WWE: Survivor Series 2007
November 18, 2007
Miami, FL
American Airlines Arena

The current WWE champions are as follows:
WWE Champion: Randy Orton (10/7/2007)
WWE Intercontinental Champion: Jeff Hardy (9/3/2007)
World Tag Team Champions: Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch (9/8/2007)
WWE Women’s Champion: Beth Phoenix (10/7/2007)
ECW Champion: CM Punk (9/4/2007)
World Heavyweight Champion: Batista (9/16/2007)
WWE United States Champion: MVP (5/20/2007)
WWE Tag Team Champions: The Miz & John Morrison (11/16/2007)

Read along if you have the WWE Network!

Your hosts are Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole & JBL, and Joey Styles & Tazz.

• ECW Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. The Miz vs. John Morrison

Since Miz and Morrison are now WWE tag champs, this puts Punk at an EXTREME perceived disadvantage. We will see how that works out here. Miz and Morrison jump Punk at the bell, but Punk manages to get off a few hope spot nearfalls on the tag champs. Punk dumps them both out for a tope suicida. He asks the crowd what his name is. I hope he’s not genuinely asking. Punk tosses Morrison back inside for the Springboard Clothesline only for Miz to yank his leg and put a stop to it. This turns the tide against Punk, but Miz quickly turns on Morrison and tries to pin Punk. He applies a camel clutch on Punk while keeping Morrison at bay. Punk fires back with an enziguri while Morrison slingshots himself from the apron and kicks Miz to the floor. The backbreaker/neckbreaker combo from Morrison gets two. Cobra clutch by Morrison. As Punk fights out, he gets dumped over the top rope. When he tries to skin-the-cat, Miz grabs him by the legs and slam dunks him on the floor. GEEZ. Miz and Morrison trade nearfalls. The Awesome Clothesline gets two. Morrison comes back with STARSHIP PAIN, but Punk breaks up the cover. Up in the corner, Punk headscissors Morrison into Miz for a powerbomb. Miz tries to get the pinfall, but Punk stops him with a low dropkick. NOW HERE COMES PUNK! The running high knee and bulldog gets two. Punk drills Miz with Welcome to Chicago MF’er for 1-2-NO! Morrison tries to sneak a win on Punk for two. Punk tries to give him the GTS, but Morrison wiggles away and lands on the apron. Miz charges them both and knocks Morrison to the floor. He then staggers into the GTS to give Punk the three-count. (7:58) Nice little popcorn match to start the show. Nothing blew me away, but I was…entertained. They didn’t try to do too much with the whole Miz and Morrison not getting along despite being the WWE tag champs deal. They should be able to get away with moving forward here as partners and not even really mention anything that happened during this match despite the miscommunication at the end. **½

Reality show participant Anastacia Rose is backstage to interview MVP. The internet tells me she stayed around WWE for the fall of 2007 and then she was released. They discuss Matt Hardy being on crutches since what went down on Smackdown this past week. MVP thinks Matt has always been supported by others whether it was Jeff Hardy or himself. With that being said, Matt will not be competing here tonight.

• Beth Phoenix, Layla, Melina, Victoria & Jillian Hall vs. Torrie Wilson, Michelle McCool, Kelly Kelly, Maria & Mickie James

Melina flubs her split that she does on the apron and nails it on the second try. McCool comes out wearing a Dwayne Wade jersey to appear interesting. She tosses and kicks Victoria around to start. Tag to Torrie, Victoria pulls her into the Spider Web side slam. Layla gets a tag. She’s a heel now. Torrie gives her a suplex. As attractive as these two women are, they aren’t the workhorses of the team. Torrie tags in KK to go after Layla, but Layla doesn’t want any part of her and tags in Jillian. KK gets her face rubbed into Jillian’s super fake looking boobies, but then kicks away a handspring elbow and a jackknife roll gets two. Here comes Maria. Phoenix blind tags Jillian and surprises Maria with an awesome powerslam. She tags out and lets the other chicks do the dirty work on Maria. Melina misses a Bossman straddle allowing Maria to reach Mickie James for the hot tag. Phoenix tries to cut her off from the apron, but Torrie and KK knock her down. To umm, confuse (?) Melina, Mickie James kisses her and then delivers a spin kick to the head for the three-count. (4:42) I was considering analyzing that finish, but I think I’m just going to leave it alone. Match was okay. *½

Backstage, Jonathan Coachman and William Regal watch Hornswoggle sweating and pacing before his match with the Great Khali.

We get two interviews from “Earlier Today” – one with Randy Orton and one with Shawn Michaels. They both think they are going to win. Imagine that.

