411 Roundtable Preview: WWE Survivor Series 2015

Introduction

This year’s WWE Survivor Series, was sent into a quick talespin when former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins suddenly found himself unable to perform due to a torn ACL, MCL, and medial meniscus. Rollins had to vacate the title and The Authority harkened back to a previous time in Survivor Series history by declaring a tournament would occur to determine a new champion. This show will feature the final three matches of said tournament, which include WWE Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens facing off against Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns going against WWE United States Champion Alberto Del Rio to determine who moves on to the final, where the winner becomes the NEW WWE World Heavyweight Champion. The rest of the card is rather sparse, but at least Undertaker and Kane will make an appearance as they take on two members of the Wyatt Family and Charlotte also defends her Divas Championship against Paige. Although the card doesn’t seem spectacular, it could over deliver and be one of the better shows of the year. The only way to find that out is by watching the show when it airs LIVE on the WWE Network at 8pm ET/5P. Let’s go ahead and find out what the 411 staff think could happen on the show.

The Staff

Kevin Pantoja, WWE NXT Reporter, Wrestling Video Reviewer

Mike Hammerlock, Wrestling Zone 8-Ball

Wyatt Beougher, Wrestling Article Writer, MMA Fact or Fiction Organizer

Mike Chin, The Magnificent Seven

Mitch Nickelson, The 411 Top 10

Sean Garmer, Co-Host of Wrestling 2 the MAX Podcast, WWE PPV Roundtable Organizer, Games Top 5 Organizer, Host of Co-operative Multiplayer Live Podcast, Quizmaster on Four Player Co-op

Dolph Ziggler vs. Tyler Breeze w/ Summer Rae
Singles Match

Kevin Pantoja: Dolph Ziggler is pretty much the definition of “midcard ceiling”. Tyler Breeze is someone that I have high hopes for since he was so great in NXT. But then he debuted on the main roster on Smackdown. Then he lost his debut match (though thanks to the tournament, that wasn’t really bad). Then he wrestled R-Truth in a match where Truth mostly dominated. It’s early, but Breeze so far screams a lower card heel. Still, I’d like to think that the WWE is wise enough to have him win his first high profile match. Plus, at least one heel has to win on the show. Right?

Winner: Tyler Breeze

Mike Hammerlock: A year ago at Survivor Series Dolph Ziggler hit what now looks like his career apex. He was the winner in the main event and he was all kinds of over with the fans … and he’s spun his wheels for a year since then. In the WWE he’s a respected member of the mid-card, which doesn’t actually earn you much in the way of respect. He’s always got something to do, but it’s far from a major storyline. This year he’s been part of the Intercontinental title scramble, he feuded with Sheamus and he had that love rectangle with Rusev, Lana and Summer Rae. Now he’s got beef with the newly-promoted Tyler Breeze. Ziggler essentially is getting booked like he’s the full-time version of Chris Jericho. In this case Breeze is his Fandango and it’s hard to believe their Survivor Series clash ends any other way than Breeze and Summer Rae cheating to win. Dolph can get the win back at TLC, but the purpose of this match is to give Breeze a boost.

Winner: Tyler Breeze

Wyatt Beougher: This will probably be the best match on the show, and hopefully WWE main roster fans get to see just how good Tyler Breeze really is and Breeze continues his streak of stealing the show like he has on nearly every Takeover special that he’s been on. Ziggler is always game, and these two are basically two sides of the same coin, and I don’t think it would be a stretch to say that this is the best possible opener for the show. Breeze wins here, and hopefully he does it with minimal interference from Summer Rae.

Winner: Tyler Breeze (Beauty Shot)

Mike Chin: While I’d like to see Tyler Breeze pick up the win and shore up an upper mid-card spot, I’d also hate to see Ziggler lose in a match this far down the card, particularly considering that one year ago he was the sole survivor in a great main event elimination tag match.

This one could go either way, but given WWE’s lack of investment in Breeze so far since his arrival on the main roster, I’m calling this one for Ziggler.

