Worst in the World: Team RAW vs Team SmackDown Men's Elimination Match-Survivor Series 2017

Special thanks to RETROMANIACOS for suggesting this match. If you'd like to see a match covered on the Worst in the World, leave a comment down below. 

BRAND WARFARE! Since the brand split in 2016, Survivor Series has become WWE's yearly event where RAW and SmackDown superstars square off, all in the name of brand superiority. Admittedly, the allure of brand warfare has been snuffed out due to how often the show's rosters change (and the ill-fated Wild Card rule), but back when the new brand split first started, the new format for Survivor Series was still a fun idea. And considering how great the 2016 Survivor Series' Men's match was, you'd be forgiven for having high hopes for the next year's installment. And low and behold, WWE brought out plenty of big boys for 2017. It's Team RAW, consisting of Braun Strowman, Finn Bálor, Samoa Joe, Triple H, and RAW general manager Kurt Angle (whose job was on the line in this match), versus Team SmackDown, consisting of Randy Orton, Bobby Roode, Shinsuke Nakamura, John Cena, and SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon. Originally, Jason Jordan was supposed to be a part of Team RAW, but was taken out due to a kayfabe injury (likely because of how negative the reception to his part in the Kurt Angle's son storyline) and was replaced by Triple H. Just look at those names. Yeah, Kurt Angle was way past his prime at this point, and Shane McMahon is...Shane McMahon...but even then, you have established names like Triple H, John Cena, and Randy Orton mixing it up with the new stars of WWE in Strowman, Bálor, Joe, Roode, and Nakamura. This is a great opportunity to elevate the newer talent. And yet, WWE managed to do just about everything wrong. Let's get into it.

Both teams have everybody make individual entrances. It is here we see that Team SmackDown clearly forgot to tell John Cena about the dress code for the match, as he's decked out in his normal neon green t-shirt while everyone else is in blue.

Come on John, even Shane got a blue jersey for the outing. After a long standoff, Strowman and McMahon start the match, with McMahon trying to get the jump on Strowman while his back is turned. Strowman doesn't budge, however, and chucks McMahon back across the ring to SmackDown's corner, where he immediately tags out to Orton. Samoa Joe also tags in, the two trading holds before Joe floors Orton with a shoulder block. The two lock up again, with Joe again knocking Orton down with a shoulder tackle. Orton responds with a back elbow before beating down Joe in the corner. Joe counters an Irish whip to the opposite corner, but Orton dodges a clothesline and goes for the RKO, but Joe blocks it. Joe follows up with a Coquina Clutch attempt, but Orton blocks it. Bálor & Nakamura tag in, prompting a big NXT chant as the two trade holds. Nakamura breaks up the chain wrestling with his signature taunt in the ropes, so Bálor responds by Two Sweeting him right in the forehead. Bálor & Nakamura continue to trade blows, but neither gains the upper hand before Triple H tags in. The two lock up, with Triple H forcing Nakamura into the corner. The referee starts to count Trips out, so he breaks the hold and then just kind of...stops wrestling for a while.

I'm assuming that Triple H is trying to say to something to Nakamura based on how he's covering his face from the camera, but it's still a weird moment.

Triple H continues to beat down Nakamura in the corner, but Nakamura takes control after Triple H turns his back on him. Nakamura knees Triple H in the corner before flooring him with a kick to the gut. Triple H regains control with a knee to the face, prompting Bobby Roode to tag in. The two exchange shoves before Roode tries to yell "GLORIOUS" in his face. Triple H floors him with a punch, but Roode takes control, beating down Triple H in the corner before clotheslining him for a one-count. Roode chops Triple H, who counters with a Spinebuster. Triple H taunts Roode, mocking his lead-up to the "GLORIOUS" before telling him to suck it, before going for the Pedigree, but Roode blocks it and hits a Spinebuster of his own and finally hits the "GLORIOUS." Roode goes for the Glorious DDT, but Triple H blocks it. The two trade finisher counters before Triple H forces Roode into RAW's corner, allowing Kurt Angle to tag in. Angle quickly hits three German Suplexs, but a follow-up Angle Slam is countered with a nice arm drag takedown by Roode. A double clothesline floors both men, allowing Nakamura to tag back in. Triple H enters the ring without a tag, but quickly gets floored by Nakamura, who follows up by knocking down Angle with a single leg dropkick and knocking Strowman off the apron. Nakamura runs wild on Angle, kicking away at him before hitting a running knee in the corner. Nakamura fends off Joe, Bálor, and Triple H again as they try to run in, even countering a Pedigree attempt before flooring Triple H with a Kinshasa. However, the chaos allows Angle to tag in Strowman. Nakamura strikes away at Strowman, even hitting a diving knee strike, but Strowman stays on his feet. Nakamura charges at Strowman, who quickly catches him and hits a running powerslam for the three, putting RAW up 5-to-4.

