WWE Survivor Series 2015: Bout-by-bout report and analysis

Samoan powerhouse Roman Reigns claimed the title for the first time in his career after battling his way through a semi-final against WWE United States champ Alberto Del Rio, then overcoming former Shield team-mate Dean Ambrose in the final.

But his victory celebration lasted a little over five minutes. After being distracted by a ring altercation with WWE's executive vice president Triple H, Reigns was caught cold by three-time champion Sheamus, who had invaded the arena.

The Irishman floored Reigns with two huge Brogue kicks and cashed in his Money In The Bank contract to become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion, installing a heel as the WWE's man to beat.

Reigns was visibly moved by his shock defeat so soon after being crowned and he took some time to exit the ring, wiping tears from his face.

Reigning champ Seth Rollins had been forced to hand over his belt after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during a WWE Live event in Dublin earlier this month.

That led to the launch of a 16-man knockout competition to find his successor, with the semi-finals and final bouts being played out last night at the second longest running event in WWE history.

Before that stunning finale, the crowd had been treated to a winning performance from The Undertaker, who had launched his WWE career at the very same event exactly 25 years ago to the day.

There was also a successful defence of the WWE Divas title from champion Charlotte.

For a full rundown of each bout from WWE Survivor Series 2015, please see below.

Kickoff, Traditional Five-on-five Elimination Tag Team Match: Neville, The Dudley Boyz, Titus O'Neil and Goldust v The Miz, Bo Dallas, Stardust and The Ascension

Survivor Series is known for this type of contest. Once you are eliminated it's back to the locker room for you while the last team standing takes the win. This bout marked a welcome return for Goldust who has recently recovered from shoulder surgery and he squared up to brother Stardust as the contest got underway. Goldust drew first blood, eliminating Viktor from The Ascension with a powerslam and pinfall. Bubba Ray then took out Konnor, the other half of The Ascension, with an uranage and the pin. Miz interrupted some good work by team-mate Bo Dallas to inflict a skull crushing finale and a pin on Neville, but found himself rolled up and eliminated by Goldust while celebrating. Man mountain Titus O'Neil stepped in to hit Bo Dallas with a Clash of the Titus, leaving Stardust alone against four opponents. He tried to escape but was blocked by his brother Goldust and O'Neil. Returning to the ring, Stardust was ambushed by the Dudley Boyz and was poleaxed by a 3D to be eliminated.

Result: Goldust, Titus O'Neil and the Dudley Boyz survive as Team Neville defeat Team Miz.
 
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Semi-final: Roman Reigns v Alberto Del Rio

There's nothing like starting the main show with a bang. The prime time action in Atlanta got underway with title favourite Roman Reigns squaring up to WWE United States Champion Alberto Del Rio. The Mexican (or MexAmerican as advocate Zeb Colter would have us believe) was never going to be a pushover, being a four-time world champion. He concentrated his early assaults on Reigns' right shoulder, a vulnerable area exposed in a recent episode of RAW. Reigns was catapulted into a corner post and some metal steps but gained some revenge out of the ring by bouncing Del Rio's head off the announce table. There was plenty of spectacular action as both men worked through their repertoire. The end came when Del Rio locked in a cross armbreaker but Reigns had the strength to lift his opponent from the canvas and over the top rope. Del Rio was quick to climb free but missed with a top rope move, allowing Reigns to hit him with the spear and hold on for the three count.

Result: Roman Reigns defeated Alberto Del Rio.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Semi-final: Dean Ambrose v Kevin Owens

A clash of WWE's two most unpredictable but entertaining talents. The Lunatic Fringe Dean Ambrose faced WWE Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens, who had promised to 'unleash pure and total chaos' on the WWE. Ambrose landed the first significant takedown outside the ring then continued the attack inside the ropes. But Owens was soon punching off his opponent and unleashing a cannonball. Owens is always very vocal in the ring, taunting his opponent and berating any referee who he feels isn't counting fast enough. He was happy to tell the 14,481 crowd "I'm the man" and provide his own running commentary with gems like "It's chinlock city". A session of trading jabs in the centre of the ring saw Owens climb to the top rope but miss. Ambrose took a turn and thought he had Owens but his opponent rolled clear. "Stay down Ambrose" ordered Owens but it merely fired up his rival who took the Canadian down with a clothes line. The action continued out of the ring too, Ambrose being caught by Owens and thrown onto the announce table. A frenetic finish saw Owens attempt a pop-up powerbomb, but is caught by an Ambrose superkick, Owens attempted another pop-up powerbomb but Ambrose countered with a Huracanrana and Dirty Deeds to clinch his place in the final.

Result: Dean Ambrose defeated Kevin Owens.

Traditional Five-on-five Elimination Tag Team Match: Ryback, Lucha Dragons and The Usos v Sheamus, King Barrett and The New Day

Another 10-man spectacular to remind the crowd why Survivor Series has enjoyed a long run among WWE's pay per view events. A spectacular start saw the Usos and the Lucha Dragons fly out of the ring together to take down all five opponents outside the ring - leaving Ryback to climb the top rope and land on the heap of bodies below. The New Day's Xavier Woods, complete with natty new hairstyle, provided some trombone accompaniment, but it was opponent Sin Cara who took the first scalp, a flying Swanton from the top rope pinning King Barrett for the elimination. Jimmy Uso was pinned by Woods and his flamboyant hair before all 300lbs of Big E torpedoed Sin Cara out of the ring. A Brogue Kick from Sheamus eventually did for Sin Cara but the crucial moment came when Jay Uso's splash from the top rope gave him the cover on Big E for the elimination. Bizarrely, Big E's New Day team-mates Kofi Kingston and Woods decided to assist Big E from the arena leaving Sheamus alone against three opponents. The Celtic Warrior took the fight to his rivals but as he tired, Ryback eventually executed the Shellshock for victory.

