Gimmick Some Lovin': The Survivor Series Match

Survivor Series

As show-defining moments go, Survivor Series 2015 had one of the oddest.

Outside of SummerSlam's main event of Randy Orton vs. Brock Lesnar, which was marred by controversy due to the slapdash nature of the feud and the brutal ending which left many fans wondering whether it was a work, shoot, or Lesnar simply taking liberties with Orton's skull, Survivor Series represented the first cross-brand competition since July's draft.

Yes, WWE had ten tag teams in the fall of 2016. Well, nine tag teams and The Shining Stars.

Three Raw versus Smackdown! elimination contests were announced, with a five-on-five women's contest, ten-on-ten tag team competition, and five-on-five men's singles contests giving fans far more, far more interesting, and far better elimination action than they got in both 2015 and 2014. Teams would be assembled from the rosters of the two shows and fight for absolutely nothing but our enjoyment bragging rights.

Past Survivor Series teams were defined by common themes; there were clear heel/face alignments, and teams often had similar or shared costumes, characters, or managers (teams like Roddy's Rowdies or The Heenan Family in 1989, or the Hart Family in 1993 come to mind).

2016's teams were united only by the show on which their members performed, and brought a fun dynamic of individual rivalries and alliances within and between the two squads affecting the outcome of the match.

Many of 2015 and 2016's most memorable programs were represented here, including feuds between teammates (Styles and Dean Ambrose, Strowman versus everyone not named Strowman) and connections between Superstars drafted to different shows (like Jericho and Ambrose's 2016 feud or the ongoing saga between former Shield teammates Reigns, Ambrose, and Seth Rollins).

A world title blood feud, sleeper agent cult invasion, and billionaire heir all under the same umbrella.

Seven men in 2016's contest were current or former WWE Champions, with an eighth (Bray Wyatt) added to that illustrious list months later. Fans might not have been as ardently loyal to one team or the other, but the match carried a high level of anticipation for 10 of the biggest stars in sports entertainment preparing to do battle.