| Survivor Series | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Promotional poster featuringSeth Rollins | |||
| Promotion | WWE | ||
| Date | November 23, 2014 | ||
| City | St. Louis,Missouri | ||
| Venue | Scottrade Center | ||
| Attendance | 12,000[1] | ||
| Buy rate | 100,000[2](excludingWWE Network views) | ||
| WWE event chronology | |||
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| Survivor Series chronology | |||
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The 2014Survivor Series was aprofessional wrestlingevent produced byWWE. It was the 28th annualSurvivor Series and took place on November 23, 2014, at theScottrade Center inSt. Louis, Missouri. The event aired viapay-per-view (PPV) andlivestreaming, marking the first Survivor Series to be livestreamed on theWWE Network, which had been launched in February. The event was notable for featuring the WWE debut appearance of formerWCW wrestlerSting; it was also the first Survivor Series since2001 not to feature a world championship match.
Eight matches were contested at the event, including two on the Kickoff pre-show. The main event saw Team Cena (John Cena,Dolph Ziggler,Erick Rowan,Big Show, andRyback) defeatTeam Authority (Seth Rollins,Kane,Luke Harper,Mark Henry, andRusev) in a 5-on-5Survivor Series elimination match, with Ziggler emerging the lone survivor of his team and subsequently the whole match after eliminating Kane, Harper, and Rollins. The event had 100,000 buys (excluding WWE Network views), down from the previous year's 177,000 buys.
Survivor Series is an annualprofessional wrestlingpay-per-view (PPV) produced every November byWWE since 1987. The second longest running pay-per-view event in history (behind WWE'sWrestleMania), it is one of the promotion's original four pay-per-views, along with WrestleMania,Royal Rumble, andSummerSlam, collectively referred to as the "Big Four".[3] The event is traditionallycharacterized by havingSurvivor Series matches, which aretag team elimination matches that typically pits teams of four or five wrestlers against each other. Announced on April 28, 2014, the 28th Survivor Series was scheduled to be held on November 23, 2014, at theScottrade Center inSt. Louis,Missouri. Tickets went on sale on August 23.[4] In addition to airing on traditional pay-per-view, it was the first Survivor Series tolivestream on theWWE Network, which launched in February.[5][4]
The event comprised eight matches, including two on the Kickoff pre-show, that resulted from scripted storylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers,[6][7] while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows,Raw andSmackDown.
On the October 27 episode ofRaw, afterJohn Cena, the #1 contender for theWWE World Heavyweight Championship, rejected an offer to joinThe Authority,Triple H scheduled a traditionalSurvivor Series tag team elimination match, with a team representing The Authority facing a team captained by Cena. Later that night, it was hinted thatIntercontinental ChampionDolph Ziggler had joined Team Cena; both Cena and Ziggler saved each other from post-match attacks.[8] The next week onRaw,Vince McMahon announced that if Team Authority loses at Survivor Series, The Authority would be out of power (Triple H would be fired as COO, Kane would be fired as Director of Operations, and Stephanie McMahon would no longer be a Principal Owner of WWE).Seth Rollins,Kane andRandy Orton joined Team Authority with Rollins as captain, while Ziggler joined Team Cena. Later that night, Orton was ejected by The Authority after he attacked members of The Authority, and turned face in the process for the first time since 2013.[9] The next week onRaw,Rusev joined Team Authority after The Authority helped him retain theUnited States Championship fromSheamus. Sheamus joined Team Cena along withBig Show andJack Swagger, whileMark Henry andRyback joined Team Authority. But, by the end of the night, Swagger dropped out of Team Cena after Rollins injured him, while Ryback attacked and left Team Authority after Kane interfered in his main-event match against Cena.Luke Harper applied to join Team Authority by attacking Ziggler.