It’s Survivor Series baby! This year there are three whole teams competing for brand supremacy and the honor of the people who sign their paychecks and control their careers, but this definitely isn’t a metaphor for anything, so don’t worry. Here’s Sunday’s card:
Universal Championship Match: The Fiend Bray Wyatt (c) vs Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan steps inside the red light Funhouse to face everyone’s favorite scary murder clown. The Fiend choked Bryan out a few weeks ago, but it’s okay because that’s just his sense of humor. Last week he issued a challenge for the championship to Bryan, who first refused, then immediately turned around and accepted. His iron will is about as strong as mine. This should be very entertaining and probably very hard to see because of the poor lighting choices.
Prediction: This is gonna end with The Fiend’s hand in somebody’s mouth again.
WWE Championship Match: Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Rey Mysterio (No disqualification)
Brock Lesnar jumped brands to get a shot at Rey Mysterio, although he was too much of a coward to change the color of his title belt. In the past few weeks since Lesnar beat Cain Velasquez, Mysterio has attacked the champion with the aid of various items. This Sunday’s No DQ stipulation means he can use all the steel chairs, pipes, and even the bruised and broken body of his son, Dominick, to keep Lesnar down. Let’s watch a little guy take some serious swings at a big guy.
Prediction: Lesnar, even after Velasquez probably gets involved again.
Roderick Strong (NXT) vs AJ Styles (Raw) vs Shinsuke Nakamura (SD)
Midcard time! Styles and Nakamura have history from all those times Shinsuke nailed him in the balls, but neither has fought Strong in WWE. There are some obvious strong style(s) jokes I could make, but it’s already been done and I’m not a hack. All three of these guys are hailed for their intensity and skill, so this match promises to deliver.
Prediction: It’ll be close, but I think Strong is gonna come out on top.
Becky Lynch (Raw) vs. Bayley (SD) vs. Shayna Baszler (NXT)
These women have been sneak attacking each other for weeks, but now the leather jackets are finally going to hit the fans. Becky Lynch has had a stellar year and defended her title against numerous challengers. Bayley got a cool haircut and realized nothing in life matters except your best friend. Shayna is mad at everything and everyone and not afraid to show it. This is gonna be three women tearing each other apart, and it’s about to pop off.
Prediction: Baszler can convincingly run down the other two, and I have a feeling NXT is gonna dominate most of the night.
The Viking Raiders (Raw) vs The New Day (SD) vs Undisputed Era (NXT)
Big boys versus snotty boys versus good wholesome boys. A classic match up here. The New Day beat The Revival two weeks ago to put themselves in this match, while The Viking Raiders have been destroying local competitors for the past month. Undisputed Era is NXT’s hottest faction and Kyle and Bobby wear matching dog tags, so it’s really hard to decide who’s got the advantage here.
Prediction: UE, potentially with a distraction from Strong or Cole.
NXT Championship Match: Adam Cole (c) vs Pete Dunne or Damien Priest or Killian Dain
A triple threat at Takeover: War Games is going to decide Cole’s Survivor Series challenger. It’s a bit of a surprise this means Cole can’t compete on Team NXT itself, but I guess baybay’s time is limited, and he doesn’t really stick his neck out for anyone who isn’t in his super cool gang. Depending on who wins at Takeover, we’re looking at three very different match-ups, which is exciting.
Prediction: Dunne wins the triple threat, but Cole retains
Men’s Elimination Match
The elimination matches are Survivor Series’ bread and butter. While NXT has yet to pick their team members, Raw and SmackDown did a combo of qualifying matches and also just adding people on there for the fun of it. Here we have Seth Rollins, Ricochet, Drew McIntyre, Randy Orton and Kevin Owens representing the red brand, while Roman Reigns, Baron Corbin, Shorty G, Mustafa Ali, and Braun Strowman are blue boys. Elimination matches usually just have so much packed into them they’re almost always a good time, and Strowman has promised to yeet several people. Like, that was his exact wording.
Prediction: Can’t say for sure since we don’t know who Team NXT is, but I’d give it to SD here
Women’s Elimination Match
Same deal here, NXT is really relying on the surprise factor. Team SmackDown is captained by Sasha Banks and includes Nikki Cross, Dana Brooke, Carmella, and Lacey Evans. Raw’s team is lead by Charlotte Flair, and has Natalya, Asuka, Kairi Sane, and Sarah Logan. Some surprising choices on both ends there, but these multi women matches are consistently good. I’m very excited about the prospect of Asuka and Cross in the ring together again, and there’s literally no show in the world Sasha Banks can’t make better.
Prediction: Off of these two, SD. A lot of good options for Team NXT that could definitely sway the chances.
