[1996-11-17-WWF-Survivor Series] Undertaker vs Mankind

[Superstar Sleeze]

Undertaker vs Mankind - WWF Survivor Series 1996

I always forget theirs a 4th match in this series and by the looks of it theres a 5th one on RAW. Of course epilogue April 97 Revenge of the Taker as well. I thought as a stand alone match it was great and second best of the series but it felt too normal after the Boiler Room Brawl and Buried Alive. This should have been the second match. The hand psychology was perfect to ward off the Mandible Claw and if this was fitted between KOTR and the Boiler Room Brawl it would have been perfect. But as the PPV series ended I can see why this is forgettable even if I loved it.

Undertaker comes out with a new look looking like Gene Simmons with the top knot and Bat Wings as he descends from the Rafters. Lord of Darkness meets Leather Daddy. I am biased because I started watching in 1997 but this is his best look in my opinion.

Taker uses a drop toe hold to the astonishment of Vince & JR but those in the know know he was using this on RAW back in 93-94. He also uses a Fireman’s Carry and I think he was going for a Short Arm Scissors before settling into a Cross Armbreaker. I appreciated the Deadman doing a little wrestling. I really liked he used these take downs and holds with a singular focus to attack and debilitate the Mandible Claw hand of Mankind. This is the constant thread of the match. Even when he loses control of the match when he gets back into control, he is biting the Claw Hand, he is slamming the Claw Hand into the steel steps. It is all about attacking the Claw Hand because they have invested so much into the Mandible Claw. He even loses control of the match initially because he is so focused on slamming the hand into post that Mankind ball shots him and somersaults onto him. 
 

I liked Mankind a lot here he was playing the role of 70s heel well a violent lunatic who is borderline animalistic so he had the fight or flight drive. I liked that he chose flight a couple times. I liked the cheating to take control the aforementioned ball shot and later Shiek object. He also used the Piledriver and the Mandible Claw effectively. The Nestea Plunge was well-timed mismatch to get match to even.

I really liked the Chokeslam versus Mandible Claw struggle. That’s right up my alley. Mini-battles within the larger match. Love that. Love the Chokeslam. The Claw was put over strong the whole match. I liked the Tombstone coming out of the Foreign Object attacks but it felt a bit anti-climatic. I wish there was a way to hit Tombstone out of the Claw. Overall a great match with strong psychology.

The Executioner saves Paul Bearer from getting his comeuppance because we gotta build to the next Taker PPV match which will be against The Executioner but since the Executioner doesn’t pan out it feels lame. Thats the end of my road with Taker 96 PPV matches as well a strong test for him. ****