:Survivor Series (2004)

File:Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (2).jpg in Cleveland, Ohio.]]

Survivor Series is an annual gimmick pay-per-view (PPV) produced every November by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) since 1987. In what has become 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, Royal Rumble, and SummerSlam, referred to as the "Big Four".Ian Hamilton. Wrestling's Sinking Ship: What Happens to an Industry Without Competition (p. 160) The event is traditionally characterized by having Survivor Series matches, which are tag team elimination matches that typically pits teams of four or five wrestlers against each other. The 2004 event was the 18th Survivor Series and featured wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown! brands. It was scheduled to be held on November 14, 2004, at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

The event featured seven professional wrestling matches with outcomes predetermined by WWE script writers. The matches featured wrestlers portraying their characters in planned storylines that took place before, during, and after the event. All wrestlers were from one of the WWE's brands – Raw and SmackDown! – while storylines played out on their weekly television shows, Raw and SmackDown!.

File:Triple H Pointing Melbourne 10.11.2007.jpg

The main feud on the Raw brand was between Team Orton (Randy Orton, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, and Maven) and Team Triple H (Triple H, Edge, Batista, and Gene Snitsky). On the October 25 episode of Raw, Evolution (Triple H, Ric Flair and Batista) were put in charge of Raw, after Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff took the night off. Triple H granted Flair the match of his choice; Flair wanted a rematch with Orton,{{cite web|url=https://www.pwwew.net/tv/raw/041025.htm|title=Dangerous Deal|access-date=April 4, 2008|date=October 25, 2004|publisher=PWWEW.net}}{{cite web|url=https://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/041025.html|title=RAW results – October 25, 2004|access-date=April 3, 2008|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}} as he lost a Steel Cage match to Orton at Taboo Tuesday.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/october/raw2004.htm|title=Taboo Tuesday 2004 Results|access-date=2008-04-03|publisher=PWWEW.net}} Orton accepted Flair's challenge, with a stipulation that if he defeated Flair he would get an opportunity to face Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at Survivor Series, and if he lost, he would never be allowed to challenge for the title again. Orton, however, lost the match after interference by Triple H, so Orton was banned from challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship. On the November 1 episode of Raw, Bischoff scheduled a traditional 4-on-4 elimination tag team match between Orton, Jericho, Maven and Benoit and Triple H, Batista, Edge and Snitsky at Survivor Series. The winning team at Survivor Series would be granted absolute control of running Raw for a month.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/raw/041101.htm|title=Strength in Numbers|access-date=2008-04-08|date=2004-11-01|publisher=PWWEW.net}}{{cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/041101.html|title=RAW results – November 1, 2004|access-date=2008-04-08|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}} On the November 8 episode of Raw, Bischoff concluded with adding that the winning members at Survivor Series would all get a week to be in charge of Raw.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/raw/041108.htm|title=Friends or Foes?|access-date=2008-04-08|date=2004-11-08|publisher=PWWEW.net}}{{cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/041108.html|title=RAW results – November 8, 2004|access-date=2008-04-08|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}} That same night, Edge and Benoit were scheduled in a match, where Triple H, Batista, Orton, Jericho and Maven came out to ringside to watch the match. At ringside, a fight broke out between Triple H and Orton's team, which caused the match to end in a No Contest.

The predominant feud on the SmackDown! brand was between John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) versus Booker T, with the two battling over JBL's WWE Championship. On the October 21 episode of SmackDown!, SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long booked a six-man tag team match involving Booker T, Rob Van Dam, and Rey Mysterio taking on JBL, Kenzo Suzuki, and René Duprée. At the time, Booker T was a heel and congratulated JBL's success with the company in a segment backstage.{{cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/041021.html|title=SmackDown! results – October 21, 2004|access-date=2008-04-09|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}{{cite web|first=J.D.|last=Dunn|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/32292/The-Smackdown-Breakdown-10.21.04.htm|title=The Smackdown Breakdown 10.21.04|access-date=2008-04-09|date=2004-10-21|publisher=411mania.com}} The tag team match got underway, and JBL was led to believe that Booker T was going to betray Van Dam and Mysterio, as Booker T warned both Van Dam and Mysterio not to interfere with him during the match. The match concluded with Booker T pinning JBL after an axe kick, thus turning Booker T face. On the October 28 episode of SmackDown!, Booker T defeated Orlando Jordan to earn the right to face JBL for the WWE Championship at Survivor Series.{{cite web|first=J.D.|last=Dunn|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/32295/The-Smackdown-Breakdown-10.28.04.htm|title=The Smackdown Breakdown 10.28.04|access-date=2008-04-15|date=2004-10-28|publisher=411mania.com}} On the November 4 episode of SmackDown!, JBL interfered in a match between Booker T and Jordan, which ended in a disqualification, giving Booker T the win.{{cite web|first=J.D.|last=Dunn|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/32303/The-Smackdown-Breakdown-11.04.04.htm|title=The Smackdown Breakdown 11.04.04|access-date=2008-04-15|date=2004-11-04|publisher=411mania.com}}{{cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/041104.html|title=SmackDown! results – November 4, 2004|access-date=2008-04-14|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}} After the disqualification by JBL, Theodore Long scheduled a tag team match between Booker T and Josh Mathews versus JBL and Jordan. The tag team victory was given to Booker T and Mathews, as Booker T pinned Jordan for the win.

