Here we are again, folks. WWE’s annual Thanksgiving tradition, (or just another Sunday in November, if you’re outside of the United States) it’s the Survivor Series. This year’s edition has the tagline: The Best of The Best and every match will pit RAW vs SmackDown, keeping in with the pattern of recent years. We are expecting to see two traditional 5 vs 5 Elimination matches along with four Champion vs Champion matches, with each winner earning a point on the scoreboard for their respective brand. Then, at the end of the night, we’ll see whether it’s RAW or SmackDown that has the bragging rights for 2020.
But that’s not all. This year’s Survivor Series also marks thirty years since the debut of the legendary Undertaker. Little did we know when we saw this year’s WrestleMania, but when Undertaker defeated AJ Styles in the Boneyard, we were witnessing the Deadman’s last match. It was only a few months later, on The Last Ride documentary series, that the Undertaker announced his retirement.
While WWE haven’t declared what exactly will be happening on Sunday, they have confirmed the Undertaker will be in attendance. There has been speculation as to what this will entail, with several Taker’s greatest allies and rivals rumoured to be in attendance. The Undertaker is, without question, the biggest name in the history of WWE. Nobody else had the longevity through so many different era’s. Nobody else has managed to naturally evolve their character so many times and retain their roots. Whether he was the Deadman, the American Badass, Big Evil or anything in between, Undertaker walked the line between good and evil and has left behind a WrestleMania record that will surely never be equalled, let alone broken. The chances are we will see the final sendoff of the Last Gunslinger, and that should make this year’s Survivor Series an unmissable event.
Note: Predictions are purely that, predictions. None of us has heard of anything before, we promise.
Survivor Series Kickoff Match – Dual-Brand Battle Royal
How many wrestlers there will be in the ring? We don’t know. Will it be male or female wrestlers? We don’t know. Who will it be? We don’t know. All we know is, “The battle of The Best of the Best will start with fireworks, as RAW and SmackDown Superstars will clash in a Dual-Brand Battle Royal.”
Danny Cause’s Prediction: if SmackDown, Big E, if RAW, The Miz.
Steph Franchomme’s Prediction: if RAW wrestler, Jeff Hardy, if SmackDown wrestler, Cesaro
5-on-5 Women’s Survivor Series Elimination Match
Team RAW (WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler, Peyton Royce, Lacey Evans and Lana) vs Team SmackDown (Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Ruby Riott, Bayley & Natalya)
Many names are making their Survivor Series debut in this match, on both teams. Which is a testament to how much the women’s division has needed to evolve this year. With Becky Lynch due to give birth next month, Charlotte Flair has spent a lot of 2020 dealing with an injury, WWE has needed other names to step up.
That said, it could be argued that this match is playing second fiddle to the ongoing storyline of the current Women’s Tag Team Champions, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler, leading the RAW team and bullying the rest of the roster – none more so than Lana. Whether or not any of the competitors here generally care about the bragging rights or brand supremacy, Survivor Series is still a great opportunity to start building momentum towards the Royal Rumble at the start of the new year.
Danny Cause’s Prediction: Team RAW
Steph Franchomme’s Prediction: Team RAW (but Lana in the table whatsoever)
5-on-5 Men’s Survivor Series Elimination Match
Team RAW (AJ Styles, Sheamus, Keith Lee, Braun Strowman and Riddle) vs Team SmackDown (Kevin Owens, Jey Uso, King Corbin, Seth Rollins and Otis)
Team RAW is complete, with Riddle earning the final spot on the red brand squad with a victory over Jeff Hardy and Elias in a Second Chance Triple Threat Qualifying Match. Team SmackDown now have four of their team decided for Survivor Series match as Seth Rollins and King Corbin punched their tickets with qualifying victories on the November 6 edition of SmackDown, joining already added team members Kevin Owens and Jey Uso.
The red brand unit added The Monster, as Braun Strowman outlasted Keith Lee and Sheamus in a Triple Threat Match to qualify for Survivor Series. Strowman adds even more punch to a colossal red brand squad, but self-proclaimed captain AJ Styles will have his hands full picking up the pieces from the Clash of Titans.
Lee, Styles and Sheamus all earned their spots in qualifying action on RAW. Styles outlasted Hardy thanks to a little help from his new towering associate at ringside. The Limitless One overpowered Elias to earn his spot on Team RAW. Finally, Sheamus booked his Survivor Series trip with a final Brogue Kick to Riddle. Otis was announced as last member of Team SmackDown yesterday, with Adam Pearce citing his strength and resiliency, among other factors.