Roode enters the ring the takes the fight to Strowman and hits a Blockbuster, but Strowman kicks out immediately. Roode goes for the Glorious Bomb, but Strowman counters and picks Roode up for the running powerslam. Roode slips out and catches Strowman with a boot as Strowman charges him in the corner. Roode goes for another Blockbuster, but Roode misses and Strowman quickly hits another powerslam for the three to eliminate Roode.

I'm guessing the plan was for Strowman to catch Roode out of the Blockbuster and hit the powerslam, but either Strowman was out of position or Roode just missed the mark. Michael Cole tries to cover it up by saying Strowman swatted him away, but something clearly didn't go right with this. And also, that's two of the newer guys in the match already gone when Shane McMahon is still here. Why? With SmackDown now 3-to-5, Joe tags himself in for RAW, prompting a shoving match between him and Strowman. Angle and Triple H try to calm things down, only to get into a shoving match of their own. Orton takes the opportunity to jump the two before knocking Bálor off the apron. Orton hits a draping DDT on Triple H as McMahon brawls with Joe and Cena runs over to beat down Bálor. Joe gets the better of McMahon, only for Orton to catch him with a scoop slam. Orton & Cena celebrate in the ring as Strowman re-enters. The two try to take the fight to Strowman, with Strowman blocking both men's finishers before getting body checked out of the ring. Outside the ring, however, Strowman floors both men with straight rights before attempting to put Cena through the announce table. Orton saves Cena before the two try to put Strowman through the table with a double suplex. Strowman blocks it, prompting the rest of Team SmackDown (including Nakamura and Roode) to assist in putting Strowman through the table.

McMahon rolls back in the ring and attempts to hit a diving elbow to Strowman from the top rope, but Joe catches him on the top rope and hits a huge side suplex. Joe goes for the Coquina Clutch, but McMahon avoids it with a kick to the head and tags in Cena. Cena runs wild on Joe, hitting a dropkick, only for Joe to catch him with an inverted Atomic Drop followed by a big boot and a senton for a near fall. Joe beats down Cena in the corner, shutting down a brief comeback with an Uranage before Bálor tags himself in. Bálor goes to the top rope for the Coup de Grâce, but Joe tags himself back immediately. The two argue, allowing Cena to recover and hit the Attitude Adjustment on Joe. Bálor tries to hit a diving crossbody, but Cena catches him and hits another AA before giving Joe a second one for the three and the elimination, making it 4-to-3 for RAW.

Angle steps in the ring and takes control with a waistlock takedown. The two trade holds before Angle floors Cena with a shoulder block. The two trade holds again, this time with Cena getting the better of Angle with a shoulder block. The two trade blows before Cena starts to run through the Five Moves of Doom. Shoulder tackle, shoulder tackle, spin-out powerbomb, Five Knuckle Shuffle...DENIED! Angle picks the ankle and locks in the ankle lock, but Cena breaks the hold. Cena goes for the AA, but Angle slides out and hits an Angle Slam, but McMahon breaks up the pin. As the referee gets McMahon out of the ring, Bálor quickly hits the Coup de Grâce on Cena, allowing Angle to hit another Angle Slam for the three, putting RAW up 4-to-2.

