5 Superstars that could make up Team Raw for the traditional Survivor Series match

Survivor Series is one of the big 4 pay per views, and rightfully so. The traditional Survivor Series elimination tag team matches are often among the best matches of the year in WWE. With a brand split in place Survivor Series takes on a new meaning, as instead of two rivals forming an army to combat each other, representatives from each show are chosen to face off for brand supremacy.

Although the rivalry between brands seems to lay dormant until the month of November rolls around, WWE started building intrigue for the match-up when Shane McMahon ordered the SmackDown roster to invade the Raw locker room at the end of the October 23rd episode and lay waste to any and everyone on the flagship show's roster. With all the champions being slated to face each other, the stacked rosters of the modern era give us the chance for a great 5-on-5 match at the 31st annual Survivor Series.

With SmackDown commencing qualifying matches for its team, these are 5 men that should be placed in the 5-on-5 traditional Survivor Series match for Monday Night Raw.

---

#1 Kurt Angle

It's been eleven years, but Kurt, "You've still got it!"

Kurt Angle made his WWE in ring return after eleven years at TLC. Angle is still, at his age, one of the best wrestlers in the world, and he can still go. Fans have been clamouring for Angle to lace up his boots again ever since he was named the Raw GM, and now they are fantasy booking many dream matches for him.

With him being in a position of power, the Olympic Gold Medalist is well within his rights to stand side by side with his superstars at Survivor Series.

Last year, Shane McMahon competed on team SmackDown, in an ill-advised booking decision, and was injured when he was speared out of midair by Roman Reigns. Shane-O-Mac was added to the team for drawing power, even though many were not pleased with the SmackDown commissioner’s inclusion in the match.

Angle, however, makes perfect sense as a member of Team Raw, given that he is genuinely a world-class athlete and Olympic gold medalist.

After McMahon’s “under siege” stunt, Angle will be eager to get his hands on some SmackDown superstars. Angle can add himself to team Raw and stand on the frontlines as he defends the honour of his brand.

#2 Jason Jordan

Jordan would love to fight alongside his hero/"father"

Jason Jordan has had quite a run since he was revealed as Kurt Angle’s long-lost son. He has faced John Cena and Roman Reigns; he's teamed with the Hardy Boyz on multiple occasions; and he has even competed for the Intercontinental Championship.

Although he is struggling to prove himself as an upper-midcard talent to the fans, Jordan could find himself in the Survivor Series main event.

Jordan has made it clear that he doesn’t want any handouts from his kayfabe father, Kurt Angle, but it would be completely understandable for Jordan to go to Angle and make a pitch for himself representing Raw at Survivor Series.

If WWE wants to stick to the “no handouts” story, then Jordan could be put in a qualifying match on Raw, which he would win to earn a spot on the 5-man Survivor Series team.

WWE has done little with the father-son angle they threw Kurt and Jason into, but this is an opportunity to do something with the dynamic. Angle and Jordan fighting side by side as father and son would make the father-son story relevant again.

It opens storyline opportunities for down the road and gives Jordan a spotlight to show what he can do with the main eventers from Raw and SmackDown. If nothing else, it would further Jordan’s singles push.

#3 Finn Balor

Raw is Balor Club

Finn Balor missed last year’s Survivor Series due to the shoulder injury that forced him to relinquish his Universal Championship on the Raw after Summer Slam 2016. Balor has not been booked properly in the past few months of his return, due in part to his atrocious rivalry with Bray Wyatt.

Balor has been in the midcard and not in the main event, but that could change when the Irishman is properly recognized as one of the top five competitors on the Raw roster.

When Balor competes on Team Raw at Survivor Series, it will reposition him in the main event where he belongs. The former Universal Champion could be established as a Universal Championship contender with a strong showing against Shane McMahon's forces.

Whether he arrives as the leader of the Balor Club or the Demon, the Irishman adds major star power to the match and creates many unique scenarios. Balor was an NXT Champion for 292 days and helped make NXT the third brand in WWE. With many former NXT stars on SmackDown, Balor could be matched up against an old foe or a dream opponent.

At TLC, the WWE Universe was treated to a dream match between Raw's Finn Balor and SmackDown's AJ Styles (yet WWE emphasizes that Survivor Series is the ONLY show out of the year that you can see a cross-branded match), but it was a bittersweet affair.

While the match was good, it had no build as Styles was thrown into the mix when a viral meningitis outbreak sidelined Balor's original opponent. A rematch may be in the works sooner than we think if Balor and Styles are both in the 5-on-5 match.

#4 Matt Hardy

Matt Hardy is a 7-time WWE Tag Team Champion

Oh Matt Hardy, what has Vince “Mic-May-Han!” done to you. The Hardy Boyz returned to WWE at WrestleMania 33 to one of the loudest crowd reactions of the year and won the Raw Tag Team Championships in a ladder match.

Although their return was great, it wasn’t exactly wonderful! They returned as Team Extreme instead of using the broken gimmick that Matt made famous on the Indy scene. Since dropping the titles, the nostalgia has worn off and the Hardys have done nothing of significance.

Not to copy and paste what I said about Balor, but the past few months of the Hardys return is a run that fans will want to delete from their memory. Jeff Hardy is currently sidelined with an injury, leaving Matt to randomly team with other midcarders on Raw. Matt deserves better though; he is charismatic, good in the ring and would make an excellent member of Team Raw.

Matt Hardy has won seven tag team championships in WWE and was a pioneer of tag team wrestling. Everybody remembers the classics that the Hardy Boyz put on with the Dudleys and Edge and Christian, and Matt is as good now as he was back then. Matt is a true tag team specialist and would make for a valuable member of Raw’s 5-man team.

#5 Triple H

Kurt Angle isn't the only Attitude Era legend that returned to the ring during TLC week

It’s time to play the game. The King of Kings, Triple H, returned to in-ring action during TLC week for the first time since putting over a babyface King Slayer, Seth Rollins, at WrestleMania 33.

Although the 13-time World Champion returned on a SmackDown tour, it would make all the sense in the world for him to jump over to Raw. He hasn’t been seen on TV yet and has no spoken allegiance to either brand, but he has always been a figure of power on Raw.

Before the brand split, Triple H and his wife Stephanie McMahon ran Raw and SmackDown as the Authority. When Vince McMahon brought back the brand split and handed control of Raw to daughter Stephanie, and control of SmackDown to son Shane, Triple H vanished to quietly run NXT.

When Triple H returned to the ring, it was to feud with Rollins on Raw, and with Stephanie still the commissioner of Raw despite being off Raw TV since Mania, it makes all the sense in the world for Triple H to step up for the red brand.

Triple H teaming with Kurt Angle on team Raw would make ticket sales skyrocket and could lead to a match between the two down the road. Triple H is in great shape and can still go toe-to-toe with anyone in the company.

Eliminating Triple H would be a great rub for a young talent on team SmackDown and just locking up with the Cerebral Assassin will elevate their status on Tuesday nights.

---

Send us news tips at [email protected]