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WWE Crown Jewel 2019 is in the rearview mirror and was regarded by many as the best Saudi PPV till now. Amidst The Fiend winning the Universal Championship and the first-ever women's match taking place in Saudi Arabia, WWE had another big announcement on the show.
This announcement was regarding the Survivor Series 2019. The PPV will emanate live from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois on the 24th November and will be a tri-branded PPV for the first time.
Until now, NXT Superstars were often called up for one night only to fill up spots in the Royal Rumble matches or the WrestleMania Battle Royals. This changes when NXT goes head to head with RAW and SmackDown.
But, with NXT Takeover: War Games III already announced for the Survivor Series weekend, why did WWE take this decision? Without further ado, let me present to you the possible reasons for the same.
#1 To get more eyeballs on NXT
Talk about 'Shocking the system'!
With NXT moving over to USA Network, WWE has taken the brand seriously and thus has decided to incorporate NXT to give them a bigger platform to showcase their talent. WWE's pay-per-views, especially the 'Big 4', have a wider reach than possibly any show NXT has to offer. NXT has a plethora of talented Superstars and giving them a big stage to showcase their talent is something that these Superstars rightfully deserve.
Though NXT has its niche, a big part of the WWE Universe still does not follow NXT. As seen in the post-Crown Jewel SmackDown episode, the Superstars of NXT have the capability of turning any show into a must-see program. Amazing performances by the talented Superstars of the Black and Gold brand are sure to put NXT on the map and attract more eyeballs towards WWE's third brand.
Lastly, this will be a clear message to the fans that WWE doesn't view NXT as a developmental brand anymore and is working hard towards its success.
#2 Better storyline progression
Involving NXT in the Survivor Series will ensure smooth storyline progression. Since NXT is no longer the developmental brand, there won't be call-ups of any sort to RAW and SmackDown. Also, with the Draft taking place just a few weeks back, we can be sure that none of the Superstars will be switching brands. Thus, Survivor Series will be a big stage for WWE to kickoff rivalries for future PPVs, especially WrestleMania.
Take, for example, the women's division champion's showcase match. If none of the titles change hands before the PPV, the women's division match will be Becky Lynch fighting Bayley and Shyna Baszler in a triple threat match. To add to the surprise element of the show, Ronda Rousey can finally return and help Baszler win. Not only this furthers Rousey's angle with Lynch but it also sets up a future WWE vs UFC Horsewomen match.
Also Read: 3 Reasons why Ronda Rousey will return to RAW and 3 reasons why she will return to SmackDown
Similarly, Superstars from different brands can kickoff their rivalry at this show, allowing them to switch brands to continue their feud. The element of surprise feuds between stars of different brands, along with the event being the perfect stage to kickoff WrestleMania programs will easily make Survivor Series the most anticipated PPV of the year. We may even see Finn Balor wrapping up his rivalry with Johnny Gargano at NXT Takeover: War Games III, before interfering and costing The Fiend his match at Survivor Series to renew their rivalry.
#3 Refreshing the Survivor Series concept
Starting as an annual tradition in 1987, this year's Survivor Series PPV will be the 33rd installment of Survivor Series. While we have had quite a few intriguing storylines leading to the PPV, the feature match often has no intriguing storyline linked to it. While the idea of seeing RAW take on SmackDown in inter-branded matches is exciting, it has lost its intrigue over the years. With WWE still going with the brand warfare theme, it was a wise decision to add NXT as it will make things grander.
Adding the talented stars of NXT to the mix not only increases the quality of matches, but also the hype surrounding it. More hype leads to more buys, meaning more money and higher ratings for WWE. Rumors have been rife that WWE is planning to do the first-ever War Games match between the three brands on this year's Survivor Series PPV. Add to this the Champion's showcase matches and you will have a WrestleMania-like card.
In short, adding NXT to Survivor Series will be what it is: best for business.
Are you excited for this year's Survivor Series? Which brand will 'win the night' in your opinion? Sound off in the comments section below!