One of the primary matches on the SmackDown! brand was between Team Guerrero (Eddie Guerrero, The Big Show, Rob Van Dam and John Cena) versus Team Angle (Kurt Angle, Carlito, Luther Reigns and Mark Jindrak). On the October 28 episode of SmackDown!, Theodore Long booked a 4-on-4 Survivor Series elimination match between Guerrero, Big Show, Van Dam, and Rey Mysterio against Angle, Carlito, Reigns and Jindrak.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/smackdown/041028.htm|title=We have a Match|access-date=2008-04-14|date=2004-10-28|publisher=PWWEW.net}}{{cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/041028.html|title=SmackDown! results – October 28, 2004|access-date=2008-04-14|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}} On the November 4 episode of SmackDown!, Mysterio was removed from the elimination match, as Long booked Mysterio in a Fatal Four-Way match for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. Guerrero was given a week to choose a member for his team at Survivor Series.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/smackdown/041104.htm|title=By gosh, Its Josh|access-date=2008-04-14|date=2004-11-04|publisher=PWWEW.net}} On the November 11 episode of SmackDown!, Guerrero announced that John Cena, who was recovering from a storyline injury, would be joining his team at Survivor Series.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/smackdown/041111.htm|title=Comings and Goings?|access-date=2008-04-14|date=2004-11-11|publisher=PWWEW.net}}{{cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/041111.html|title=SmackDown! results – November 11, 2004|access-date=2008-04-14|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}

Before the event went live on pay-per-view, World Tag Team Champions La Résistance (Sylvain Grenier and Robért Conway) defeated The Hurricane and Rosey in a non-title match shown live on Sunday Night Heat.{{cite web|first=Adam|last=Martin|url=https://www.wrestleview.com/news2004/1100493995.shtml|title=Survivor Series PPV Results – 11/14/04 – Cleveland, Ohio|access-date=April 7, 2008|date=November 14, 2004|work=WrestleView|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041117021301/https://www.wrestleview.com/news2004/1100493995.shtml|archive-date=November 17, 2004}}

The first match was a fatal four-way match for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship between Spike Dudley, Billy Kidman, Chavo Guerrero, and Rey Mysterio. After back and forth action, Spike pinned Chavo after a springboard leg drop by Kidman to retain the title.{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2004/results/|title=Survivor Series 2004 results|access-date=April 7, 2008|work=World Wrestling Entertainment|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224051102/https://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2004/results/|archive-date=February 24, 2008}}

Next was a match between Shelton Benjamin and Christian for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. During the match, Benjamin attempted to attack Tyson Tomko, who accompanied Christian to the match, but Christian stopped Benjamin. Each man gained control throughout the match. The match ended when Benjamin pinned Christian after a T-Bone Suplex.

In the third match, Team Guerrero (Eddie Guerrero, Big Show, Rob Van Dam, and John Cena) faced Team Angle (Kurt Angle, Mark Jindrak, Luther Reigns, and Carlito) in a 4-on-4 Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Match. Carlito was eliminated as Cena chased him from the arena before the match began. Angle eliminated Van Dam after a roll-up using the ropes for leverage. Guerrero eliminated Jindrak after a roll-up, also using the ropes for leverage. Big Show eliminated Reigns after a chokeslam. Guerrero eliminated Angle after an FU by Cena and a frog splash by him, meaning Team Guerrero won the match.{{cite web|url=https://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/survivorseries04.html|title=Survivor Series 2004 Results|access-date=April 3, 2008|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}

In the fourth match The Undertaker faced Heidenreich. Both men managed to gain the advantage in the match. During the match, Paul Heyman interfered on behalf of Heidenreich. The Undertaker executed a Chokeslam and a Tombstone Piledriver on Heidenreich to win.