Orton enters the ring and stomps away at Angle, but Angle dodges a knee drop and tags in Bálor. Bálor runs wild on Orton before knocking McMahon off the apron. Bálor follows up with a standing double stomp to Orton before exiting the ring and dropkicking McMahon into the barricade. Back in the ring, Orton tries to hit a quick RKO, but Bálor counters with a roll-up for a near fall before hitting the Sling Blade. Bálor follows up with a dropkick into the corner before going for the Coup de Grâce, but Orton dodges it and hits an RKO for the three and the elimination. And just like that, all but one of the newer talent that was in this match is gone. Only Strowman is left. And even worse, Strowman is the only guy from that group (him, Bálor, Joe, Roode, and Nakamura) that got any eliminations. This match could've been a great way to establish these guys as who could be just as good as the past stars, but instead, it just showed that the new guys aren't on the level of the old guys. There is no reason Shane McMahon should be outlasting any of the guys who got eliminated in this match. For shame.

With RAW up 3-to-2, Triple H enters the ring and floors Orton with a clothesline to the back of the head. Triple H beats down Orton before tagging in Angle, who goes to the top rope. However, Orton shoves Triple H into Angle, who falls to the mat, before hitting a backbreaker on Triple H. Orton tries to make the tag to McMahon, only for Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to run down and attack him. Owens & Zayn were both on SmackDown, but this was in the middle of their lengthy feud with McMahon. The two toss McMahon over the announce table, but because none of the new guys not named Braun Strowman can look good in this match, Shane comes back and beats down both men with a chair. Owens retreats into the ring where he quickly gets RKO'd by Orton. As McMahon chases Zayn to the back, Strowman finally comes back and tags in, clotheslining Orton before hitting a running powerslam for the three, leaving just McMahon for SmackDown. Yes, in a match where his teammates were Bobby Roode, Shinsuke Nakamura, Randy Orton, and JOHN CENA, SHANE MCMAHON is the last person on his team. What the fuck are we doing?

One referee takes the chair away from McMahon as he paces outside the ring. McMahon finally gets in the ring, prompting a long staredown before Triple H tags in, which the crowd does not like. The two circle each other in the ring...only for Angle to tag in. As he and Triple H argue, McMahon nearly scores a roll-up elimination before hitting a Russian Leg Sweep for a near fall. McMahon throws his signature baby punches before taking down Angle with a jumping back elbow for another near fall. McMahon scores two more near falls off a cradle pin and a not-great Float-Over DDT, respectively, before kicking away at Angle. Angle recovers and hits the Angle Slam before ripping his RAW t-shirt open and locking in the ankle lock. For whatever reason, McMahon survives the ankle lock for NEARLY A MINUTE. Why is Shane McMahon being presented so damn strong in this match? Eventually, Triple H enters the ring and attacks Angle, giving him a Pedigree before throwing McMahon on top for the elimination. Triple H stares down Strowman, teasing that he's siding with McMahon, only for him to Pedigree Shane for the three and the win. All while Strowman looks confused on the apron.

What is this finish? Why did any of this happen the way it did? Triple H and Stephanie McMahon obviously wanted Angle out as the general manager of RAW...so why would he win the match for his team when winning keeps Angle's job. This is dumb

So RAW wins not only the match, but the entire Survivor Series, which means that RAW gets...bragging rights...and that's it. Winning Survivor Series to your brand is priceless, as in it is literally worth nothing. Triple H celebrates in the ring as Strowman still looks confused about what just happened. Strowman then grabs Triple H by the throat and threatens him to never try to cross him again...even though he didn't. Triple H cowers before Strowman lets him go, only to try and give him a Pedigree in retaliation. Strowman blocks it and hits a running powerslam...before giving him another one for good measure. This was the only moment of the match where a new guy got one over on established talent. Also, this segment between Strowman and Triple H doesn't go anywhere.

The Verdict

This match is a tale of two half. The first half is a lot of fun. A ton of unique matchups and a couple of fun spots between established names and the new crop of talent in WWE. However, the second half is the pits. All but one of the new guys were eliminated without anything to really show for it. None of them left this match in a better spot than they entered it, and if you look at where they are now, it shows. In 2021, Roode is in a midcard tag team with Dolph Ziggler, Nakamura is just now starting to gain some momentum as Intercontinental Champion, and Bálor & Joe both had to go back to NXT be in the main event where they belonged. The one new guy who came out of this match looking strong was Strowman, and even then, look where he is now...

