SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
So it’s possible, even likely, that I’m going to get all of these wrong.
Follow @Colohue for updates.
Survivor Series tonight is all for the brand, all for the supremacy, all for fighting alongside your rivals whether they be good, bad or trying to tell people you’re a literal puppy.
What we do have is some quite unique and interesting matches, so let’s get right into it, shall we?
1. A.J. Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Roderick Strong
What a work of art this could be. Three of the absolute best getting in the ring together and going to war for the sake of brand supremacy, which we all know is vitally important.
All in all, NXT has been made to look very good in the build to Survivor Series. Very good indeed. Almost too good considering stars like Daniel Bryan, The Miz and Charlotte Flair have all laid down for NXT so far. While I definitely forsee NXT stars taking a hit for the sake of the overall narrative, this isn’t the match in which I see it happening.
NXT won’t go without at least one win. If people are going to tune in to Wednesday nights after this, which is surely the point of adding NXT to the event, they need at least one win. This is the match where the two other competitiors can take a loss and still regain heat quickly. Styles has Carillo and Nakamura has Daniel Bryan in his near future.
Winner: Roderick Strong
What If?: This leads to The Club, with Finn Balor, against the Undisputed Era?
2. Team Raw vs. Team Smackdown vs. Team NXT (Women’s)
I know that Rhea Ripley is being pushed hard. I know that SmackDown are the underdogs. I also know that one of these teams contains both Charlotte Flair and Asuka. There’s no chance I’m betting against that team.
Team NXT was announced late last night after Takeover. We have some exciting concepts, with Sharai vs Asuka, Belair vs Banks and of course Ripley vs Flair. We might even see a brief return to the age old feud between Cross and Asuka. I just don’t see both Charlotte and Asuka being eliminated here, especially with Asuka being part of tag team backup.
Winner: Team Raw
What If?: The final two are Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley?
3. The Viking Raiders vs. The New Day vs. The Undisputed Era
The Viking Raiders monster push has been ongoing since the Raw after Wrestlemania and now as tag team champions it looks no less likely to continue.
Meanwhile, Kofi Kingston has been undergoing a very strange mini storyline since his destruction at the hands of Brock Lesnar. He’s taken a lot of pins, destroyed some pancakes and, aside from all that, won another Tag Team Championship.
The Undisputed Era took the loss the night before but I would think that that really helps their position. They can afford the loss given the rough time they had in the Wargames cages. Really the only team who can’t afford the loss are the Raiders themselves. I expect that they will continue their push to greater and greater prominence with a win here. And nobody will have to wet themselves for it.
Winner: The Viking Raiders
4. Adam Cole vs. Pete Dunne (NXT Championship)
Adam Cole went through a war the night before. Thankfully for this match so too did Pete Dunne. Both men should be struggling with the damage they’ve taken. It’s a fair fight.
These two men seem to be perfectly suited to each other and this really should be the big showcase match that NXT are looking for. The long time NXT UK champion and the current NXT champion will throw everything they have at each other for certain. This will for sure embarrass both world championship matches that follow.
I’m giving this one to Cole, but I wouldn’t call it a foregone conclusion. All in all, the Undisputed Era are lucky to have survived back to back pay per views without any real risk to their titles.
Winner: Adam Cole
What If?: Pete Dunne actually leaves with the gold?
5. Team Raw vs. Team Smackdown vs. Team NXT (Men’s)
Firstly, we really don’t know much about the NXT men’s team. How they’ve managed seven hours of programming a week and still not told us much about the NXT men’s team is beyond me but there we are. We do know the Raw men’s team but actually we don’t now that Kevin Owens might well have switched his allegiance to the yellow brand. Survivor Series is normally a big last minute but it isn’t usually this last minute, you know?
The only team we know for certain is the Smackdown men’s team. This is a team that contains Braun Strowman – the master eliminator – and Roman Reigns. So two master eliminators. Who’s going to beat Roman Reigns? Who’s going to beat Braun Strowman? Nobody. Nobody is doing either of those things.
Winner: Team Smackdown
What If?: Kevin Owens isn’t the only man to jump ship?
6. Brock Lesnar vs. Rey Mysterio (WWE Championship No Holds Barred)
Brock Lesnar isn’t losing the WWE Championship. Admittedly, the no holds barred stipulation encourages the idea that Cain Velasquez or Dominick could turn up but that’s just going to result in another battle for is paternity and I don’t think anybody wants to see that.
The expectation seems to be that we’re going to see a long drawn out build up to a Lesnar versus Velasquez rematch or in fact involvement from Tyson Fury. Either way, Rey Mysterio is a means to an end.
Winner: Brock Lesnar
What If?: Cain Velasquez gifts Mysterio the title?
7. Becky Lynch vs. Bayley vs Shayna Baszler
The WWE have worked extremely hard to make this match all about Becky Lynch and Shayna Baszler. With Baszler losing Wargames last night, surprisingly easily for someone of Baszler’s stature within the company. Even in the initial Lynch and Baszler staredown both women mentioned keeping an eye on Bayley but focussing on each other.
Since then both women have repeatedly taken thir eyes off of Bayley, to their detriment. Bayley went after the NXT women’s division. She’s gone after Becky. She’s gone after Baszler. Bayley has easily the most to gain from this match and, despite her opponents, she will have the most opportunities to roll people up, attack from behind and cheat to win.
That said, everybody has horsewomen backup. Even Becky has Charlotte eager to pick a fight.
Winner: Bayley
What If?: This is the night we finally see eight horsewomen in one ring?
8. The Fiend Bray Wyatt vs. Daniel Bryan (Universal Championship)
Daniel Bryan attacks.
Daniel Bryan attacks.
Daniel Bryan attacks.
The Fiend wins.
This is going to be in red light and it’s not going to be very exciting. So, naturally, it’s going to be the main event.
Winner: The Fiend Bray Wyatt
I’ll see you for a live tweeting session of Survivor Series 2019: @colohue
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