Hey guys, it feels like it has been a while since we have been in the predicting chair, but here we are again, ready to predict the annual show ‘Survivor Series’.
Survivor Series has ran for many years – 34 to be exact – and is known for its eliminator 5-on-5 tag team matches.
Over the years, these matches have been formed for many reasons: family, faction warfare, hatred, retribution. However, the most common is for brand supremacy.
WWE try to nail into our heads that Survivor Series is the ‘only night a year that RAW and SmackDown go head-to-head in direct competition’ which is said in a robotic tone.
Don’t let them fool you. We see RAW vs SmackDown a lot more than we think. Furthermore, brand supremacy does not make any sense on a show like WWE.
There was literally a draft a few weeks ago, everyone on the teams have only been on their respective brand for numerous weeks/months. Why would they put their personal vendetta’s behind in the name of brand loyalty?
Albeit this, Survivor Series is often known for being a stacked show and delivering on many surprises – Goldberg beating Lesnar, Sting returning, to name a few – and gifting us dream match after dream match. Therefore, I am excited for this show and looking forward to putting my predictions forward for one of the most unpredictable shows of the year.
Before I begin predicting, I also want to mention that this show is also celebrating The Undertaker’s 30th anniversary. He debuted on Survivor Series in 1990 and has been on the highway to hell since! I’m sure we’d expect to see him ride someone – most likely Elias – right to the gates of hell with a celebratory tombstone piledriver.
Anyways, let’s start predicting ‘Survivor Series’:
Kickoff: Dual-Brand Battle Royale
I never even knew this match existed until I checked out the match card. Have they even mentioned it on commentary at all?
The competitors in this Dual-Brand Battle Royale have not been announced as of yet but I bet it will be the lower-card of RAW & SmackDown with a few big names, then Brock Lesnar will run in at the end and eliminate everyone.
I’m lying on the last part, I feel like this one is going to be won by Big E.
Big E has been in store for a push on the blue brand and this looked to be more truthful when they split him off as a single’s star with his New Day brothers heading to the opposite show.
A Battle Royale is a great place to hand SmackDown the upper-hand and push Big E as one of their biggest names going forward.
Prediction: Big E
RAW (Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler, Peyton Royce, Lacey Evans & Lana) vs SMACKDOWN (Bianca Belair, Natalya, Liv Morgan, Ruby Riott & Bayley)
How can they co-exist?!
Both traditional Survivor Series 5-on-5 elimination tag matches are built on their combustible teams and look no further for an example than the RAW Women’s team.
The RAW team used to be the forces of Tag Team Champions, Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler, Lana & Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke. However, after Rose and Brooke suffered an injury they were switched for the IIronics.
Why are Peyton Royce & Lacey Evans a tag team? Why split up the IIconics for that?!
Anyways, they will be challenging the blue blood of Bianca Belair, Natalya, the Riott Squad and the former SmackDown Women’s Champion, Bayley.
I feel like this match has been created for one purpose: get Lana over.
In the weeks building to this show, on RAW, time and time again, we had to witness Lana go through a table by the monsterous hands of Nia Jax. This was cruel but tragic humour to watch Lana recieve a beatdown each week.
Despite this, Lana must be set to get her revenge soon and I can see that happening tonight. Imagine if Lana got put through another commentary table at the ringing of the bell to only be forgotten about during the entire bout?
SmackDown’s team then dismantle’s RAW’s believing they are the winners. Only for Lana to roll back in, confused and fatigued, only to become the sole-survivor and pick the win up for her brand.
Prediction: Team RAW
Bobby Lashley vs Sami Zayn
I believe this match will be quick, so I’ll keep this prediction snappy.
Tonight we have U.S. Champion, representing RAW, Bobby Lashley vs SmackDown’s Intercontinental Champion, Sami Zayn.
WWE have no love in Sami Zayn, let’s be real. They may have put the title back on him last month but surely Lashley is going to lock him in and tap him out.
Prediction: Bobby Lashley
The New Day vs The Street Profits
This is certainly one of the ‘dream matches’ to happen tonight.
It would be great if we can sink our teeth into a New Day vs Street Profits blood-feud but I guess a taster is better than nothing.
