Survivor Series instead of The Wrestling Classic?

[dangerousdanpotato]

This time of year I sometimes think about alternative Survivor Series line-ups, and I've been wondering this week about how pre-1987 shows might have looked. What if the WWF tried the concept out in place of The Wrestling Classic?

The event would be held on 7th November 1985 in Chicago. I've done some research looking at the cards from Oct-Nov on thehistoryofwwe.com/85.htm to see what the roster was and any big feuds (surprisingly there aren't that many big rivalries beyond Hogan/Piper, Andre/Bundy-Studd, Richter/Moolah - everyone else just seems to work against each other in a revolving rota. There also weren't enough tag teams for a 10-team tag match   

Anyway, here's what I came up with. Let me know what you think and please post your fantasy cards, too (not just for 1985, but for '86 or going even further back...)

MATCH 1.

Captain: Ivan Putski, King Tonga, Corporal Kirchner, The Killer Bees ('Jumpin'' Jim Brunzell & B. Brian Blair)
VS.
Captain: Jesse 'The Body' Ventura, Matt Borne, Alexis Smirnoff, Tiger Chung Lee, Moondog Spot

Just an excuse to get a few more of the roster on the show and warm up the crowd. Jesse was part-time by this point, but still working matches and a big enough name to captain a team. Putski was on his way out, but still a "name". You could build a feud with Jesse running his mouth about Putski's physique on commentary. 

MATCH 2.

Captain: Tito Santana (IC Champion), Ricky Steamboat, The Junkyard Dog, The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid)
VS.
Captain: 'Macho Man' Randy Savage, Don Muraco, Adrian Adonis, The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart)

Lengthy "workrate" match. This one actually excites me, there's so many possibilities for how you could book this one, but I'd definitely want to see a protracted Bret vs. Steamboat sequence.

MATCH 3.

Captain: Andre the Giant, Hillbilly Jim, Uncle Elmer, Cousin Junior, George 'The Animal' Steele
VS.
Captain: King Kong Bundy, Big John Studd, Nikolai Volkoff, The Iron Sheik, Hercules Hernandez

This one might have a bit of a comedic element with the hillbillies and Steele doing their shtick. This might be a good time to give the heels the win. Hercules had just debuted, so you could give him a killer run massacring hillbillies to get him over.

MATCH 4.

Captain: Wendi Richter (Women's Champion), Velvet McIntyre, Susan Starr, Linda Gonzalez, Jeanne Kirkland
VS.
Captain: The Fabulous Moolah, Judy Martin, Leilani Kai, Donna Christanello, The Spider Lady

Just enough ladies on the roster at this point to do this match. Wendi would drop the belt and leave the WWF a few weeks later.

MATCH. 5

Captain: Hulk Hogan (WWF Champion), 'Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff, Pedro Morales, Bruno Sammartino, David Sammartino
VS.
Captain: 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper, 'Cowboy' Bob Orton, Terry Funk, The Dream Team (Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake, Tag Team Champions)

Hogan/Orndorff vs.Piper/Orton is the obvious big pairing. Bruno was having a few matche around this time, sometimes tagging with David against the champs and others and I loved the idea of Hulk and Bruno on a team together. The last man could be anyone from the roster, but throwing in another ex-WWF champ in Pedro just seems right. 

Not used
Faces: Mike Rotundo, Dan Spivey, S.D. Jones, Tony Atlas, Tony Garea, Mad Dog Vachon, Tony Parisi, Mr. Wrestling II, Lanny Poffo, George Wells, Rick McGraw, Steve Gatorwolf, Paul Roma, Mario Mancini, Jose Luis Rivera, Scott McGhee, Jim Powers, George Skaaland
Heels: The Spoiler, Iron Mike Sharpe, Les Thornton, Mr. X, Barry O, Steve Lombardi, Ron Shaw, Terry Gibbs, Johnny K-9, Rusty Brooks, Dave Barbie, The Gladiator
Women: Dawn Marie, Princess Jasmine

[SmashTV]

All hypothetical I know, but that second match would be a belter!

[The Gallus Mark]

Princess Jasmine deserves that payday, just for her flip-flopping all over the Moolah DSotR lol

Your booking is much better than the disasterous Wrestling Classic

[jason1980s]

Nov 26, 2022 17:50:00 GMT -5 The Gallus Mark said:

Princess Jasmine deserves that payday, just for her flip-flopping all over the Moolah DSotR lol

Your booking is much better than the disasterous Wrestling Classic

I think OP meant Victoria. I was confused reading your comment about "flip flopping" as it seems Princess Jasmine died a few years ago and wouldn't have been on Dark Side. But, I remember Victoria doing a flip flop in the Dark Side episode at the ending about Moolah's legacy.

The card above is pretty great looking. That would have made an awesome first Survivor Series. Other than Jesse that heel team in the first match is jobber central but that's who they had at the time. It's like the Big Show's 1999 team.

