WWE Survivor Series 1987 Review: The First Survivor Series

Photo Courtesy of WWE.com

Five-on-Five Survivor Series Elimination Match: Randy Savage, Jake Roberts, Ricky Steamboat, Brutus Beefcake, Jim Duggan vs. The Honky Tonk Man, Hercules, “Danny Davis, Ron Bass and Harely Race

Result: Team Macho Man defeated Team Honky Tonk Man

Survivors: Randy Savage, Jake Roberts and Ricky Steamboat

Rating: 3.2 out of 5 Stars

The Honky Tonk Man was in the midst of his legendary Intercontinental Championship reign, and he upset a lot of people during that span, including several members of Team Macho Man: Ricky Steamboat was the one who lost the belt to Honky Tonk, and Jake the Snake was forced out of action for several months after taking a guitar shot to head from Honky Tonk at WrestleMania III.

No one was more upset with Honky Tonk Man at the time, though, than—you guessed it—Randy Savage. Savage and the Honky Tonk Man had feuded for a few months after Macho Man took exception to Honky Tonk’s claim that he was the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time.

Things came to a head when, earlier in the month, the Honky Tonk Man got himself disqualified in a title match with Randy Savage, costing Savage his chance at the belt. To add insult to injury, the Honky Tonk Man shoved Miss Elizabeth to the mat, while Savage was restrained by the Hart Foundation, and afterward the Honky Tonk Man capped it off by delivering a guitar shot to Macho Man.

So it only made sense that each man should gather a team and face off in a five-on-five elimination match at Survivor Series.

The match itself was the opening bout of the show; the action kicked off with Brutus the Barber and Hercules representing their respective teams. The two sides remained neck and neck for the first half of the match, with neither team gaining more than a one-man advantage at any point.

The first elimination was actually a double elimination after Hacksaw and Harley Race got counted out after going at it outside the ring. The second man to fall was “The Outlaw” Ron Bass after taking a high knee from Brutus Beefcake and getting pinned. Beefcake, in turn, met a similar fate shortly after when he fell victim to the Honky Tonk Man’s Shake, Rattle and Roll.

It wasn’t until the teams were knotted up at three apiece when one side managed to gain a clear advantage. After sustaining a thorough beating from Team Honky Tonk, Jake the Snake rallied against a not-so-Dangerous Danny Davis, and landed a DDT for the elimination. Team Macho Man was then able to extend their lead after Macho Man hit a flying elbow on Hercules, leaving the Honky Tonk Man in a three-on-one handicap situation.

The Honky Tonk Man got knocked around by all three members of Team Macho Man, which inspired Honky Tonk to roll out of the ring and get eliminated in classic Honky Tonk Fashion: count out.

Next: Women's Survivor Series Match