10 Best Survivor Series PLE Events Ever
Brock Lesnar and The Big Show
10. Survivor Series 2019 (Rating: 7.14)
Held on November 24, 2019, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, this event featured the only year NXT competed directly against Raw and SmackDown and outperformed both with multiple wins. The show closed with the first women’s main event in Survivor Series history as Shayna Baszler beat Becky Lynch and Bayley in the triple champion vs. champion vs. champion match. Keith Lee’s final stretch against Roman Reigns in the men’s triple-threat elimination match became the night’s defining moment due to the huge crowd reaction.
9. Survivor Series 1995 (Rating: 7.17)
Staged on November 19, 1995, at the US Air Arena in Landover, Maryland, the event is remembered for Bret Hart ending Diesel’s WWE Championship reign in a No Disqualification match that served as the clear standout of the night. Most of the card featured traditional elimination tags, including an unusual team of Shawn Michaels, Ahmed Johnson, The British Bulldog, and Sycho Sid defeating Yokozuna’s side in the card’s second-strongest bout.
8. Survivor Series 2009 (Rating: 7.38)
Taking place on November 22, 2009, at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., the event mixed elimination tags with two major triple-threat title defenses. The Undertaker retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Big Show and Chris Jericho, while John Cena retained the WWE Championship over Triple H and Shawn Michaels. Kofi Kingston, The Miz, Drew McIntyre, and Sheamus all emerged as survivors in their respective elimination matches, boosting the event’s overall reception.
7. Survivor Series 2007 (Rating: 7.41)
Hosted on November 18, 2007, at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, the show featured only one traditional elimination match as Team Triple H defeated Team Umaga. The rating was carried by two major title bouts: Randy Orton successfully defending the WWE Championship against Shawn Michaels under strict move restrictions, and Batista retaining the World Heavyweight Championship in a Hell in a Cell match against The Undertaker. Moreover, Edge also made a key return appearance during the main event and kickstarted his year-long rivalry with The Deadman.
6. Survivor Series 2011 (Rating: 7.44)
Held on November 20, 2011, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the event marked the beginning of CM Punk’s 434-day WWE Championship reign after he defeated Alberto Del Rio. It also featured The Rock’s first match in over seven years as he teamed with John Cena to beat The Miz and R-Truth. The historic MSG crowd added intensity throughout the night, contributing to the show’s strong rating.
5. Survivor Series: WarGames 2022 (Rating: 7.52)
Staged on November 26, 2022, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, this edition introduced the WarGames concept to the event. The men’s match showcased The Bloodline’s internal tension as Sami Zayn cemented his loyalty to Roman Reigns, while the women’s WarGames match delivered one of the show’s highest-rated performances. The shift away from the traditional elimination format helped the event stand out among modern installments.
4. Survivor Series 1996 (Rating: 7.54)
Staged on November 17, 1996, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, this show featured Sycho Sid defeating Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship amid a crowd that turned against the champion. Bret Hart defeated Steve Austin in a number-one contender’s match, Rocky Maivia made his WWE in-ring debut, and The Undertaker defeated Mankind with Paul Bearer suspended in a shark cage. Multiple elimination matches added fast-paced action and showcased The Rock’s debut. The combination of star-making moments and major storyline developments earned this event its high rating.
3. Survivor Series 2001 (Rating: 7.88)
Held on November 18, 2001, at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina, this edition concluded the WWF vs. The Alliance storyline. Team WWF which included The Rock, Chris Jericho, The Undertaker, Kane, and Big Show defeated Team Alliance comprising of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shane McMahon, Rob Van Dam, Booker T, and Kurt Angle in the Winner Takes All 5-on-5 elimination match. Other notable moments included Edge unifying the WCW United States and WWE Intercontinental Championships by defeating Test, The Dudley Boyz winning the Tag Team unification steel cage match against The Hardy Boyz, and Trish Stratus capturing the vacant Women’s Championship.
2. Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 (Rating: 8.43)
Held on November 25, 2023, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, this show marked the highly anticipated return of CM Punk, appearing at a WWE PLE for the first time in nearly a decade. The night opened with Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, Shotzi, and Becky Lynch defeating Damage CTRL in the women’s WarGames match. Gunther defeated The Miz to retain the Intercontinental Championship, Santos Escobar defeated Dragon Lee, and Rhea Ripley retained the Women’s World Championship against Zoey Stark. The men’s WarGames match saw Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, and Randy Orton defeat Drew McIntyre and The Judgment Day. Apart from that, CM Punk’s return to the company after nearly a decade became the defining moment of the night.
1. Survivor Series 2002 (Rating: 9.09)
Held on November 17, 2002, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, this edition featured the first-ever Elimination Chamber match. Shawn Michaels won the World Heavyweight Championship in the inaugural Chamber match against Triple H, Chris Jericho, Booker T, Kane, and Rob Van Dam. Big Show ended Brock Lesnar's undefeated streak for the WWE Championship while Victoria defeated Trish Stratus in a hardcore match for the Women’s Championship. Elsewhere, Los Guerreros won the WWE Tag Team Championship in a triple threat elimination match. The combination of historic matches, major title changes, and the electric MSG atmosphere made this the highest-rated Survivor Series on Cagematch.