[10] The next week onRaw, Harper was confirmed as the final member of Team Authority. While Cena was scouting Ryback to fill out his team, team Authority attacked the rest of Team Cena, which played a part in Ziggler losing his Intercontinental Championship to Harper, and Sheamus dropping out of Team Cena after Mark Henry injured him. Later that night,Erick Rowan and Ryback joined Team Cena.[11] On the November 21 episode ofSmackDown, in response to comments made by Cena stating that he felt responsible for his team, Triple H announced that if Team Cena lost, all of Team Cena, except Cena himself, would be fired. Later that night, with Cena absent, Team Authority and a chair-wielding Triple H attacked the rest of Team Cena.[12]
On the October 31 episode ofSmackDown,Nikki Bella won aBattle Royal to faceAJ Lee for theWWE Divas Championship.[13] On November 10, WWE.com announced that AJ Lee would defend the title against Nikki at Survivor Series.[14]
AtHell in a Cell,Bray Wyatt attacked and costDean Ambrose during hisHell in a Cell match against Seth Rollins.[15] On the November 10 episode ofRaw, it was announced that Ambrose would face Wyatt at Survivor Series.[10]
On November 17, it was announced on WWE.com thatGold and Stardust would defend theWWE Tag Team Championship againstThe Miz andDamien Mizdow,The Usos (Jey Uso andJimmy Uso), andLos Matadores (Diego andFernando) (withEl Torito) in afatal four-way tag team match at Survivor Series.[16]
On November 17, it was announced on WWE.com that the Survivor Series kickoff show would feature the return ofBad News Barrett from injury andFandango, accompanied byRosa Mendes, against an unknown opponent.[11]
On November 18, it was announced on WWE.com thatAlicia Fox,Natalya,Emma, andNaomi would facePaige,Cameron,Layla, andSummer Rae in aSurvivor Series elimination tag team match at Survivor Series.[17]
| Role: | Name: |
|---|---|
| Englishcommentators | Michael Cole |
| Jerry Lawler | |
| John "Bradshaw" Layfield | |
| Spanish commentators | Carlos Cabrera |
| Marcelo Rodriguez | |
| Backstageinterviewers | Tom Phillips |
| Byron Saxton | |
| Ring announcers | Lilian Garcia |
| Eden Stiles | |
| Referees | Mike Chioda |
| Darrick Moore | |
| Chad Patton | |
| Charles Robinson | |
| Ryan Tran | |
| Rod Zapata | |
| Jason Ayers | |
| Scott Armstrong | |
| Pre-show panel | Renee Young |
| Booker T | |
| Paul Heyman | |
| Alex Riley |
The analysis team was hosted byRenee Young and consisted ofAlex Riley,Booker T, and special guestPaul Heyman.[18]
During the Survivor Series Kickoff pre-show, Fandango facedJustin Gabriel. Fandango executedThe Last Dance to win the match.[18]
Later,Jack Swagger facedCesaro. Swagger forced Cesaro to submit to thePatriot Lock to win the match.[18]
The event began with Mr. McMahon calling The Authority and John Cena to the ring. He added the stipulation, that should Team Authority lose, the only person who can bring The Authority back to power would be Cena himself. Cena then responded by saying "there is no chance in hell" he would bring The Authority back to power.[19]
The first match sawGold andStardust defend the Tag Team Championship against The Miz and Damien Mizdow, The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso), and Los Matadores. After Goldust was incapacitated by aSamoan Splash from an Uso, Mizdow stole the pin to win the titles for his team.[19]
Next, Team Natalya (Alicia Fox, Emma, Naomi, and Natalya) faced Team Paige (Paige, Cameron, Layla, and Summer Rae) in a traditional 4-on-4 Survivor Series elimination tag team match. Cameron was eliminated by Naomi after Naomi pinned her with abridging rolling reverse cradle pin. Layla was eliminated by Fox after atilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Summer Rae was eliminated after Emma forced her to submit to theEmma Lock. Paige was eliminated by Naomi after ahandstandmodified headscissors driver.[19]
