Randy Orton VS. Shawn Michaels
(WWE Championship)
The war between WWE Champion Randy Orton and Shawn Michaels has been personal and nothing short of a battle for survival. Nothing was settled at Cyber Sunday as Orton purposely got disqualified to save his championship and deny HBK his revenge for being put out by the Legend Killer for five months. However, that didn’t protect Orton from the embarrassment of being knocked out – for the fourth time in a row – by The Showstopper’s Sweet Chin Music.
Now these two will battle again at Survivor Series, with the WWE Title on the line. Orton and HBK are evenly matched. Sweet Chin Music has long been his quick, sudden and lethal equalizer whenever he has had to reach deep within himself and overcome the odds. Orton is a relentless, sadistic viper who has left a who’s who of legendary Superstars lying in his wake with the RKO and brutal punt to the skull. He nearly ended Michaels’ career with this one-two combination and was embarrassed when HBK returned. In Orton’s mind, The Showstopper dampened his reputation as a Legend Killer and has stolen the spotlight he believes is rightfully his as WWE Champion.
But never sell HBK short. He wants revenge on Orton for nearly ending his career. HBK admits that Mr. McMahon is right: the Legend Killer may have tapped into his darkest, deepest evil side. Michaels wants to take Orton out in his prime and snuff out his career.
In addition, Survivor Series has been kind to The Showstopper. Michaels has won a world championship twice at the Survivor Series, the last time in 2002 when he survived The Elimination Chamber to win the World Heavyweight Title.
Orton has said he is a “one-man dynasty.” HBK says he wants to hit Orton where it would hurt him the most by taking away his beloved WWE Championship. There can be only one winner in this titanic struggle for survival. Will it be the legend that is HBK or the Legend Killer?
Batista VS. Undertaker
(World Heavyweight Championship in a Hell in a Cell match)
Neither Batista nor Undertaker is willing to let the rivalry of 2007 rest in peace. In four epic battles this year, each titan holds one victory apiece – The Phenom at WrestleMania 23, The Animal at Cyber Sunday – while two draws prove just how evenly matched they are. Therefore, the only way to establish a definitive winner at this year’s Survivor Series is to have the proverbial rubber match confined in steel – the demonic structure known as Hell in a Cell.
The Deadman laid down the latest gauntlet on SmackDown, less than a week after Cyber Sunday, when the World Heavyweight Champion defeated him for the first time ever. As the defending champion, Batista didn’t need to grant Undertaker a rematch, though he wasted no time in doing so. That alone confirmed what The Animal has maintained all along – that he’s not intimidated by The Phenom.
Then again, perhaps Batista was a bit hasty in accepting the challenge, especially after Undertaker uttered the four words that sends shivers down any WWE Superstar’s spine. Hell in a Cell has earned every bit of its standing as the most dangerous specialty match in sports-entertainment. The 20-foot-high, 30-by-30 structure was built on a foundation of broken bones, torn flesh and pools of crimson liquid. Even referees object to officiating such a barbaric contest, for they too have felt “Hell’s” fury on occasion.
Having battled in half of the 14 Hell in a Cell contests that WWE has ever sanctioned – a record matched only by Triple H – Undertaker’s experience gives him a definite advantage. He knows how treacherous the Hadean confines are, and how much pain he can inflict both inside and outside the padlocked structure. Then again, Batista has also experienced Hell in a Cell, and he remains the only Superstar to ever beat Triple H one-on-one within the unbending steel. And as he proved to The Great Khali in a Punjabi Prison Match at No Mercy last October, trapping an Animal inside a cage can be very dangerous.
Batista and Undertaker’s Survivor Series encounter will mark the fifth time that two monstrous fan favorites have battled in one calendar year – a WWE first, to be certain. But while our fans remain divided over who to cheer for in the main event, they can hopefully agree on one thing: That, win or lose, both Superstars exit the career-threatening Hell in a Cell under their own power, and with their careers intact.
