10 RAW vs SmackDown matches we'd love to see at Survivor Series

With SmackDown's invasion of RAW this past week, the rivalry between WWE's two premier shows has never been more intense. Since the Survivor Series is in less than a month we'll get to see them both competing for the rights to call themselves the superior brand. Much of the booking for the show has been announced, with all of the title holders facing each other, as well as a traditional Survivor Series elimination match that looks likely to pit Kurt Angle vs Shane McMahon.

However, within the confines of an inter-brand rivalry, there are a number of matches we'd all love to see and possibly won't for many years to come, and which are only dependent on various drafts or sudden switches, so let's ignore the booking of this year's pay-per-view, and look at 10 matches we'd love to see at the Survivor Series

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#10 Asuka vs Charlotte

Asuka's magnificent ring attire must qualify as an epilepsy warning on its own.

Surprisingly, it's never been done. Charlotte left NXT in July of 2015, while Asuka made her debut in September of the same year. With Charlotte's natural athletic talent offsetting Asuka's power and technical prowess, the match could serve as a real showcase for the talent of the women's division across both brands.

#9 The Hardy Boys vs The New Day

The New Day are full of sparkles. Could the Hardy's break them?

With the impending "break" of Matt Hardy, coupled with the general wackiness of the New Day and their collective talents in the ring as well as outside, this particular match could showcase both drama and comedy in equal measure.

A battle between Kofi and Jeff to see who can do the craziest high-spot? Xavier Wood's trombone playing finally leading to Matt's final evolution and break? Big-E twerking along to the Hardy's entrance music? Some even crazier thing involving giant boxes of cereal, Goku, and/or debatable clothing choices? It could certainly all happen in this one. And probably would.

#8 Rusev vs Samoa Joe

Rusev with Lana, in better days.

Whilst Joe has had his chance at the top with his short program against Brock Lesnar, Rusev is a sorely under-utilized part of the WWE as they waste his talent in quick matches designed only for the opponent to look strong at the expense of his credibility. It's easy to believe that Joe, who has never really disappointed with his in-ring work, would make sure that Rusev would be given the chance to demonstrate what we're all missing out on.

It's true that this match makes very little sense from a storyline perspective, as both are considered "Monster Heels" right now, a match between the two could transcend those lines of good and bad through the pair's sheer in-ring charisma. It's certainly a match that a beloved former WWE commentator would call a "slobberknocker."

#7 Sami Zayn vs Dean Ambrose

Sami Zayn's new heel persona has given him a new momentum, would that be enough to carry him through a match vs Dean Ambrose?

Sami Zayn is perhaps an even worse example of someone who hasn't been utilised correctly by the WWE. The long-standing face of their developmental brand was brought onto the main roster with a credible loss against John Cena, and despite a decent feud with Kevin Owens, has found himself floundering in the middle of the card on Smackdown.

His heel turn and alignment with his former mortal enemy has given the man a new lease on life, however, there is also a chance to face opponents in the ring that were previously unthought of. Dean Ambrose is a major WWE talent who would bring credibility to Zayn's heel turn as well as provide the talent necessary for the match to entertain.

With Zayn's new best friend lurking in the shadows, as well as Ambrose's team-mates in The Shield ready to stand-up in his defence, a match between the two could lead to all sorts of shenanigans.

#6 Breezango vs The Revival

Breezango, looking at pictures of their nearest and dearest.

Over the past year, Breezango have distinguished themselves from the rest of the roster like no other team. Largely through bizarre and hilarious backstage segments, Fandango and Tyler Breeze have elevated themselves from also-ran NXT talent to fan-favourites, delighting audiences with riffs on all manner of pop culture.

The Revival, largely absent through injury, who liken themselves to classic tag-teams such as The Brainbusters and who advocate their "No Flips, Just Fists" motto, are on the exact opposite scale of their potential rivals but are perhaps the best tag-team in the WWE right now. This clash of styles, with the potential for both great in-ring work and comedic value, could really benefit not just the teams in the ring, but those of us watching it too.

#5 The BAR vs Chad Gable/Shelton Benjamin

The BAR, pointing to each other's favourite wrestler.

The BAR and Chad Gable/Shelton Benjamin are great examples of singles talent that gets better when placed in a tag-team. Whilst it's early days for the team of Gable/Benjamin, Cesaro and Sheamus have been brilliant as the top of the card heels for a while now, recently working with The Miz and providing great foils as credible opponents for the rampant Shield reunion. No small feat, considering the momentum Ambrose, Reigns, and Rollins has at the moment.

