Survivor Series to Feature Actual Survivor Series Matches

WWE's next PPV is Survivor Series, which will air live on PPV on November 22.  Historically considered one of WWE's annual "Big Four" events, the Series is famous for its fan-favorite concept of the eponymous Survivor Series match, which is a four-on-four or five-on-five elimination match, which lasts until all members of one team are eliminated.  For a short time, the survivors of the individual matches would meet up again in a main event consisting of the "sole survivors" squaring off in strict heel vs. face teams.  In recent years, the Series PPV has been mostly "just another WWE PPV", occasionally going so far as to have a token elimination match on the undercard advertised as a "Classic Survivor Series Match". 

This year, however, WWE is really showing a surprising dedication to renewing the gimmick.  The two main events are three-way matches for the WWE and World Heavyweight titles, which keeps in with the "Survivor" theme, and in addition to the big match between Rey Mysterio and Batista, WWE today announced three Survivor Series elimination tag matches:

Team Kofi, consisting of Kofi Kingston, MVP, Mark Henry, R-Truth, and Christian (or "Team Black Guy Plus Christian) will further (or end) Kofi's feud against Randy Orton by taking on Team Orton, which also includes Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes, C.M. Punk (who they couldn't think of anything else to do with), and William Regal.

John Morrison will be captaining a classic babyface team featuring Matt Hardy, Evan Bourne, Shelton Benjamin, and Fit Finlay to take on his old tag team partner the Miz and "Team Miz" of Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Dolph Ziggler, and Jack Swagger, which places both wrestlers whose gimmick is "Irishman" and the wrestler whose gimmick is "Scotsman" all in the same match.  Let's hear it for consolidating!

Meanwhile, on the Divas side, Team Mickie of Mickie James,  Eve Torres,  Kelly Kelly , Melina, and Gail Kim takes on Team Michelle of Michelle McCool, Jillian Hall, Beth Phoenix,  Layla, and  Alicia Fox.  

With some tag teams remaining like Cryme Tyme and Hart Dynasty, it's possible we could still see another Series match announced in the coming weeks.  The announcement of these three matches makes me actually excited for the Survivor Series, as opposed to the crushing apathy I was feeling a few hours ago.  Kudos, WWE!