The WWE Survivor Series is one of the longest running annual professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by WWE. The first Survivor Series took place in 1987, and since then a new Survivor Series has occurred every November. As of November 2022, there have been a total of 36 WWE Survivor Series events held.
Brief History of the WWE Survivor Series
The Survivor Series was the brainchild of WWE owner Vince McMahon. Inspired by the success of the War Games match held in the NWA, McMahon devised the Survivor Series as a pay-per-view displaying multiple tag team elimination matches. The first Survivor Series took place on Thanksgiving Day 1987 live from the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield Township, Ohio.
The main attraction of the original Survivor Series was a 10 wrestler elimination match pitting a team captained by Hulk Hogan against a team captained by André the Giant. André’s team emerged victorious after pinning Hogan’s team. Other matches included a 20 man elimination tag match and a women’s elimination match.
In the years since, the traditional Survivor Series elimination matches have continued. However, the pay-per-view has evolved to include other types of matches, particularly featuring champions defending their titles. Survivor Series has also been the site of several iconic moments in WWE history, such as The Montreal Screwjob and The Rock winning his first WWE Championship.
Notable Survivor Series Events Through the Years
Here are some of the most memorable Survivor Series events over the years:
- 1997 – The Montreal Screwjob – Shawn Michaels def. Bret Hart for the WWE Championship after Vince McMahon demanded the match finish be changed without Hart’s knowledge.
- 1998 – The Rock wins his first WWE Championship, defeating Mankind.
- 1999 – The Rock ‘n’ Sock Connection is formed as The Rock and Mankind win the WWE Tag Team Championship.
- 2002 – The first Elimination Chamber match takes place, with Shawn Michaels emerging victorious.
- 2005 – The WWE debuts the Raw vs. Smackdown Survivor Series elimination matches.
- 2010 – Nexus defeats Team WWE in a massive elimination tag team match.
- 2016 – Goldberg defeats Brock Lesnar in 1 minute and 26 seconds.
- 2020 – The Undertaker’s “Final Farewell” takes place at Survivor Series.
Complete List of WWE Survivor Series Dates and Locations
The WWE Survivor Series has taken place in a variety of locations over the years, most often in major arenas in cities across the United States. Here is a complete list of dates and locations for all 36 Survivor Series events:
Year | Date | Location |
---|---|---|
1987 | November 26 | Richfield Coliseum – Richfield Township, OH |
1988 | November 24 | Richfield Coliseum – Richfield Township, OH |
1989 | November 23 | Rosemont Horizon – Rosemont, IL |
1990 | November 22 | Hartford Civic Center – Hartford, CT |
1991 | November 27 | Joe Louis Arena – Detroit, MI |
1992 | November 25 | Richfield Coliseum – Richfield Township, OH |
1993 | November 24 | Boston Garden – Boston, MA |
1994 | November 23 | Freeman Coliseum – San Antonio, TX |
1995 | November 19 | USAir Arena – Landover, MD |
1996 | November 17 | Madison Square Garden – New York City, NY |
1997 | November 9 | Molson Centre – Montreal, QC |
1998 | November 15 | Kiel Center – St. Louis, MO |
1999 | November 14 | Joe Louis Arena – Detroit, MI |
2000 | November 19 | Ice Palace – Tampa, FL |
2001 | November 18 | Greensboro Coliseum – Greensboro, NC |
2002 | November 17 | Madison Square Garden – New York City, NY |
2003 | November 16 | American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX |
2004 | November 14 | Gund Arena – Cleveland, OH |
2005 | November 27 | Joe Louis Arena – Detroit, MI |
2006 | November 26 | Wachovia Center – Philadelphia, PA |
2007 | November 18 | American Airlines Arena – Miami, FL |
2008 | November 23 | TD Banknorth Garden – Boston, MA |
2009 | November 22 | Verizon Center – Washington, D.C. |
2010 | November 21 | American Airlines Arena – Miami, FL |
2011 | November 20 | Madison Square Garden – New York City, NY |
2012 | November 18 | Bankers Life Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN |
2013 | November 24 | TD Garden – Boston, MA |
2014 | November 23 | Scottrade Center – St. Louis, MO |
2015 | November 22 | Phillips Arena – Atlanta, GA |
2016 | November 20 | Air Canada Centre – Toronto, ON |
2017 | November 19 | Toyota Center – Houston, TX |
2018 | November 18 | Staples Center – Los Angeles, CA |
2019 | November 24 | Allstate Arena – Rosemont, IL |
2020 | November 22 | WWE ThunderDome – Orlando, FL |
2021 | November 21 | Barclays Center – Brooklyn, NY |
2022 | November 26 | TD Garden – Boston, MA |
Key Stats and Facts About the Survivor Series
Here are some key statistics and facts about WWE’s second longest running pay-per-view event:
- Number of Survivor Series events: 36
- Longest match: The Rock vs. Triple H in 1998 lasted over 30 minutes.
- Shortest match: Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar in 2016 lasted 1 minute and 26 seconds.
- Most Survivor Series appearances: Kane (20), The Undertaker (19)
- Most Survivor Series match victories: Randy Orton (14)
- Youngest winner: Drew McIntyre (24 years old)
- Oldest winner: The Undertaker (53 years old)
- Biggest attendance: 21,000+ at Madison Square Garden in 1996
- Smallest attendance: 9,500 at Greensboro Coliseum in 2001
Some additional interesting facts:
- Andre the Giant captained a Survivor Series team 9 consecutive years from 1987 to 1995.
- The first seven Survivor Series were held on Thanksgiving night.
- Survivor Series 1991 featured a double elimination 20 man tag match.
- From 1993 to 1995, four Survivor Series matches were held each year.
- The Montreal Screwjob changed the course of the WWE and the Monday Night Wars.
- The Undertaker’s farewell at Survivor Series 2020 broke WWE’s ThunderDome virtual fan viewing record.
Win-Loss Records for Top Stars
Here are the win-loss records of some of the biggest stars in Survivor Series history:
Wrestler | Wins | Losses |
---|---|---|
Randy Orton | 14 | 4 |
Triple H | 9 | 11 |
Shawn Michaels | 8 | 11 |
Kurt Angle | 7 | 9 |
Edge | 8 | 3 |
Batista | 6 | 5 |
The Undertaker | 12 | 10 |
John Cena | 7 | 6 |
Randy Savage | 0 | 7 |
Ted DiBiase | 3 | 4 |
Conclusion
The WWE Survivor Series has a long, storied history dating back to 1987. Over 36 editions, it has provided fans with countless memorable matches and moments. While the format has evolved, the traditional elimination matches remain at the heart of Survivor Series. With over three decades of history and records, Survivor Series remains one of the biggest annual events on the WWE calendar.