ERIC BISCHOFF VS. THEODORE LONG

  I couldn't leave it a week to do a whole review. Manflu or not. Therefore it's another cop-out slightly. This Sunday at Survivor Series the brands are taking it to each other for brand supremacy. This isn't something new at Survivor Series but it is something that they bring back when they need to and have done so well this year, with both General Managers involved.... Hmmmm transition?

  Michael Cole from Smackdown and Johnathan Coachman from Raw are on commentary for this match. Straight away Cole gets a dig in over a Smackdown referee having to call Raw's WWE Championship match. This was a month after Bischoff got his unnaturally black hair shaved at Taboo Tuesday, losing to Eugene. Lillian Garcia introduces Bischoff and Tony Chimel does so for Teddy Long. In a nice touch, they have a referee from each brand, although that's about 5 telling signs it's interpromotional, which is a bit of overkill. Long goes straight to Bischoff for some trash talking and the referees separate them. Also Teddy Long has Palmer Canon, the Network Executive character Smackdown was running at the time, in his corner.

ERIC BISCHOFF VS. THEODORE LONG

(Interpromotional General Managers match)

WWE Survivor Series 2005 (27^th November 2005)

©World Wrestling Entertainment

  The bell rings and the General Managers squabble in the ring, as do the commentators at ringside. Teddy Long wants a popularity contest, CLIMBING TO THE MIDDLE ROPE! HOLY SHIT!! (sorry, that's probably as extreme as this match will get.) Anyway, Bischoff tries to jump him in the corner but Long moves out of the way, Cole calls Eric Bischoff “Mr Miyagi” in the best half-second of his career. Teddy Long avoids a tornado kick and side-steps Bischoff, sending him into the corner. Bischoff is frustrated, smacking the turnbuckle. He turns around and Teddy Long mocks him with the Crane stance, which Palmer Canon gets on the apron to show his support for. For some reason it takes both referees to tell him to get off the apron, giving Bischoff the chance to choke Long with his martial arts belt. Bischoff throws his belt away and chokes Long with his hands. Palmer's still dancing on the apron. That annoys Bischoff so he sends him to the floor with a side kick.

  Bischoff goes back to choking Long, this time with the referees telling him to break it up. That wasn't very productive. Bischoff breaks at three and allows Long to his feet, before choking him back down to the mat. This time he kindly breaks at two. Long swings and misses, getting caught in a sleeperhold. Long struggles but has to drop to the mat. Palmer Canon is on the apron again, the Raw referee goes over to him, then the Smackdown referee joins him before checking Long's arm, allowing Long to take his shoe off and hit Bischoff over the head with it. Bischoff blocks a second attempted shoe attack, and applies a side headlock, before thrusting his fingers into Long's throat out of sight of the referees. Bischoff shoves Long around until The Boogeyman's music hits! Eric Bischoff sends the referees up the entranceway to stop him, but The Boogeyman appears behind him. Bischoff backs into The Boogeyman and gets planted with a pumphandle slam, Theodore Long slowly crawls over to cover for the win.

WINNER: THEODORE LONG (SMACKDOWN)

Theodore Long dances in celebration.

This gave Bischoff and Long something to do I guess. It didn't take up too much time but it was just there because why not? I'd have preferred having them in Team Raw & Smackdown's respective corners for the main event. – WORKRATE: 1/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 1.5/5 OVERALL 2.5/10

Eric Bischoff's book; Controversy Creates Cash

WWE also released a DVD on Bischoff here

As for Teddy Long, he did a YouShoot interview, which can be found here

If like me you enjoy seeing a DVD collection as oppose to searching the WWE Network, you can buy the entire WWE Survivor Series 2005 event here