Survivor Series (1987) — WWF's inaugural elimination tag team event

Format and card characteristics

The defining feature of the event was the elimination tag team structure: teams of wrestlers faced off, and individual competitors were removed from a match after being pinned, submitted, counted out, or disqualified until only one team or a single survivor remained. This format emphasized teamwork, storytelling through changing in-ring dynamics, and the drama of several mini-rivalries unfolding in a single bout.

• Multiple elimination tag matches on a single card.
• Focus on factional and patriotic themes common to 1980s wrestling.
• Built as a major seasonal attraction during the Thanksgiving period.

Origins and context

The concept for Survivor Series grew from the WWF's efforts to expand its pay-per-view calendar beyond its flagship show. By packaging several elimination matches into one event, the company created a distinctive format that could involve many performers and produce memorable, decisive moments. The first edition helped establish the Survivor Series name and format that would recur in subsequent years and evolve with the promotion.

Legacy and significance

As the prototype edition of Survivor Series, the 1987 show set a template for storytelling and match structure that became a recurring feature in professional wrestling. Over time the event became one of the promotion's major annual attractions alongside other flagship shows, and it has been used to launch new feuds, elevate talent, and stage high-stakes team encounters. The card's presentation on broadcast platforms also reflected the growing importance of pay-per-view in the sports-entertainment business.

Notable facts

Although wrestling cards and performers change from year to year, the first Survivor Series is remembered for establishing the elimination tag format in a major annual setting. The event combined spectacle with logistical flexibility, allowing a large portion of the roster to participate in prominent roles on a single evening.

For a detailed rundown of matches, participants and subsequent editions, consult retrospective coverage and event archives that document how the format and presentation developed in later years.