Result: Ryback, Jay Uso and Kalisto survive as Team Usos defeat Team New Day.

WWE Divas Championship: Charlotte (holder) v Paige

There was always going to be some extra venom and spice in this clash after two-time WWE champ Paige's verbal baiting of an emotional Charlotte on Monday Night RAW. The Brit has revelled in playing the bad girl role, in fact she's a natural, and she certainly didn't stay quiet through this bout, though sometimes it was because she was screaming with pain. Paige took the early running, which included locking in one of Charlotte's moves, a Figure Four. But the champ proved she is not only resilient but resourceful, using the edge of the apron to first lock Paige into a painful Figure Four, then slamming Paige face first into the canvas while mocking her opponent with her own chant: "This is my house." More counter attacking from both sides kept the very physical contest close and Charlotte gained the upper hand again after some traded blows in the centre of the ring, hitting a spear followed by a Natural Selection. Paige escaped to the outside of the ring where she turned the tables on a pursuing Charlotte. Paige clambered on top of one of the barricades to reclaim the chant, "this is my house", but at that moment Charlotte also climbed the barrier and unleashed a spear. The champ rolled her rival back into the ring and locks in a match-winning Figure Eight.

Result: Charlotte retains the title, defeating Paige.

Singles Match: Dolph Ziggler v Tyler Breeze

A year on from putting in one of the most memorable individual performances ever seen at Survivor Series, Dolph Ziggler found himself in this battle of the 'pretty boys' which really held no weight against any other fight on the card. It was also unlikely that Breeze was going to lose on his WWE pay per view debut appearance and a short contest played out pretty much as expected. A series of attempted pins saw both men try to employ kicking moves for the win. Ziggler's superkick was caught by Breeze, an Unprettier from Breeze was converted into a backslide by Ziggler, but a second Unprettier found its mark and Breeze had a winning debut.

Result: Tyler Breeze defeats Dolph Ziggler

Tag-Team Match: The Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker and Kane) v The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman with Luke Harper and Erick Rowan)

Twenty-five years after making his WWE debut at Survivor Series, The Undertaker was partnered once again with 'brother' Kane again to wreak revenge on the Wyatt family. The Atlanta crowd chanted support and waved home-made placards for legend Taker who must surely be working his way towards retirement at next year's WrestleMania. The two standout moments in this battle of the giants had the crowd yelling "you still got it" to Taker. Outside of the ring, Taker and Kane squared up to the newest member of the Wyatt family, Braun Strowman. The 6ft 7in colossus has never been knocked onto his back since arriving in WWE but he was soon crashing onto the Spanish announce table thanks to a double chokeslam from the Brothers of Destruction. Back in the ring, a Sister Abigail appears to have laid out Taker and Kane soon joins him, seemingly unconscious. But as Bray Wyatt moves in for the kill, the Brothers sit up in unison. Taker and Kane grab Harper and Wyatt for chokeslams, before Taker unleashes a Tombstone Piledriver on Harper to loud cheers from the crowd.

Result: The Brothers of Destruction defeat The Wyatt Family.
 
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Final: Roman Reigns v Dean Ambrose

For the 11th time in Survivor Series history a new WWE champion was named. Underdog Ambrose was for once stripped to the waist as he looked to get one over his former Shield team-mate. The pair immediately started scrapping in the centre of the ring, Reigns downing Ambrose with a clothesline before the action continued outside of the ring. It has been a tough road for Reigns. At one stage he looked set to become the new WWE champ at WrestleMania, but some crowd indifference saw a change of direction for that plan and he's never really won the people back, despite some tireless work through 2015. If anything it was Ambrose getting the vocal backing here and he didn't disappoint with a typically energetic performance. Like Del Rio before him, Ambrose targeted Reigns' bad shoulder. The two traded specialist moves, Reigns firing off Superman Punches and Spears while Ambrose unleashed Dirty Deeds at every opportunity. As both men tired, they sat in the centre of the ring and traded blows. The brawl escalated but as Ambrose looked to land a running forearm, Reigns countered with a Spear to realise his dream of becoming the new WWE champ. Ambrose sportingly embraces his friend before leaving him to enjoy his moment of glory.

Result: Roman Reigns defeated Dean Ambrose to become new WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
 
Money In The Bank Cash IN for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Roman Reigns (holder) v Sheamus

Triple H enters the ring, applauding Reigns and reaches over for the handshake. Reigns slowly turns away before rushing at the WWE executive, landing a Spear. Mr Money In The Bank Sheamus rushes into the ring, downs Reigns with a Brogue Kick and demands a cash-in. The referee takes the briefcase then starts to count on Reigns but he kicks out on two. Sheamus is momentarily shocked and attempts another Brogue Kick which Reigns avoids, but the newly crowned champ walks into a third Brogue Kick and is out for the count. His rein as champion lasted around 5mins 15sec.

Result: Sheamus defeats Roman Reigns to become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion.