The Rock Survives ‘Deadly Games’ as Corporate Champion

In the 12th annual Survivor Series, before a sellout crowd of 21,779 in St. Louis, The Rock won the fourteen-man tournament to claim the WWF title, not to the pleasure of The Rock’s fans.

The one night tournament to crown a new WWF champion was the first time since Wrestlemania IV that such a tournament was required a determine a new champion. It was the first time in WWF history that the title was vacated for almost two months.

The pay-per-view started with McMahon’s personal choice to win the tournament, Mankind, scored an easy victory over elementary football coach Dwayne Gill in a first round match.

Al Snow used Head to beat the two time WWF Intercontinental champion Jeff Jarett in another first round match.

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin defeated The Big Bossman via disqualification, when Bossman nailed Austin with his nightstick.

X-Pac and “The real man’s man” Stephen Regal fought to a double countout, meaning both men were eliminated from the tournament. A furious Vince McMahon ordered a five-minute sudden death over time, but neither men could continue. The decision meant Steve Austin would receive a bye to the semi-finals.

Ken Shamrock advanced to the quarterfinals beating Goldust with his signature ankle lock submission.

In the final first round match, The Rock was scheduled to face Triple H. Since Triple H is still recovering from knee surgery, a replacement was announced. Despite his loss to Austin, The Big Bossman charged the ring. The Rock used an inside cradle to pin the Bossman in just four seconds, and advancing in the tournament.

The quarterfinals started with a match pitting “brothers” Kane and The Undertaker. Undertaker chokeslammed Kane, and with the help of Paul Bearer holding down Kane’s foot on the outside, the man from the darkside advanced to the semi-finals.

During the Mankind-Al Snow quarterfinal match, McMahon backstage revealed he stole “Mr. Socko,” and placed him around Snow’s Head. Mankind spotted his favorite sock, and used the maniable claw to defeat Al Snow.

In a four star caliber match, The Rock advanced to the semi-finals by defeating archrival Ken Shamrock. The Big Bossman appeared at ringside, and tosses his nightstick to Shamrock. The Rock intercepts, and clombers Shamrock for the victory.

The Woman’s title match was hard fought between Sable and Jacqueline. Sable hit Jackie with the TKO, but Mero pulled Sable out of the ring. Sable delivered a low blow followed by a Sable bomb on Mero. In the end, Sable reversed Jackie’s attempted DDT into a Sable bomb, winning her the WWF Woman’s title.

Mankind faced “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in a semi-final match. Austin hits Mankind with a stunner on a chair, but McMahon pulls the referee out of the ring before he could count to three. With no referee in sight, Austin nails Mankind with another stunner. This time, Shane McMahon appears and counts one, two, but pulls up on three. Shane gives Austin both fingers, and he turns on the “Rattlesnake.” Brisco and Patterson nail Austin, allowing Mankind to gain the fall. Vince and his cronies escape to his limo, and exit the arena. Austin confiscated a vehicle and chases after them.

The Rock advanced to the finals by beating The Undertaker via disqualification when Kane chokeslammed “The People’s champion.”

The New Age Outlaws retained their WWF tag team gold by beating the Head Bangers, and the team of Mark Henry and D-Lo Brown in a triple threat match, when Gunn pinned Mosh.

Even though it appeared Vince and Shane McMahon had left the arena, both made their way to ring side to witness the final match, The Rock versus Mankind. In a reenactment of last year’s famed double cross in the Bret Hart-Shawn Michaels match, The Rock applied the sharpshooter, and Vince McMahon called for the bell ending the match. The McMahon’s embraced The Rock, the new WWF champion. Austin stormed the ring, nailing The Rock and Mankind with stunners.

The next WWF pay-per-view is a United Kingdom only event called “Capital Carnage” on December 6th. The WWF returns to pay-per-view in North America on Sunday, December 13th.

[ HOME | [ LEGENDS/FREE AGENTS | [ WWE ROSTER | [ WWA ]