Survivor Series (2021)

Survivor Series
Survivor Series 2021 poster.jpg
Promotional poster featuring Big E
PromotionWWE
Brand(s)Raw
SmackDown
DateNovember 21, 2021
CityBrooklyn, New York
VenueBarclays Center
Attendance15,120[1]
WWE Network event chronology
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The 2021 Survivor Series was the 35th annual Survivor Series professional wrestling event produced by WWE. It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. The event aired on pay-per-view (PPV) worldwide and was available to stream through Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network elsewhere, which made it the first Survivor Series to air on Peacock. It took place on November 21, 2021, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The theme of the event was brand supremacy and pitted wrestlers from the two brands against each other.

Seven matches were contested at the event, including one on the Kickoff pre-show. The card was highlighted by two traditional Survivor Series elimination matches: Raw's men's and women's teams were victorious over SmackDown's. In the main event match, SmackDown's Universal Champion Roman Reigns defeated Raw's WWE Champion Big E. Also on the card, Raw Women's Champion Becky Lynch defeated SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair, and Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro (Randy Orton and Riddle) defeated SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso). The event also commemorated the 25th anniversary of The Rock's WWE debut at the 1996 Survivor Series where a 25-man dual-branded battle royal took place in honor of The Rock's career; Raw's Omos won by last eliminating SmackDown's Ricochet. Raw won brand supremacy by winning five of the seven matches, including the pre-show match. The event also had a promotional tie-in with the Netflix film, Red Notice, which stars The Rock.

Production

Background

Survivor Series is an annual gimmick pay-per-view (PPV) and WWE Network event, produced every November by WWE since 1987. The second longest running pay-per-view event in history (behind WWE's WrestleMania), it is one of the promotion's original four pay-per-views, along with WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble, originally dubbed the "Big Four",[2] and as of October 2021, it is one of the company's five biggest events of the year, along with Money in the Bank.[3] The event is traditionally characterized by having Survivor Series matches, which are tag team elimination matches that typically features teams of four or five wrestlers against each other.[4] The 2021 event was the 35th event under the Survivor Series chronology and was scheduled to be held on November 21, 2021, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.[5] It was also the first Survivor Series to air on Peacock after the American version of the WWE Network merged under Peacock in March.[6]

Since WWE reintroduced the brand split in July 2016, Survivor Series has centered around competition between wrestlers from Raw and SmackDown for brand supremacy.[4] In addition to traditional Survivor Series matches between the brands, the champions of Raw face their SmackDown counterparts in non-title matches, which began at the 2017 event.[7] The 2021 Survivor Series featured Raw's WWE Champion against SmackDown's Universal Champion, the Raw Women's Champion against the SmackDown Women's Champion, Raw's United States Champion against SmackDown's Intercontinental Champion, and the Raw Tag Team Champions against the SmackDown Tag Team Champions.[8] The 2019 event had also featured the NXT brand involved in the competition,[9] but NXT was removed from the 2020 event due to COVID-19-related issues,[10] before the brand reverted to its developmental roots in September 2021.[11]

Storylines

The event comprised seven matches, including one on the Kickoff pre-show. The matches resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands,[12][13] while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.[14]

On November 6, WWE revealed both Raw and SmackDown's team members for the men's Survivor Series match. Team Raw's members were announced to be Seth Rollins, Finn Bálor, Kevin Owens, Rey Mysterio, and Dominik Mysterio.[15] On the November 8 episode of Raw, WWE official Adam Pearce noted that every member of Team Raw was a former world champion, except Dominik. In turn, Pearce scheduled Dominik to face Bobby Lashley where the winner would be on the team; Lashley defeated Dominik.[16] After Rey was seemingly injured during a match with Lashley the following week, Pearce removed Rey from Team Raw and replaced him with Austin Theory.[17] For Team SmackDown, its members were announced as Drew McIntyre, Jeff Hardy, King Woods, Sami Zayn, and Happy Corbin.[15] On the November 12 episode of SmackDown, Hardy defeated Zayn in a match where the loser would be removed from the team.[18] The vacant spot was filled the following week by Sheamus, who defeated Cesaro, Ricochet, and Jinder Mahal in a fatal four-way match to earn the spot.[19]

