WWE Survivor Series 1996 (1996)

What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

1. Jesse James/Aldo Montaya/Bob Holly/Bart Gunn Vs. The Sultan/Salvatore Sincere/Justin Bradshaw/Billy Gunn - It reminds me setting up only for Gunns. - 6/102. Owen Hart/The British Bulldog/New Rockers Vs. Doug Furnas/Phillip Lafon/The Godwinns - Very surprising winners! But Owen sold good. It was his credit. 7.5/10/103. Mankind Vs. The Undertaker - They know it better. But nice done one. 7/104. Hunter Hearst Helmsley/Goldust/Crush/Jerry Lawler Vs. Marc Mero/The Stalker/Rocky Maivia/Jake Roberts - Hehe Crush without his legendary Mullet. Victory and push for Maivia 6.5/105. Stone Cold Vs Bret Hart - Legend versus Newbie with Push, pretty exciting thing. 8/106. Faarooq/Vader/Fake Diesel & Fake Razor Ramon Vs. Savio Vega/Yokozuna/Flash Funk/Jimmy Superboring Snuka - Now that was low: Fake Now-WCW wrestlers, Snuka, Vega and DQ ending with not so good action along. 5/107. WWF Heavyweight Championship: Psycho Sid Vs. Champ-Shawn Michaels 6.5/10

An awesome show in an exciting time in WWF history. A killer delivery from Bret Hart--in his return after an eight month absence--and Steve Austin, in his first big time pay-per view match. The match prompted a JR, "in the same spot where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier got it on, we're seeing this kind of action!" It gave off a big-time fight atmosphere to say the least, to say Ali-Frazier? I just wouldn't know. Come to think of it, all Bret Hart-Stone Cold matches had the big-fight feel. And this one in the Garden.Shawn Michaels and Sid also delivered a memorable Championship match. The Main Event saw, conveniently perhaps, the end of Michaels eight-month run as Champion. "The best eight months of my life," Michaels would later say. Sid "snapped" and unpredictably nailed one-time HBK corner-man Jose Latherio in the chest with a camera, nailed Michaels with the camera and a Powerbomb, on his way to winning his first major Championship amid a wildly positive reaction in New York City.This was the first show in 1996 where the audience didn't cooperate, so to speak. Fans cheered Austin and Sid. In Austin-Bret, there was an ROH-esquire "Austin (clap, clap)...Lets Go Bret!" chants, leading to . It was a time-changing piece in Austin's run and Bret's turn.The undercard featured Undertaker-Mankind III, this time with Paul Bearer in a cage and an Executioner (~!...?) run-in. The Rock debuted, as Rocky Miavia, in a Survivor Series match eliminating Crush and Goldust in route to winning the match for his team that also included Marc Mero. Owen and The Bulldog were good in the opener with Furnas & Lafon and the Godwinns.Sunny came out looking good, Vince danced with her in the jovial-Vince days so it was still funny. The commentary was also exceptional from everyone involved.

Bart Gunn, Jesse James, Aldo Montoya and Bob Holly vs. Sultan, Billy Gunn, Sal Sincere and Bradshaw Survivor: Bart Gunn Doug Furnas, Phil Lafon, Henry Godwinn and Phineas Godwinn vs. Owen Hart, British Bulldog, Leif Cassidy and Marty Jannetty Survivors: Doug Furnas and Phil LafonWith Paul Bearer suspended in a cage above the ring, the Undertaker defeated MankindMarc Mero, the Stalker, Rocky Maivia, and Jake Roberts vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Jerry "the King" Lawler, Crush and Goldust Survivor: Rocky MaiviaBret "Hitman" Hart defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin via pinfall.Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Yokozuna, Savio Vega and Flash Funk battled Vader, Faarooq, Razor Ramon and Diesel to a double disqualificationSycho Sid defeated Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship Overall Mark: B+

The Survivor Series events from 1992-1995 were pretty average. When I watched Survivor Series 1996 I was pleased because it was a return to form for one of my favourite PPV events of the year.The card was so memorable for so many reasons. Jake "The Snake" Roberts made his first Survivor Series appearance since the 1991 event. The Rock (then known as Rocky Maivia) made his debut and overcome the odds in a heated match. And we also got to see the return of veteran wrestler Jimmy Superfly Snuka.In addition to the elimination matches we got to see Bret Hart battle Steve Austin in a brilliant match and Sycho Sid and Shawn Michaels assembled an awesome encounter for the WWF Championship.