Winner: Dolph Ziggler

Mitch Nickelson: The more I think about this match the more I realize I should be extremely excited about it. Dolph is amazing in the ring. Breeze had a great run in NXT, proving he is also capable of putting on fantastic matches. But still, this feels like the least important match on the show. Breeze should win, but I’m holding out for a Dolph victory in hopes that they get a few months working together. I’ll predict that Breeze gets frustrated that he can’t put Ziggler away then gets disqualified after using the selfie stick to the jugular.

Winner: Dolph Ziggler

Sean Garmer: I wish I could be more excited about this, but Tyler Breeze already feels like just another guy on the main roster. I’d assume the match will be good, but going with Breeze’s character he will get upset and causes some kind of disqualification.

Winner: Dolph Ziggler (Via DQ)

Roman Reigns vs. Alberto Del Rio
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tournament Semi-Final

Kevin Pantoja: The WWE paid a ton of money to get Alberto Del Rio back and because of that, they pretty much have to push him hard. I like Del Rio and don’t have a problem with that. However, along with injuries, this is the main reason why he has a spot in the Semi-Finals. Normally, I’d expect him to make the finals, but his opponent is Roman Reigns. Not only was Reigns the number one contender before the injury but once the tournament was announced, most people felt like it was a given that he’d make the finals or win the whole thing. That hasn’t changed.

Winner: Roman Reigns

Mike Hammerlock: Del Rio’s job here is to make Reigns look like a million bucks. Like Owens, Del Rio is a secondary titleholder who should go no further than the semis. He’s a pro and perhaps they’ll protect him by chalking his loss up to some hijinks. Bigger question is will Zeb Colter make some inane remarks about how Syrian refugees are or aren’t welcome in MexAmerica? Brace yourselves, because that might be coming. Oh yeah, Roman Reigns is in this match. This whole event originally was designed to be Reigns’ coronation. No way he falls short of the finals.

Winner: Roman Reigns

Wyatt Beougher: This is my early pick for worst match on the show, no matter how sloppy Paige/Charlotte ends up being, for the simple fact that I have been proven to be 100% correct in regards to how exciting WWE has allowed Del Rio to be since his return. On paper, Del Rio is just the sort of ring general to carry Reigns to a great match (like Cesaro did on Monday), and if it were happening in Lucha Underground, I would have no doubts that it would be a good-to-great match. Unfortunately, this is WWE, and we’re just as likely to get ten minutes of ADR holding Reigns in a half-assed kneeling arm hold, followed by two minutes of Reigns hitting his spots and picking up the win via spear. It’s just upsetting when you think of how much more this match could, and probably should, be.

Winner: Roman Reigns (Spear)

Mike Chin: There’s a real outside chance that WWE pulls a huge swerve and puts all of its eggs in the returning Alberto Del Rio’s basket, and he gets the upset win in not just this match, but the whole tournament. Far more likely, though, WWE sees through the story of Reigns earning his way into a title match (and also likely walking out with the title in hand).

Winner: Roman Reigns

Mitch Nickelson: One positive from this matchup between Roman Reigns and Alberto Del Rio is that we don’t have to see an Alberto Del Rio versus Jack Swagger match for the Mex-American Championship. Hey WWE, if you really really want to do Swagger versus Del Rio, then why not give Jack a little bit of TV time and a few wins over some scrubs for the faint possibility that he might come across as marginally relevant again? I’m sidetracked a little bit, but Roman Reigns wins in the most obvious matchup of the card.

Winner: Roman Reigns

Sean Garmer: I don’t understand this Mex-America thing and Del Rio looks like he really doesn’t care every time I see him. I don’t understand why they changed his finisher either because it seems really cumbersome to try to get to it in matches, whereas the Cross Armbreaker was something he could work on during a match and kinda pull out of nowhere. I hope we finally get a very good match from Del Rio since his return and I am kind of intrigued to see how he and Reigns will gel in the ring, but we know who’s winning this match.

Winner: Roman Reigns (Via Spear)

Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tournament Semi-Final

Kevin Pantoja: Of the entire Survivor Series card, this is the one match that stands out as something I’m truly looking forward to. For the past year, these two have not only been among my favorite guys in the entire company, but they are two of the best performers in the company. I would love to see Kevin Owens make the finals here. During his feud with John Cena, he showed that he was more than capable of hanging in a major program. I actually think he has a better chance to make the finals than Alberto Del Rio. Still though, I sense Dean Ambrose wins here to set up a battle between friends in the finals.