This should've been a coming-out party for the next generation of WWE superstars, but in the end, it was a gigantic waste of time that just kept the status quo.

The Rankings (Best to Worst)

1. Rick Rude vs Jake Roberts-WrestleMania IV
2. Too Much vs Al Snow & Head-King of the Ring 1998
3. Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns-Greatest Royal Rumble
4. Ernest Miller vs Norman Smiley-Fall Brawl 1998
5. Shane McMahon vs Eric Bischoff-SummerSlam 2003
6. The Tag Team Gauntlet-Extreme Rules 2010
7. Randy Orton vs Bray Wyatt-WrestleMania 33
8. Vampiro vs Sting-Great American Bash 2000
9. T&A vs Head Cheese-WrestleMania 2000
10. The Women's Tag Team Turmoil-WrestleMania 37 (Night 1)
11. Triple H vs Sgt. Slaughter-D-Generation X: In Your House
12. Konnan vs One Man Gang-SuperBrawl VI
13. Ultimate Warrior vs Hercules-WrestleMania IV
14. Rick Rude vs Hawk-Clash of the Champions XXV
15. Shelton Benjamin vs Viscera-New Year's Revolution 2006
16. Steve McMichael vs Reggie White-Slamboree 1997
17. Lars Sullivan vs Lucha House Party-Super Showdown 2019
18. Alexa Bliss vs Bayley-Extreme Rules 2017
19. The Tag Team Fatal 4-Way Match-WrestleMania 13
20. Tag Team Battle Royal-WrestleMania XIV
21. The Chamber of Horrors-Halloween Havoc 1991
22. The Natural Disasters vs Money Inc.-WrestleMania VIII
23. Ivan Koloff vs Paul Jones-Clash of the Champions IV
24. ODB, Taylor Wilde, and Roxxi vs The Kongtourage-Genesis 2009
25. Kazushi Sakuraba & Yuji Nagata vs Daniel & Rolles Gracie-Wrestle Kingdom 8
26. Ivory vs Tori-SummerSlam 1999
27. Giant Baba vs Bulldog Bob Brown-WrestleRock
28. The Reverse Battle Royal-Impact! (10/26/2006)
29. Jerry Blackwell vs Boris Zhukov-SuperClash II
30. Nikita Koloff vs Bobby Eaton-Bunkhouse Stampede
31. Alex Wright vs Steve McMichael-Halloween Havoc 1997
32. The Great Khali vs Kane-WrestleMania 23
33. Savio Vega vs Crush vs Faarooq-Ground Zero: In Your House
34. The Shockmaster vs Awesome/King Kong-Starrcade 1993
35. Total Divas vs Other Divas-Survivor Series 2013
36. The Oddities vs Kaientai-SummerSlam 1998
37. Team RAW vs Team SmackDown Men's Elimination Match-Survivor Series 2017
38. Hulk Hogan vs Sid Justice-WrestleMania VIII
39. Paul Ellering vs Teddy Long-Capital Combat
40. Dusty Rhodes vs Big Boss Man-Saturday Night's Main Event (10/31/1989)
41. Konnan vs Scott Hall-Fall Brawl 1998
42. Damian Priest vs The Miz-WrestleMania Backlash
43. Tyson Tomko vs Stevie Richards-Unforgiven 2004
44. Kane vs The Great Khali-SummerSlam 2009
45. Rick Steiner vs Scott Steiner-Fall Brawl 1998
46. Hollywood Hogan vs The Giant-Hog Wild
47. Hollywood Hogan vs The Giant-Souled Out 1997
48. Dustin Rhodes & King Kong vs Awesome Kong & The Equalizer-Battlebowl
49. Finlay & Little Bastard vs The Boogeyman & Little Boogeyman-No Way Out 2007
50. Jake Roberts vs Andre the Giant-WrestleMania V
51. El Gigante vs Nailz-G1 Climax 1994 (Day 1)
52. Yokozuna vs King Mabel-In Your House 4
53. Dusty Rhodes vs The Honky Tonk Man-SummerSlam 1989
54. Sting & Hawk vs Meng & Kurasawa-Clash of the Champions XXXI
55. The Hurt Business vs RETRIBUTION-WWE Monday Night RAW (10/26/2020)