The fifth match was between Trish Stratus and Lita for the WWE Women's Championship. Lita was disqualified for hitting Stratus with a chair, meaning Stratus retained the title. The match turned out to be an intensely violent affair where Stratus legitimately broke her nose after Lita slammed her into a chair, which caused Stratus to bleed. Sticking to her storyline of her being depressed after losing Kane's baby, Lita viciously attacked Stratus twice even after her nose was broken, with Lita apparently unaware of Stratus's legitimate injury.

In the sixth match John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) faced Booker T for the WWE Championship, with the stipulation if JBL lost he would leave SmackDown! forever. The match saw both men gain the advantage before Orlando Jordan interfered by attacking Booker T and the referee was knocked down by JBL. Booker T executed the scissors kick on JBL as a new referee came down to officiate the match, but Jordan removed JBL from the ring and tried to hit Booker T with the title belt. Booker T countered with a Book End on Jordan. JBL hit Booker T with the title belt and pinned him to retain the title.

The main event was the Survivor Series match between Team Orton (Randy Orton, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, and Maven) versus Team Triple H (Triple H, Batista, Edge, and Gene Snitsky) with the stipulation of the winning team being in charge of Raw for the next 4 weeks. Maven was attacked backstage by Snitsky before the match. Benoit was eliminated by Edge, after a Pedigree by Triple H. Batista was eliminated by Chris Jericho after Orton hit Batista with the World Heavyweight title belt and an enziguri by Jericho. Snitsky was disqualified and eliminated for hitting Maven, who had returned for the match, with a chair. Maven was eliminated after Triple H pinned him. Jericho was eliminated by Edge after a spear. Edge was eliminated by Orton after an RKO. Triple H was eliminated by Orton after an RKO, leaving Orton as the sole survivor.{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Sokol|url=https://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/11/15/723410.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720212933/https://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/11/15/723410.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 20, 2012|title=Orton survives at Series|access-date=April 3, 2008|date=November 15, 2004|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|work=SLAM! Sports}}

As Team Orton (Randy Orton, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, and Maven) defeated Team Triple H (Triple H, Edge, Batista and Snitsky) at Survivor Series, they were given the opportunity to be in charge of Raw for a month; On the November 29 episode of Raw, Randy Orton was in charge and scheduled a World Heavyweight Championship Battle Royal. WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, however, overruled the Battle Royal match and instead booked Triple H to face the winner of the Battle Royal.{{cite web|url=https://www.pwwew.net/tv/raw/041129.htm|title=Who's the Champ?|access-date=April 26, 2008|date=November 29, 2004|publisher=PWWEW.net}}{{cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/041129.html|title=RAW results – November 29, 2004|access-date=April 29, 2008|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}} The battle royal match saw Chris Benoit and Edge, as the final two participants, going over the top rope at the same time, ostensibly ending the match. Orton, acting as General Manager, booked a triple threat match between Benoit, Edge, and Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship. The match resulted in Benoit applying the Crossface on Edge, only for Edge to manage to roll Benoit over, while the Crossface was still locked in, causing Benoit's shoulders to touch the mat. The referee began counting, which moments later led to Edge to submit to the maneuver. The following week, with Chris Jericho in charge, Vince McMahon vacated the World Heavyweight Championship, concluding the match ended in a tie.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/raw/041206.htm|title=World Heavyweight Championship Vacated|access-date=2008-04-27|date=2004-12-06|publisher=PWWEW.net}}{{cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/041206.html|title=RAW results – December 6, 2004|access-date=2008-04-27|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}} On the December 13 episode of Raw, Eric Bischoff, who had resumed his position as General Manager, scheduled an Elimination Chamber match between Triple H, Edge, Benoit, Chris Jericho, Orton and Batista at New Year's Revolution for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/raw/041213.htm|title=Elimination Chamber will decide New World Champion|access-date=2008-04-27|date=2004-12-13|publisher=PWWEW.net}}{{cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/041213.html|title=RAW results – December 13, 2004|access-date=2008-04-27|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}} The following week, Bischoff concluded with adding a Special Guest Referee for the Elimination Chamber: Shawn Michaels.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/raw/041227.htm|title=Bischoff delivers Showstopping Announcement for Elimination Chamber|access-date=2008-04-27|date=2004-12-27|publisher=PWWEW.net}}{{cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/041227.html|title=RAW results – December 27, 2004|access-date=2008-04-27|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}} At New Year's Revolution, Triple H won the Elimination Chamber to begin his tenth world title reign.{{cite web|first=Nick|last=Tylwalk|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2005/01/10/901074.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714190205/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2005/01/10/901074.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 14, 2012|title=No Revolution: Triple H prevails|access-date=2008-04-27|date=2005-01-10|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|work=SLAM! Sports}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldheavyweight/|title=Title History: World Heavyweight Championship|access-date=2008-04-27|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment}}