Winner: Dean Ambrose

Mike Hammerlock: Let’s start with the upside. When these two hit their stride together in the ring (still learning each other’s habits), it should be thrilling to watch. Could happen here. At the very least it will be a good, stiff match. The cake seems baked for an Ambrose win here. Owens already holds a secondary title. Chances are low he’s getting the big prize and he doesn’t have a compelling main event story at the moment. This should be where Owens bows out. Ambrose has remained hot despite his often wayward booking. He sort of won the big one earlier this year at Elimination Chamber only to get screwed. Then he took Rollins to the limit at Money in the Bank. So he’s got a title quest story that makes sense.

Winner: Dean Ambrose

Wyatt Beougher: This should be the better semifinal match in a walk, as Owens is an unapologetic asshole heel and Ambrose is the plucky yet unpredictable babyface. The winner of this match is basically going to come down to how much faith WWE has in Ambrose – if Owens wins, they believe putting Reigns against a true heel is going to be the best-case for his world title win; if not, then I’ve been wrong for the past several months for saying WWE doesn’t think of Ambrose as anything more than a midcarder. And as sure as I am that a Reigns/Owens final would net the better overall match, I’m leaning towards Ambrose in this one because it gives WWE the most options going forward. I think the finishing sequence will see Owens confidently shove Ambrose into the ropes for Lights Out, which coincidentally perfectly sets up a rebound clothesline from Dean and allows him to hit Dirty Deeds for the win.

Winner: Dean Ambrose (Dirty Deeds)

Mike Chin: This match feels like a toss up to me. The prevailing logic has Ambrose winning and setting up a showdown with his buddy Roman Reigns in the finals–a match that could end in mutual respect, or could end with one of the participants turning heel. That said, there is a simpler road for WWE to follow, in maintaining face-heel alignments, and face-heel matchups. That route sees Kevin Owens win this bout. I won’t be surprised if Ambrose does win, but I’m going with the less popular opinion picking Owens here.

Winner: Kevin Owens

Mitch Nickelson: I look forward to this one a lot. It’s not a guarantee that Owens will lose, but that does seem like the safe bet. His chances are far better then Alberto’s, though. But, Dean and Kevin are both unique guys who I don’t think have ever wrestled before. At least, I have never seen them in a match together. I hope this gets a good amount of time and Owens is feeling extra mouthy. My pick is Ambrose because I think WWE has a ready-made story for him and Reigns in the finals.

Winner: Dean Ambrose

Sean Garmer: Now this may be the match I’m most looking forward to on this show because this should be an awesome contest. I’d imagine this thing is going to go back and forth and all of the stops will be pulled. The story though is setup to be Dean Ambrose vs. Roman Reigns in the final and for that reason, I have to think Ambrose wins here.

Winner: Dean Ambrose (Via Dirty Deeds)

(Champion) Charlotte vs. Paige
Divas Championship Match

Kevin Pantoja: I really want to care about this Divas Title program. I really do. I want to see the women’s division succeed and I think that both Charlotte and Paige are talented enough to make me care. It’s the writing and build to this that has been so subpar. We had Paige basically turn heel, then still team with Charlotte and Becky and then turn heel. The feud barely registered and then they were given the segment on the go home Raw. That whole segment seemed incredibly out of place, similar to the Mark Henry/Rusev segment before Night of Champions last year. A program can close the show if it feels like an important one. That wasn’t the case here. The same goes for the match. It seems like just another divas feud. Expect Charlotte to retain, probably by DQ due to the now “personal” nature of the rivalry, setting up a rematch at TLC.

Winner: Charlotte via disqualification

Mike Hammerlock: The build to this match was awful and I’ve said my peace about Monday’s Raw segment in this week’s Fact or Fiction. Now that we’re here and they have nothing left to do but fight, I expect we’ll get a solid match. Will it measure up to the standards of Charlotte vs. Natalya or Sasha vs. Bayley? Probably not, but this is hardly a congested card. That means the women should get some time. The WWE is now allowing them to work legit matches. This won’t be a slap fight punctuated by hair pulling. Afterward we may even get the sense that the divas revolution is back on track, though expect that to go right back into the creative garbage heap during the build to TLC.

