At the beginning of this year, if we had to tell you that we’d probably see Shane McMahon compete in a match again, you probably would have thought we were bluffing.
Just a week before the event, it appears that Shane would be taking part in the event, leading from the front for his team in the traditional elimination match.
Although there are only six matches on the card, there has been a lot of personal story lines being added to the matches, making the feud more interesting.
One possibility for the event is the traditional elimination bouts opening the night. It is a well-known that the tag teams have always worked well when placed in the opening slot. It would definitely be cool to see the teams captained by Heath slater and Rhyno against the New Day.
There is a possibility of a kick off show being added, so we might see the tag team elimination match opening the event.
WWE should definitely not send out the superstars in their garish brand specific T-shirts. Imagine a monster like Braun Strowman coming out in the garish red Monday night T-shirt.
Although we have seen this happen, this should definitely not be repeated. This is not a school parade where the students are supposed to dress up in a particular fashion. This should definitely not take place at the event and the superstars should stick to their regular in-ring attire.
Smackdown’s Tag teams should come on top of the RAW teams. Currently the New Day are on the verge of breaking the Demolition’s long standing record of 478 day title reign. Right now, that itself is sufficient to put over the New Day. They don’t really need to win the match.
The things that need to go down at Survivor Series
Slater and Rhyno on the other hand are relatively new tandem. During the few months they have been together, they have shown impeccable chemistry with each other. They have also been able to rally the WWE Universe behind them and having them go over team RAW would help establish them as Smackdown’s strongest team.
The tag teams of the recently turned heel Usos, American Alpha, Breezango and the Hype Bros still need to establish themselves and gain some momentum. The RAW tag teams like Gallows and Anderson, New Day, Enzo Amore and Big Cass and even Sheamus and Cesaro have been more over right now.
Brian Kendrick leaves the Cruiserweight champion: The cruiserweight division has definitely not lived up to the expectations. Although having Kalisto win the title would move the division to SmackDown, it is not what seems feasible right now. Just moving the division would not make any sense.
Especially that SmackDown has a cramped schedule and a decked card every week. Having Kendrick win the title would also bring some credibility to the title. Also, he is the most experienced on the cruiser weight division.
Having him win the title would help extend his well-crafted feud against TJ Perkins, along with potential feuds against Rich Swann, Noam Dar, Cedric Alexander and the recently rumored to be returning, Tajiri.
Alexa Bliss costs Becky Lynch a chance to be a sole survivor for her team: Alexa Bliss has some nuclear heat with Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan over her match with Becky Lynch. With Bliss waiting in wings for a title rematch possibly at the TLC pay-per-view. So it appears that there is no way that Bliss would coexist with Becky.
Although having Becky go over as the survivor against the likes of Charlotte and Sasha Banks, having Alexa screw things up for her would more or less cement her rematch for the match, which she claims to have never lost.
The Miz retains the Intercontinental Championship: Although Sami is great for the division and brand alike on RAW, he definitely is not ready for a title run. Miz has held the title for most of the time and it makes sense to have the title on SmackDown Live itself instead of moving to RAW.
If the title moved to RAW, it would definitely be overshadowed by the United States Championship and WWE’s never ending choice of WWE trying to shove Roman Reigns down our throat.
Braun Strowman gets revenge on Shane McMahon: It might appear that WWE is keen on using Strowman to prepare Shane for WrestleMania 33. Just this week, Shawn took out Strowman with a cross body. Survivor Series would be the perfect venue for Strowman to extract revenge on Shane. The big man would definitely need to get back at Shane and eliminate him at the elimination match.
Especially with WWE pushing Strowman to the moon, having him lose to Shane would not make any sense. However, if having Strowman being put aside to elevate Shane is on the WWE’s agenda, we may never know.
Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens win for Team RAW: WWE has two pay per view events lined up post Survivor Series, TLC for SmackDown Live and Roadblock for RAW. At TLC, Styles is expected to take on Dean Ambrose, so there will definitely be a build towards the match.
Also, with RAW’s event scheduled to take place till only on the 18th of December, having Jericho and Owens win would have them continue their ‘bragging about their friendship’.
That would also give the opportunity to someone like Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns take exception to constant reminders and bragging rights from Jericho and Owens. Having Owens win would have some promo gold from both Owens and Jericho, which would definitely help build a place holder till Roadblock later in December.
Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar is the main event of the night: This match is an exception to the general rule of Survivor Series ending with a traditional elimination match. This match has been 12 years in the making. With an uncertainty looming over Goldberg’s in ring future, this clash should go last.
During the promos, Goldberg has stated that he believes that he has what it takes to defeat Lesnar and with Paul Heyman launching scathing personal attacks on Goldberg’s family, having the two special attractions for the event going last would definitely build the card.
Also, with Lesnar being billed as a power house and Goldberg being the demolition derby, there is no other place for the match apart from the main event.
- Updated card for the WWE Royal Rumble pay per view - January 28, 2017
- WWE SmackDown Results – 01/24/2017 - January 26, 2017
- WWE RAW Results – 01/23/2017 - January 24, 2017