56. Hulk Hogan vs Randy Savage-Uncensored 1998
57. Al Snow vs Big Boss Man-Unforgiven 1999
58. Mickie James vs Ashley-Royal Rumble 2006
59. Antonio Inoki vs The Great Antonio-NJPW Sumo Hall Show (12/8/1977)
60. Christy Hemme vs Big Fat Oily Guy-Against All Odds 2007
61. British Bulldog & Jim Neidhart vs The Dancing Fools-Fall Brawl 1998
62. Stevie Ray vs Konnan-World War 3 1998
63. Vampiro vs The KISS Demon-Bash at the Beach 2000
64. Team WCW vs nWo Wolfpac vs nWo Hollywood-Fall Brawl 1998
65. Vampiro vs Oklahoma-Starrcade 1999
66. Big Swole vs Penelope Ford, Rebel, and Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.-AEW Dynamite (8/27/2020)
67. Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant-WrestleMania III
68. Jinder Mahal vs Randy Orton-Battleground 2017
69. Van Hammer vs Terrance Taylor-Clash of the Champions XVI
70. Junkyard Dog vs Moondog Spot-Wrestling Classic
71. Chris Jericho vs "Goldberg"-Fall Brawl 1998
72. Roman Reigns vs The Undertaker-WrestleMania 33
73. The Undertaker vs Goldberg-Super ShowDown 2019
74. Hiroshi Wajima vs Tom Magee-All Japan Pro Wrestling 1988
75. Jim Duggan vs Big Boss Man-Royal Rumble 1990
76. Meng vs Jim Duggan-Uncensored 1995
77. Jim Steele vs The Equalizer-SuperBrawl IV
78. The Undertaker vs Giant González-WrestleMania IX
79. Sting vs Tony Palmore-Battle 7
80. D-Generation X vs Brothers of Destruction-Crown Jewel
81. Wendi Richter vs Leilani Kai-WrestleMania
82. Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar-WrestleMania XX
83. Edge vs Triple H vs Vladimir Kozlov-Survivor Series 2008
84. Kevin Sullivan vs Dave Sullivan-SuperBrawl V
85. Steve McMichael vs Brian Adams-Road Wild 1998
86. Scott Hall vs Roddy Piper-SuperBrawl IX
87. Boris Zhukov vs Paul Samson-Beach Brawl
88. Roddy Piper vs Hollywood Hogan-Halloween Havoc 1997
89. Kane vs The Great Khali-Breaking Point
90. Hollywood Hogan & Dennis Rodman vs Diamond Dallas Page & Karl Malone-Bash at the Beach 1998
91. PN News & Bobby Eaton vs Steve Austin & Terrance Taylor-Great American Bash 1991
92. Scott Steiner vs Sid Vicious vs Jeff Jarrett vs Road Warrior Animal-Sin
93. Hollywood Hogan vs Roddy Piper-SuperBrawl 1997
94. Batista vs The Great Khali-SummerSlam 2007
95. Sting vs Hollywood Hogan-Starrcade 1997
96.  Sable vs Tori-WrestleMania XV
97. Super Invader vs Todd Champion-WrestleWar 1992
98. Brock Lesnar vs Cain Velasquez-Crown Jewel 2019
99. King Kong Bundy & Jim Neidhart vs Yokozuna & Jake Roberts-Heroes of Wrestling
100. Sid Vicious vs The Nightstalker-Clash of the Champions XIII
101. The 8-Divas Tag Match-Survivor Series 1999
102. The Fabulous Freebirds vs The Renegade Warriors-Halloween Havoc 1990
103. The Knockouts Gauntlet-One Night Only: Live! 2016
104. AJ Styles vs Frank Trigg-No Surrender 2008
105. Rick Rude vs Masahiro Chono-Halloween Havoc 1992
106. Mike Awesome vs Vampiro-Halloween Havoc 2000
107. Bray Wyatt vs John Cena-Extreme Rules 2014
108. Brothers of Destruction vs KroniK-Unforgiven 2001
109. The Miss WrestleMania Battle Royal-WrestleMania 25
110. Mabel vs The Undertaker-King of the Ring 1995
111. Wendi Richter vs The Fabulous Moolah-The Brawl to End it All
