Survivor Series has the potential to be one of the best “wrestling” shows WWE has put on in recent years, but from a consequence and storyline perspective consider it the company’s all-star game.
There are a ton of dream matchups, including A.J. Styles vs. Brock Lesnar, Charlotte Flair vs. Alexa Bliss and New Day vs. The Shield. All that’s at stake in those are “brand pride” between “Monday Night Raw” and “SmackDown Live.”
It is like East vs. West in the NBA and the NL vs. AL in baseball. Enjoy the collection of talent and the matchups that remind you of Clayton Kershaw facing Mike Trout, but expect both brands to go their separate ways after with the winners and losers experiencing minimal consequences.
Here are five things to look for when watching the likely more than four-hour long Survivor Series (7 p.m., WWE Network) from the Toyota Center in Houston on Sunday:
The Beast vs. The Best
Styles, the WWE Champion, is billed as the best in-ring performer of this generation (it is hard to argue with that right now) facing the Universal champion Lesnar, the bulldozing, suplexing conqueror who destroys everything in his path.
Styles is known for bringing out the best in his opponent. His fast-paced, precision style and Lesnar’s physicality and wrestling background make for a compelling in-ring story of the tactician vs. the bruiser. This is a true sports entertainment happening between two of the biggest draws of this era. Enjoy it and let’s hope Jinder Mahal (though it would get him great heal heat) doesn’t run in and ruin the finish.
Kurt Angle’s true return
Sure, Angle was the third member of The Shield at TLC, dressed in all black, but Sunday expect the gold medals and the red, white and blue to be back for the first time in 11 years. He got in a few good spots at the October pay-per-view, but more will be asked of him Sunday. He has vowed to break Shane McMahon’s ankle, so we may see the ruthless Angle from later in his career.
Unannounced faces
Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Jason Jordan, Kane and maybe even Stephanie McMahon all have legitimate reasons to interfere in the men’s 10-person elimination match. I can see Zayn and Owens leading to Shane McMahon being eliminated and Kane distracting Braun Strowman and pulling him away from the match. Jordan could lead to Angle or Triple H getting knocked out. If so, hope that WWE doesn’t overdo it.
The SmackDown women’s team still needs a fifth member after Charlotte moved herself into the match with Bliss. The easy fill-in is Natalya. The fun addition is a returning Paige.
Can Alexa Bliss rise to the occasion?
The Raw women’s champion is one of the best talkers and characters on the WWE roster, but she is without a signature match. She has been solid at best, with a few disappointing finishes. Her opponent, Charlotte Flair — along with Sasha Banks and Asuka — is arguably the company’s best female in-ring performer.
If Bliss can’t have an above average match with Charlotte, it will be hard to see it happening anytime soon. These are the two women who have hold both the Raw and SmackDown titles. Will the Queen and the Goddess produce a heavenly result?
Show stealers
The New Day produced phenomenal matches during their feud with the Usos. Matching up against The Shield could yield another best-in- show-type performance. Both teams — who the crowd is really behind — are creative, willing to take risks and likely will not waste their chance to collaborate together. Shamus and Cesaro against the Usos would also be great. Expect to be wowed by at least one and possibly both.
Predictions
Universal Champion Brock Lesnar over WWE Champion A.J. Styles
Lensar needs the air of invincibility, but expect Mahal to get involved to cost Styles and fuel their rematch.
Team SmackDown (Shane McMahon, Randy Orton, Bobby Roode, Shinsuke Nakamura and John Cena) over Team RAW (Kurt Angle, Braun Strowman, Finn Bálor, Samoa Joe and Triple H)
Team SmackDown needs to win to keep the Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and Kurt Angle storyline going for WrestleMania. We could see run-ins, but ultimately Angle is pinned to end it.
SmackDown women’s champion Charlotte Flair over RAW women’s champion Alexa Bliss
Flair is getting a big push and Bliss is destined to lose to Asuka. The Queen wins with the Figure Eight leading to Asuka taunting Bliss with her Asuka lock.
Intercontinental champion The Miz over United States champion Baron Corbin
The Miz has the Miztourage and Baron Corbin has … well no one.
The Shield over The New Day
WWE does not seem ready to break up the dominant Shield yet, and New Day can survive the defeat.
Team RAW (Alicia Fox, Nia Jax, Asuka, Sasha Banks and Bayley) over Team SmackDown (Becky Lynch, Carmella, Naomi, Tamina, TBD)
Asuka has not been pinned or submitted in WWE. Maybe she gets counted out, but Asuka sealing the win seems more likely.
SmackDown tag team champions The Usos over RAW tag team champions Cesaro and Sheamus
In a match that might steal the show, a superkick (or maybe a double) puts Cesaro down for the 1-2-3.
Enzo Amore (c) over Kalisto for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship (Pre-show)
Enzo is the cruiserweight division right now. He cheats his way to retaining the belt.