Winner: Charlotte

Wyatt Beougher: Every feud Paige has been in since getting called up to the main roster has underwhelmed – the stuff with AJ, which was supposed to be two women who had characters and could actually wrestle and would finally move the Divas division forward instead turned into a bunch of sloppy matches and “frenemies” nonsense, and the interminable, on-and-off feuding with the Bellas that eventually brought us the Divas revolution and has since fizzled out. Even Monday Night, which should have been an excellent example of an old-school way to get Paige heel heat (and was actually far, far better than the same old “jealousy” angle we’ve come to expect from the Divas division), ended up falling utterly flat and WWE has backpedaled from it so fast that they could’ve broken the land speed record in reverse. So what should have been Paige, the angry Goth who blazed the trail for Charlotte in both NXT and the main roster, taking on Charlotte, the rookie who hit the genetic lottery and is fighting to honor the memory of her dead brother, has turned into Paige, the jealous mean girl, taking on Charlotte, Ric Flair’s daughter who cries. A month ago, I would have said, “Well, at least the match should be good”, but Paige hasn’t had a match on the main roster that came close to rivaling her classic with Emma at NXT arRIVAL, and it looks increasingly apparent that Charlotte’s in-ring greatness was almost entirely a function of just how damned good her opponents were in the ring. I’m sincerely hoping that they prove me wrong and rise above the awful build to at least have a memorable match, but I’m not holding my breath. No matter who wins, they should just be keeping the belt warm until Sasha is ready to truly revolutionize the Divas division, but even that isn’t guaranteed.

Winner: Charlotte (Figure Eight)

Mike Chin: My fingers are crossed that in giving Charlotte and Paige the main event segment on Raw, WWE was foreshadowing that this will be breakout women’s match we’ve been waiting for on the main roster–a match that gets sufficient time, executed by two capable performers, and that thus performers at the level of a Women’s Championship match on an NXT special. We’ll see how that works out. As for the outcome, I wouldn’t be shocked to see either woman win; I’m going with Charlotte to give her reign a little momentum and longevity, and to pay off the (admittedly flawed) storyline of Paige going after Reid Flair’s legacy.

Winner: Charlotte

Mitch Nickelson: The last-minute attempt to infuse a storyline into this rivalry with the contract signing on last Monday’s Raw probably hurt my interest in this more than it helped, but I still think there could be a good match here. It feels too early for Charlotte to drop the title so I hope she retains. There’s plenty of time between now and WrestleMania to put the belt on a heel for crowd-favorite Sasha Banks to defeat for her first Diva’s title win so let’s give Rick Flair’s daughter a couple more months to try to make something good out of her title reign.

Winner: Charlotte

Sean Garmer: The build to this hasn’t been great and that segment at the end of RAW did it absolutely no favors. From the lackluster brawl to the shoehorning of Reid Flair in there for absolutely no reason, it just came off as an awful segment that I felt really didn’t do anything for either Diva. I don’t understand why the match couldn’t have just been about the title and that the two ladies don’t like each other. I don’t think it needed the extra jab from Paige in verbal form. Either way, the two women can redeem themselves by FINALLY putting on the kick ass match we’ve been waiting on to really give the “Divas Revolution” some juice and that the ladies can replicate what we’ve seen them do in NXT. Aside from some matches with Nikki, Paige has really been underwhelming wrestling wise. I hope that can be corrected here in this match. That being said, I don’t see a reason why Charlotte should lose the belt here.

Winner AND STILL WWE DIVAS CHAMPION: Charlotte (After Natural Selection)

Undertaker & Kane vs. Braun Strowman & Bray Wyatt w/ Erick Rowan & Luke Harper
Tag Team Match

Kevin Pantoja: It’s really cool that they want to show the Undertaker love for the 25th birthday of his character. The idea of the feud with the Wyatt Family is also cool. The execution has been BEYOND off though, just like the rivalry heading into WrestleMania this year. Bray Wyatt supposedly took Kane and Undertaker’s powers. Then they show up and just hand the entire Wyatt Family their asses like nothing. Then the Wyatts send druids after them, only for the BOD to make quick work of them and again show that nothing Bray Wyatt does affects them. After beating Bray at Mania, I hoped this feud would mean Bray gets his win back. Instead, considering Bray’s history and the anniversary of the Deadman, I expect the old guard to win again.