• World Tag Team Championship: Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch (c) vs. Cody Rhodes & Hardcore Holly

To show how important the world tag titles are at this point, the #1 contenders match took place on WWE.com on what appeared to be WWE Heat. Cody tries to show off with some flashy moves to start, but then Cade shuts him down with one NASTY backbreaker. Now we see Holly chop the crap out of Murdoch. Cade tags back in and pounds down Holly, but runs into a boot and gets kicked in the mid-section. Cade gets tossed out and then Murdoch lands on top of him. Back inside, Holly gets the Hart Attack running boot from the tag champs. That gets two. The Midnight Express double-team legdrop gets two as well. The tag champs continue to get heat on Holly until they miss the double-team legdrop move. Tag to Cody, he tries to get the people behind him but Miami just doesn’t care. The Running Bulldog connects on Murdoch to set up a MISSILE DROPKICK for 1-2-NO! Cade makes the save, but Holly collides with him as they both go to the floor. Meanwhile, Murdoch finds the ACE OF SPADES on Cody and picks up the win to retain the titles. (7:18) Holly doesn’t look happy about this, but finally gave Cody an encouraging pat on the shoulder. The guys worked hard, but this match was just completely pointless. *½

Team Triple H meet up backstage with Todd Grisham to cut a promo. They are fine Matt Hardy is out because now they are SUPER motivated to whoop some butt. Rey Mysterio has no trouble being the underdog because he’s always the underdog. Kane and Jeff Hardy all of a sudden remember their past issues with Triple H and it’s kinda funny. Triple H tries to get them back on track telling them to channel that newfound rage towards him at Team Umaga tonight.

• Elimination Match: Triple H, Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio & Kane vs. Umaga, Finlay, Mr. Kennedy, MVP & Big Daddy V (w/Matt Striker)

After the number MVP did on Matt Hardy on Smackdown once they lost the WWE tag titles, there was no way Matt would be able to show up to be a part of Team Triple H tonight, which leaves that team at a perceived disadvantage. But when you have Triple H on your team, I have a feeling the good guys will be just fine.

Rey and Kennedy start us off trading some wristlockage. Kennedy quickly overpowers, but Mysterio fires back with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors and a Code Red for two. Hardy tags in for Poetry in Motion. Kennedy avoids the Twist of Fate and drills Jeff with a clothesline. In comes MVP, he kicks Jeff in the back and sells the leg that was “injured” on Smackdown. Awesome. Big Daddy V tags in and steps on Jeff. This leads to a tag to Kane, but Big Daddy V drops him with a belly to belly suplex (!) for two. Kane works himself up into a frenzy though. MVP walks in and takes a Side Slam. The Flying Clothesline connects on Big Daddy V. Finlay walks into a CHOKESLAM though, but then Kane takes a Samoan Drop from Big Daddy V to set up an ELBOW DROP for the pinfall at 5:29.

Triple H comes in and tries to take Big Daddy V off his feet, but he gets wiped out. Tag to Umaga, HHH walks into a Belly to Belly Suplex. Umaga puts the headbutts to Triple H, but misses a flying headbutt. Tag to Mysterio, he avoids a butt splash and hits 619. The Seated Senton gets 1-2-NO! Holy crap, the crowd went nuts for that nearfall. That’s about as good as it gets for Rey though as he springboards into a nasty Black Hole Slam to set up the SAMOAN SPIKE to send Rey to the showers at 9:19.

Now we’re down to just Triple H and Jeff Hardy against all five heels. Kennedy wants Jeff and just when it looks like he might regret that decision, MVP pulls Kennedy away from the dropkick down in the corner to cause Jeff to crash and burn on the mat. Jeff fights out of a sleeperhold from MVP, but gets dumped off MVP’s shoulders. However, Jeff avoids the DRIVE-BY KICK and gives MVP the TWIST OF FATE for the pinfall in 12:52.

In comes Kennedy to take over. Jeff enziguris him away and hot tags Triple H. Big Daddy V waltzes in to break up a pinfall and lands on top of Kennedy by mistake. Whoopsies. Triple H hops on top of Kennedy and sends him to the locker room at 14:24.

An angry Big Daddy V runs Jeff into the post and bounces Triple H’s face off the steps. Back inside though, he misses a corner charge on both of them and takes a double DDT from HHH and Hardy to get rid of BDV at 15:28.

