Top four biggest mistakes made in WWE Survivor Series PLE history

Several WWE Survivor Series events have featured booking decisions widely considered major mistakes!

WWE Survivor Series has delivered some of the most iconic moments in the company’s history, from legendary debuts to unforgettable betrayals.

With this year’s event marking the 39th edition, the Premium Live Event is once again stacked, two WarGames matches, Stephanie Vaquer vs Nikki Bella for the Women’s World Championship, and John Cena defending the Intercontinental Title against Dominik Mysterio.

But despite its legacy, Survivor Series has seen its fair share of creative missteps. Some were shocking, others frustrating, and a few still spark debates decades later.

Here are the four biggest mistakes in Survivor Series history.

The Montreal Screwjob (1997)

The Montreal Screwjob remains one of the most controversial moments not just in Survivor Series history, but in professional wrestling as a whole. Bret Hart, refusing to drop the WWE Championship to Shawn Michaels in his home country, set the stage for chaos.

Vince McMahon, unwilling to risk Hart leaving for WCW with the title, made a drastic call. As Michaels applied the Sharpshooter, the referee shockingly rang the bell, despite Hart never submitting. The Hitman was furious, famously spitting in McMahon’s face before punching him backstage.

While the moment birthed the iconic “Mr. McMahon” character, it’s still widely regarded as the company’s biggest betrayal and one of WWE’s most regrettable blunders.

Sheamus cashing in the Money in the Bank (2015)

Survivor Series 2015 featured a compelling climax as Roman Reigns defeated Dean Ambrose to finally win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. It was supposed to be the coronation of WWE’s next megastar.

But within moments, Sheamus stormed in, cashed in Money in the Bank, and walked out as champion. Fans rejected the decision instantly.

Instead of creating a memorable moment, WWE created frustration, stalling Reigns’ momentum and delivering one of the most criticized cash-ins of the decade. Reigns eventually recovered, but the moment remains a painful reminder of timing gone terribly wrong.

Brock Lesnar’s first WWE loss (2002)

By 2002, Brock Lesnar had become WWE’s unstoppable force. Undefeated and backed by Paul Heyman, he was the company’s new monster. Survivor Series changed everything, just not for the better.

In a match that lasted under four minutes, Big Show defeated Lesnar after Heyman betrayed him and aligned with the 7-footer. The decision ended Brock’s undefeated streak far too early and sacrificed the momentum of WWE’s hottest rising star.

The loss is still criticized for being a shortsighted move. Instead of elevating Lesnar, WWE handed a veteran a win that ultimately didn’t change Big Show’s long-term direction.

The Golden Cleopatra Egg (2021)

In 2021, WWE intertwined Survivor Series with Netflix’s Red Notice, presenting Vince McMahon with a prop Golden Egg worth $100 million. The egg “mysteriously” disappeared backstage, and the episode devolved into a comedy-style whodunit.

The storyline drew heavy criticism. Fans saw it as forced product placement, overshadowing the in-ring action and diminishing the seriousness of a Big Four event.

The entire angle felt like filler, eating up valuable airtime that could have been used to elevate talent or push major storylines. The Golden Egg remains one of WWE’s most mocked Survivor Series segments and for good reason.

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