It’s the one night a year(sort of) where RAW takes on SmackDown Live. If it’s Thanksgiving Week then that must mean it’s time for Survivor Series. WWE didn’t do the best of jobs with the build to this PPV. They spent most of their time building to that disaster that was Crown Jewel.
With that said, here is the card for tonight’s PPV and my predictions:
10 vs. 10 Traditional Tag Team Elimination Match
Participants: The Ascension, The B Team, Bobby Roode & Chad Gable, The Revival & The Lucha House Party[RAW] vs. The New Day, The Usos, The Colons, sAnity & The Club[SD Live]
Setup: How, and why, this match was setup is anyone’s question. This is WWE’s way to try to give these wrestlers something to do tonight. The fact it is on the Kick-Off Show shows just how little the company thinks of the tag team divisions on both brands.
Prediction: Smack Down Live wins. There is no reason, and I mean ZERO reason, for RAW to even have a chance in this contest. RAW’s tag division is in shambles.
WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Participants: Buddy Murphy(Champion) vs. Mustafa Ali
Setup: Mustafa Ali was in line for the title at WrestleMania but Cedric Alexander won instead. He has been on war path to get back to this position ever since and once again he has a shot. Standing in his way is Buddy Murphy who has been red hot this year culminating in beating Alexander for the title at the Super Show Down. These two had a pretty good feud earlier this year & this match should be pretty good as well.
Prediction: Murphy retains. It just doesn’t feel right to take the title off the wildly popular Murphy just yet.
Women’s Five vs Five Elimination Match
Participants: Mickie James, Nia Jax, Natayla, Tamina & Ruby Riott[RAW] vs. Asuka, Naomi, Carmella, Sonya Deville, un-named[SD Live]
Setup: RAW team captain Alexa Bliss has put together a strong team but it’s also a team that’s shaky. Natayla has her issues with Ruby Riott. Ember Moon, Sasha Banks & Bayley all feel some kind of way after being left off the team. And then there’s the SD Live team. Mandy Rose feels she should be on the team… in place of her Absolution teammate Sonya Deville. Oh… did we forget the SD Live team is one woman short? That’s because Charlotte Flair is needed elsewhere but we’ll get to that.
Prediction: Team SmackDown Live wins. Nikki Cross of sAnity will be the 5th woman for Team SD Live. Expect some type of shenanigans to happen that will cost RAW the win.
AOP[Raw Tag Champions] vs. The Bar[SD Live Tag Champions]
Participants: AOP with Drake Maverick vs. The Bar with The Big Show
Setup: AOP took the titles from Seth Rollins after Rollins valiantly tried to beat the monsters in a handicapped match. AOP was the only logical choice to unseat Rollins/Ambrose as they are really the only credible tag team on RAW. The Bar sits on top of a stacked SD Live division and now, for some unknown reason, have the help of The Big Show. Show was critical in helping The Bar snatch the titles from The New Day. This should be a heavy hitting, physical brawl.
Prediction: AOP wins. AOP needs the rub more as the RAW tag division needs some credibility. Putting the RAW tag champs over will be a step in the right direction.
Seth Rollins[Intercontinental Champion] vs. Shinsuke Nakamura[US Champion]
Participants: Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Setup: On paper, this is a dream match. In the ring, expect these two ring generals to put on a potential show stealer. Shinsuke has been a champion with no vision since he won the title. He has been pushed to the background & that has made the title virtually meaningless. Rollins, however, has arguably been the MVP of 2018. He’s held the IC title most of the year & has been in great feuds with The Miz, Dolph Ziggler and now his own SHIELD brother Dean Ambrose. Ambrose turned on Seth the night Roman Reigns relinquished his Universal title due to leukemia. Rollins needs to have his mind right or it could end badly for him.
Prediction: Shinsuke wins. Shinsuke needs a signature win. Having Ambrose interfere & be the reason Rollins loses furthers what is essentially the 2nd hottest feud in WWE.
Men’s Five vs. Five Elimination Match
Participants: The Miz, Shane McMahon, Jeff Hardy, Samoa Joe & Rey Mysterio[SD Live] vs. Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, Braun Strowman, Finn Balor & Bobby Lashley
Setup: RAW team captain, and slimy acting general manager, Baron Corbin put together this team but not without issues. There is a slow, but growing rift between Ziggler & McIntyre. Balor has had issues with Ziggler, McIntyre & Lashley and Strowman especially hates Corbin after Corbin basically cost Strowman the Universal title at Crown Jewel. On the SD Live side of things, The Miz is feeling some type of way about Shane McMahon taking his spot & winning the “Best in the World” tournament at Crown Jewel. Miz also has issues with Rey Mysterio. You know who else has issues with Rey? Randy Orton. This match could go either way as both teams have shown signs of not having any loyalty.
Prediction: Team RAW wins. No team with Shane McMahon should ever win a Survivor Series match. No team…
Ronda Rousey[RAW Women’s Champion] vs. Charlotte Flair
Paricipants: Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair
Setup: So… about this match. This should be a WrestleMania headliner but it was pushed up to this due to SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch’s injury. On the RAW go home show, Becky Lynch injured Rousey’s arm & proceeded to lead an invasion of the RAW women’s roster. During this invasion, Lynch caught a right hand to the face by way of Nia Jax. The result of that punch was a fractured face & severe concussion. WWE certainly couldn’t leave Rousey off the card so Lynch hand picked Flair(I know, I know – WWE just glossed over their red hot feud) to face the baddest woman on the planet.
Prediction: Rousey wins. Rousey will force Flair to tap out & thus begin Flair’s descent… and eventual resurrection. Don’t be surprised if you see WWE’s Four Horsewomen confronted by MMA’s version of the Four Horsewomen.
WWE Champion Daniel Bryan vs. Universal Champion Brock Lesnar
Participants: Brock Lesnar with Paul Heyman vs. Daniel Bryan
Setup: Up until this past Tuesday it looked as though we were getting a rematch of last year’s fight between Brock Lesnar & AJ Styles. Then the unthinkable happened – the shocking heel turn from Daniel Bryan. Bryan used a low blow to help him reclaim the WWE Championship he never lost. With Bryan now as a certifiable heel, it’s heel vs heel in this fight. Lesnar’s path to the title came after Roman Reigns had to drop the title to fight leukemia. WWE in true fashion panicked & put the belt back on Lesnar at Crown Jewel. This is also a dream match of sorts because size wise this looks to be David vs. Goliath but since Bryan is a heel it’s more like Notre Dame vs. Ohio St. – you don’t know who to root for.
Prediction: Brock Lesnar wins. Lesnar needs to remain strong as he prepares for his eventual UFC title fight. Bryan won’t be a pushover but expect AJ Styles to interfere & seek some revenge.
Let me know what you think….
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