Winner: Undertaker and Kane

Mike Hammerlock: I’m an old man. How old? I fall between the Brothers of Destruction on the Methuselah Scale. So when they came along I wasn’t filled with childlike wonder. Instead I found their storylines inane. Sort of fitting they now find themselves in another thoroughly nonsensical battle in what counts for a tribute match. If Bray Wyatt kidnapped them and drained their powers, how did they get free and do they somehow have less power? WWE Creative didn’t even bother to fill in basic details. What we’ve got is Bray snatched the BOD, now the BOD are pissed off and … hey look, dry ice smoke and pyro! Since this marks Taker’s 25th anniversary, odds should be on him getting the win. Not much of a celebration if his team loses, even though Kane doing the job makes sense from a booking perspective. You have to figure this becomes four on two with Harper and Rowan getting involved. Maybe Baron Corbin will make his debut and come to the aid of the BOD. Who knows. Mainly expect something slow, awkward and overwrought.

Winner: Undertaker and Kane

Wyatt Beougher: *sigh* At one point, I had hoped against hope that this match would be a four-on-four elimination match in the theme of this event, and even dared to dream that it might be Undertaker’s third straight main event (again, because of the theme of the show). Instead, we get a standard tag team match, and rather than Wyatt feeding his followers to the Brothers of Destruction and remaining some semblance of relevancy, he is, more than likely, going to eat the pinfall in this match, simply because WWE wants to keep Braun Strowman strong and Undertaker can’t lose two matches in a row (as we saw at Wrestlemania earlier this year). Remember last summer when I wrote about how WWE had assassinated Bray Wyatt the character and everyone got all huffy because I hadn’t really given them enough time? I’m looking pretty smart right about now.

Winner: Brothers of Destruction (Double Chokeslam to Wyatt)

The Undertaker and Kane vs. Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman

Mike Chin: This is one of those strange cases in which I, personally feel there’s a clear right choice, and yet I feel quite confident WWE is going to make the right call.

Wyatt and Strowman are two young performers with years ahead of them, and each in his own way has upper card-to-main event potential. The Undertaker and Kane may have a couple years left as part-time attractions, but neither has any business as a full-time player from here on. Conventional logic sees the Wyatts pick up the win, even if it’s just to set up one of them facing off with ‘Taker at WrestleMania.

All that said, all of the hoopla around The Undertaker’s twenty-five years in WWE, and the Brothers of Destruction reunion seems to demand that they pick up the win for old time’s sake. I’d be pleasantly surprised if I’m wrong, but I’m calling this one for The Phenom and The Big Red Machine.

Winner: The Undertaker and Kane

Mitch Nickelson: Ever since Wyatt stole the souls of the Brothers of Destruction, they’ve pretty much been invincible. They destroyed the entire Wyatt Family on their own and then took out a big flock of druids as well. Logically, they’ve clearly established their dominance and there should be no reason to see the two brothers take on two guys out of this four-man team that they keep proving time and again they can squash without breaking a sweat. But just because logic doesn’t matter, Braun Strowman wins. Wyatt is there too, but the win is solely because of Braun.

Winner: Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman

Sean Garmer: I just think this is not a one and done deal. This has to be setting up another singles match between Wyatt and Taker down the line, not to mention a Kane and Braun Strowman match too. Whether it happens at TLC or Royal Rumble, because let’s face it, Kane and Taker shouldn’t be in the Rumble match at this point. I just see the other Wyatt Family members getting involved and causing a disqualification, or just for the match to be some big brawl and it goes to a no contest because they just go crazy on each other.

