MATCH 1: TEAM SPIRIT SQUAD VS. TEAM FLAIR (TRADITIONAL SURVIVOR SERIES MATCH)
Jerry “The King” Lawler and Jim Ross commentate this match for us
Raw starts things off with the only non-cross-brand Traditional Survivor Series match, although “legends” really could count as a 4th unofficial brand. Ric Flair enters first to captain his team, he's only been in 1 other Traditional Survivor Series match back in 1991, the same night he helped Undertaker win his first WWE Championship from Hulk Hogan. Another of Hogan's foes, Sargeant Slaughter follows Flair out, a WWE Hall of Famer since 2004. Speaking of foes, one of Naitch's old foes “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes enters the match next. Ron Simmons is out to complete the team with a “Damn!” voiceover put over the APA's theme tune.
Mitch accompanies his buddies to the ring, and he'll be at ringside for the match as moral support. It's weird thinking back then Kenny was thought to be the big star of The Spirit Squad. As shown by him not only being captain tonight but also being the only one to be allowed a headband. He's also the one feuding with Flair that set up this match. Dusty Rhodes (of every member on that team) tries to attack before they can get on the apron, he has a taped up knee. The referee keeps him back and Spirit Squad line up around their corner on the apron.
Ron Simmons starts for his team, and Mikey (helped by each member of Spirit Squad having their names on their gear.) starts for the Cheerleaders. Mikey shoves Ron Simmons but goes for a shoulder tackle and hits a brick wall. Simmons wants to lock up and they do, Mikey gets a side headlock but Simmons just picks him up and chucks him across the mat. Mikey backs off and Simmons basically tells him not to be a bitch. Mikey complains about fake hair pulling to referee Chad Patton, and finally goes to lock up, he slips a poke so Simmons' eye and hits him with a right. Mikey hits a couple more, but brawling with Ron Simmons won't go well, as Mikey finds running into a powerslam. Spirit Squad flood the ring but Simmons sends them all packing. Mitch grabs his ankle from the outside. Simmons stalks Mitch around ringside and Mitch backs straight into "The Enforcer" Mitch is sent into the ringpost before Anderson throws him in the ring. Simmons enters the ring but the referee has to tell him he's been counted out. Mitch complains toPatton and gets ejected for tripping Simmon. Ron Simmons hits a standing spinebuster on Mitch and drags him to the back.The official also ejects Arn Anderson for getting involved. Fair but bullshit at the same time.
We get a replay of what just happens as indy-known Mike Mondo tags out to Nicky, the future Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler stalls for more time, saluting to Sarge out of mercy. Sgt. Slaughter eventually offers a handshake. Nicky takes it but gets booted in the gut. Sarge hits a trio of scoop slams and even at this point you can see the Curt Hennig style selling Nicky uses, Sarge gets Nicky over to Retirement corner and tags into Rhodes. Rhodes dances for what feels like forever before knocking Nicky down with a bionic elbow. He grabs the wrist of Nicky and drives his elbow down across his shoulder before tagging out to Naitch for the first time in his career. Flair brings Nicky across the ring before hitting him with a chop, Nicky reacts like Flair's touch is an electric shock. Another knife-edge chop sends Nicky down, Nicky gets up and Flair completes the hat-trick before tagging Slaughter back in. Slaughter hits a short-arm clothesline and locks in the Cobra Clutch. Nicky is fading and the referee checks his arm, Kenny enters the ring and Rhodes cuts him off, but the referee's distracted. Johnny hits a jumping spin kick to the back of Sarge's head! Johnny places Nicky over Slaughter to get the first proper elimination.
Dusty hits a big elbow drop to send Nicky to the back but gets ambushed as he gets back up by Johnny. Johnny chokes Dream in the ropes and hits him with rights. That gets Rhodes fired up, but Johnny sends him to the turnbuckle in the worst side of town for Rhodes. Mikey gets a cheap shot in, but Dusty is able to knock both other members of Spirit Squad off the apron. Johnny right back at Rhodes with right hands in the corner. Kenny gets back on the apron and gets the tag, keeping a fresh man in. He kicks Rhodes and hits him with right hands, but Rhodes is walking! Rhodes stumbling around the ring! Kenny tries to back Rhodes into the corner but Dusty gets a second wind and he hits a Bionic Elbow on Kenny. "Flip, Flop and Fly" sends Kenny into the corner but he avoids a running elbow. Johnny Rolls up Rhodes! Ric Flair trying to make the save but Kenny runs in and decks him before getting the tag!
Kenny stomps on Flair whilst talking shit and drags him to Spirit Squad's corner. Mikey gets the tag and hits Flair with rights. Flair takes some boots to the gut in the corner, but out of nowhere chops Mikey hard! Mikey replies with a right hand, but Flair keeps chopping him, Mikey too much for Flair though (I know, I know, it feels weird typing it, and I need to write a Flair prime review to make up for it. It's coming next Friday) Mikey mounts Flair in the corner and peppers him with more right hands. Flair hits an inverted atomic drop! Flair rolls Mikey up and gets his feet on the ropes for leverage! Mikey gets eliminated, bringing in Kenny as the legal man now and he wastes no time going after Flair in the corner. Kenny sends Flair across the ring hard. Flair rebounds out of the corner into a backdrop. Kenny hits falling elbow drops as I catch a glimpse of a “Vince fears Necro” sign, referring to CZW Wrestler Necro Butcher, then brings Flair to his feet. Kenny sends Flair across the ring but ducks too early. Naitch rolls him up in a small package! Flair eliminates Kenny.
Kenny not happy about his elimination and he throws his headband. He shoves Flair. Flair shoves him back but Johnny's in the ring now! Just Flair and Johnny left for their respective teams and Johnny barrages Flair in the corner with right hands. Flair fires back with chops, Ric Flair hits a shinbreaker out of the corner, and that flows into the Figure Four leglock. Johnny immediately taps out.
WINNER: TEAM FLAIR (SOLE SURVIVOR; RIC FLAIR)
All of the legends were able to get their “best hits” in, Dusty Rhodes took an awesome heat segment before using his ageless elbow to close the youth gap. The biggest disappointment personally was not seeing the Dominator (“DAMNinator?) The Spirit Squad used their early numbers game to their advantage, and sometimes used that (amongst other shortcuts) to stay in the general control of the match. Even in this early match you can see Ziggler's potential. (Honestly, just go on photoshop and sort the haircut, that's the major roadblock.) Kenny stayed out of the match as long as he can, letting his team mates be pawns for him. Especially avoiding Flair. It was a short, inoffensive match, getting The Spirit Squad a bit of a moment after the match and giving some well-loved Legends a few more minutes of spotlight. It just wasn't great. – Rating: 3.4/10
After the bell rings Johnny turns the Figure Four over, reversing the pressure on Flair. The Spirit Squad ambush Flair, with Mitch holding Johnny's wrists to synch it in and the rest stomping him down. Kenny climbs to the top turnbuckle, stands on the top rope next to it to get his angle right, and hits his leg drop. Honestly that finisher was the best thing about him. Surely he could have gotten that over and made a decent living from that? Some people have no business savvy.... I'm not ending this review on that note, so as another little moment I noticed during the match, the guy next to "Necro Guy" had a "Bring back Randy Savage" sign.
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