September 23 on Raw, Stratus successfully defended the Women's title against both Molly Holly and Victoria in a Triple Threat match then on the following week's edition of Raw, Victoria challenged Stratus for the Women's title in a one-on-one contest but got Disqualified after hitting Stratus with a steel chair. On the October 7 edition of Raw, after Women's Champion, Trish Stratus, defeated Stacy Keibler in a Bra and Panties/Paddle on a Pole match, Victoria attacked Stratus and performed a Moonsault on her. Victoria claimed in the interview that back in their days as fitness models, WWE wanted both of them but Trish stole her spot. The two fought again for the Women's Championship at No Mercy with Stratus retaining. For the following four weeks, the two would have many clashes on Raw including on the November 11 edition of Raw, when Stratus ambushed Victoria following Victoria's attack on Terri Runnels. It was announced that the title would be put on the line in a hardcore rules match.

Preliminary matches

Before the event aired live on pay-per-view, Lance Storm and William Regal defeated The Hurricane and Goldust in a match that aired on Sunday Night HEAT. The first match of the event was an Elimination Tables match as Jeff Hardy, Bubba Ray Dudley and Spike Dudley faced 3-Minute Warning (Rosey, Jamal) and Rico. Spike was eliminated first as Rosey and Jamal performed a Double Flapjack on him. Rosey was next to go, as he was eliminated by Jeff Hardy with a Swanton Bomb. A miscue was picked up on the audio, as Rico was supposed to be knocked off the top rope, by Hardy, and Rico could be heard yelling in frustration "Come on Jeff, Goddammit!" With Hardy laying on the ground, outside of the ring, the remaining 3-Minute Warning member, Jamal, delivered a diving splash off the top rope through a table on Hardy, eliminating Hardy from the match. At this point it was down to Jamal and Rico against Bubba Ray. As Bubba Ray fought for his team, he eliminated Jamal after performing a Top-Rope Powerbomb. D-Von Dudley appeared, and along with Bubba Ray, they performed the 3D onto Rico for the win.

The next match was for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship, with reigning champion Jamie Noble taking on Billy Kidman. Nidia accompanied Noble to the ring, and interfered with many parts of the match, including slapping Kidman across the face. Noble went after Kidman, but missed, and knocked Nidia off the apron. Kidman managed to hit the Shooting star press for the win. Billy Kidman was named Cruiserweight Champion.

The third match was for the WWE Women's Championship. It was a Hardcore match with reigning champion Trish Stratus taking on Victoria. Victoria choked Trish with a broomstick at the turnbuckle and hit her with a trash can lid. Trish recovered, and sent Victoria into an ironing board before hitting her several times with a Singapore cane. Victoria (with a bloody nose), went under the ring, and came back out with a fire extinguisher. Victoria sprayed Trish with the extinguisher and gave her a suplex, capturing the Women's title.

Main event matches

The fourth match was the encounter of Big Show and Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship. Lesnar came into the match with injured ribs, which Big Show took advantage of earlier into the match. However, Lesnar gained control over Big Show and executed an F-5 but Lesnar's manager Paul Heyman pulled the referee out of the ring. Show hit Lesnar in the ribs with a chair, chokeslammed Lesnar onto it and pinned Lesnar, winning the match and the WWE Championship.

The final match on the undercard was a Triple threat Tag team match for the WWE Tag Team Championship between the team of Los Guerreros (Eddie and Chavo Guerrero), Edge and Rey Mysterio, and Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit. A back and forth match between the three teams, until Edge delivered a Spear to Benoit, eliminating the team of Angle and Benoit. The final elimination was the team of Edge and Mysterio, when Eddie forced Mysterio to submit to the Lasso from El Paso, thus Los Guerreros winning the match and the WWE Tag Team Championship. After the match, Scott Steiner made his return to WWE, and attacked Christopher Nowinski and Matt Hardy after they had given an insulting promo about New York City and its citizens.

The main event was an Elimination Chamber match for the World Heavyweight Championship between Rob Van Dam, Kane, Triple H, Chris Jericho, Booker T, and Shawn Michaels. The match started off with Triple H,the second entrant,facing off against Rob Van Dam,the first entrant, while the remaining four superstars were locked in the four chambers. Superstars entered the match at five-minute intervals.Rob Van Dam dominated much of the beginning. At one point Van Dam gave Chris Jericho the middle finger as he climbed up the latter's pod. Jericho grabbed Van Dam's foot through the pod's mesh roof.However, Van Dam fought both him and Triple H. The next entrant was the aforementioned Chris Jericho, who upon entering teamed with Triple H in taking down Van Dam. The fourth entrant, Booker T, then made his way into the match. Rob Van Dam delivered a Five Star Frog Splash onto Triple H of the top of a pod, but he botched it and damaged the latter's esophagus.Booker T would capatilize on this an delivered a Missile Dropkick to Rob Van Dam to eliminate him from the match. However, Booker T would be the next elimination after Jericho pinned him following a Lionsault. The fifth entrant, Kane, dominated upon his entry into the match. The sixth entrant, Shawn Miachels, experienced brief control only to be chokeslamed by Kane. However, Kane would be the third elimination after receiving a Superkick from Michaels, Pedigree from Triple H, and finally a Lionsault from Jericho. Jericho would be the next elimination after Michaels pinned him following Sweet Chin Music. The final elimination was made when Michaels delivered Sweet Chin Music to Triple H and pinned him, thus winning the match and the World Heavyweight Championship.

Aftermath

Shawn Michaels and Triple H continued their feud over the World Heavyweight Championship. On the November 25 edition of Raw, Michaels defended the World title against Rob Van Dam; however, Michaels retained the title with help from Triple H. The following week on Raw, Van Dam faced off against Triple H, with Michaels as Special Guest referee, to determine the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship at Armageddon. Michaels awarded the win to Triple H and the two brawled with one another. The next week, on the December 9 edition of Raw, Michaels attacked Triple H and Ric Flair with an iron shovel outside the arena. Michaels then smashed Triple H with a trash can, causing him to fall inside a dumpster. Shortly after, Michaels climbed to the top of a trailer and jumped off onto Triple H. At Armageddon, Triple H defeated Michaels in a Three Stages of Hell match to win the title. The first match was a Street fight, which Triple H won. The match that followed was a Steel Cage match, which Michaels won. The third and final match was a Ladder match, which was won by Triple H.

The following month, at Armageddon, Kurt Angle defeated The Big Show to end his near one-month reign as WWE Champion. At the Royal Rumble, in January, Angle defeated Chris Benoit to retain the title, and Brock Lesnar won the Royal Rumble match by last eliminating The Undertaker. Lesnar went on to defeat Angle for the WWE Championship two months later at WrestleMania XIX, pinning him after an F-5. Two months later, at Judgment Day, Lesnar defeated Big Show in a Stretcher match to retain the WWE Championship. Later that year, at Vengeance, Angle defeated Lesnar and Big Show in a No Disqualification Triple Threat match to become new WWE Champion. Angle won the match after pinning Lesnar following an Angle Slam. Angle went on to defeat Lesnar and retain the WWE Championship the next month at SummerSlam, forcing him to submit with the Ankle lock.

Elimination tables match eliminations