Winner: No Contest

Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tournament Final

Kevin Pantoja: I don’t believe that the finals of this tournament should be Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose. I think that, with Seth Rolins down, this match could be saved for WrestleMania. Regardless of that thought process, I absolutely think that this is what is going to happen. Now, this is where the prediction gets a bit rough. Will the WWE pull the trigger on the Roman Reigns WWE Title victory? Will the WWE finally decide to have Dean Ambrose on top? Will either guy end up turning heel? Honestly, this is the WWE we’re talking about and, outside of a few surprises, most of what happens is the safe route. I say they go the safe route and give their guy the belt.

Winner: Roman Reigns

Mike Hammerlock: My guess is we get Reigns vs. Ambrose. It’s the only match that truly makes sense. One of the problems with this tournament is Reigns-Ambrose seemed like the inevitable outcome from the beginning. First thing we should note about this pairing is Ambrose is more popular. Everybody likes Ambrose. Meanwhile the crowd on Monday was solidly behind Cesaro when he faced off against Reigns, not that such things penetrate Vince McMahon’s booking cocoon. That brings us to the big question of whether this match will feature a major heel turn. It would make sense for Reigns, who draws the boo birds much of the time. They also could try an Ambrose turn in yet another effort to get sympathy for Reigns. I don’t think they’ll do either. This was supposed to be Reigns’ moment and I don’t expect Seth Rollins’ injury will change that. Reigns wins with Ambrose congratulating him at the end in the hopes the fans will follow Dean’s lead in being happy for his best bud.

Winner: Roman Reigns

Wyatt Beougher: Like I said in my write-up of Ambrose/Owens, I think Owens making it to the finals will give us a better overall match; however, I just don’t see WWE going away from an all-Shield main event (especially since that’s what they already had planned with Reigns vs Rollins). As I wrote in my most recent column (which may or may not be live as you read this), I can see this match going one of three ways – either Reigns wins and turns heel, Ambrose wins and turns heel, or Reigns wins and they both stay babyface. Each scenario has its own pros and cons, and while I think Ambrose turning has the highest potential payoff (and lets them keep Reigns a face going into Wrestlemania season), it also requires the most work to handle properly from a character standpoint, lest he simply follow in Seth’s shoes and sell out (which doesn’t make sense considering he’s the Lunatic Fringe). And while Reigns turning heel and finally embracing his inner asshole makes the most sense, WWE’s dogged persistence in making him the next Cena (while forgetting that Cena never actually got popular initially until after he turned heel) leads me to believe that it is also the least likely to happen. So that leaves us with the most boring option, which is also probably the safest – both guys stay faces and Reigns, obviously, picks up the win. I hope that if they go this route, Ambrose at least gets something significant going forward, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up facing a momentum-less Bray Wyatt at TLC again this year. Hopefully WWE surprises us here, but I think face Reigns gets the win over face Ambrose.

Winner: Roman Reigns (Spear)

Mike Chin: Survivor Series was purportedly earmarked to be the night Roman Reigns won the title. I’m picking WWE to stick with the plan. Will there be a heel turn involved? It wouldn’t be shocking, and it could make a lot of sense both in kayfabe and for long-term booking purposes. That said, I’m predicting the simplest, most straight forward outcome–that Reigns stays face and gets his crowning moment.

Winner: Roman Reigns

Mitch Nickelson: I’m sticking with the general consensus with my belief that Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose will wrestle in the finals of this tournament. It’s the most predictable outcome, but predictable isn’t always a bad thing. The big question is who turns heel, if either of them do. I’m cool with either former Shield guy going heal because they both could use a major tweak in their characters. Ambrose has already proven that he can connect with the fans so my pick is that Roman wins this tournament and the title and then aligns with The Authority. I’d prefer the turn to happen after the match because that would be way more of a jerk move. Have Roman win and then when Dean congratulates his brother on a hard-fought victory, Roman just beats the tar out of them.

Winner: Roman Reigns

Sean Garmer: I’m just going to go for it, if I am totally wrong here than oh well. I just think it makes a whole lot of sense to not only give Reigns the title here, but go ahead and turn him heel and see what happens. Ambrose is the kind of guy that can gain sympathy from the audience because now not only did he get double crossed by Rollins, but Reigns also stabbed him in the back as well. Reigns is still getting largely a mixed reaction in most places and why not let him embrace the hate and see if it lets him spread his wings a bit. I also think Reigns works better as an authority guy than Ambrose. Ambrose has been a crazy Wildman and it completely goes against who he is, if he joins the authority. I say Reigns finally takes that step and does “whatever he has to do” to get the title, which includes turning on his brother Dean Ambrose.