Having not really seen any action in this match outside of the chokeslam from Kane, Finlay is a HOUSE OF FIRE beating the crap out of HHH. He flies down into a face full of HHH’s boot though to turn the tide. Hot tag to Jeff, he drills Finlay with that low dropkick down in the corner for two. Once Jeff takes a ride out to the apron, Umaga kicks him down HARD to the floor. Back inside, Finlay hits a short-arm clothesline for two. Desperation Whisper in the Wind connects. Umaga tries to cut off the hot tag, but Hardy mule kicks him away. Tag to Triple H, he delivers the High Knee and the AA Spinebuster. Umaga prevents the Pedigree from happening with a kick to the head, but Triple H delivers the PEDIGREE anyways to take out Finlay in 21:18.

Umaga comes in and beats HHH down in the corner, but misses the buttalanche. Triple H gives him the PEDIGREE to set up the SWANTON BOMB from Jeff to get the pinfall. (22:10) This was booked to appear as though Triple H’s team was in serious jeopardy and to begin making Jeff look like a serious ass kicker. The problem with this match was that it didn’t really feel like it had a ton of importance and that hurts Jeff’s chances of going to the next level. He needs some matches with some weight to it if he’s going to move forward. Not a bad match, but I didn’t feel invested in it. Survivors: Jeff Hardy and Triple H. ***¼

Backstage, Vince McMahon stops by to see his bastard son Hornswoggle and gets Jonathan Coachman and William Regal to step out. Vince tells Horny he didn’t book him in this train wreck with the Great Khali because he doesn’t like him, he did it because Horny is a “McMahon”. Vince never really says why he booked the match – he just keeps putting himself over while pretending to get Hornswoggle hyped to the gills.

• The Great Khali (w/Runjin Singh) vs. Hornswoggle (w/Vince & Shane McMahon)

Shane McMahon comes out and introduces his father and his little brother to the ring. Shaq is spotted in the crowd and Vince makes sure to tell the crowd he doesn’t care if they want Shaq or not. Horny is PUMPED UP. Singh takes a few bumps from Hornswoggle because Khali certainly isn’t. Horny even blows GREEN MIST~! at Singh. Awesome. Now Horny finds a shillelagh and takes a BRAIN CHOP for his troubles. While Khali threatens him with the Head Vice, FINLAY runs down to save the day for the DQ. (KHALI 3:16) This is supposed to be Finlay’s face turn. It’s not exactly Dusty Rhodes turning on Gary Hart and Pak Song, but it is what it is. Of course this wasn’t going to be a great match, but it wasn’t booked all that bad. ¼*

Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano and a highly inebriated Yankees center fielder Johnny Damon is shown in attendance tonight.

• WWE Championship: Randy Orton (c) vs. Shawn Michaels

Randy Orton punted Shawn Michaels in the head back in May to send him out of action for the summer. Every five years since 1992 at Survivor Series, Shawn Michaels has received a world title shot. He had won the world title twice in those three tries, but this time he can’t use Sweet Chin Music or he’ll be DQ’ed and can never face Orton again for the WWE title. As for Randy Orton, Shawn gets the strap if Orton gets himself disqualified. Early on, Shawn goes all European on us and works a cravat. Orton beats him back into the corner and tries to fire him up so he’ll lose his cool and try Sweet Chin Music, but Shawn manages to stop himself. HBK grounds Orton with a chinlock and floats over to a front headlock as he hits him in the top of the head with his knees. NASTY! Orton has to go to the floor to escape, but Shawn meets him on the outside with an ASAI MOONSAULT! Back in, Orton rolls through a flying bodypress for 1-2-NO! Orton levels Shawn with lifters while he properly sells all the neck work Shawn implemented earlier. Out of nowhere, Shawn applies a SHARPSHOOTER! Orton makes the ropes and snaps Shawn’s neck on the top rope. As he stomps Shawn to the apron, Orton brings him back into the ring with a DDT through the ropes for two. HBK fights out of a body vice combined with a chinlock and hits the Flying Forearm. He kips up and follows through with his signature comeback. He hesitates tuning up the band, but gets the crowd going anyways. The ref yells at him that he can’t go through with Sweet Chin Music or he’ll lose the match, but Shawn doesn’t listen. As Shawn goes for the kick, Orton covers up and gets caught in a small package for 1-2-NO! Since he can’t outsmart Orton, he’ll have to try and win a different way. He pulls Orton down into the CRIPPLER CROSSFACE! This put a bad taste in a lot of fan’s mouths considering this was only five months after the Benoit family tragedy. Orton gets his foot on the bottom rope for the break. Orton stops Shawn with a clothesline and delivers the Inverted Backbreaker and gets ready for the RKO. Perhaps another punt to the skull would be better? Shawn sees it coming and catches Orton’s foot for an ANKLELOCK! Everyone believes Shawn has a chance of winning now. Orton nearly reaches the ropes, but Shawn pulls him back and grapevines the leg for maximum leverage! Orton will not tap, turns the hold over, and kicks Shawn in the face to make him release the hold. Shawn tries a figure-four, but Orton kicks him off into the corner and tries for an RKO. Michaels shoves him off and thinks Sweet Chin Music, but he hesitates and gets nailed with a SICK RKO for the 1-2-3. (17:48) Afterwards, Orton gets in Shawn’s face and demands that Shawn tell him he’s the best. Out of nowhere, Shawn pops him with SWEET CHIN MUSIC. An AWESOME example of ring psychology with Shawn choosing to rely on different finishing holds that he had personally tapped out to in order to try and beat Orton. As for Orton, he didn’t know what to expect next from HBK, and you’re always trained to just look for the superkick with him. Just great stuff. ****