I think if WWF had done your card it would be very well remembered. With that being said, WC was one of the first tapes I rented from the video store in 91/92 and it holds a spot in my heart. Someone had to be on some hard drugs putting that mess together and yet so much of it still worked. Lots of big names were left off but the guys they had made it work.

I would still have Lord Alfred, Vince and the blonde lady doing a backstage segment introducing matches to fans for the new PPV but NO Alfred harassing her which I'm sure was ALL Vince's idea. I feel awful I Can't remember her name. She deserves better.

[dangerousdanpotato]

Nov 26, 2022 23:56:54 GMT -5 jason1980s said:

Nov 26, 2022 17:50:00 GMT -5 The Gallus Mark said:

Princess Jasmine deserves that payday, just for her flip-flopping all over the Moolah DSotR lol

Your booking is much better than the disasterous Wrestling Classic

I think OP meant Victoria. I was confused reading your comment about "flip flopping" as it seems Princess Jasmine died a few years ago and wouldn't have been on Dark Side. But, I remember Victoria doing a flip flop in the Dark Side episode at the ending about Moolah's legacy.

The card above is pretty great looking. That would have made an awesome first Survivor Series. Other than Jesse that heel team in the first match is jobber central but that's who they had at the time. It's like the Big Show's 1999 team.

I think if WWF had done your card it would be very well remembered. With that being said, WC was one of the first tapes I rented from the video store in 91/92 and it holds a spot in my heart. Someone had to be on some hard drugs putting that mess together and yet so much of it still worked. Lots of big names were left off but the guys they had made it work.

I would still have Lord Alfred, Vince and the blonde lady doing a backstage segment introducing matches to fans for the new PPV but NO Alfred harassing her which I'm sure was ALL Vince's idea. I feel awful I Can't remember her name. She deserves better.

No, I meant Princess Jasmine - her name appeared on at least one WWF card, although I'm not familiar with her. Apparently she was active around this time in various feds.



I also have a soft spot for The Wrestling Classic; I enjoy tournaments and just love the roster around this time even though I wasn't watching yet! Alfred Hayes is absolutely awful, though; really cringeworthy stuff but I absolutely agree it was probably McMahon-mandated!

[jason1980s]

Nov 27, 2022 19:09:23 GMT -5 dangerousdanpotato said:

No, I meant Princess Jasmine - her name appeared on at least one WWF card, although I'm not familiar with her. Apparently she was active around this time in various feds.

I also have a soft spot for The Wrestling Classic; I enjoy tournaments and just love the roster around this time even though I wasn't watching yet! Alfred Hayes is absolutely awful, though; really cringeworthy stuff but I absolutely agree it was probably McMahon-mandated!

Ok, cool. I think the person replying read "Princess" and thought Victoria as she was just on the Tales of Territories episode. I wonder what that ladies name was on WC. I think it was Susanne but could be wrong. Lord Alfred was the ever loyal Vince employee for many years so would do anything he wished.

[tafkaga]

This is a killer card. The Wrestling Classic is great nostalgia but this Survivor Series looks way better.

[dangerousdanpotato]

Nov 27, 2022 19:12:56 GMT -5 jason1980s said:

Nov 27, 2022 19:09:23 GMT -5 dangerousdanpotato said:

No, I meant Princess Jasmine - her name appeared on at least one WWF card, although I'm not familiar with her. Apparently she was active around this time in various feds.

I also have a soft spot for The Wrestling Classic; I enjoy tournaments and just love the roster around this time even though I wasn't watching yet! Alfred Hayes is absolutely awful, though; really cringeworthy stuff but I absolutely agree it was probably McMahon-mandated!

Ok, cool. I think the person replying read "Princess" and thought Victoria as she was just on the Tales of Territories episode. I wonder what that ladies name was on WC. I think it was Susanne but could be wrong. Lord Alfred was the ever loyal Vince employee for many years so would do anything he wished.

Susan Waitkis, apparently. I couldn't remember either. Poor woman.

[jason1980s]

Nov 27, 2022 20:10:25 GMT -5 dangerousdanpotato said:

Susan Waitkis, apparently. I couldn't remember either. Poor woman.

I knew it was a Su of some sort but was also thinking of Suzette the Federette in early 87 WWF TV. I don't think Susan W was ever seen again. I wonder if she just quit or she was someone simply hired for that night to be messed with. This would be not much before Rita Marie's rape claims. I would love to hear what Susan thought of this garbage if she was still alive.

[Triangle Lancer]

Putski was still a pretty big name to see on WWF TV into 1987.
Yes, I typed that correctly.
1987.

He had enough cachet (level of superiority) to be treated as a big deal.

I saw a match on the Network years ago between Putski and Sgt. Slaughter. May have been from 1983. Went 11 minutes and they did enough stalling to make Larry Zbyszko envious. 4 total moves between the two.
And it was glorious!
Crowd went batshit over Putski and wanted to cut Sarge's throat for being his D.I. Asshole character. After the no-contest/double-DQ finish, Putski hit the Polish Hammer (double axehandle to the chest) and the place went nutso!