After that, Dean Ambrose faced Bray Wyatt. Ambrose was disqualified after he hit Wyatt with a chair. After the match, Ambrose attacked Wyatt withDirty Deeds on the chair, adiving elbow drop through a table and buried Wyatt underneath a table and chairs and climbed a ladder. Later in the event, it was announced that Wyatt would face Ambrose in atables, ladders, and chairs match atTLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs.[19]
In the fourth match,Adam Rose and The Bunny faced Slater-Gator (Heath Slater andTitus O'Neil). The Bunny executed amissile dropkick on Slater to win the match.[19]
Next, Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and John "Bradshaw" Layfield interviewedRoman Reigns via satellite, who announced he would return in late December.[19]
In the fifth match, AJ Lee defended the Divas Championship against Nikki Bella. AfterBrie Bella kissed AJ, Nikki executed theRack Attack on AJ to win the title.[19]
In the main event, Team Cena (John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, Big Show, Erick Rowan, and Ryback) faced Team Authority (Seth Rollins, Kane, Mark Henry, Rusev, and Luke Harper) (with Triple H, Stephanie McMahon,Jamie Noble,Joey Mercury, andLana) in a traditional5-on-5 Survivor Series elimination tag team match. Henry was the first man eliminated by Big Show after aKnockout Punch. Ryback was eliminated by Rusev after aCurb Stomp from Rollins and ajumping savate kick. Rusev tried to put Ziggler through a broadcast table with asplash but missed, fell through the table and was counted out. Rowan was eliminated by Harper after adiscusclothesline. Cena was eliminated by Rollins after aKnockout Punch from Big Show, who betrayed Team Cena by shaking Triple H's hand and walking out on the match, eliminating himself by countout and turning heel. Ziggler eliminated Kane with aZig Zag and Harper with aschoolboy. Ziggler executed aZig Zag on Rollins but Triple H pulled the referee out of the ring. The Authority attacked Ziggler, but he fought them off and executed a secondZig Zag on Rollins as another referee came out to the ring. Triple H attacked the other referee and attacked Ziggler, executing aPedigree on him. He called outScott Armstrong to count the pin, butWCW wrestlerSting appeared, making his WWE debut. Sting knocked out Armstrong and had a staredown with Triple H. Sting then executed aScorpion Death Drop on Triple H and pulled Ziggler on top of Rollins for the pin and win. Per the pre-match stipulation, The Authority was removed from power. Triple H was fired as the COO, Stephanie was no longer a principal owner of WWE and Kane lost his role as the Director of Operations. The show ended with Triple H and Stephanie heartbroken that they lost their power, and they realized that they were nothing better than the people that clean the floors and they realized that since they were fired from power, they lost the privilege to fly on the corporate jet to WWE events, and they can only work at WWE headquarters and no longer influence the careers and lives of the superstars. The fans chanted "Yes! Yes! Yes!" and "You got fired!" Stephanie would throw a tantrum and not accept the results as she would cry as the event went off the air.[19]
Survivor Series received generally positive reviews, with particular praise going toward the main event, with highlights including Sting's debut and Ziggler's performance. Speaking of the Ambrose-Wyatt match,Larry Csonka of 411mania said "The match was good, and they set up next month so I really don't have a lot of complaints with this". He gave the match ***3/4 (out of *****). He gave the main event ****, calling it "a very good main event presentation". He gave the entire event a score of 7 out of 10.[20] The main event received theSlammy Award for match of the year 2014.[21]
