Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #31 - November 1990

#1 Hulk Hogan [+1] (14-3-1) (WWF)

The wrestling world trembles as the two biggest forces unite to become sole survivors on November 22nd: Hulk Hogan & Ultimate Warrior -- together! Such was the conclusion of Survivor Series 1990, where the survivors of five 4-on-4 elimination matches returned to the ring to compete in a sixth Grand Finale of Survival bout! Tito Santana joined the under-manned babyface team in a 3-on-5 predicament against Ted DiBiase, Rick Martel, The Warlord, Hercules Hernandez & Paul Roma!

This double duty delivers The Hulkster to a long awaited #1 ranking. He dethrones "King Macho" Randy Savage, who appeared in an interview segment to challenge Warrior for the WWF Heavyweight Championship. In terms of PPV statistics, it would be a challenge to restore Savage to the top of the ranks!

Demolition add a third member - Crush - but continue their decline in the tag team stakes. Novelty act The Bushwackers submit their entry into the list with a win, bumping long inactive British Bulldogs to the #10 spot. Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart survive in the Top 5 with a foundation built on the WWF Tag Team Championship, but could not secure victory for their Dream Team led by Dusty Rhodes.

In a bombshell changing of the guard - The Road Warriors cross lines to declare their candidacy for top ranks in the name of WWF! The former NWA stalwarts shared the spoilers of The Ultimate Warrior's success against Curt Hennig's "Perfect Team". The conversion grants WWF a reversal of fortunes, granting 70% of the Top 10 singles ranks! 1990 draws to a close with Starrcade -- the perfect time for NWA to establish a new vanguard of top stars! Will they reclaim control of the Top 10? It's the NWA's last stand as the World Championship Wrestling era dawns!

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [+1] Hulk Hogan (14-3-1) (WWF)
#2 [-1] Randy Savage (13-8-0) (WWF)
#3 [--] Road Warrior Hawk (12-3-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Road Warrior Animal (11-4-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Ric Flair (10-5-3) (NWA)
#6 [--] Sting (9-1-2) (NWA) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#7 [+3] Ultimate Warrior (9-2-0) (WWF) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#8 [-1] Brutus Beefcake (8-2-3) (WWF)
#9 [-1] Rick Steiner (8-5-1) (NWA) [US Tag Team Champion]
#10 [-1] Smash (8-6-0) (WWF)
 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Road Warrior Hawk & Animal (11-3-0) (WWF)
#2 [+1] Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane (6-3-0) (NWA)
#3 [+2] Rick & Scott Steiner (6-3-0) (NWA)
#4 [-2] Ax & Smash (6-4-0) (WWF)
#5 [-1] Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart (6-4-0) (WWF) [Tag Team Champions]
#6 [--] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (5-1-0) (NWA)
#7 [--] The Samoan Savage & Fatu (4-1-0) (NWA)
#8 [--] Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (3-1-1) (WWF)
#9 [new] Bushwacker Luke & Butch (3-1-0) (WWF)
#10 [-1] Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid (3-2-1) (WWF)

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [--] The Fabulous Moolah (2-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Rockin' Robin (2-0-0) (WWF) [Women's Champion]
#3 [--] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Itsuki Yamazaki (1-0-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Noriyo Tateno (1-0-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- WWF Survivor Series (November 22, 1990)
- WCW Halloween Havoc (October 27, 1990)
- WWF Summerslam (August 27, 1990)
- NWA The Great American Bash (July 7, 1990)
- NWA Capital Combat (May 19, 1990)
- WWF Wrestlemania VI (April 1, 1990)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intend to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers. Pre-show matches will not be included.

Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #22 - November 1989

#1 Randy Savage [--] (12-5-0) (WWF)

A traditional Survivor Series spreads the load amongst a wide variety of stars, featuring an adaptation of five 4-on-4 elimination matches! Hulk Hogan takes steps toward securing his dominance in the pay-per-view business, while "The Macho King" Randy Savage leads his own court of allies to victory with only one member lost to The 4x4s (Greg Valentine).

Despite a massive roster, Survivor Series does little to shake the rankings. Dusty Rhodes continues to represent the WWF with a base founded in the NWA. Likewise, former Krusher Smash climbs into the Top 5 to challenge Road Warrior Hawk. The Barber Brutus Beefcake shows the benefits of an affiliation with The Hulkster, but the biggest winners in '89 are the true tag teams in WWF!

The Fabulous Rougeaus make their entry into the tag team rankings at #8. Smash's solo success reflects his team base as a member of Team Hulkamaniacs, and #2 ranked tag team Demolition. Outside the scope of ranking is Ultimate Warrior's running buddies The Rockers. We'll be watching that team with interest as the years unfold -- longevity making Shawn Michaels one of the most intriguing names that will manifest in this statistical experiment.

Once again the changing pace of the pay-per-view game introduces new concepts! December packs a very unique double-header as Starrcade ends the year again, while WWF cross-promote with the film No Holds Barred with a one-match broadcast main event! Randy Savage & Zeus reunite against Hulk Hogan & Brutus Beefcake in a steel cage tag team match billed as The Match/The Movie! Stay tuned!

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [--] Randy Savage (12-5-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Hulk Hogan (9-2-1) (WWF) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#3 [--] Ric Flair (8-3-1) (NWA) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#4 [--] Road Warrior Hawk (7-2-0) (NWA)
#5 [+1] Smash (7-3-0) (WWF)
#6 [-1] Ricky Steamboat (7-5-0) (NWA)
#7 [+2] Brutus Beefcake (6-2-2) (WWF)
#8 [RE] Dusty Rhodes (6-3-0) (WWF)
#9 [-2] Road Warrior Animal (6-3-0) (NWA)
#10 [-2] Sting (5-0-2) (NWA) [World Television Champion]
 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Road Warrior Hawk & Animal (6-2-0) (NWA)
#2 [+1] Ax & Smash (5-2-0) (WWF)
#3 [-1] Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane (4-1-0) (NWA)
#4 [--] Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart (4-3-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (3-0-0) (NWA)
#6 [--] Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (3-1-1) (WWF)
#7 [--] Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid (3-2-1) (WWF)
#8 [new] Jacques & Raymond Rougeau (3-4-1) (WWF)
#9 [-1] Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik (2-0-0) (WWF)
#10 [-1] Paul Roma & Jim Powers (2-0-0) (WWF)

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [--] The Fabulous Moolah (2-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Rockin' Robin (2-0-0) (WWF) [Women's Champion]
#3 [--] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Itsuki Yamazaki (1-0-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Noriyo Tateno (1-0-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- WWF Survivor Series (November 23, 1989)
- WCW Halloween Havoc (October 28, 1989)
- WWF Summerslam (August 28, 1989)
- NWA The Great American Bash '89 (July 23, 1989)
- NWA WrestleWar (May 7, 1989)
- WWF Wrestlemania V (April 2, 1989)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intend to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers. Pre-show matches will not be included.

Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #13 - November 1988

#1 Randy Savage [--] (11-2-0) (WWF)
(World Heavyweight Champion)

The saga of the Mega Powers continues with a massive Survivor Series victory! The traditional 10-man elimination matches gives WWF the statistical edge to completely dominate NWA's brightest stars! Giving them a boost is the delay of this year's Starrcade to December. When it rolls over they'll be short some of the familiar names. Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard among the tag team typhoon present at Survivor Series '88. Nothing like crossing over to WWF to drop you out with a fresh loss.

That same 5-team 20-man Survivor Series elimination match decimates the NWA tag ranks, shunting five new teams into the Top 10! The Mega Powers (Savage & Hogan) themselves impact as the 7th best tag team on pay-per-view -- hot on the heels of the Survivor Series team-up of Andre the Giant & Rick Rude. The spread relegates Tag Team Champions Ax & Smash, while their Hart Foundation rivals Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart shoot their way into the stack! The pressure is on the tried and true legend of The Rock 'n' Roll Express and The Road Warriors to champion NWA at Starrcade!

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [--] Randy Savage (11-2-0) (WWF) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#2 [+1] Hulk Hogan (6-1-1) (WWF)
#3 [-1] Ricky Steamboat (6-3-0) (WWF)
#4 [+2] Dynamite Kid (5-3-1) (WWF)
#5 [+5] Brutus Beefcake (4-1-1) (WWF)
#6 [-1] Ric Flair (4-2-1) (NWA) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#7 [RE] Davey Boy Smith (4-2-1) (WWF)
#8 [RE} Andre the Giant (4-2-1) (WWF)
#9 [-5] Smash (4-2-0) (WWF) [Tag Team Champion]
#10 [-3] Junkyard Dog (4-4-0) (WWF)
 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (3-0-0) (NWA)
#2 [+3] Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid (3-2-1) (WWF)
#3 [-1] Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik (2-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [new] The Barbarian & The Warlord (2-0-0) (WWF)
#5 [new] Paul Roma & Jim Powers (2-0-0) (WWF)
#6 [new] Andre the Giant & Rick Rude (2-0-0) (WWF)
#7 [new] Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage (2-0-0) (WWF)
#8 [-4] Road Warrior Hawk & Animal (2-1-0) (NWA)
#9 [-6] Ax & Smash (2-2-0) (WWF) [Tag Team Champions]
#10 [new] Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart (2-2-0) (WWF)

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [--] The Fabulous Moolah (2-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF)
#3 [--] Rockin' Robin (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Itsuki Yamazaki (1-0-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Noriyo Tateno (1-0-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- WWF Survivor Series (November 24, 1988)
- WWF Summerslam (August 29, 1988)
- NWA The Great American Bash (July 10, 1988)
- WWF Wrestlemania IV (March 27, 1988)
- NWA Bunkhouse Stampede (January24, 1988)
- WWF Survivor Series (November 26, 1987)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intend to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers. Pre-show matches will not be included.

Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #8 - November 1987

#1 Ricky Steamboat [--] (6-2-0) (WWF)
(Intercontinental Champion)

It's WWF going head-to-head with NWA in a November 26 pay-per-view face-off! The stacked card of the annual Starrcade may have granted Ric Flair a return entry to the Top 10 -- but WWF's 5-on-5 Survivor Series keeps the entire Top 5 firmly in the grasp of the yankee promoter. Leading the charge for WWF is still the darling of Wrestlemania 3: Ricky Steamboat -- while down at third the perfect record of Hulk Hogan is besmirched courtesy of sole survivor Andre the Giant and the wall of humanity that kept Hogan out of the ring for a 10 count: King Kong Bundy & One Man Gang!

1987 fuels the Rock 'n' Roll Express as they become the new top ranked NWA stars (#6 & #7) -- top of the tag team ranks as well, of course. NWA's tag pedigree persists as Tully Blanchard creeps into an individual 10th with the World Tag Team Championships around he and Arn Anderson's waists! WWF aren't to be outdone: The British Bulldogs bursting back into the Top 3 tag teams as one of twenty duos participating in a massive Tag Team Survivor Series variant!

Meanwhile, the war of the fairer sex is completely one sided! A women's Survivor Series match bumps the total ranking divas to 11! International talent rounds out the list, but the stroke of The Fabulous Moolah pushes Cyndi Lauper's Wrestlemania leading lady: Wendi Richter. It's worth noting "The Spider Lady" Moolah contributed to stripping Richter of the title this time 2 years ago, beating Montreal to the punch by more than a decade. Allow me also to register personal amazement at Dawn Marie's involvement in the inaugural Survivor Series. I missed that one!

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [--] Ricky Steamboat (6-2-0) (WWF) [Intercontinental Champion]
#2 [+1] Randy Savage (5-2-0) (WWF)
#3 [-1] Hulk Hogan (4-1-0) (WWF) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#4 [+2] Dynamite Kid (4-2-0) (WWF)
#5 [-1] Junkyard Dog (4-2-0) (WWF)
#6 [+2] Ricky Morton (3-0-0) (NWA)
#7 [+2] Robert Gibson (3-0-0) (NWA)
#8 [RE] Ric Flair (3-1-1) (NWA) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#9 [-4] Jimmy Valiant (3-1-0) (NWA)
#10 [new] Tully Blanchard (3-1-0) (NWA) [World Tag Taem Champion]

