Survivor Series (2003)

Infobox Wrestling event
name=Survivor Series (2003)


tagline=A Fall from Grace
theme="Build a Bridge" (Limp Bizkit) [cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/wwf/wwfother.htm|title=Wrestling Information Archive - Other WWF Information|accessdate=2008-01-21]
promotion=World Wrestling Entertainment
brand=Raw
SmackDown!
date=November 16 2003
venue=American Airlines Center
city=Dallas, Texas
attendance=13,487
lastevent=No Mercy (2003)
nextevent=Armageddon (2003)
event=Survivor Series
lastevent2=Survivor Series (2002)
nextevent2=Survivor Series (2004)

Survivor Series (2003) was the seventeenth annual Survivor Series professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It took place on November 16 2003 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas and featured talent from both RAW and SmackDown!.cite web|first=John|last=Powell|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2003/11/17/260510.html|title=Goldberg survives, Austin doesn't|publisher=SLAM! Sports|date=2003-11-17|accessdate=2008-01-21]

The main match on the Raw brand was for the World Heavyweight Championship between Goldberg and Triple H, which Goldberg won by pinfall after performing a Spear and Jackhammer.cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2003/mainevent/|title=World Heavyweight Championship Match - Goldberg def. Triple H to retain|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-01-21] The predominant match on the SmackDown! brand was a Buried Alive match between The Undertaker and Vince McMahon, which Vince won after Kane interfered and helped Vince bury Undertaker. Another primary match on the Raw brand was a 5 on 5 Traditional Survivor Series match between Team Bischoff (Chris Jericho, Christian, Randy Orton, Scott Steiner and Mark Henry) and Team Austin (Shawn Michaels, Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Bubba Ray Dudley, and D-Von Dudley). Team Bischoff won the match after Orton last eliminated Michaels.cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/november/2003.htm|title=WWE Survivor Series 2003|accessdate=2008-01-21|publisher=PWWEW.net] cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2003/results/|title=Survivor Series 2003 results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-01-21] The main match on the card featured an Ambulance match between Kane and Shane McMahon, which Kane won after throwing Shane into the ambulance.

Background

The main feud on the Raw brand was between Goldberg and Triple H, with the two feuding over the World Heavyweight Championship. At the previous Raw brand pay-per-view Unforgiven, Goldberg defeated Triple H with the title on the line, performing a Jackhammer to win the title.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/unforgiven/history/2003/mainevent|title=Triple H vs. Goldberg for the World Heavyweight Championship|accessdate=2008-01-21|publisher=WWE] On the September 29 edition of "Raw", Triple H made an announcement, offering a bounty of $100,000 to anyone who can successfully "take out" Goldberg. The first person that attempted to take the bounty was Steven Richards, but Goldberg quickly took him out.cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/030929.html|title=RAW Results - September 29, 2003|accessdate=2008-01-21|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] Many other people tried and failed to take him out including La Resistance, Mark Henry and Tommy Dreamer.cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/031006.html|title=RAW Results - October 6, 2003|accessdate=2008-01-21|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/031013.html|title=RAW Results - October 13, 2003|accessdate=2008-01-21|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] However, it was during a World Heavyweight Championship match between Goldberg and Shawn Michaels on the October 20 edition of "Raw" that he was taken out.cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/031020.html|title=RAW Results - October 20, 2003|accessdate=2008-01-21|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] Michaels looked set to win the title after performing a Superkick, but Batista ran-in, dragging Michaels out of the ring and kayfabe attacking him. Batista then entered the ring, and proceeded to attack Goldberg. He put a chair between Goldberg's ankle, before proceeding to go jump off the middle rope onto the chair, "shattering" Goldberg's ankle. Evolution then made their way to the ring, and gave the $100,000 bounty to Batista. With Goldberg seemingly out of action, Raw Co-General Manager Eric Bischoff looked set to present Triple H with the World Heavyweight Championship on the October 27 edition of "Raw". However, the other Co-General Manager of Raw, Stone Cold Steve Austin came to the ring, and announced that Goldberg will be coming back to face Triple H with the World Heavyweight Championship up for grabs at Survivor Series.cite web|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/031027.html|title=RAW Results - October 27, 2003|accessdate=2008-01-21| publisher=Online World of Wrestling] Goldberg got his revenge on Batista on the November 3 edition of "Raw" as he performed a spear to Batista. He attempted to injure Batista using the same technique that Batista used to Goldberg. Ric Flair tried to intervene, but he too got speared. Austin then announced that Batista and Goldberg would go one-on-one on the November 10 edition of "Raw", just six days before Survivor Series.cite web|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/031103.html|title=RAW Results - November 3, 2003|accessdate=2008-01-21| publisher=Online World of Wrestling] Goldberg looked set to beat Batista, but Triple H interfered, signaling a Disqualification. The Game got his signature Sledgehammer out from underneath the ring, and looked set to attack Goldberg with it. Goldberg managed to fought back from the shots, spearing Triple H. Goldberg picked up the sledgehammer, and attacked Batista with it, getting the advantage heading into the pay-per-view.cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/031110.html|title=RAW Results - November 10, 2003|accessdate=2008-01-21|publisher=Online World of Wrestling]