A match between these two would only demonstrate the qualities of both teams, with the size advantage of The BAR giving heat to the match with Gable's ability to evoke sympathy from a crowd, while also showing technical prowess against people much larger than himself, whilst also providing ample opportunity for inventive tag-team manoeuvres as Benjamin and his team-mate attempt to bring down their bigger foes.

#4 Finn Balor vs Jinder Mahal

Jinder Mahal may be the champion, but he surely needs a boost in credibility

Jinder Mahal, though a capable talent in his own right, has had an unremarkable stint as the Smackdown champion, although he has not been helped much by poor booking, which has seen The Singh Brothers assist him in his matches so much that the result is met with a chorus of indifference by the live crowd.

Finn Balor, with his model good-looks and demon persona, is a lightning rod of charisma, with an athletic talent to back it up and whose future success in the WWE seems assured, injuries notwithstanding.

Though Jinder gets his chance to shine at the real Survivor Series against Brock Lesnar in a match that will undoubtedly be controversial, a contest against Balor would provide the necessary heat for Mahal, as well as provide the champion with some credibility, something that he has been largely under-served by until now.

#3 Shinsuke Nakamura vs Seth Rollins

Nakamura blazed into NXT but has seen his momentum largely fizzle out in an underwhelming title program.

Shinsuke Nakamura's tenure in NXT and the WWE has been underwhelming. Despite his amazing debut match with Sami Zayn, the former NJPW star has had disappointing feuds with some of the best talents on the roster, including Samoa Joe and Finn Balor. His recent work against Jinder Mahal seemed to actually damage both of their reputations and Nakamura now finds himself at a bit of a loss on the roster.

Seth Rollins is a wrestler of immense talent who took the opportunity that landed in his hands following the break up of the Shield to cement his place as a permanent member of the main event scene. His status could only lend credibility to Nakamura's reputation in a match that could see a recapturing of the old magic we saw on his debut.

#2 Kurt Angle vs Daniel Bryan

Would we like to see Daniel Bryan face off against Kurt Angle? YES!

Yes, it's the epitome of fantasy booking and this clearly isn't going to happen. Yes, Kurt Angle isn't even an active wrestler, while Bryan's injuries led to a premature end of his in-ring career. No, it probably doesn't even make sense from a storyline perspective, given Bryan's stance on the invasion.

However, I'm sure we can all agree that if Bryan was suddenly able to wrestle for the WWE again in November, there are only a few other opponents whom we would like to see more than Kurt Angle. Both have a lot in common as a wrestler; smaller than average competitors who became fan-favourites because of their work as heels and who both have catchphrases that I'm sure are now ringing through your head as you read this. Their technical aptitude, their charisma, and the feeling that this could never happen more than once would lead to a mesmerizing contest, one that would lead the WWE Universe to the edge of their seats and keep them poised there from bell to bell.

#1 Brock Lesnar vs AJ Styles

Lesnar, about to eat his opponent alive, while Heyman watches.

AJ Styles is the best wrestler in the WWE and perhaps in the whole of the world right now. Since his debut at the Royal Rumble in 2016, he has been the most consistent performer the company has seen, with brilliant work against John Cena, Chris Jericho, and his surprise appearance at TLC providing us with an arguable match of the night against Finn Balor. Styles is capable of bringing out the best in anyone, whose ability to elevate a match and his opponent is equal only to someone like Shaun Michaels.

Brock Lesnar is the most credible champion the WWE has seen in a generation. Bringing to bear his MMA career and obvious aptitude for dishing out pain, Lesnar's very presence oozes intimidation. When coupled with the way the WWE has booked him (despite a few missteps), especially in employing Paul Heyman as his mouthpiece, Lesnar's hold on the championship looks like an unbreakable grip.

Combining Styles and Lesnar in the ring seems like a natural fit, with strength and aggression combating elegance and athleticism. Styles also has a respectable technical prowess that would lead to Lesnar's usual tricks perhaps not as being effective as they usually are, adding a different dimension to the contest.

It would be a worthy and intriguing main event, one that would ultimately decide which brand is the superior one.

And that's our list! If you have any further suggestions for matches you'd like to see between RAW and SmackDown let us know in the comments!