wrestling / Columns

WWE Survivor Series Preview

November 20, 2015 | Posted by RSarnecky
Survivor Series

This Sunday, the WWE presents the latest event in their Thanksgiving tradition, the Survivor Series. The Survivor Series originally started as a one-night show that featured a series of five on five elimination matches. Over the years, the WWE changed the event to resemble a more traditional pay per view format, instead of loading the card with the gimmicky elimination matches. During most years, the show would still feature at least one traditional Survivor Series match to keep the original Survivor Series gimmick alive.

This year, it appeared that the WWE was going to put the traditional elimination match in a high profile spot, as the Undertaker was coming back to the show to celebrate his 25th Anniversary of the “deadman’s” debut. Instead of pitting the Wyatt clan against the Undertaker, Kane, and two other teammates, the WWE turned the match-up into a two on two tag team match where the Brothers of Destruction will be facing TWO members of the Wyatt Family. The show is only days away as of this writing, and the WWE STILL has yet to officially announce which Wyatt members would be battling Kane and the Undertaker.

The WWE’s lazy booking of the show continued when they announced on WWE.com that they would be featuring a traditional five-on-five elimination match at the Survivor Series. The WWE has FIVE hours of programming each week. They air a LIVE three hour Monday Night RAW, and the next night they tape a two hour SmackDown! broadcast. The WWE couldn’t use either flagship show to announce the elimination match on their go home shows? If they didn’t want to provide “valuable” air time to hype a match that will be on their latest pay per view offering, the least they could have done was to give ten seconds to announce that “there will be a traditional Survivor Series elimination match this Sunday. Tune into the WWE Network on Wednesday night as we unveil the members of each team.” The WWE hypes the hell out of the WWE Network. Here is a perfect example of a way the WWE could use the network to try to draw in viewers for a breaking news exclusive. Instead, we get their website announcing a five-on-five elimination match will be taking place, but no participants were announced for the bout. Way to draw interest in the show’s most traditional Survivor Series match.

THE CARD

DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. TYLER BREEZE

This match hasn’t been officially announced by the WWE as of the time of this writing. However, according to this website, Dolph Ziggler is set to face Tyler Breeze at the Survivor Series. Originally, I thought placing Breeze in the WWE World Title tournament before he appeared in one televised match (because we all know that house shows do not count) on the main roster. He wasn’t going to win the title, and would probably lose in the first round, which he did. This booking did him no favors. It would be one thing if Breeze made it to the finals. Then, he would have gotten a rub for being in the tournament. Instead, he was one and done, and started his WWE career with an 0-1 record. This is an interesting match-up, because Dolph Ziggler should be higher on the card then this match puts him. Tyler Breeze should not lose again, because he would have absolutely ZERO momentum going forward. I get the odd feeling that we are looking at Chris Jericho vs. Fandango version 2.0. I see Breeze scoring the victory at a marquee Big Four pay per view, but then the WWE’s even stevens booking will kick in to give Ziggler the victory the next time they meet. This will do no favor to Tyler Breeze’s WWE career, and the path to the midcard will quickly be in Tyler Breeze’s future. WINNER: TYLER BREEZE (due to interference/distraction from Summer Rae)

CHARLOTTE vs. PAIGE: WWE DIVAS TITLE MATCH
This summer, the WWE presented the Diva’s Revolution that was supposed to jump start the Divas division. Unfortunately, most of those matches featured either tag team matches, or consisted of the Bella Twins being involved in some form. Not that they there is anything wrong with the Bellas, but represent the old guard Divas. The beauty over substance version of what the WWE thinks a diva should be, as opposed to the workrate first version that the fans demand. Charlotte vs. Paige is the first one-on-one feud since the revolution started that features two divas that are professional wrestlers first, and divas second. The two should put on a good match, and maybe even better than that if given time. However, it is way too soon to take the belt off of Charlotte. WINNER: CHARLOTTE