The main feud on the SmackDown! brand was between WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and The Undertaker. At the previous SmackDown! brand pay-per-view, No Mercy, McMahon interfered in a WWE Championship Biker Chain match between the Champion Brock Lesnar and Undertaker, helping Lesnar retain the title.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2003/mainevent|title=Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker in a Biker Chain Match for the WWE Championship|accessdate=2008-01-21|publisher=WWE] Also at the same pay-per-view, Vince defeated his daughter Stephanie McMahon in an "I Quit" match. Due to a pre-match stipulation between the two, Stephanie had to quit her job as SmackDown! General Manager.cite web|first=John|last=Powell|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2003/10/20/231323.html|title=No Mercy for WWE fans|publisher=SLAM! Sports|date=2003-10-20|accessdate=2008-01-22] The following week, on the October 23 edition of "SmackDown!", Vince announced Paul Heyman as the new SmackDown! General Manager. In his first act as General Manager, Heyman booked a Handicap match, with Undertaker facing Brock Lesnar and The Big Show, with the stipulation that if he wins, he can choose to face any superstar at any event. Heyman put many stipulations in Undertaker's way during the bout, but despite this, 'Taker won the contest. Undertaker stared at Vince, who was lying on the ground in the arena rampway. As a result of the win, Undertaker stated that he wanted a Buried Alive match at Survivor Series. Vince stated that he hopes Lesnar buries Undertaker "six feet under". However, Undertaker then stated that the match wouldn't be against Lesnar, but against Vince McMahon.cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/031023.html|title=SmackDown! Results - October 23, 2003|accessdate=2008-01-22|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] On the October 30 edition of "SmackDown!", Heyman announced that he had given Undertaker time off until Survivor Series, which made McMahon very unhappy. McMahon stated that he would "burn down Undertaker's house and order Undertaker's wife to be gang raped" if Heyman didn't do anything about the Buried Alive match.cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/031030.html|title=SmackDown! Results - October 30, 2003|accessdate=2008-01-22|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] Both Undertaker and Vince were interviewed on the November 6 edition of "SmackDown!". In his promo, Undertaker stated that the feud with Vince is personal. He went on to say that McMahon respects nobody and that McMahon disrespects his family. Later in the show, McMahon asked for forgiveness from the fans for his actions over the past few months.cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/031106.html|title=SmackDown! Results - November 6, 2003|accessdate=2008-01-22|publisher=Online World of Wrestling]

On of the undercard feuds on the Raw brand, and it was between the two Co-General Managers on Raw, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Eric Bischoff. Bischoff had control of the brand from July 15 2002, but from April 28 2003 he was forced to share his General Manager duties with Austin.cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020715.html|title=RAW Results - July 15, 2002|accessdate=2008-01-22|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] cite web|first=Nick|last=Tylwalk|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2003/04/29/75624.html|title=Raw: Stone Cold GM
accessdate=2008-02-07|date=2003-04-29|publisher=SLAM! Sports] Their feud over who had the most power as General Manager continued on "Raw" throughout the Summer of 2003.cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/030505.html|title=RAW Results - May 5, 2003|accessdate=2008-01-23|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/judgementday03.html|title=Judgment Day 2003 Results|accessdate=2008-01-23|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/badblood03.html|title=Bad Blood 2003 Results|accessdate=2008-01-23|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] On the October 20 2003 edition of "Raw", Bischoff proposed that he and Austin should face off in a "Traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series match", with both selecting teams of five. Austin promptly accepted the challenge, with Bischoff announcing the first two members of his team in Scott Steiner and Chris Jericho. Later in the night, Booker T was announced as the first member of Austin's Survivor Series team. The following week, Rob Van Dam and Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley were named members to join Austin's team. For Team Bischoff, Christian and Mark Henry were announced as members as well.cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/031027.html|title=Raw results - October 27, 2003|accessdate=2008-07-19|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] cite web|url=http://pwwew.net/tv/raw/031027.htm|title=Bischoff's whole Dam show ruined|accessdate=2008-07-19|date=2003-10-27|publisher=PWWEW.net] On the November 3 edition of "Raw", both Austin and Bischoff announced their final members to join their respective team; Shawn Michaels accepted Austin's invitation to join his team and Bischoff announcing Randy Orton being the last member to join his team. [cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/031103.html|title=Raw results - November 3, 2003|accessdate=2008-07-19|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] [cite web|url=http://pwwew.net/tv/raw/031103.htm|title=Team Austin gets a Leg Up on Team Bischoff|accessdate=2008-07-19|date=2003-11-03|publisher=PWWEW.net]

Event

²

Notes

*Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was involved in an (kayfabe) altercation with Eric Bischoff. When Bischoff threatened to call security or physically escort Cuban out the building, Cuban shoved Bischoff, knocking him from his feet. When Cuban turned around, he was attacked by Randy Orton with an RKO. <sup>[http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2003_/articles/1069104275.php]
* This is the last time that The Undertaker was seen in the Bad Ass/Big Evil persona.</sup>

References

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2003/ Official 2003 Survivor Series website]
* [http://www.hoffco-inc.com/wwe/ppv/ppv/sur03.html hoofco-inc.com - Survivor Series 2003 review]
* [http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/survivor.html#2003 2003 Survivor Series Results]
* [http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/survivorseries03.html Survivor Series 2003 Review]