Kane,Rey Mesterio,Matt Hardy,Jeff Hardy,and Triple H VS. Big Daddy V,Finlay,MVP,Mr. Kennedy,and Umaga
Though individual personal rivalries will be at the forefront when Triple H, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Rey Mysterio & Kane face Umaga, Mr. Kennedy, MVP, Finlay & Big Daddy V, the hodgepodge of Superstars will have to work together to survive a tri-branded Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Match.
A Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Match is a fight for survival. Long before Survivor on CBS, WWE Superstars were battling for survival in this unique match. Members of individual teams are weeded out by pinfall, count-out or submission until one group is eliminated entirely, and another is left standing alone in the ring. The battle could be entirely give-and-take, or could lead to an advantage as steep as 5-on-1 for one team.
The team consisting of Triple H, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Mysterio & Kane may have a slight advantage in chemistry simply because it has two brothers. The six-time World Tag Team Champion Hardys will be reunited for Survivor Series. Although both have been consumed with their own rivalries (Jeff with Kennedy and Matt with his odd couple relationship with WWE Tag Team partner MVP), nothing can break the bond of two brothers.
Meanwhile, Triple H has been hell-bent on getting the upper hand in his career-threatening blood war with Umaga while Mysterio and Finlay have had a physical rivalry on SmackDown. However, a team that includes both Big Daddy V and Mr. Kennedy cannot be ignored.
In previous showdowns with Kane, Big Daddy V has been determined to prove that he is truly The Dominating Force in WWE. No one has been able to stop the mammoth man from Harlem. At Survivor Series, Big Daddy V could make a gigantic statement by taking out the Big Red Machine and his team.
And while U.S. Champion MVP may be reticent to stoke the fires on his rivalry with Matt Hardy over his title, Mr. Kennedy is most likely chomping at the bit to show the world he is the future of sports-entertainment against Jeff Hardy. Kennedy and the “Rainbow-haired Warrior” have been battling for bragging rights and perhaps a future opportunity at the WWE Championship for weeks. The loudmouth from Green Bay, Wis., could also want to put the various members of Jeff’s team on notice as well. Kennedy could put his money where his big mouth is with an impressive showing at Survivor Series.
The battle lines have been drawn. Which team will face total elimination? Who will survive in this Traditional Survivor Series showdown?
Hornswoggle VS. The Great Khali
Since being revealed as Mr. McMahon’s illegitimate offspring last September on Raw, li’l Hornswoggle has been delighting our fans big-time with his un-McMahon-like shenanigans. His antics could be cut short at Survivor Series, though; as a result of the WWE Chairman’s ever-sadistic “tough love” philosophy, the littlest member of the McMahon clan must come face-to…knee with the largest athlete in sports-entertainment, the 7-foot-3, 420-pound Great Khali.
The Punjabi colossus has been on a fuse much shorter than even Hornswoggle himself, ever since he lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Batista at Unforgiven. In fact, his destructive anger and rampaging aggression seems to grow with each passing week -- unfortunately for the leprechaunic McMahon, who has been trying to prove his worth to his father since finding out which family tree he fell from. The former Cruiserweight Champion of the World will need a power far greater than the luck of the Irish if he hopes to escape Survivor Series with all of his little limbs in their proper places.
At Survivor Series, our fans may well be treated to a first: Seeing The Great Khali apply his dreaded Vise Grip on poor Hornswoggle – with only one hand. If he even hopes to avoid the behemoth’s titantic paws, the pint-sized pugilist better keep his head up – way, way up – and figure out a way to survive this incredibly lopsided encounter of “might vs. mite.” Can Hornswoggle overcome the gigantic challenge his caring father has put before him? Or will The Great Khali’s biggest dilemma at Survivor Series be to keep checking under his size 18EEEE boot, and see if he has literally squashed the vertically challenged grape seeded by Mr. McMahon's "grapefruits"?
CM Punk VS. John Morrison VS. The Miz
(ECW Championship)
After the world witnessed the hat trick that altered the fate of No. 1 contender John Morrison on ECW on Sci Fi, General Manager Armando Estrada made an executive decision almost overnight regarding the ECW Title and Survivor Series. Following the conclusion of the ECW Championship Match (and the ensuing brawl), Estrada has announced that CM Punk will face both Miz and Morrison in a Triple Threat Match, live on pay-per-view.