Danny Cause’s Prediction: Team RAW
Steph Franchomme’s Prediction: Team RAW
United States Champion Bobby Lashley vs. Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn
It will be a clash of styles when United States Champion Bobby Lashley faces Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn at Survivor Series. The All-Mighty has overpowered the Red brand, tossing aside every challenger to his championship reign. Zayn has antagonized the Blue brand since his return and resorted to devious tactics to reclaim the Intercontinental Title at WWE Clash of Champions. More than Zayn, Lashley and The Hurt Business can fear some interference from RETRIBUTION.
Danny Cause’s Prediction: Sami Zayn – Clash of Champions served as a reminder of just how clever Zayn can be when he needs to be – the use of handcuffs to win that ladder match. Lashley may be bigger and tougher, but Sami just needs to be smarter.
Steph Franchomme’s Prediction: Sami Zayn, because of RETRIBUTION.
RAW Tag Team Champions The New Day vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Street Profits
It has been part of the format of Survivor Series, since 2016, that the RAW Tag Team Champions face the SmackDown Tag Team Champions. Things took a twist this year, at the recent Draft when the incumbent title holders were drafted to the opposite brand. For the sake of continuity, the teams literally swapped titles. But furthermore, it also marks the first time that The New Day have been separated, since their formation in 2014.
With Big E left behind on SmackDown to go solo, we’ve seen the Street Profits spending time with E, looking for the inside scoop and tips on how they can defeat Xavier and Kofi. So far, Big E has remained loyal to his buddies, but WWE does have a habit of surprising us most on the biggest stages.
Danny Cause’s Prediction: Street Profits
Steph Franchomme’s Prediction: The New Day, don’t ask old monkeys how to smile…
RAW Women’s Champion Asuka vs. SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks
Asuka and Sasha Banks are no strangers in the ring, and the rivals will meet for bragging rights at Survivor Series.
The Empress of Tomorrow regained the RAW Women’s Title when she bested Banks at SummerSlam. After her friendship with Bayley came to a brutal end, The Boss set her sights on the SmackDown Women’s Championship and outlasted her former best friend at WWE Hell in a Cell to take home the title.
It will be a matchup of Women’s Grand Slam Champions at Survivor Series, as Asuka and Banks are two of only three Superstars to earn the distinction, alongside Bayley.
Danny Cause’s Prediction: Asuka
Steph Franchomme’s Prediction: Asuka, with a Charlotte comeback.
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre vs Universal Champion Roman Reigns
When Randy Orton captured the WWE Championship from Drew McIntyre at Hell in a Cell, it appeared that we wouldn’t get this match for some time. Triple H has bigged Reigns vs McIntyre up as being this era’s Hogan vs Flair, and for that reason it would be understandable for WWE to hold back on this, seeing as it seems tailor-made for a Mania main event.
It seems that WWE has struggled for some time to find their new overall top star – a void left behind as John Cena has gradually stepped away from the squared circle. Now it seems that Drew McIntyre is That Guy. Losing the title to Orton didn’t make him weaker. The three weeks he spent without the belt made him stronger, put a chip on his shoulder and made him even hungrier to succeed. So hungry that he wants to feast at the Big Dog’s table.
Roman Reigns, has been on fire on SmackDown, ruling the Blue Brand with an iron fist, teaching the other members of the locker room to learn their place. When even Roman’s cousin, Jey Uso, has fallen in line, is there anything the five-time World Champion isn’t capable of? You can call it a cliche, but Roman and Drew have been built and protected in 2020 to the point they are the unstoppable force and the immovable object of the WWE. What happens when they meet on Sunday?
Danny Cause’s Prediction: No Contest. – A bold prediction, maybe, but I don’t see how this match will have a decisive outcome. I think Vince will want to protect his prize assets for a bigger stage, maybe WrestleMania, with this meeting designed to whet our appetites. There are many ways to get there. Whether Jey Uso interferes on behalf of Roman, or maybe “The Fiend” incapacitates Drew. Also, don’t forget that the Miz is lurking with his Money in the Bank contract. There several possibilities, but I don’t think a clear victor is one of them.
Steph Franchomme’s Prediction: Roman Reigns wins and The Miz cashes in on McIntyre.
WWE Survivor Series is streaming this Sunday at 7 PM EST (midnight GMT) on the WWE Network, the Kickoff Show begins at 6 PM EST (11 PM GMT) on WWE Network and WWE social platforms, including TikTok.
All pics and videos courtesy of WWE