This could be match of the night and whatever the outcome is, I believe respect will be shown with a solid handshake after the victory.
Who will that victory be granted to though? I’m picking the enthusiastic team of the Street Profits.
Prediction: Street Profits
Asuka vs Sasha Banks
Similarly to the previous match, Asuka vs Sasha Banks is a dream bout scenario. Well, it would be… If we didn’t have to watch it at least 10 times over the Summer months.
Despite this, the match is still one of the most likely to electrify the Thunderdome and the stakes are now higher with both of them holding gold.
This match is one of the most unpredictable of the show. Both women could do with a sweet taste of victory. Sasha Banks has just won the title and needs a win to solidify her as the Legit Champion.
Asuka, on the other hand, needs a win to get fans talking about her again. She has kind of been lost on RAW at the moment and as the top women in the division, this is a frustrating place to be.
After swinging both ways over the last few days, I’m going to settle on the decision that the Empress of Tomorrow picks up the win. This is because Carmella will sabotage Banks’ opportunity to gain the momentum heading into their feud. Or it could go the other way around and Retribution will stop Asuka as it seems like she will be feuding with their only female member, Reckoning, in the last few weeks of 2020. However, I’m standing with my pick.
Prediction: Asuka
RAW (AJ Styles, Keith Lee, Braun Strowman, Riddle & Sheamus) vs SMACKDOWN (Jey Uso, Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins, King Corbin & Otis)
On paper, this match looks to be awesome! But WWE has a reputation of overbooking their men’s traditional Survivor Series 5-on-5 elimination tag team matches. Look at that one a few years ago where Triple H turned on everyone for an example.
However, if they just let the stars wow us, this match is going to be fantastic!
The main stories being how can the combustible team of AJ Styles, Sheamus, Riddle, Braun Strowman & Keith Lee stand united and can Jey Uso make Roman Reigns proud?
I believe that team RAW will manage to stand tall. Uso losing will play into a bigger story going forward with Reigns and Heyman reminaing disappointed in him and by the looks of things, Sheamus is being set to be the next challenger for the World Championship.
Prediction: Team RAW
Drew McIntyre vs Roman Reigns
Finally, we have made it to the main event. Let’s discuss the Stomping Grounds 2019 rematch. WWE Champion vs Universal Champion, Scottish Psychopath vs Tribal Chief, Drew McIntyre vs Roman Reigns.
Originally, this was set to be Roman Reigns vs Randy Orton. Orton beat McIntyre at Hell in a Cell, last month, which shocked myself and many others. Drew was on a courageous path of the warrior and the loss kind of halted his momentum.
However, I was going to give them the chance to show why Orton deserved to be champion for the 14th time. Maybe it was to set up a Championship match at WrestleMania 37 between Orton and Edge. Possibly, we could see the Fiend get vengenance on Orton for burning down his house a few years ago. Anyways, it never led to any of that as McIntyre just picked the title up on RAW to become a 2x champ.
What was the point? I think Orton vs Wyatt will be returning to darken up our tv’s on a Monday night but they just didn’t want it to be for the title. As it isn’t like the title hasn’t ruined Fiend’s persona in the past…
Also, McIntyre vs Reigns sounds more fun! They are at the top of their games right now and going head-to-head in direct competition is going to be insane, unpredictable and mouth-watering. The swerves and outcomes they can extend to are limitless.
I do believe that Reigns should be winning this one. He is more protected on SmackDown and having him win but Uso lose his match will layer Reigns more atop of him in the family ranking.
McIntyre has many enemies and stories he could be set to build too. Orton could come out and show they aren’t finished. *Please pray that they are finished*. Maybe The Fiend wants to target the Scotsman, Yowie-Wowie!
With all the scripts they can write, I think the most set in stone one is for Sheamus to come out and brogue-kick McIntyre’s face in after being beaten by the Tribal Chief. Sheamus has been teasing returning to their tag team of old, but with McIntyre now holding the biggest bounty on RAW, who better to take that contract than the closest friend to the champ?
Prediction: Roman Reigns
And there we have it! That is my Survivor Series predictions – I hope you enjoy the show!
Let me know your predictions over on Twitter.
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Lost in Travel 