Survivor Series 2019
Allstate Arena, Chicago, Illinois
WWE are back for their latest PPV offering in the shape of Survivor Series and we can’t wait for what promises to be the one of the shows of the year. Following the bizarre after show events of Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia, WWE has utilised all three of the rosters to great effect. As is ever the case in the month of Survivor Series, brand supremacy comes to the fore and for the first time ever the black and gold of NXT is entering the fray. Questions always hang over just why anyone should care? Why should rivalries be put to the side? What exactly is on the line, other than meaningless bragging rights?
For the first time in a long time, a sense of urgency and unpredictably has been injected into the product. There doesn’t need to be anything on the line, other than pride. NXT are looking to show who the real main roster is, as Raw and Smackdown look to teach the new kids on the block a lesson in respect. Heritage vs drive vs ambition.
The matches on the card are, for the most part, exhibition matches featuring the best of each brand facing off against each other. Expect the words ‘triple threat’ to be repeated throughout the night, as champions face off against each other, as well as the more traditional 5-man team elimination tag matches.
We will also get a chance to see each of Raw, Smackdown and NXT’s Champions put their titles on the line. A grudge match between Rey Mysterio and Brock Lesnar takes centre stage as the former looks for retribution against The Beast for taking out not only his son, but humbling Cain Velasquez last month. A story as old as time, it’s David vs Goliath, man vs beast. Lesnar has a habit of showing up and putting on some of his best matches against smaller Superstars and a professional like Mysterio, in the twilight of his career, will be out to prove he can still hang at the top.
After somewhat drifting away from the main event scene, Daniel Bryan has found himself thrust into the limelight once more following an attack from The Fiend. Although his character is in a state of flux, something Wyatt has played on in the build up to the match, Bryan remains a fan favourite. Where Seth may have found himself painted somewhat unfairly into the role of corporate shill, Bryan’s stock has remained high for years. The Fiend may appear to be unbeatable, but Bryan will do everything he can to reach the top of the pack and wrench the title away from Wyatt.
The NXT Championship will be on the line as Adam Cole faces off against Britain’s own Pete Dunne. The challenger earned his shot by overcoming Damien Priest and Killian Dain at last night’s NXT Takeover WarGames. This may be the first time, the wider WWE Universe experiences a Takeover style match on a PPV, so expect both Dunne and Cole to attempt to steal the show.
Speaking of stealing the show, the triple threat match between AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura and Roderick Strong has all the elements for a match of the year contender. When firing on a cylinders, all three of these men are more than capable of putting on a clinic and this should be no different.
At the time of writing, the NXT team for the men’s traditional elimination tag match has not been announced, possibly due to the hellish matches the majority of the roster experienced at last night’s Wargames Takeover show. No matter who enters the match to represent the proudly alternative brand, the match is sure to be history making. It’s hugely important that WWE as a whole uses the momentum they have gathered over the last few weeks and runs all the way through to Wrestlemania. Survivor Series should be talked about as one of the best PPVs of the year, if not decade with the card that has been put together. A strong finish to the year, into Royal Rumble season could cool a lot of the online heat they have been receiving.
For now, let’s sit back and watch some of the best in the business try and pull off something special.
Full match card and rushonrock.com predictions:
WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Rey Mysterio (No Holds Barred, No Disqualification Match)
Reese: Lesnar
John: Lesnar
Andy: Lesnar
Universal Champion “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt vs. Daniel Bryan
Reese: The Fiend
John: The Fiend
Andy: The Fiend
Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch vs. SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley vs. NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler
Reese: Baszler
John: Baszler
Andy: Baszler
Raw Tag Team Champions The Viking Raiders vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champions The New Day vs. NXT Tag Team Champions The Undisputed ERA
Reese: Undisputed Era
John: New Day
Andy: Viking Raiders
Raw, SmackDown and NXT teams to battle in Women’s Survivor Series Elimination Triple Threat Match
Reese: Team NXT
John: Team Raw
Andy: Team Raw
Raw, SmackDown and NXT teams to battle in Men’s Survivor Series Elimination Triple Threat Match
Reese: Team NXT
John: Team Smackdown
Andy: Team Smackdown
United States Champion AJ Styles vs. Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura vs. NXT North American Champion Roderick Strong (Triple Threat Match)
Reese: Roderick Strong
John: Roderick Strong
Andy: AJ Styles
NXT Champion Adam Cole vs Pete Dunne
Reese: Adam Cole
John: Adam Cole
Andy: Adam Cole