Also on November 6, WWE revealed both Raw and SmackDown's team members for the women's Survivor Series match. It was announced that Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Carmella, Queen Zelina, and one-half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions, Rhea Ripley, would represent Team Raw. Team SmackDown's members were revealed to be Sasha Banks, Shayna Baszler, Shotzi, Natalya, and Aliyah.[15] On the November 12 episode of SmackDown, however, WWE official Sonya Deville removed Aliyah from the match seemingly due to her relationship with Naomi, who had been at odds with Deville.[18] On November 18 via WWE's social media, Deville revealed that Toni Storm would fill Team SmackDown's vacant spot.[20]

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of The Rock's WWE debut at the 1996 Survivor Series, a 25-man dual-branded battle royal was scheduled to take place at the 2021 event.[21]

Event

Other on-screen personnel
Role: Name:
English commentators Michael Cole (SmackDown)
Pat McAfee (SmackDown)
Jimmy Smith (Raw)
Corey Graves (Raw)
Byron Saxton (Raw)
Spanish commentators Carlos Cabrera
Marcelo Rodriguez
Ring announcer Mike Rome
Referees Danilo Anfibio
Jason Ayers
Jessika Carr
Dan Engler
Darrick Moore
Eddie Orengo
Chad Patton
Ryan Tran
Pre-show panel Kayla Braxton
Kevin Patrick
Peter Rosenberg
Booker T
Jerry Lawler

Pre-show

On the Survivor Series Kickoff pre-show, SmackDown's Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura (accompanied by Rick Boogs) faced Raw's United States Champion Damian Priest. Priest controlled the match early while Boogs played his guitar to try and distract Priest. Priest hit the Falcon Arrow for a near-fall. Nakamura countered a Chokeslam with his knee. Priest hit South of Heaven for a nearfall. Priest attempted The Reckoning, but Nakamura countered with an armbar. In the end, Priest broke Boogs' guitar over his knee and hit Boogs over the head before accidentally hitting Nakamura with it and getting himself disqualified, thus Nakamura won, giving SmackDown the first point of the night.[22]

Also during the pre-show, WWE Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mr. McMahon arrived at the arena holding what he said was a real Cleopatra golden egg, which was part of a promotional tie-in with the Netflix film, Red Notice, which stars The Rock.[22]

Preliminary matches

The actual pay-per-view opened with Raw Women's Champion Becky Lynch taking on SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair. The two started the match by slapping and hair pulling. Flair attempted the Top Rope Moonsault, but Lynch shoved her off the top rope to the floor. Lynch locked in the Dis-Arm-Her, but Flair countered with a Powerbomb. Lynch hit a Legdrop to the back of Flair's neck while she was caught up in the ropes. Lynch attempted her own version of Flair's Figure Four Leglock, but Flair reversed the pressure until Lynch made it to the ropes. Flair hit the Queen's Boot for a nearfall. Lynch hit an Inverted DDT and delivered a Manhandle Slam, but Flair put her foot on the bottom rope to void the pin. Flair hit the Top Rope Moonsault on Lynch outside the ring. Back inside, Flair did a Roll-Up pin, but the referee caught her holding onto the ropes for leverage. Lynch then reversed the pin and used the ropes herself as leverage to win the match, giving Raw its first point of the night.[1]

