There are plenty of great Thanksgiving week traditions, family dinners, football games, arguing about politics, trying to understand why your nieces and nephews are saying “67”, but one tradition that holds dear to wrestling fans alike is the annual Survivor Series.
Every Thanksgiving season, the WWE hosts an event where teams assemble to do battle in the squared circle. Sometimes the teams are actual allies; sometimes they're extremely random, like a Super Smash Bros. match.
This elimination-style match is always a great time and quality television, which makes Survivor Series one of the top PLEs of the year.
Here are the 15 best Survivor Series teams of all time, ranked.
Please note that this applies only to the traditional Survivor Series matches; the War Games matches do not count.
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15.The King’s Court (SS 1989)
Members: Earthquake (Replaced Barry Windham), Greg The Hammer Valentine, Dino Bravo, Macho King
In order to defeat a team consisting of WWE Legends such as Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Hercules, Bret Hart, and Ronnie Garvin, The Macho King put on his best recruiting hat and organised a team of diabolical villains. Valentine, Bravo and Savage are a formidable team as is, but when the Earthquake replaced Barry Windham and joined the team, they were too much for the good guys in '89.
14.The Perfect Team (SS 1990)
Members: Mr. Perfect, Axe, Smash, Crush
When the undeniable Mr. Perfect was named team captain of his 1990 Survivor Series team, he needed talent that could match the brutality of The Ultimate Warrior, The Legion of Doom, and The Texas Tornado. Recruiting all three members of Demolition was a very promising strategy, but unfortunately for Perfect, even this team came up short against the Warrior and his crew.
13.Team Smackdown (SS 2017)
Members: Bobby Roode, Randy Orton, Shane McMahon, John Cena, Shinsuke Nakamura
Survivor Series 2017 main event match featured the best talent the roster had to offer that year. Both sides had stars to say the least, and when it was up to Shane McMahon to recruit the best squad SmackDown had to offer, turning the “Glorious” Bobby Roode, John Cena, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Randy Orton, one would think this would be enough to get the win. Alas, it wasn't meant to be as they were defeated by Kurt Angle’s crew of Triple H, Samoa Joe, Braun Strowman and Finn Balor.
12.Team Raw (SS 2019)
Members: Randy Orton, Drew Mcyntire, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Ricochet
WWE gave us a pretty solid Survivor Series match before the world shut down due to COVID-19. This match was special because not only did it have Smackdown Vs. Raw, but NXT had a team as well, including rising stars such as Damian Priest, Matt Riddle, Keith Lee, Tommaso Ciampa, and Walter (later Gunther).
11.Andre’s Team (SS 1987)
Members: Andre The Giant, Rick Rude, King Kong Bundy, One Man Gang, Butch Reed
Now this was a team that you did not want to meet in a dark alley. Going up against Hulk Hogan’s team in 1987, Andre formed an unbeatable squad with Rick Rude, King Kong Bundy, One Man Gang, and Butch Reed, all giants in their own right and sure enough, they were too much for the Hulkster.
10.Team Smackdown (SS 2005)
Members: Batista, Randy Orton, JBL, Rey Mysterio, Bobby Lashley
2005-2006 was a great year for the SmackDown brand, and the team representing the blue brand showed that in spades. All future Hall of Famers, Batista, Orton, JBL, Mysterio and Lashley were too much for team Raw that year and handed them a devastating defeat.
9.The Heenan Family (SS 1989)
Members: Andre The Giant, Haku, Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson
If there were two things that Bobby Heenan was known for, they were his gift of gab and his eye for talent. That couldn’t be truer in 1989 when he assembled his “Family” consisting of powerhouses on the roster with Andre The Giant, the legendary tough man Haku, and the Brainbusters themselves, Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson. This team looked unstoppable, but it wasn’t their year, as they were defeated by the Ultimate Warrior and his crew.
