WWE Survivor Series 2019: 5 reasons why NXT must win the battle of brand supremacy
For the first time in history, WWE Survivor Series will witness NXT competing against RAW and SmackDown in the battle of brand supremacy. The Black and Gold brand has invaded its respective counterparts in the last few weeks and the members of its roster have picked important victories along the way.
On Sunday, we will see NXT Champions locking horns with the title holders of the Red and the Blue brand inside the squared circle.
Although beating both RAW and SmackDown will not be an easy task, it is important for NXT to emerge as the strongest brand at the upcoming PPV. A win for them will finally explain why they are not second to the so-called ‘main roster’.
In this article, we take a look at five reasons why NXT must win at Survivor Series 2019.
#5 Recognition as an equal brand
It’s been only a couple of months since WWE NXT made its debut on the USA Network. Although this is the first time we will see the Black and Gold brand compete for the brand supremacy at Survivor Series, they have already established themselves as a part of the ‘main roster’.
For years, we have looked at NXT as a developmental brand for WWE. Even though it’s true to a certain extent, there is a huge difference in the attitude of the roster since the show started airing on Wednesday nights.
Allowing NXT to pick up the highest number of victories at Survivor Series is only going to establish the Black and Golden brand as an equal rival of RAW and SmackDown. It would be unfair to build them up as the third brand of WWE and then deny the chance to shine at the pay-per-view.
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#4 Better underdog story
Throughout WWE’s history, we have seen countless stories unfold that featured the unexpected victories of the underdogs. Needless to say, they account for some of the best storylines that the WWE Universe has ever witnessed.
The creatives can use this opportunity to book an entire brand as the ultimate underdog who could make history in their first-ever appearance on Survivor Series.
Since Brock Lesnar and The Fiend are not competing in the battle for brand supremacy on Sunday, the risk of the two most celebrated championships being overshadowed was nipped in the bud.
Moreover, NXT has been the most dominant brand in the ongoing invasion storyline and should carry that momentum heading into Survivor Series. Few of the Superstars will also compete at NXT Takeover: WarGames on Saturday. This PPV will surely force a lot of fans to back these Superstars in their match on the next day.
NXT's win would be a pleasant surprise and the fans would certainly get behind the idea of it being a serious competitor in the future editions of Survivor Series.
#3 Ratings
A large section of the pro-wrestling fans regularly watch NXT but it is still not the biggest wrestling show on Wednesday nights.
Long-term fans of this brand often credit NXT with the best storylines and in-ring action in all of WWE. However, they are far behind RAW and SmackDown when it comes to the ratings. Of course, it will take a lot of time before NXT finds as many viewers as its counterparts. But it has to start somewhere.
Hence, a win at Survivor Series is the perfect chance for the brand to initiate its journey to the top.
A win at Survivor Series will definitely fetch more viewers for NXT. They will efficiently use its intense narration to keep the fans invested in the upcoming weeks, thereby increasing the ratings.
On the other hand, if the NXT Superstars are booked poorly, the upcoming PPV might end up affecting the overall interest of the WWE Universe in the Black and Gold brand in a negative way and they can't afford to lose viewers.
#2 Shock factor
As much as I would like to root for NXT on Sunday, one can’t deny that the chances of their win over RAW and SmackDown are quite slim. Maybe Vince McMahon will not appreciate the idea of booking the likes of Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins or Sasha Banks losing against a ‘developmental brand’.
But in the last few weeks, NXT has mainly focused on clarifying that the Red and the Blue brand are no longer the ‘main roster’. To support that claim, the NXT Superstars have been dominant ever since it was announced that they will be competing for brand supremacy.
The havoc created by NXT has forced several fans to speculate that the Black and Gold brand will end up losing at Survivor Series. Hence, a win for the said brand will take everyone by surprise and will defintely produce several talking points to keep the fans interested in the overall product.
Additionally, that’s not the only surprise that creative can pull off on Sunday. There are also a few Superstars who are yet to confirm their role in the upcoming PPV. For instance, we don’t know where Finn Balor stands and he might end up interfering in one of the matches.
Or we have Kevin Owens who may betray his brand to fetch the much-needed win for NXT. There’s a lot of chances to book shocking results if only the creatives look at the bigger picture.
#1 Gateway to WrestleMania
Yes, NXT has its own PPV in the name of Takeover, and watching just one of those is enough to convert you into a fan of the Black and Gold brand. But, there’s nothing bigger than WrestleMania.
Despite better storylines and in-ring matches, the Takeovers fall slightly behind main roster PPVs. There are few NXT Superstar who would deliver better matches at WWE's biggest show of the year, WrestleMania, as compared to their RAW and SmackDown counterparts.
Some of the intense rivalries unfolding on Wednesday nights deserve to find its conclusion on the ‘Grandest Stage of Them All’. But before that happens, the NXT roster needs to fetch a lot more attention from the pro-wrestling fans.
Hence, a win at Survivor Series might just be the key to show the world that talent in NXT deserves a bigger stage.
Even if it leads to one NXT match being included in the main show at WrestleMania, it will be a huge step for the brand in their journey towards the altar of success that’s only been enjoyed by RAW and SmackDown so far.
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Nishant Jayaram