10. Goldberg Vs. Triple H – World Heavyweight Championship (2003)
Before talking about this match, I have a challenge for you. Ask ten wrestling fans what the main event of Survivor Series 2003 was. Unless they watched the show recently, chances are most people will say it was the exciting Team Austin vs Team Bischoff elimination match, and the Buried Alive Match between The Undertaker and Vince McMahon will most likely be the second most popular answer since it was Undertaker’s last appearance at The American Badass.
The actual main event was Goldberg vs Triple H in a cold rematch from Unforgiven for the World Heavyweight Championship. The story was simple, and the match wasn’t bad at all, but it just fell flat after everything that had already happened throughout the night.
To his credit, Triple H was still able to put on a fine bout with Goldberg despite wrestling with an injured groin (he was still wearing his infamous biker shorts at the time). Goldberg retained his championship here, but it was obvious his title reign – and WWE run, for that matter – wouldn’t last much longer.
- Match Rating: 4/10
9. Kurt Angle Vs. The Undertaker – WWF Championship (2000)
Kurt Angle’s legendary WWF/E career began at Survivor Series 1999 when The Olympic Hero easily defeated Shawn Stasiak in a quick undercard match. It took Angle less than a year to become the World Wrestling Federation Champion after having one of the most entertaining rookie years in pro wrestling history.
Survivor Series 2000 was an important night for Angle for two reasons: it marked his first anniversary as a WWF star, as well as his first world title defense on pay-per-view. However, it was also a special night for Angle’s challenger, The Undertaker, who was celebrating a decade with the WWF. On paper, it sounded perfect!
In execution, it was alright… But it lacked something extra. The chemistry just wasn’t there yet (watch their No Way Out 2006 classic after this and you’ll see what I mean), and the match ended just as it was starting to switch gears.
The finish itself was strange, as Undertaker thought he’d won the title after delivering the Last Ride, but he was actually pinning Kurt’s look-alike brother, Eric Angle. The champion appeared seconds later and stole the win to escape with the title. In the end, this one’s remembered more for Undertaker’s weird snakeskin pants than anything that actually happened inside the ring.
- Match Rating: 5/10
