Top 25 Survivor Series Moments in WWE History
25- Gobbledy Gooker (Survivor Series 1990)
After weeks of hype surrounding a mysterious egg, it hatched to reveal the infamous Gobbledy Gooker—Hector Guerrero in a giant turkey costume. The moment, met with a largely negative fan reaction, is a legendary piece of WWE absurdity and a reminder of the lighter, more bizarre side of the Golden Era.
24- Charlotte Flair attacks Ronda Rousey (Survivor Series 2018)
At Survivor Series 2018, Charlotte Flair replaced an injured Becky Lynch to face Ronda Rousey. The competitive "dream match" ended abruptly when an enraged Flair brutalized the Raw Women's Champion. After getting disqualified for using a kendo stick, Flair continued the savage attack, driving Rousey into a steel chair with a Natural Selection, and then stomping on the chair wrapped around Rousey's neck. The vicious assault established Flair as a dominant new villain.
23- Randy Orton's twin triumph (Survivor Series 2003 & 2004)
Randy Orton cemented his "Legend Killer" status by being the sole survivor in back-to-back years. In 2003, his victory cost Stone Cold Steve Austin his job as RAW GM. In 2004, his final win over Triple H and the celebration with a returning Batista and Ric Flair cemented him as a dominant star.
22- Sheamus wins the WWE title (Survivor Series 2015)
Sheamus cashed in his Money in the Bank contract immediately after Roman Reigns defeated Dean Ambrose to win the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament final. Reigns, fatigued from his match, also speared Triple H, leaving him vulnerable. Sheamus hit Reigns with two Brogue Kicks to secure the pinfall and become the new champion, ending Reigns' reign in just 5 minutes and 15 seconds.
21- D-Generation X Clean Sweep (Survivor Series 2006)
The super-team of Triple H, Shawn Michaels, The Hardys (Matt and Jeff), and CM Punk dominated the competition against Team Rated-RKO. Displaying unparalleled teamwork and star power, the five-man unit achieved the rare feat of a clean sweep, eliminating every member of the opposing team without losing a single partner, a true show of force.
20- Paul Heyman betrays Brock Lesnar (Survivor Series 2002)
In the WWE Championship match at Survivor Series 2002, Brock Lesnar had Big Show defeated after an F-5. However, Paul Heyman pulled the referee from the ring just before the three-count, shocking the crowd. Heyman then shoved a steel chair into the ring for Big Show to use, allowing the challenger to defeat the previously undefeated Lesnar for the title, solidifying Heyman's turn to a villain.
19- Shane McMahon's high risk attack on Kane (Survivor Series 2003)
In their brutal Ambulance Match, Shane McMahon took a legendary risk. After a brawl that saw Shane drive a car into Kane, The Big Red Machine was staggered. Seizing the moment, the daredevil Shane-O-Mac climbed to the very top of the massive ambulance and delivered a breathtaking Coast to Coast dropkick to Kane, crashing a garbage can into his face. Kane ultimately won, but Shane's leap became an iconic Survivor Series moment.
18- Stone Cold's career is over? (Survivor Series 2003)
Stone Cold's authority figure role ended at Survivor Series 2003 in a Team Austin vs. Team Bischoff elimination match. The stipulation stated that if Team Austin lost, Stone Cold would lose his position as Raw Co-General Manager. Randy Orton, as the sole survivor for Team Bischoff, secured the win with help from Batista. This loss effectively removed Austin from his frequent on-screen presence as an authority figure, though it was not his final wrestling match.
17- Edge blindsides The Undertaker (Survivor Series 2007)
Disguised as a ringside cameraman, Edge interfered in the World Heavyweight Championship Hell in a Cell match between Batista and The Undertaker. the Rated-R Superstar viciously attacked The Undertaker, enabling Batista to get the pinfall. His shock return immediately inserted him back into the championship picture.
16-The Undertaker's first WWE title win (Survivor Series 1991)
One year after his debut, The Undertaker defeated Hulk Hogan for the WWF Championship. The controversial win, aided by Ric Flair, made the Deadman the youngest WWF Champion at the time, confirming his meteoric rise from a chilling mystery to a legitimate main event player in the company.
15- Sami Zayn proves his loyalty (Survivor Series 2022)
Kevin Owens was revealed as the fifth and final member of the Brawling Brutes' team to battle The Bloodline in the men's WarGames match. The high-stakes match reignited Owens' storied friendship with Sami Zayn and was a critical moment in the ongoing Bloodline storyline, culminating in Zayn betraying Owens to cement his loyalty to Roman Reigns.
14- The Rock and John Cena team up (Survivor Series 2011)
The Rock made his electrifying in-ring return after a seven-year hiatus, reluctantly teaming with his WrestleMania XXVIII opponent, John Cena. The bitter rivals united against The Miz and R-Truth in Madison Square Garden. Despite their intense mutual dislike, they secured the victory. The night concluded with The Rock delivering a Rock Bottom to Cena, definitively establishing the main event for WrestleMania 28.
