Thanksgiving Tradition: The Survivor Series

There are many kinds of Thanksgiving traditions.   Traditional meals, traditional family football games, John Madden and Pat Summerall passing out Turkey Legs, and the Survivor Series are all examples of Thanksgiving traditions.   In 1987, the then-named WWF, now WWE, held its first Survivor Series Pay-Per-View, now known as a Premium-Live-Event.   I was ten years old in 1987, and from the first traditional five-on-five tag match between teams led by Macho Man Randy Savage and The Honky Tonk Man, I was hooked.   Starting in 2022, the War Games match, invented by the American Dream Dusty Rhodes, became the staple match on the card. This year's War Games Men's Match will feature Dusty's son, the American Nightmare Cody Rhodes.   Today's report will feature the five basketball players in Kansas who I want representing me in this year's War Games match.   This will be my final PGH report this month, as I plan to take my regular Thanksgiving hockey and football trip this week.   PGH subscribers can expect a couple of reports in December, followed by a full-court press of reports after the first of the year.   I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday.    Every War Game needs a heavy hitter. One of the best heavy hitters of all time was Kevin Nash, aka Diesel. So I will start putting together a team with my own Diesel. Caryl will lead this team. She is a double-double producer on the court for the Topeka High Trojans. She is as tough as it comes and is not afraid to play mean in the paint. She is a fireball emotional leader who can both defend and score. Caryl is ranked No. 7 overall in the Kansas Class of 2028. Her finishing move in the ring would be a version of the "Razor's Edge" to be named "The Siege of Troy."     In the past, I have compared Askew to NBA great Dennis Rodman. Back in the day, "The Worm" was a member of the wrestling faction, New World Order. So it only makes sense to have Askew as a member of my Survivor Series Squad. Like Topeka's Caryl, Derby's Askew is a paint monster. She has a long reach and excellent speed. Asken is ranked No. 3 overall by Prep Girls Hoops Kansas. Her finishing move in the ring would be the "Panther Plunge," a traditional Frog Splash off the top rope.     Hecht's in-ring name would be the "H-Train." She is the quickest member of this team and would be our high flyer. I have seen her jumping skills on the volleyball court and hope I get a chance to see play round ball this winter. She can score from deep, run the court, and score in a variety of fashions. The Wamego senior is ranked No. 15 overall and has verbally committed to the University of Nebraska-Kearney. The soon-to-be graduating Red Raiders' finishing move would be "Red Lightning," a heel-kick ala Shawn Michaels' "Sweet Chin Music."     The "Role Model" in the WWE spells her name Bayley, but this Bailey is a role model on the basketball and volleyball courts. She is ranked No. 23 overall by Prep Girls Hoops and No. 39 by Prep Dig Kansas. She is a force in the paint and at the net. She is strong and plays solid defense in both sports. Her finishing move would be the "Busch Exploder" and belly-to-belly suplex, followed by an old-fashioned Hulk Hogan leg drop.     Schooler is going to be the voice of this squad. She has a pre-built catch line for the mic: "Prepare To Be Schooled." She is the least familiar member of this squad. I haven't seen the Chieftians play basketball or volleyball in a hot minute, but she has an impressive long frame, and based on her stats, looks like a kill and rebound machine. Schooler is ranked No. 53 overall by PGH. Her finishing move would be called "The Final Exam," a submission move similar to Bob Backlund's "Cross-Face Chickenwing."

There are many kinds of Thanksgiving traditions.