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With Survivor Series 2020 coming up, it is a great time to look at the spectacular past of its titular match. The traditional Survivor Series elimination matches have been the staple of the annual November pay-per-view since the beginning. This signature has always made this event stand out for any major show across professional wrestling over the years.
There have been many memorable contests under this match type, but even more star-studded teams put together due to it. From former champions coming together to feuding Superstars forced to unite, the list of sensational units put on display at Survivor Series is plentiful.
Prior to the 2020 event, there have been 173 different traditional Survivor Series teams. In this article, read about the five best Survivor Series teams in history.
Honorable mentions:
- The All-Americans - Lex Luger, The Steiner Brothers & Undertaker (1993)
- Team Alliance - Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Booker T & Shane McMahon (2001)
- Team Smackdown - Batista, JBL, Bobby Lashley, Rey Mysterio & Randy Orton (2005)
#5 The Warriors - Ultimate Warrior, Texas Tornado, and Legion of Doom (WWE Survivor Series 1990)
The earliest star-studded Survivor Series team comes from the 1990 event. This show is most remembered for the legendary debut of The Undertaker. However, before this occurred, the first traditional elimination contest of the night was The Perfect Team of WWF Intercontinental Champion Mr. Perfect and all three members of Demolition against The Warriors of WWF Champion Ultimate Warrior, Texas Tornado, and the Legion of Doom.
The Survivor Series team consisted of the top babyface in the company, a former WWF Intercontinental Champion, and one of the biggest tag teams of the 80s. Ultimate Warrior had defeated Hulk Hogan earlier in the year at WrestleMania 6 to win the WWF Championship. Texas Tornado was not only a former IC Champ but also a former NWA Heavyweight Champion.
Legion of Doom had just come over to the WWF, but they had won tag team gold throughout the world from NWA, Jim Crockett Promotions, and Japan. The look of this unit brought cohesion, with Warrior matching the face paint of LOD and tassels of Tornado. The Warriors also pulled out the win here, with Ultimate Warrior being the sole survivor.
#4 Team RAW - Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Chris Jericho, and Braun Strowman (WWE Survivor Series 2016)
Survivor Series 2016 marked the first year that the event became all about brand supremacy between RAW and SmackDown. The climactic encounter would be the traditional 5-on-5 contest. Both teams were filled with the upper echelon of top stars in WWE at the time.
Team RAW consisted of WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens, WWE United States Champion Roman Reigns, Chris Jericho, Seth Rollins, and Braun Strowman while Team SmackDown had WWE Champion AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose, Randy Orton, Bray Wyatt, and Shane McMahon.
In retrospect, the RAW squad at Survivor Series 2016 would all go on to become former WWE or Universal Champions. Kevin Owens also has held NXT and United States gold. Jericho has held the Intercontinental Championship more times than anyone. Seth Rollins has held every singles title on the main roster. Strowman is a former Universal, Intercontinental, and RAW Tag Team Champion, while Reigns is the unquestionable top star in all of the company.
Although this unit did not win their traditional Survivor Series match, they may very well be the most stacked lineup to not win one. It is a team that very much fits the tagline of this year's event, being "The Best of the Best".
#3 Team Austin - Shawn Michaels, Rob Van Dam, Booker T, and The Dudleys (WWE Survivor Series 2003)
One of the greatest Survivor Series elimination matches of all time has to be Team Austin vs. Team Bischoff at the 2003 event. There was something at stake, which always elevates the meaning of this match type. If Team Austin won, Stone Cold Steve Austin would be able to get his hands on anyone from the RAW roster. If Team Bischoff won, Austin would be fired as the General Manager.
At Survivor Series 2003, Team Bischoff consisted of Chris Jericho, Christian, Mark Henry, Scott Steiner, and Randy Orton, while Team Austin had Shawn Michaels, Booker T, WWE Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam, and The Dudleys. Although Team Bischoff were the victors, Team Austin had arguably the better team with a group of Hall of Famers and legendary competitors.
The Heartbreak Kid is one of the biggest stars in WWE history and put on an all-time classic performance in this contest. Booker T is a WWE Hall of Famer and six-time world champion. Rob Van Dam is a former WWE Champion, and The Dudleys are also WWE Hall of Famers and former 10-time Tag Team Champions in WWE alone.
These were some of the biggest babyfaces in WWE at the time coming together to fight for Austin's job. Team Austin at Survivor Series 2003 has to be the best collection of talent in a losing squad at this November event.
#2 Team DX - Triple H, Shawn Michaels, CM Punk, and The Hardy Boyz (WWE Survivor Series 2006)
The most dominant Survivor Series team in history came together at the 2006 event. Team DX of Triple H, Shawn Michaels, CM Punk, and the Hardy Boyz have to be considered one of the most accomplished units ever in these 5-on-5 elimination matches.
Triple H is a 13-time World Champion. As we previously stated, Michaels is one of the biggest stars and most acclaimed in-ring workers in WWE history. A rookie in his WWE career at the time, Punk would go on to become a four-time WWE World Champion and had a reign of 434 days. The Hardys are one of the greatest tag teams in wrestling history, while Jeff alone is a former three-time WWE World Champion.
This collection of talent at Survivor Series 2006 on accolades alone would be considered one of the very best put together, but you also have to consider what they accomplished at the event. In their traditional Survivor Series elimination bout, Team DX made history in pulling off a clean sweep against Team Rated RKO of Edge, Randy Orton, Gregory Helms, Johnny Nitro, and Mike Knox.
Their performance has been unmatched before or after pulling off this feat. Team DX would be the unquestionable best-ever Survivor Series team if it were not for the stakes that our number 1 team had on the line in their contest.
#1 Team WWF - The Rock, Undertaker, Kane, Chris Jericho & Big Show (Survivor Series 2001)
Survivor Series 2001 was the culmination of the WWF vs. Alliance storyline, which followed Vince McMahon purchasing WCW and ECW, thus ending the Attitude Era. The often-criticized storyline has been talked about plenty in the 19 years since it occurred, but there is no denying that they got this night right with the 5-on-5 elimination Winner Take All bout.
Team Alliance consisted of WWF Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, WWF Hardcore Champion Rob Van Dam, Booker T and Shane McMahon. This unit is definitely formidable, but it pales in comparison to Team WWF at Survivor Series 2001.
Team WWF featured WCW Champion The Rock, Chris Jericho, Big Show, and the Brothers of Destruction. The Rock obviously is one of the biggest stars in wrestling ever. Chris Jericho would go on to become the first Undisputed Champion a month later. Big Show is the only man to win the WWE, WCW, and ECW Championships.
Their partners in the Brothers of Destruction were the first to unite the WWF and WCW Tag Team Titles The. Undertaker on his own is the greatest character in WWE history and former 7-time World Champion, while Kane is a former two time WWE World Champion. This is obviously one of the most accomplished teams ever assembled at Survivor Series.
Taking accolades away, though, Team WWF had arguably the biggest win in Survivor Series history at the 2001 event. This encounter with Team Alliance was for sole control of the WWF, with The Rock being the sole survivor to get the victory. Based on everything, including those stakes and the quality of this match, Team WWF is the greatest Survivor Series team in the event's history.