After retaining the WWE Championship against Booker T, John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) was inserted into previous feuds with Eddie Guerrero, Booker T, and The Undertaker.{{cite web|first=Nick|last=Marsico|url=https://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/30868/411s-WWE-Smackdown-Report-11.18.04.htm|title=411's WWE Smackdown Report 11.18.04|access-date=April 22, 2008|date=November 18, 2004|work=411Mania}}{{cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/041118.html|title=SmackDown! results – November 18, 2004|access-date=2008-04-22|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}} The feud led to SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long booking a fatal four-way match at Armageddon in December. The match was won by JBL, as he pinned Booker T after a Clothesline from Hell and successfully retained the title.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/history/2004/results/|title=Armageddon 2004 results|access-date=April 24, 2008|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|archive-date=March 23, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323114147/http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/history/2004/results/|url-status=dead}}

In October, John Cena lost the WWE United States Championship to Carlito Caribbean Cool, who debuted on SmackDown!.{{cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/041007.html|title=SmackDown! results – October 7, 2004|access-date=April 24, 2008|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}} As part of the storyline, Carlito's bodyguard, Jesús, stabbed Cena in the kidney while at a nightclub.{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/041014.html|title=SmackDown! results – October 14, 2004|access-date=2008-04-24|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}{{cite web|first=Scott|last=Fried|url=https://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/30865/411s-WWE-Smackdown-Report-11.11.04.htm|title=411's WWE Smackdown Report 11.11.04|access-date=April 24, 2008|date=November 4, 2004|work=411Mania}} On the November 18 episode of SmackDown!, Cena regained the United States Championship by defeating Carlito. Cena also debuted a "custom made" spinner-style title belt.{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/unitedstates/30445411131 |title=John Cena's Second Reign as US Champion |access-date=May 10, 2007|work=World Wrestling Entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050624010358/https://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/unitedstates/30445411131 |archive-date=2005-06-24 }}

{{Pro Wrestling results table

|results =

|note1 = heat

|match1 = La Résistance (Sylvain Grenier and Robért Conway) defeated The Hurricane and Rosey

|stip1 = Tag team match

|time1 = 4:59

|match2 = Spike Dudley (c) defeated Billy Kidman, Chavo Guerrero and Rey Mysterio

|stip2 = Fatal 4-Way match for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship

|time2 = 9:09

|match3 = Shelton Benjamin (c) defeated Christian (with Tyson Tomko)

|stip3 = Singles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship

|time3 = 13:23

|match4 = Team Guerrero (Eddie Guerrero, Big Show, John Cena and Rob Van Dam) defeated Team Angle (Kurt Angle, Carlito Caribbean Cool, Luther Reigns and Mark Jindrak) (with Jesús)

|stip4 = 4-on-4 Survivor Series elimination match{{ref|1|1}}

|time4 = 12:26

|match5 = The Undertaker defeated Heidenreich (with Paul Heyman)

|stip5 = Singles match

|time5 = 15:58

|match6 = Trish Stratus (c) defeated Lita by disqualification

|stip6 = Singles match for the WWE Women's Championship

|time6 = 1:24

|match7 = John "Bradshaw" Layfield (c) (with Orlando Jordan) defeated Booker T

|stip7 = Singles match for the WWE Championship.
Had JBL lost, he would leave wrestling forever.

|time7 = 14:43

|match8 = Team Orton (Randy Orton, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho and Maven) defeated Team Triple H (Triple H, Batista, Edge and Gene Snitsky) (with Ric Flair)

|stip8 = 4-on-4 Survivor Series elimination match{{ref|2|2}}
Whichever team won would each be in charge of Raw for the next 4 weeks

|time8 = 24:31

}}

{{note|1}}

{{note|2}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2004/ Official 2004 Survivor Series website]

{{2004 WWE pay-per-view events}}

{{WWEPPV|Survivor Series}}

{{Good article}}

Category:2004 in Ohio

Category:2000s in Cleveland

2004

Category:Professional wrestling shows in Cleveland

Category:2004 WWE pay-per-view events

Category:November 2004 in the United States