 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (3-0-0) (NWA)
#2 [--] Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik (2-0-0) (WWF)
#3 [RE] Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid (2-1-0) (WWF)
#4 [-1] Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood (1-0-0) (NWA)
#5 [-1] Bob Orton Jr & Dick Slater (1-0-0) (NWA)
#6 [-1] Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin (1-0-0) (NWA)
#7 [-1] Assassin #1 & Assassin #2 (1-0-0) (NWA)
#8 [-1] The Assassin & Buzz Tyler (1-0-0) (NWA)
#9 [-1] Hulk Hogan & Mr. T (1-0-0) (WWF)
#10 [-1] Jimmy Valiant & Ron Garvin (1-0-0) (NWA)

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [+1] The Fabulous Moolah (2-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [-1] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF)
#3 [new] Rockin' Robin (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [new] Itsuki Yamazaki (1-0-0) (WWF)
#5 [new] Noriyo Tateno (1-0-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- WWF Survivor Series (November 26, 1987)
- NWA Starrcade '87 (November 26, 1987)
- WWF Wrestlemania III (March 29, 1987)
- NWA Starrcade '86: Night of the Skywalkers (November 27, 1986)
- WWF Wrestlemania 2 (April 7, 1986)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intend to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers. Pre-show matches will not be included.

Wrestling: Survivor Series (2010) Predictions

It's been one of the classic WWF/WWE "big five" Pay-Per-Views for more than twenty years, but at the beginning of 2010, WWE announced it no longer had use for the antiquated event, aiming to replace it with another of it's many concept shows. Fortunately, Survivor Series did not go the way of the King of the Ring PPV, becoming reinstated as plans for the Nexus faction began to take hold in RAW's programming -- a blessing, to be sure!

No Holds Barred WWE Championship match with special guest referee, John Cena
Wade Barrett vs Randy Orton (c)
If you've been living under a wrestling rock, then you wouldn't know that this match comes with an added special stipulation: If Wade Barrett wins the title, John Cena will be released from the contract that binds him to Barrett's service. If Orton retains, then John Cena will be fired, as is apparently allowed by Barrett's powers over him. A situation that all but forces Cena to aid his begrudging master, or so it would seem.

For us fans, the rock and hard place comes in the form of the unlikelihood of John Cena's absence from WWE programming, versus Wade Barrett's relative unreadiness to hold as covetted a top spot as the WWE Champion. A predicament, to be sure, but not one that's at all foreign. In 1998, for example, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin was given many challenges that threatened unemployment, such as Judgment Day, where he refused to count three for either Undertaker, or Kane. Steve Austin, a bigger star in stature and monetary gains, always found a way back to teevee and to the WWE roster. If pushed, I'm sure John Cena would have similar fictional methods available to him, as well. Will they go the long way around, though? I'm not sure it's in keeping with the WWE style any more, certainly not if they want to get away with this angle.

Barrett is quite green, still. His power as a talker has carried him since winning NXT and forming The Nexus, but I'd be reluctant to say that makes him a worthy WWE Champion. Of course, being worthy has very little to do with championships in WWE, these days. Neither does the logical outcome though, either. What about Money in the Bank holder The Miz? He has until the end of the year to cash his championship shot in -- will he play a factor?

I honestly don't know what to expect of this match, and that has elevated it above it's otherwise mediocre status. These usual suspects of the RAW main event rarely entice, but the possibility that WWE will make a hard decision is enticing. John Cena as a heel aiding Wade Barrett's victory with glee might be the best possible outcome, but that's too easy, and I don't think it'll happen. Exactly what will happen, I do not know!
Prediction: Randy Orton

Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team Match
Rey Mysterio, Kofi Kingston, Chris Masters, Big Show & Montel Vontavious Porter vs Alberto del Rio, Tyler Reks, Drew McIntyre, Jack Swagger & Cody Rhodes
Personally, I don't feel Survivor Series need revolve around these classic ten-man elimination tag matches. My favourite Survivor Series shows might actually be 1998, where the WWF title was contended in a King of the Ring style elimination tournament, and 2002, where the feature of the night was the first even Elimination Chamber -- a survior's match if there ever was one.