On the November 24 episode ofRaw, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon bid farewell to the WWE Universe, but were interrupted byDaniel Bryan, who returned and served as the general manager for bothRaw andSmackDown that week, putting members of Team Authority in unfavorable situations. Mark Henry was put in a match against Ryback, which he lost quickly. Luke Harper defended his Intercontinental Championship against Dean Ambrose, which ended in a disqualification due to Harper pushing Ambrose into the referee. Kane was put into concessions for the night as Concessions Kane. Rusev and Lana were forced to speak out thePledge of Allegiance or defend the United States Championship in a Battle Royal,[22] which Rusev did successfully onSmackDown.[23] Seth Rollins lost a 3-on-2 handicap match against John Cena and Dolph Ziggler, with Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury chosen as his partners by fans poll. At the end of the show, it was announced that theAnonymous Raw General Manager would be returning the following week.[22]
On the December 29 episode ofRaw, after threatening to Curb Stomp guest hostEdge (who had to retire due to multiple neck injuries that could leave him paralyzed), Seth Rollins coaxed John Cena into bringing back The Authority after just over a month of exile.[24] The following week, The Authority rewarded Rollins by placing him in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at theRoyal Rumble also involving Cena and defending championBrock Lesnar. Also on that same show, the Authority also gave out pre-match stipulated consequences to Team Cena, which resulted in the firings of Dolph Ziggler, Erick Rowan, and Ryback.[25] Later, on the January 19, 2015, episode, Cena defeated Rollins, Big Show, and Kane in a 3-on-1 handicap match (with his #1 contendership on the line) with the help of Sting - thus allowing Ziggler, Rowan, and Ryback to get their jobs back.[26] On the January 22, 2015, episodeSmackDown, Daniel Bryan welcomed Ziggler, Rowan, and Ryback to celebrate their return to WWE.[27]
Later on the February 2, 2015, episode ofRaw, Cena welcomed Ziggler, Rowan, and Ryback to celebrate their return to WWE and they were placed in matches by Stephanie McMahon respectively.[28] The following week, Dolph Ziggler, Ryback, and Erick Rowan came out and helped Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns to defeat Seth Rollins, Big Show, Kane, and J&J Security (Jamie Noble andJoey Mercury).[29] On the February 16 episode, after Ziggler defeated Rollins via disqualification, he was attacked by Rollins and J&J Security, but Ryback, and Rowan came out and saved Ziggler.[30] On the February 19 episode ofSmackDown, after Rollins defeated Ziggler, the Authority attacked Ziggler, Ryback, and Rowan.[31] Afterwards, it was announced that Ziggler, Ryback, and Rowan would face Rollins, Big Show, and Kane in asix man tag team match at the event[32] which they lost.[33] Dolph Ziggler, Ryback, and Erick Rowan avenged their loss on the February 26 episode ofSmackDown, defeating Rollins, Kane, and Big Show.[34] The three would go their separate ways just beforeWrestleMania 31.
On the December 8 episode ofRaw, AJ Lee invoked her rematch clause against Nikki Bella for the Divas Championship at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs.[35]
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Team | Method | Times[43] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cameron | Naomi | Team Paige | Pinfall | 6:12 |
| 2 | Layla | Alicia Fox | 9:29 | ||
| 3 | Summer Rae | Emma | Submission | 12:04 | |
| 4 | Paige | Naomi | Pinfall | 14:35 | |
| Survivor(s): | Alicia Fox,Emma,Naomi, andNatalya (Team Natalya) (clean sweep) | ||||
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Team | Method[43] | Times[19] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Henry | Big Show | Team Authority | Pinfall | 0:50 |
| 2 | Ryback | Rusev | Team Cena | 8:10 | |
| 3 | Rusev | N/A | Team Authority | Countout | 21:00 |
| 4 | Erick Rowan | Luke Harper | Team Cena | Pinfall | 24:14 |
| 5 | John Cena | Seth Rollins | 25:11 | ||
| 6 | Big Show | N/A | Countout | 26:30 | |
| 7 | Kane | Dolph Ziggler | Team Authority | Pinfall | 29:35 |
| 8 | Luke Harper | 31:35 | |||
| 9 | Seth Rollins | 43:05 | |||
| Sole Survivor: | Dolph Ziggler (Team Cena) | ||||