Winner AND NEW WWE CHAMPION: Roman Reigns (Via Spear)

Overall Thoughts & PPV Interest Level (from 1 being the worst to 5 being the best)

Kevin Pantoja: My interest level for this PPV is a 2.5: On the one hand, guaranteeing a new champion is always intriguing. On the other hand, this card looks super bland. I like Owens/Ambrose and that’s about it. Paige/Charlotte should be okay but I can’t bring myself to care, the Breeze/Ziggler feud is kind of just there and I don’t care to see the Wyatt Family get bitched out again. The only thing really keeping me interested is the new champion.

Mike Hammerlock: My interest level for this PPV is a 1: I’d go lower, but this a 1-5 scale. Survivor Series has become the WWE creative cesspool in recent years. The cards have been slapped together. For instance, supposedly we’ll get a traditional Survivor Series match here too, but three days prior to the event (when I’m writing this) we don’t know what it is. That’s just lazy. I predict Cesaro will be standing at the end of it. Hard to consider Survivor Series one of the Big Four anymore. The name doesn’t stay special if you don’t put in the effort to make it special. As always, the WWE has the talent to put on a good show, but the storytelling has become so poor it makes the outcomes immaterial. Some people will win, some will lose. Feels like we’re marking time until we get to the Road to WrestleMania.

Wyatt Beougher: My interest level for this PPV is a 3: For the second month in a row, I’m only even remotely excited about this card because I get to watch it with my friends. I’ve made no secret of the fact that I would much prefer if Survivor Series were actually built around Survivor Series elimination tag team matches, and a meaningless one with no participants named just three days before the show is not enough to placate me. When you throw in the fact that this show is likely going to be built around making Roman Reigns look strong, and the fact that Bray Wyatt is probably going to lose handily to the Undertaker, again, there’s just not a lot to get excited for.

Mike Chin: My interest level for this PPV is a 3 There’s very ltitle that feels electric going into this show, but there is potential. Potential for a game-changing heel turn in the main event. Potential for a breakout women’s match. Potential for Ziggler-Breeze to overachieve for its slot on the card and put on the match of the night. Here’s hoping for some solid matches and at least one significant surprise.

Mitch Nickelson: My interest level for this PPV is a 2.5: There are a couple of matches that I think could be really good. Also, a new WWE World Heavyweight Champion will be crowned. That’s a big deal. Even the matches with poor storylines like the Divas one and the one about selfie sticks all have great wrestlers involved. Still, WWE hasn’t presented this show like as big of a deal as it should be so my interest can only be gauged as so-so.

Sean Garmer: My interest level for this PPV is a 2: I’m really hoping that WWE pulls off something memorable at the end of this tournament and we get some big swerve, whether we see it coming or not, but please don’t let it be Sheamus cashing in because I don’t see how people are going to care about that. However, I’m expecting WWE to go the total generic route and keep everything status quo. Roman Reigns wins the title and nothing really changes, except that we get to see if Reigns can really carry the title and I guess that’s something. Come on WWE, give us a surprise please!

Well, that is all for this month everyone. Don’t forget to leave us your thoughts and predictions below in the comments and we will see you again in December for Tables, Ladders, And Chairs.

Remember to join 411 for our LIVE PPV coverage, starting at 7:00pm ET Sunday night.

If you’d like to listen Gary Vaughan, Paul Leazar, and myself do a preview of WWE Survivor Series 2015, as well as discuss the new TV deals for TNA and ROH, the possibility of more former TNA stars showing up in NXT, and a whole lot more. You can do so by clicking that button below on the latest episode of the Wrestling 2 the MAX Podcast. I will be doing individual podcasts on each night of the 2015 NJPW World Tag League and we will also have a W2M Special on Monday morning reviewing WWE Survivor Series 2015. All of that will be available right here on 411.