THE UNDERTAKER and KANE vs. THE WYATT FAMILY

While I’m not a fan of the Wyatts (haven’t been since day one), I was looking forward to seeing their Survivor Series match. It’s been a long time since the Undertaker teamed up with Kane as the Brothers of Destruction. Originally, I thought we would get the Wyatts vs. the Undertaker, Kane, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns in a traditional four-on-four Survivor Series elimination match. I thought that by having the Undertaker and Roman Reigns end the match as the survivors of the match would provide the WWE with another opportunity to give Roman Reigns a rub as the new top star of the company. Once Roman Reigns was booked in the WWE World Heavyweight title match, I was interested to see where the Wyatt angle would be headed with the Brothers of Destruction. The next rumor had the Undertaker and Kane pair up to take on ALL FOUR members of the Wyatt Family. That rumor didn’t last long as it was announced that the Undertaker and Kane would take on “two” of the members of the Wyatt Family. Out of all of the Wyatt clan, the money match if you are going the tag team route would be Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman against the Undertaker and Kane. However, I don’t think the WWE will give us that match. It’s too soon for that. I think Erik Rowan and Luke Harper will take on the Undertaker and Kane at the Survivor Series. Even if the WWE does give us the tag team of Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman, I don’t think the result will be any different. It’s the Undertaker’s 25th Anniversary celebration at the Survivor Series. I would be stunned if they end the story with a loss. WINNERS: THE UNDERTAKER and KANE

WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT: SEMI-FINALS

ROMAN REIGNS vs. ALBERTO DEL RIO

Going into the tournament, Roman Reigns was the huge favorite to win the WWE World Heavyweight champion. I don’t think anything has changed at this point in time to think that Roman Reigns will not at least make it to the finals. His semi-finals match features the newly returned United States champion Alberto Del Rio. Unfortunately, since making his return, Del Rio seems to be treading water. Despite winning the United States championship on his first night back from John Cena, Del Rio hasn’t gained any momentum since his return. We all know Roman Reigns story. He was supposed to win the WWE title at WrestleMania. He is the soon to be “face of the WWE,” but the fans have turned on the WWE’s vision of Roman Reigns. It looks like the WWE is trying once again to make Roman Reigns the new face of the company. The new face isn’t losing a semi-final match to a performer with no momentum heading into the show. WINNER: ROMAN REIGNS

KEVIN OWENS vs. DEAN AMBROSE

This is an interesting match-up that features the two men that were scheduled to begin feuding over the Intercontinental championship during the winter months ahead. With Seth Rollins out of action, the WWE needs a new wrestler to grab the mantle as the WWE’s top heel. If the WWE didn’t screw Kevin Owens’ momentum after his first match against John Cena earlier this year, Owens would already be the WWE’s top heel with Seth Rollins on the shelf. A WWE World title victory would put Kevin Owens into that top heel spot. Dean Ambrose is arguably the WWE’s most popular wrestler with the fans right now. The WWE could give us an interesting and unpredictable tournament finals if they have Dean Ambrose advance to take on his friend and former Shield running mate Roman Reigns. I think a Dean Ambrose vs. Roman Reigns finals will deliver a better and more dramatic story. I think the WWE will go that route. WINNER: DEAN AMBROSE

TOURNAMENT FINALS
ROMAN REIGNS vs. DEAN AMBROSE

I think the finals will put the two friends against each other. This match features so many questions that it adds to the intrigue of the final match. Will Dean Ambrose win, and then turn heel by joining the Authority? Will Roman Reigns win to kick start the “Roman Empire?” Will Reigns win and turn heel by joining the Authority? Will Sheamus cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase against the winner of the match? According to the latest rumors, the WWE is now 70/30 in favor of Dean Ambrose winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. I don’t buy it. When the Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania coronation failed at WrestleMania XXXI, the new plan was to crown him as the champion at the Survivor Series. When they announced that Reigns would take on Seth Rollins for the belt at the pay per view, that was still the plan. I know that the WWE changes plans often. However, how many times are they going to change plans with Roman Reigns before “Reigns as the new face of the WWE” fails before it begins? They changed plans at WrestleMania. I don’t see them changing plans again. I also do not see Sheamus cashing in the briefcase. Nor do I see a 1998 Survivor Series type swerve. I think Roman Reigns beats Dean Ambrose in a clear cut face vs. face match to begin the Roman Reigns Era in the WWE. WINNER: ROMAN REIGNS

article topics :

Survivor Series, WWE, RSarnecky