Next was the men's Survivor Series elimination match where Team Raw (Seth Rollins, Finn Bálor, Kevin Owens, Bobby Lashley, and Austin Theory) took on Team SmackDown (Drew McIntyre, Jeff Hardy, King Woods, Sheamus, and Happy Corbin). At the start, Owens walked out on his team and got eliminated by countout. Corbin was eliminated by Bálor following a Coup de Grace. Woods was eliminated by Lashley as he passed out in the Hurt Lock. Lashley and McIntyre fought outside the ring and both were eliminated by countout. Bálor was eliminated by Sheamus after a Brogue Kick. Sheamus was eliminated by Theory with a Roll-Up. Sheamus attacked Hardy before leaving, but Hardy eliminated Theory after a Swanton Bomb. Hardy hit the Twist of Fate on Rollins, but Rollins got the knees up to block the Swanton Bomb and hit The Stomp on Hardy to win the match as the sole survivor for Team Raw, thus putting the score at 2–1 for Raw.[1]

In a backstage segment, Roman Reigns met with Mr. McMahon in the latter's office. There, McMahon showed Reigns the golden egg that he said was given to him by Reigns' cousin, The Rock, and that it was worth $100 million as it was the real egg and not a prop used in Red Notice.[1]

After that was the 25-man dual-branded battle royal to celebrate The Rock's 25th anniversary of his WWE debut. Raw's Omos dominated the match by eliminating half of the competitors. His tag team partner AJ Styles stayed outside the ring for most of the match, but was eliminated despite help from Omos. Omos won the match after last eliminating SmackDown's Ricochet, thus giving Raw 3 points to SmackDown's 1 point.[1]

The fourth match saw Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro (Randy Orton and Riddle) taking on SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso). This was Orton's 177th match on pay-per-view, breaking a tie with Kane for most pay-per-view matches contested. In the end, Jey hit a Superkick on Riddle. Both Usos hit Double Superkicks on both Orton and Riddle. Jimmy went for the Superfly Splash on Riddle, not knowing that Orton was the legal competitor. Orton caught Jimmy in mid-air with an RKO to win the match, thus putting the score at 4–1 for Raw. This in turn meant Raw won brand supremacy for the night.[1]

In another backstage segment, Mr. McMahon, Adam Pearce, and Sonya Deville were talking in McMahon's office when they realized that the golden egg had disappeared. McMahon ordered Deville to call the police and then told Pearce to tell everyone on both the Raw and SmackDown rosters to report to Raw the next night as he was going to get to the bottom of it.[1]

The penultimate match was the women's Survivor Series elimination match where Team Raw (Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, Carmella, and Queen Zelina) took on Team SmackDown (Sasha Banks, Shayna Baszler, Shotzi, Natalya, and Toni Storm). Carmella was eliminated by Storm after a Roll-Up while Carmella was trying to put her protective mask on. Storm then eliminated Zelina by performing the Storm Zero. Morgan eliminated Storm after hitting an Oblivion on Storm. Morgan was eliminated by Banks after both Banks and Shotzi hit back-to-back Frog Splashes on Morgan. Baszler eliminated Ripley by pinfall, leaving Belair at a 4-1 disadvantage. Banks and Shotzi began to argue as Baszler tried to calm things down, but Banks shoved Shotzi into Baszler. Shotzi, Baszler, and Natayla all kept Banks from returning to the ring, resulting in Banks being eliminated by countout. Natalya locked Belair in the Sharpshooter, but Belair kicked Natalya into Baszler and Belair eliminated Natalya with a Roll-Up. Belair eliminated Baszler by pinfall and then pinned Shotzi after the KOD to win the match for Team Raw as the sole survivor.[1]

Another backstage segment occurred where interviewer Kayla Braxton informed Roman Reigns' special counsel Paul Heyman that Brock Lesnar's suspension was no longer indefinite.[1]