The construction of the match has been somewhat clumsy, but it at least provides an eclectic mix of Smackdown's wrestling stars. Alberto del Rio continues to rise through the ranks, with many assuming he'll be groomed for a spot as a face. He certainly has a team backing him that should put up a worthy challenge against the heroes of the match-up. I think he might get the rub.
Prediction: Team del Rio

World Heavyweight Championship match
Edge vs Kane (c)
The last thing I want to see before the decade is through is Edge with another championship reign. Kane's first on-going reign in the top spot hasn't been anything to write home about, but it's serving a purpose. With any luck, this will be a decent match, but I don't need to see Edge get the better of it for a satisfying end. Perhaps a DQ finish, or some other non-title situation.
Prediction: Edge

Sheamus vs John Morrison
Morrison's role as rescuer made for a confusing build-up to this match, but at the end of the day, it's got the making of a great mid-card bout. These two have very different styles, and while there's potential for disaster, I think Morrison will be up to the challenge of working a good match. Sheamus was on the receiving end of a shock upset to Santino Marella (the man who Morrison saved). I would expect his winning ways to be restored here.
Prediction: Sheamus

Tag Team Championship match
Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov vs Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater (c)
Why oh why, Heath Slater? Why?
There's a popular theory going around that Vince McMahon wants to destroy tag team wrestling. It's a symbol of the fictional premise of the pseudo-sport, and all he's interested in selling is "entertainment." This match might actually help make the argument. The best legit team, The Hart Dynasty, has been jobbed silly over the past few months, taking a pointless barrage of losses to patchwork pairing, Cody Rhodes & Drew McIntyre, who've now dissolved themselves. Kozlov and Marella are barely comedy relief, but also one of the most successful duos of the year. Honestly, I wouldn't be too fussed if they picked up a shock win. I used to have a bit of a soft spot for Kozlov, and wouldn't mind seeing him finally get a credit to his name. I'd think there's more to come from the Nexus, however, and they will benefit from backing up their claim to the gold (or bronze, "big ass pennies" as Jeff Hardy put it).
Prediction: Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater

Intercontinental Championship match
Kaval vs Dolph Ziggler (c)
Despite being a two-time X-Division champion (as Low-Ki), Kaval just can't buy a win in WWE, it seems. That's a path Bryan Danielson knows all too well, which, for both men, included statistically unimpressive runs through NXT, before joining the big shows with more losses to come. Danielson ("Daniel Bryan") finally got the rub when he won the United States title from rival, The Miz, and has been winning some of the better matches of each show, ever since. I don't know that the same fairytale ending is in Kaval's future, but hopefully this is the start of something. Ziggler has given the IC belt some sense of stability, but it's an otherwise forgettable run. In 2011, it'd be great to see prestige come back to the WWE titles. Good matches like this might be a start.
Prediction: Dolph Ziggler

United States Championship match
Ted Dibiase vs Daniel Bryan (c)
Ted Dibiase has been suffering from a severe lack of personality, something his former Priceless teammate, Cody Rhodes, has done well to avoid. I still prefer Dibiase of the two, but absolutely could not stomach a US championship reign at this point in time. Maryse adds some interest to his appearances, but no amount of bad singing and babes will be enough to make Dibiase a worthy contender to this title. The best we can hope for is a decent match. Bryan Danielson needs a better class of challenger to etch his name in history with, but at least he isn't on the losing end of this questionable encounter [I hope].
Prediction: Daniel Bryan

Handicap Divas Championship match
Natalya Neidhart vs Layla & Michelle McCool (c)
I don't know what the point of this match is, or the Divas title, for that matter.
With TNA dropping the ball on their women's tag titles, they might as well make the Divas belt a tandem title (as discussed many times throughout 2010). Pointless either way.
Prediction: Michelle McCool & Layla

The Kayfabe Countdown: WWE Top Ten
Cumulative tally based on the win/loss records of televised matches.

#1 The Big Show [--]
#2 Kofi Kingston [--]
#3 Rey Mysterio [--]
#4 Randy Orton (WWE Champion) [--]
#5 Drew McIntyre [--]
#6 Cody Rhodes [--]
#7 R-Truth [--]
#8 The Miz (Money in the Bank) [--]
#9 Kane (World Heavyweight Champion) [--]
#10 John Cena [RE]

#1 Tyson Kidd & DH Smith [--]
#2 Layla & Michelle McCool [--]
#3 Drew McIntyre & Cody Rhodes [--]
#4 Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov [--]
#5 Brie Bella & Nikki Bella [--]