8.The Million Dollar Team (SS 1989)
Members: Ted DiBiase, Honky Tonk Man, Greg Valentine, The Undertaker
This team is special for a few reasons, but the major one is that it was the debut of one of the most legendary wrestlers of all time. Ted DiBiase and the team of Rhythm and Blues were going up against Dusty Rhodes and his crew, but they were missing a fourth teammate. DiBiase promised a ringer, and he did not disappoint. Brought out by Brother Love, we saw the onscreen debut of the Phenom himself, The Undertaker. Taker’s debut left a lasting impression, setting the stage for an unparalleled career.
7.Team Smackdown Female (SS 2016)
Members: Alexa Bliss, Becky Lynch, Carmella, Naomi, Nattie Neidhart
It was long overdue for the women to start participating in their own Survivor Series matches, and in this writer’s opinion, no better team was formed than the Smackdown Team of 2016. All future legends in their own right and incredible ring workers, Bliss, Lynch, Carmella, Naomi and Neidhart were strong contenders but were bested by an equally game Raw team.
6.The Hulkamaniacs (SS 1989)
Members: Demolition, Hulk Hogan, Jake The Snake
Hulkamania was at its Prime in 1989, and when faced with the threat of Ted Dibiase and his Million Dollar Team, Hogan assembled a team that surely sent shivers down the spines of the Million Dollar Man. The ruthless Demolition (Axe and Smash), plus the master of mind games, Jake the Snake, led by the Hulkster himself, made an unstoppable team, besting the Million Dollar Man and his crew.
5.The Warriors (SS 1990)
Members: Hawk, Animal, Ultimate Warrior, Texas Tornado (Kerry Von Erich)
All Warriors through and through, led by the Ultimate Warrior himself. When facing the Perfect Team led by Mr Perfect, Ultimate Warrior enlisted the help of what many consider the greatest tag team of all time, Hawk and Animal, The Legion of Doom, and the Texas legend Kerry Von Erich, aka The Texas Tornado. Jacked to the gills and with unlimited energy all around, this team was unstoppable and proved so in 1990.
4.Team Austin (SS 2003)
Members: Dudley Boyz, Shawn Michaels, Rob Van Dam, Booker T, managed by Steve Austin
When Eric Bischoff and Steve Austin were made co-GMs of Raw, they of course butted heads constantly. Eventually, a Survivor Series Match was set up in which Austin would recruit a team, and Bischoff would make one of his own. Whichever man’s team won the match would remain the GM of Raw, and the other would be relieved of his duties. Austin recruited what was seen as a surefire bet with the Dudleyz, the Showstopper Shawn Michaels, RVD and the five-time WCW Champ Booker T. Unfortunately, this wasn’t Austin’s night, and his team lost, which resulted in him being let go as Raw GM.
3.Team Guerrero (SS 2004)
Members: Eddie Guerrero, John Cena, The Big Show, Rob Van Dam
An all-star team to say the least, led by one of the greatest of all time, gone too soon. The late Eddie Guerrero led a team of who’s who in the WWE during 2004. The future GOAT John Cena, the legendary Big Show, and the always exciting future Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam. A formidable team to be sure, picking up the win against Kurt Angle and his team.
2.Team WWF (SS 2001)
Members: The Rock, Chris Jericho, Kane, Big Show, The Undertaker
The WCW/ECW Invasion would culminate at the 2001 Survivor Series. Threatening their father’s power, Shane McMahon led WCW, and Stephanie McMahon led ECW in a hostile takeover of the WWF. Not only that, but one of the WWF’s ringers, Steve Austin, jumped ship before the event and joined the WCW/ECW Alliance! It was all on the line for this Survivor Series as whichever team lost would be put out of business. Vince McMahon recruited the best of the best for his team, featuring The Rock, Chris Jericho, Kane, the Undertaker and the Big Show. Vince chose right as his team won and forced the WCW/ECW Alliance to disband.
1.Team DX (SS 2006)
Members: The Hardy Boyz, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, CM Punk
What makes Survivor Series so fun is that teams are often put together that usually wouldn't work, but for some reason, they just do. This was truly the case in Survivor Series 2006. A reunited DX led their team against Edge and Randy Orton’s Team, joining them were the high-flying Hardy Boyz, and the up-and-coming Second City Saint CM Punk. This team was an odd pairing, but they proved successful that year, winning the match.