In the past two weeks, the Straightedge Champion has battled the self-proclaimed “chick magnet” and the Shaman of Sexy in singles competition with the gold at stake. Though he secured victories against both cunning individuals on these occasions, Punk’s reign is at a greater risk in a match where he doesn’t even need to be pinned to lose the gold. The first fall counts for the title – even if either Miz or Morrison manages to pin the other.
If Punk can capitalize on the vile animosity that the Tuesday Night Delight and ECW’s ultimate ladies’ man share, the ECW Champion could bank another victory in the American Airlines Arena. Might the Straightedge Superstar end up being thankful for his challengers’ hatred for one another? Or, will The Miz and Morrison’s slew of individual downfalls propel one of them toward the ECW Title?
Beth Phoenix,Jillian Hall,Melina,Victoria,and Layla VS. Mickie James,Maria,Torrie Wilson,Michelle McCool,and Kelly Kelly
Practically no Diva in WWE can compare to the Glamazon, Beth Phoenix. The Women’s Champion says she is the epitome of beauty, class and athleticism and has proven it since she burst on the scene earlier this year. She settles for nothing less than perfection and will expect nothing less from her team when she leads Jillian Hall, Melina, Victoria & Layla into an interpromotional 10 Divas Tag Team Match against Mickie James, Maria, Torrie Wilson, Michelle McCool and Kelly Kelly at Survivor Series.
The Glamazon is not known to work well with others – she doesn’t need to – but she has one thing in common with her fellow Divas from Raw, SmackDown, and ECW: They all have a chip on their beautiful shoulders.
Nevertheless, there will be some personal issues that may highlight this interpromotional match involving the Divas from Raw, SmackDown, and ECW. Kelly Kelly wants to lay her claws into her former Extreme Exposé teammate Layla, who, along with The Miz, has made her life a living hell in ECW. Michelle McCool and Victoria have been at each other’s throats for months on SmackDown.
The Divas will add some sugar and spice, and everything nice at Survivor Series
Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch VS. Cody Rhodes and Hardcore Holly
(World Tag Team Championship)
In some ways, the World Tag Team Championship Match between defending champs Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch and Cody Rhodes & Hardcore Holly is a story of two teams that may be going in opposite directions.
On the surface, Cade & Murdoch should be overwhelming favorites in this match. Unlike Rhodes & Holly, they are long-time tag team partners. They’ve been through thick and thin and won two World Tag Team Championships. But hints of dissension rooted in Cade’s concern over Murdoch’s alleged lack of focus – and growing infatuation with Diva Mickie James – have recently surfaced and chipped away at this duo’s chemistry.
Meanwhile, unlike Cade & Murdoch, Cody Rhodes and Hardcore Holly are not exactly friends. The veteran Holly and relative newcomer Rhodes are opposites in many ways. Our fans have grown more accustomed to their being on opposite sides of the ring, as Holly and Rhodes have fought each other across the nation and around the world in battles for respect. Slowly – and in the ornery Holly’s case, begrudgingly – these two appear to have developed a growing respect for one another. Perhaps that is rooted in their mutual love of the business and tradition: Holly is considered an “old school” Superstar while Rhodes, the son of the “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, has old school values.
These shared values and apparent emerging respect enabled Holly & Rhodes to gain victories over the more experienced Self-Proclaimed World’s Greatest Tag Team and in the Triple Threat Match that determined this Survivor Series matchup. The growing chemistry between Rhodes & Holly and seemingly growing discontent between Cade & Murdoch have perhaps evened the odds in this battle.
Will Cade & Murdoch be able to focus and keep their World Tag Team Championships? Will Holly & Rhodes continue to develop more respect for one another, and will that lead to a title victory?
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Subject: The Official Thread for Survivor Series 
Sun Oct 28, 2007 11:29 pm