13- The Undertaker returns (Survivor Series 2005)
Following his apparent death at the hands of Randy Orton's family, The Undertaker made a spectacular return at Survivor Series 2005. After the main event, a smoking casket descended. 'Taker emerged, shockingly destroying the ring and attacking the SmackDown roster, sending Orton a clear message that their intense, year-long rivalry was far from over.
12- Rikishi runs over Stone Cold Steve Austin (Survivor Series 1999)
Minutes before his scheduled WWF Championship match, Stone Cold Steve Austin was ambushed backstage. An unseen assailant, driving a black car, deliberately struck Austin, writing him off television to allow him to undergo neck surgery. This infamous hit-and-run became a major mystery storyline, eventually revealing Rikishi, who claimed he "did it for The Rock," as the driver.
11- Kane buries The Undertaker alive (Survivor Series 2003)
Kane unexpectedly interfered in The Undertaker's Buried Alive Match against Vince McMahon at Survivor Series 2003. Emerging from the area near the crane, Kane viciously attacked his brother, costing him the match. He then helped McMahon fill the grave, symbolically burying The Undertaker's "American Badass" persona and setting up the eventual return of "The Deadman" at WrestleMania 20.
10- The Undertaker WWE debut (Survivor Series 1990)
The ominous, never-before-seen "Deadman" character was introduced as the mystery partner for Ted DiBiase’s team. Emerging with Brother Love, The Undertaker immediately made an impact, showcasing his devastating Tombstone Piledriver on Koko B. Ware. His unforgettable debut began one of the most celebrated and long-running careers in WWE history.
9- The Rock joins The Corporation (Survivor Series 1998)
The climax of the "Deadly Game" tournament saw The Rock defeat Mankind to win his first WWF Championship. The victory was immediately overshadowed as Vince McMahon betrayed Mankind and revealed he was "in on it" with The Rock all along, creating the famous "Corporate Champion" persona.
8- The Shield's WWE debut (Survivor Series 2012)
Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns shockingly interfered in the main event triple threat for the WWE Championship featuring John Cena, CM Punk and Ryback. The trio powerbombed Ryback through the announce table. Their unexpected, dominant arrival was an immediate signal that "justice" would be served their way, launching three future world champions and one of WWE’s most influential factions.
7- Goldberg destroys Brock Lesnar in 86 seconds (Survivor Series 2016)
In a stunning, dominant display, Goldberg, returning after a 12-year absence, defeated Brock Lesnar in 1 minute and 26 seconds. The shocking, quick victory was a complete surprise to fans and instantly re-established Goldberg as a credible force, completely reversing the expectation of a lengthy, hard-fought battle.
6- Shawn Michaels wins the first Elimination Chamber (Survivor Series 2002)
The inaugural Elimination Chamber match showcased an incredibly brutal structure, blending the traditional elimination format with a punishing steel cage environment. Shawn Michaels, in a triumphant comeback after a four-year retirement, won the World Heavyweight Championship from Triple h, solidifying the Chamber as a marquee match type.
5- Sting's WWE debut (Survivor Series 2014)
With The Authority's power on the line, the final moments saw Dolph Ziggler, the lone survivor, overcome great odds. Just when it seemed the Authority would regain control, a debuting Sting appeared to take out Triple H, securing the victory for Team Cena and temporarily ousting The Authority from power.
4- The Undertaker's retirement (Survivor Series 2020)
The Undertaker’s "Final Farewell" at Survivor Series 2020 commemorated 30 years since his debut. Despite the limited attendance due to the pandemic, it was an emotional send-off, featuring appearances from numerous legends and a heartfelt salute from Vince McMahon. The Undertaker, in his iconic Deadman persona, simply stated, "My time has come to let The Undertaker rest in peace," before his hat and coat remained in the ring, concluding a legendary career.
3- Team WWE beats Team Alliance (Survivor Series 2001)
The "Invasion" storyline culminated in this winner-take-all main event for control of the company. With an all-star cast, the match ended with Kurt Angle turning on The Alliance's Stone Cold Steve Austin, allowing The Rock to win. The victory officially ended The Alliance and consolidated WWE’s dominance.
2- CM Punk returns after 10 years (Survivor Series 2023)
CM Punk made a shocking, unannounced return to WWE at the end of Survivor Series: WarGames in his hometown of Chicago. After the main event concluded, his iconic "Cult of Personality" theme song hit, sending the Allstate Arena crowd into a frenzy. His dramatic first appearance in a WWE ring since 2014 instantly became one of the most talked-about moments of the year.
1- The Montreal Screwjob (Survivor Series 1997)
The most infamous moment saw WWE owner Vince McMahon conspire with Shawn Michaels to controversially strip Bret Hart of the WWE Championship. Hart, unwilling to drop the title in his home country before leaving for WCW, was pinned without submitting in a non-sanctioned finish. The betrayal created the ruthless "Mr. McMahon" character and changed professional wrestling forever.
