10 Notable Substitutions in Classic WWE Survivor Series Matches
The Undertaker
10. Bobby Heenan Replaced Tully Blanchard in 1989
Tully Blanchard was supposed to compete at Survivor Series 1989 as one half of the Brain Busters alongside Arn Anderson. Instead, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan shockingly took his place in the match. On television, the substitution was explained as tension between Heenan and the Brain Busters after the team lost the tag titles. Behind the scenes, Blanchard had been fired in early November after failing a drug test. He and Arn Anderson had already informed the WWF of their intention to jump to WCW after Survivor Series, but the failed test caused WCW to withdraw interest in Blanchard. Heenan wrestled in Blanchard’s spot and ended up being the final man eliminated when he was pinned by The Ultimate Warrior.
9. Haku Took Rick Rude’s Spot in 1990
“Ravishing” Rick Rude was gone from the WWF within two months of challenging for the WWF Championship at SummerSlam 1990. He was originally slated to be part of Earthquake’s team for Survivor Series later that year. Rude suffered an arm injury that sidelined him, but the WWF continued advertising him for house show bouts against the Big Boss Man. Rude demanded compensation for the company promoting his name and likeness while he was injured, and when management refused, he quit. With his sudden departure, fellow Heenan Family member Haku took his place on Earthquake’s Survivor Series team.
8. Randy Savage Replaced Mr. Perfect in 1993
Mr. Perfect was originally scheduled to team with Razor Ramon, Marty Jannetty, and the 1-2-3 Kid at Survivor Series 1993. He had been aligned with Randy Savage the year before after The Ultimate Warrior’s abrupt firing, making this planned absence noticeable. Leading up to the pay-per-view, Perfect’s involvement was quietly minimized. Razor Ramon’s team only featured Jannetty and the Kid in brawls on television, with Perfect being conspicuously left out. The exact reason for his four or five-month absence remains unclear, with rumored explanations ranging from back injuries to contract disputes and creative frustration. Before the match, Ramon publicly introduced Randy “Macho Man” Savage as the mystery replacement, while also subtly burying Perfect for disappearing before the event.
7. Earthquake Replaced Barry Windham in 1989
John Tenta debuted in the WWF as Earthquake at Survivor Series 1989 as a late-game replacement for Barry Windham. Windham had only arrived in the company earlier that same year, wrestling under the nickname “The Widowmaker.” Though it was reported Windham had a benign tumor removed from his chest in October, the real reason for his exit related to family turmoil. His brother Kendall Windham and father Robert, known as Blackjack Mulligan, were arrested for involvement in a counterfeiting scheme. Barry left the company to stay close to his family during the ordeal. Earthquake took his place on Randy Savage’s “King’s Court” team, while Windham returned the following year in WCW, which offered a reduced schedule.
6. Scott Casey Ended Up Replacing Two Men in 1988
This Survivor Series 1988 match produced multiple last-minute changes. Junkyard Dog was originally part of a team with Jim Duggan, Jake Roberts, Tito Santana, and Ken Patera facing Andre the Giant’s squad. JYD abruptly left the WWF following a European tour in October. Former Killer Bee Brian Blair was installed as his replacement, but Blair was fired one week before Survivor Series for reportedly refusing to lose a match at a TV taping. That opened the door to Scott Casey, who was brought in as the final substitute. Casey was rarely booked above enhancement-talent level and was even mistakenly introduced as “Sam Casey.” In seconds, he was pinned by Dino Bravo, closing the chaotic substitution saga.
5. Don Muraco Took Billy Graham’s Role in 1987
Superstar Billy Graham made a comeback in 1986 as a legendary babyface, despite being in his 40s and having undergone a hip replacement. He was scheduled to team with Hulk Hogan at the very first Survivor Series in 1987. Unfortunately, ongoing mobility problems forced the WWF to scrap the comeback. Graham was written out of the storyline after being attacked by Slick’s clients. His replacement made storyline sense, as Don Muraco had recently turned babyface and served as Graham’s protégée. Muraco stepped into Graham’s slot on Hogan’s team for the event.
4. Shawn Michaels Replaced Jerry Lawler in 1993
Jerry Lawler was set to captain a team of three masked knights against Bret Hart and his brothers Owen, Bruce, and Keith at Survivor Series 1993. The knights were played by Barry Horowitz, Greg Valentine, and Jeff Gaylord. In November, Lawler was indicted on extremely serious charges, which led to his immediate removal from all WWF television. The long-running Hart feud abruptly went unresolved. The company turned to Shawn Michaels, who had been suspended in September for steroid issues and had been off television. Michaels agreed to return and was abruptly inserted into the storyline. The WWF attempted to frame Michaels as the new antagonist in the Hart rivalry, despite there being no logical connection between him and the masked knights.
3. Three Substitutions in One Match in 1991
Survivor Series 1991 featured one bout that required three separate replacements: Jim Neidhart was removed in storyline after Ric Flair injured his knee. He was replaced by Sgt. Slaughter, marking Slaughter’s babyface turn. Ricky Steamboat abruptly quit the WWF after reportedly refusing to lose multiple matches during a television taping. Tito Santana replaced him and had just reinvented himself as “El Matador.” Big Bully Busick quit the company midway through November. His replacement was Hercules, who returned to singles action after Paul Roma exited their Power and Glory team one month earlier.
2. Nobody Replaced Sid Justice in 1991
Sid Justice was originally booked to captain a team with the Big Boss Man and the Legion of Doom against Jake Roberts, IRS, and the Natural Disasters. In October, Sid suffered a legitimate arm injury and was forced out. Despite a red-hot personal feud between Randy Savage and Jake Roberts, the WWF declined to insert Savage into the match. Instead, storyline president Jack Tunney removed Roberts due to his on-air cobra attack that left Savage bleeding. The result was a weakened six-man elimination match with no emotional fuel. The actual Savage vs. Roberts showdown was postponed and moved to a supplemental pay-per-view event six days later.
1. The Undertaker Replaced Bad News Brown in 1990
A promotional photo taken in August 1990 showed Bad News Brown aligned with Ted DiBiase, Honky Tonk Man, and Greg Valentine for Survivor Series. Brown never made the event. He left the company after SummerSlam, reportedly frustrated that promises made by Vince McMahon to elevate him to main-event status were never fulfilled. His sudden departure opened a spot on DiBiase’s team for a mystery partner. Earlier that year, McMahon had been introduced to a young wrestler named Mark Calaway. A supernatural gimmick was created specifically for his debut, and he entered Survivor Series as that mysterious fourth man. The replacement was The Undertaker, whose arrival became one of the greatest debut moments in wrestling history.
