6 Things that Should Happen at Survivor Series !!!
Now that the Survivor Series card is mostly set, the conversation will inevitably centre on how the event is booked. Though the battle for brand supremacy technically doesn't mean much a good booking can do to further the storylines on both brands once the event is over. While there have been some derisive comparisons to the old Bragging Rights concept, bragging rights can go a long way to enhancing the auras of WWE superstars and the stories they're involved in.
The prospect of betrayals during the Interbrand battles are also tangible and could make the normal RAW or SmackDown programming more intense as 2017 comes to a close. Few emotions are as potent as rage after a betrayal from a supposed ally and the normal feuds on Raw or Smackdown would have an added dimension as a result.
#6 Asuka should dominate the Raw vs. SmackDown women's match
If last year's event is anything to go by, the Raw vs. SmackDown women's elimination match will open the show. After the invasion of Raw on the TLC fallout show, GM Kurt Angle should waste no time in sending his newest star acquisition, Asuka, into battle against SmackDown's women, and she should dominate the match.
After a less than perfect debut that felt somewhat incongruent with the hype, this would be the perfect opportunity for Asuka to display just how dangerous she really is. It would also be just the right platform to tease Asuka vs. Becky, and even more so, Asuka vs. Charlotte, which could be huge matches down the line. Asuka and Charlotte being the last two women standing would electrify the Toyota Center right out of the gate and with some of the other matches on the card, that's energy that this event needs.
5 Baron Corbin should beat The Miz
I like The Miz more than Corbin, but I'll be the first to admit that his reign as Intercontinental Champion has gotten a bit stale. While The Miz has consistently been one of RAW's best acts, especially given the absence of its top title for much of the time, the Intercontinental Championship itself has felt a bit like an afterthought these past few months. The only challenger for it recently has been Jason Jordan and he hasn't exactly set the world on fire.
Baron Corbin, meanwhile, has finally seemed to find his groove after the false-start over the summer, which saw him win the Money in the Bank contract only to lose it in a humiliating fashion. The United States Championship is where he should have been in the first place. It's time for him to prove his mettle with it and a win here would do more to help elevate him than it would for his opponent.
#4 Alexa Bliss should beat Natalya
Alexa's reign as Raw Women's Champion has grown tiresome for me and I personally believe it's been detrimental to the division.
All that said, Bliss should be the winner here. Unlike Natalya, Alexa can garner massive heat and is one of WWE's most popular female stars. Natalya, meanwhile, has mostly been regarded as having a "thank-you" reign of sorts, and will probably be dropping the title to Charlotte relatively soon.
A win for Alexa would do much for her aura, making her that much more of an insufferable heel you pay to see get beat. I can imagine the gloating promos and the arrogant smirks right now.
And it's that extra boost that would make the inevitable clash with Asuka bigger when it comes.
#3 The Usos should beat the Shield
With Jinder's depressing title reign, a women's championship that mattered little until recently, and a surprisingly lacklustre AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens feud, the Usos were unquestionably the MVPs of SmackDown Live over the summer. Their feud with the New Day was one of the best of the year, boasting great match after great match.
Meanwhile, the reunion between Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose was one of Raw's best stories this summer, leading to the highly-desired full Shield reunion earlier this month.
This match is almost certainly going to be the best of the show and I hope they get 20 minutes to tear the house down. Yet, at the end of it, the Usos should be standing tall.
The tag team division has been one of SmackDown's highlights, while RAW's is a bit in a valley. A win for the Usos over the vaunted Shield would be huge for their reputation as a team to be reckoned with, elevating the prestige of the titles they hold and the entire SmackDown tag team division fighting over them.
Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins are as close to made men as you can get in today's WWE. They might not be champion all the time, but they're never far from the main event. Certainly, the full Shield, heading into WrestleMania season, can take the loss here.
#2 Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens should betray Team SmackDown
On Tuesday, Sami Zayn failed to qualify for Team Blue. Kevin Owens is likely to follow next week. This should stir them to betray their brand just as it's on the verge of winning.
It would make SmackDown look strong and greatly help to elevate what has become the best story in WWE right now. Shane McMahon's furious retaliation, and Zayn and Owens' reactions to it, in turn, would make for a great reason to watch the next episode of SmackDown.
Brock Lesnar and Jinder Mahal should go to a no-finish
To say WWE booked themselves into a corner with this one might be an understatement.
On one hand, Brock isn't going to lose to anyone but Roman. Jinder pinning him here would only make Roman's victory at WrestleMania less meaningful, something which Vince surely understands. On the other hand, Jinder Mahal will be on WWE's India tour in December. With his entire championship run being a play for the Indian market, WWE can't exactly make him look bad here, either.
The only thing that can be done is to book some kind of no-finish. Whether it's through Singh Brothers shenanigans or any other way, neither man can afford such a high profile loss at this point.
The match is likely to be bad with an anticlimactic finish, but that's just the way it has to be. Thankfully, since Brock is in it, it will probably last less than 10 minutes.
At least we'll get to see the Singhs Beast-handled. That should be fun.
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