112. David Flair vs Kimberly Page-Mayhem 1999
113. The Truth Commission vs The Disciples of Apocolypse-Survivor Series 1997
114. Daffney vs Miss Hancock-Bash at the Beach 2000
115. The Bushwhacker vs The Fabulous Rougeaus-WrestleMania V
116. Randy Orton vs "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt-WrestleMania 37 (Night 2)
117. The Beverly Brothers vs The Bushwhackers-Royal Rumble 1992
118. Teddy Long vs Eric Bischoff-Survivor Series 2005
119. Greg Valentine vs George Steele-Heroes of Wrestling
120. Abdullah the Butcher vs One Man Gang-Heroes of Wrestling
121. Major Gunns vs Miss Hancock-New Blood Rising
122. Bradshaw & Trish Stratus vs Christopher Nowinski & Jackie Gayda-WWE Monday Night RAW (7/8/2002)
123. Triple H vs Scott Steiner-Royal Rumble 2003
124. Goldberg vs "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt-Super ShowDown 2020
125. Santina Marella vs Vickie & Chavo Guerrero-Extreme Rules 2009
126. Kevin Nash vs Scott Steiner vs Goldberg-New Blood Rising
127. Hollywood Hogan vs The Warrior-Halloween Havoc 1998
128. Mr. T vs Roddy Piper-WrestleMania 2
129. The Royal Family vs Clowns R' Us-Survivor Series 1994
130. The House of Horrors Match-Payback 2017
131. The Blacktop Bully vs Dustin Rhodes-Uncensored 1995
132. Team Dos Caras vs Team El Canek-Leyendas Mexicanas 2017
133. Pat Patterson vs Gerald Brisco-King of the Ring 2000
134. The Wyatt Swamp Fight-The Horror Show at Extreme Rules
135. The Four Doinks vs Team Bigelow-Survivor Series 1993
136. Sting vs Jeff Hardy-Victory Road 2011
137. Bret Hart vs Mr. McMahon-WrestleMania XVI
138. Oz vs Tim Parker-SuperBrawl
139. Brock Lesnar vs Braun Strowman-Crown Jewel 2018
140. Brock Lesnar vs Ricochet-Super ShowDown 2020
141. The Mighty Maccabee vs The Iron Sheik-Maccabiah Mania II: Shekel Slam
142. Van Hammer vs Doug Somers-Halloween Havoc 1991
143. Ultimate Warrior vs Andre the Giant-Saturday Night's Main Event (11/25/1989)
144. Jeff Jarrett vs Sting-Halloween Havoc 2000
145. The Doomsday Cage Match-Uncensored 1996
146. Kane vs The Undertaker-Judgement Day 1998
147. Rebel vs Shelly Martinez-One Night Only: Knockouts Knockdown
148. Kaitlyn vs Maxine-NXT (10/19/2010)
149. Sabu vs The Sandman-November to Remember 1997
150. Seth Rollins vs "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt-Hell in a Cell 2019
151. Michael Cole vs Jerry Lawler-WrestleMania XXVII
152. The Bushwhackers vs Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff-Heroes of Wrestling
153. James Storm vs Chris Harris-Lockdown 2007
154. John Laurinaitis vs John Cena-Over the Limit 2012
155. Hulk Hogan vs The Giant-Halloween Havoc 1995
156. Ultimate Warrior vs Goldust-In Your House 7
157. Los Villanos vs Los Psycho Circus-Triplemania XXIII
158. Jenna Morasca vs Sharmell-Victory Road 2009

Thanks for reading! Be sure to share if you enjoy and leave any suggestions for matches you'd like to see covered in the Worst in the World in the comments. Next time, I'll be tackling a handful of matches from the same show, as I look back at Victory Road 2011, arguably the worst pay-per-view in TNA history.