Main event

In the main event, Raw's WWE Champion Big E faced SmackDown's Universal Champion Roman Reigns (accompanied by Paul Heyman). Big E attempted the Apron Splash, but Reigns moved out of the way. Big E locked in a Stretch Muffler, but Reigns escaped. Reigns performed a Rock Bottom on Big E for a nearfall. Reigns hit the Superman Punch twice, but missed a Spear attempt and Big E hit the Spear through the ropes to put Reigns on the floor. Big E attempted a second one, but Reigns countered with the Guillotine submission. Big E countered the submission and hit the Big Ending on Reigns, who got his foot on the bottom rope during the pin. Reigns hit a Spear for a nearfall. On the outside, Big E threw Reigns into the announce table and the barricade, but Reigns reversed another attack and threw Big E into the steel steps. Reigns hit a Superman Punch, and back in the ring, Reigns attacked Big E's injured knee and hit a second Spear on Big E to win the match. Although this gave SmackDown another win, it was only SmackDown's second win for the night, with the final score being 5–2.[1]

Aftermath

Results

No. Results Stipulations Times[22][1]
1P Shinsuke Nakamura (Intercontinental Champion) (with Rick Boogs) defeated Damian Priest (United States Champion) by disqualification Champion vs. Champion singles match[23] 9:25
2 Becky Lynch (Raw Women's Champion) defeated Charlotte Flair (SmackDown Women's Champion) by pinfall Champion vs. Champion singles match[24] 18:15
3 Team Raw (Seth Rollins, Finn Bálor, Kevin Owens, Austin Theory, and Bobby Lashley) (with MVP) defeated Team SmackDown (Drew McIntyre, Jeff Hardy, King Woods, Happy Corbin, and Sheamus) (with Madcap Moss)1 5-on-5 men's Survivor Series elimination match[25] 30:00
4 Omos won by last eliminating Ricochet[Note 1] The Rock's 25th Anniversary 25-man dual branded battle royal[26] 10:45
5 RK-Bro (Randy Orton and Riddle) (Raw Tag Team Champions) defeated The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) (SmackDown Tag Team Champions) by pinfall Champions vs. Champions tag team match[27] 14:50
6 Team Raw (Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, Carmella, and Queen Zelina) defeated Team SmackDown (Sasha Banks, Shayna Baszler, Shotzi, Natalya, and Toni Storm)2 5-on-5 women's Survivor Series elimination match[28] 23:45
7 Roman Reigns (Universal Champion) (with Paul Heyman) defeated Big E (WWE Champion) by pinfall Champion vs. Champion singles match[29] 21:55
  • (c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
  • P – indicates the match took place on the pre-show

Survivor Series elimination matches

^1

Eliminated Wrestler Eliminated by Method Time
1 Kevin Owens N/A Countout 0:55
2 Happy Corbin Finn Bálor Pinfall 7:50
3 King Woods Bobby Lashley Technical submission 13:25
4 Bobby Lashley Drew McIntyre Countout 16:35
5 Drew McIntyre Bobby Lashley Countout 16:35
6 Finn Bálor Sheamus Pinfall 19:30
7 Sheamus Austin Theory Pinfall 24:35
8 Austin Theory Jeff Hardy Pinfall 27:00
9 Jeff Hardy Seth Rollins Pinfall 29:56
Survivor(s): Seth Rollins (Team Raw)

^2

Eliminated Wrestler Eliminated by Method Time
1 Carmella Toni Storm Pinfall 1:00
2 Queen Zelina Toni Storm Pinfall 13:55
3 Toni Storm Liv Morgan Pinfall 15:00
4 Liv Morgan Sasha Banks Pinfall 16:10
5 Rhea Ripley Shayna Baszler Pinfall 17:40
6 Sasha Banks N/A Countout 20:05
7 Natalya Bianca Belair Pinfall 21:15
8 Shayna Baszler Bianca Belair Pinfall 21:45
9 Shotzi Bianca Belair Pinfall 23:45
Survivor(s): Bianca Belair (Team Raw)

References

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  2. ^ Hamilton, Ian. Wrestling's Sinking Ship: What Happens to an Industry Without Competition. p. 160.
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External links

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