SAVE_US.X29. CHRIS JERICHO RETURNS TOMORROW NIGHT ON RAW!

• Hell in a Cell for the World Heavyweight Championship: Batista (c) vs. The Undertaker

This marks their fifth and final 1-on-1 meeting of the year. WrestleMania 23 ended with Taker getting the win, the last man standing match at Backlash ended in a draw, the cage match on Smackdown in May ended in a draw as well, and Bats defeated Taker at Cyber Sunday last month marking this as the ultimate rubber match inside HELL IN A CELL. They take turns controlling the fight early on here. Taker hits the Snake Eyes and the running boot for two. He then brings a chair in the ring, but Bats spears him down. Taker kicks the chair back in his face though and they go to the floor for some ringside violence. You know Cole can’t help but drop the cheese grater reference. Taker legdrops the throat on the apron and then decapitates Bats using the chair drawing blood from the mouth. AWESOME. Back inside, Bats stops Old School from happening by catching Taker in mid-air with a Spinebuster. Batista wins a slugfest and hits the Running Powerslam for two. Back to the floor, Batista whips UT into the cage, but then Taker reverses a whip into the steps and battering rams Bats into the cage to bust his head open. Now there’s a crazy chairshot to the head. Back inside, Bats stops Old School again and delivers a superplex. As Bats goes for the cover, Taker pulls him into the TRIANGLE CHOKE. Bats makes the ropes, but what does it matter? Nevertheless, the ref calls for the break. Once Batista rolls out, Taker launches himself through the ropes at Bats. Taker picks up half of the ring steps, but Bats kicks them back at Taker and drives the steps in Taker’s face to bust him open. In the ring, Taker stops the punches in the corner with the LAST RIDE for 1-2-NO! Now Taker wants the Chokeslam, but Bats will not die and kicks out at two. Here comes the Tombstone, but Batista counters to a Spinebuster for 1-2-NO! Bats takes it up a notch with a table and sets it up in the ring. DEMON BOMB THROUGH THE TABLE! Cover, 1-2-NO! Okay, now it’s time to take this match to 11. Batista brings the steps in the ring and goes for the Demon Bomb, but Taker backdrops him on the steps for 1-2-NO! TOMBSTONE to Bats! Cover, 1-2-NO! Taker does that zombie eye sell for the kickout. Time for the TOMBSTONE ON THE STEPS! Well, that should do it. Taker covers Bats and the ref gets pulled out of the ring at the two-count. WHAT IS HAPPENING. The cameraman EDGE RETURNS AND HE’S RESPONSIBLE! He slides into the ring and whacks Taker with the giant camera. Thankfully with all this carnage, that wasn’t enough to put down Taker. Edge grabs the chair and delivers a one-man CONCHAIRTO to Taker on the steps! That might do it. As Taker slinks to the mat, Edge grabs Bats and puts him on top of Taker to give Batista the win. (21:25) Like most of the other Batista/Undertaker battles, this actually felt like a clash of two titans. This was a pretty violent bloodbath and it’s probably the weakest of the five matches, but it’s still really good. And now that we have the luxury of foresight, we can see that Edge’s interference actually doesn’t hurt the finish of this match at all since it sets up the Smackdown main event scene all the way into WrestleMania 24. ***½

Final Thoughts: Well, the two main events were awesome and delivered as far as I’m concerned. Everything else was either inoffensive and kept relatively short or mildly entertaining, which is the most you can ask for from a PPV. If it’s going to suck, at least keep it short. I’m going to give Survivor Series 2007 a mild thumbs up as this show does seem to pointing us to bigger and brighter things ahead.