It is that time of the year again where, somehow, everyone is loyal to their brands and bond together to wear silly branded shirts (aside from Seth Rollins’ which is half-cool really).
Survivor Series this year has two major advantages in my opinion: having the top champions in each brand being involved elsewhere with their own storylines, and of course, the addition of NXT which may not inject enough interest in TV programming, but might do so for the in-ring work at the PPV. It will be a pretty long extravaganza, and one should buckle up for a roller coaster of a show.
(note: this card is subject to change in any moment as of writing these words 6 days before the show, so update is possible when it happens).
let’s do some predictions…
Team RAW vs Team Smackdown vs Team NXT
The image above might suggest that it is going to be RAW vs Smackdown as usual, but there is NXT too despite not featuring on said image. As of me writing these words, Team NXT is yet to be announced with only the go-home episode of TV to go through. However, no matter how the lineup will be, it is guaranteed that it will deliver in spades between the ropes. Generally, it might feature the likes of Matt Riddle, Keith Lee, Tomasso Ciampa etc. which is super cool. Although, there will be a TakeOver the previous night so that might throw a spanner in the works.
Both main-roster teams are bound to implode from within, with RAW’s Randy Orton and Ricochet building tension on Monday nights. On Fridays, there is a whole disaster to talk about when it comes to Roman Reigns and Baron Corbin, with the latter taking their “feud” to “very bad sh*t” territory with big dog cosplay and terrible promos. Whoever NXT sets up to face RAW and Smackdown, they should come up as a unit and a force to capitalize on the miscommunications that are bound to happen.
Prediction: NXT to win …
AJ Styles (US Champion) vs Roderick Strong (North American Champion) vs Shinsuke Nakamura (Intercontinental Champion)
This match is a guaranteed treat. If it was only AJ vs Nakamura, i would be fine with it but a bit grumpy since we’ve been disappointed with this “Dream Match” for most of 2018. The addition of Strong adds a lot of intrigue, and almost guarantees the Undisputed Era’s shadow looming over it. Indeed, it is TNA vs ROH vs NJPW as the Internet Wrestling Community put it out. The only thing that might worry me and all fans, is that WWE will book them to have a “WWE” match which means 10-15 minutes of solid action but not much to fire up the crowd.
Ideally, this match should open the card and inject a good dose of adrenaline into the show from the start, which will only intensify as the show goes on. This could spin off into numerous feuds like The O.C vs Undisputed Era or Strong vs Styles or Nakamura which would be in-ring royalty in any combination.
In my opinion, Roderick Strong should walk away victorious whatever it takes to literally “Shock the System” and set a great tone going forwards and also to prove that NXT deserves the spotlight, and that is “Undisputed” (see what i mean).
Prediction: Roderick Strong to win…
Viking Raiders (Raw Tag Team Champions) vs New Day (Smackdown Tag Team Champions) vs Undisputed Era {Fish/O’Reily} (NXT Tag Team Champions)
I would have preferred The Revival to remain champions heading into this thrill of a tag team triple-threat, which would have been so much better than The New Day being a part. Not to say that Kofi and Big E won’t deliver, but the match could have had an incredible in-ring story with all three tandems being once part of Full Sail’s show. The match will still be amazing, because of course it will be, but it may fall short of expectations with The Revival out of it. Apparently, Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder are not good enough to be in such match, or they may betray the “Blue Bland” (yes that is not a typo, it is intentional). I mean, who knows !!.
This match also may suffer from timing issues, just like the singles triple threat aforementioned, or worse even booking the Undisputed Era to be jobbed out to the 7-time champions in an unceremonious fashion. However it goes, it is a guaranteed treat between three of the best teams in the business. Still, it is a big shame that The Revival where taken out from a match that might have served as a “Revival” for their career (see what i did there?).
Prediction: The New Day to win (hopefully not pin the UE).
Becky Lynch (Raw Women’s Champion) vs Bayley (Smackdown Women’s Champion) vs Shayna Bazsler (NXT Women’s Champion)
Bayley might feel more deflated than her former “Bayley buddies” and might be just a third wheel, but she will certainly leave her mark in the match. Shayna Bazsler enters this bout as odds-on favorite and the most dangerous woman in it, while Becky enters as the Undisputed badass babyface with the most popular person. The dynamic of this encounter can serve a lot of intrigue, particularly for Bayley who can play on the fact she is the overlooked champion, and capitalize on the tension between Shayna and Becky.
There might be other factors to it if WWE play their cards right, with NXT women’s storyline coming into play (assuming they care about consistency) to cost Baszler. As for a definitive winner, it might come down to the long term booking of WWE for Becky and Shayna in particular who might build to a singles match down the line which i’m all in for.
Prediction: Shayna Baszler to win…
Brock Lesnar (WWE champion) vs Rey Mysterio
This was pretty quick if you ask me, especially after Crown Jewel. The story of this match is very interesting and can play out in different directions, especially concerning Rey Mysterio. For once, his son Dominique could show up and do one of two things; somehow achieve revenge for himself and his father (no, not Eddie Guerrero) and help him win, or shock everybody and turn on him to cost him the match.
Also, there is Cain Velasquez who might show up too to spoil Lesnar’s party and avenge his embarrassing loss in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, he might, just might cost Rey Mysterio either inadvertently or intentionally getting fed up of being his henchman. In both cases, he will have his next feud set with Lesnar or Rey which will be pretty cool.
Prediction: Rey Mysterio to win… (shocking, I know)
The “Fiend” Bray Wyatt (Universal Champion) vs Daniel Bryan
The fascinating thing about this match which will be the main-event mostly, is the rich yet unexploited backstory between the two that goes back to 2014 and Daniel Bryan being a part of the “Wyatt Family”. With one week left in the build, it still feels like there is so much potential for storytelling from two of the best in this department in the entire company, yet WWE rushed it in one segment really on Miz TV of all places.
The “BlUniversal Champion” (yes i use that joke too) is bound to have a great match with Daniel Bryan who is just a wrestling god at the moment when it comes to making others look good. Although he won’t need to do a lot to make “BRAY WYATT” look good. Overall, this should be a thrill to watch and full of nice call backs to their old feud from four years ago.
Prediction: Bray Wyatt to win…
In the end, this is only one man’s opinion and feel free to tell me yours in the comments or reach out to me on twitter @OGouesmiHellRaiser. Have a nice day!!
