4 Past battles for Survivor Series brand supremacy

#3 Survivor Series 2016

RAW vs SmackDown

WWE decided to re-divide their rosters in the summer of 2016, so it came as no surprise when it the company announced that Survivor Series would feature a SmackDown vs RAW theme. The event was promoted with the tagline ‘Fantasy Warfare.’

Three traditional Survivor Series matches were soon announced between RAW and SmackDown. In addition to these, two further bouts took place where high stakes were put on the line in regards to two of WWE's mid-card titles.

RAW superstar Sami Zayn would challenge Intercontinental Champion The Miz of SmackDown, in which a win for Zayn would see the title move to the Red Brand. Kalisto faced off with Cruiserweight Champion Brian Kendrick, and a victory for the luchador would see both the title and the entire Cruiserweight Division move to Tuesday nights.

Despite what was on the line, both matches ended in predictable fashion with the two champions retaining, albeit Kendrick’s came via disqualification after interference from Baron Corbin.

Victory for The Miz ended what was a successful start to the event for RAW. Bayley and RAW Women’s Champion Charlotte came out on top in the opener in what served as the precursor to the feud that led to Bayley’s first main roster title.

In a packed ring of 20 superstars, the battle of WWE's tag teams was most notable for a shock elimination. After only one minute in the bout, RAW Tag Team Champions The New Day were eliminated. The match ended with a topsy-turvy closing stretch between The Bar and The Usos, with the former scoring the vital victory for their brand.

With the scores 3-1 in RAW’s favor, SmackDown tried to restore some pride in the men’s match while trying to answer the question of how they could eliminate ‘The Monster Among Men’ Braun Strowman.

The answer to that question came in the form of James Ellsworth, who grabbed onto Strowman as he tried to re-enter the ring. His prize for his effort: being thrown off the ramp by Braun.

RAW would venture on without their main threat. The end of the match saw history repeat itself with The Shield and The Wyatt Family facing off in the form of RAW’s Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns and SmackDown’s Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton. Just like they did back in 2014, The Wyatt Family stood tall. Wyatt and Orton ending as the last men standing, continuing Orton’s impressive history in this format of match.

Survivor Series 2016 marked the fourth time Randy Orton finished as a last man standing in a traditional Survivor Series elimination match.

RAW vs SmackDown score: 3-2 RAW

Women’s Division - Team RAW (Alicia Fox, Bayley, Charlotte, Nia Jax and Sasha Banks) defeat Team SmackDown (Alexa Bliss, Becky Lynch, Carmella, Naomi and Natalya)

The Miz (SmackDown) defeats Sami Zayn (RAW) to retain the Intercontinental Championship

Tag Team Division - Team RAW (The Bar, Enzo and Cass, Gallows and Anderson, The New Day and The Shining Stars) defeats Team SmackDown (American Alpha, Breezango, Heath Slater and Rhyno, The Hype Bros and The Usos)

The Brian Kendrick (RAW) defeats Kalisto (SmackDown) by disqualification to retain the Cruiserweight Championship

Men’s Division - Team SmackDown (AJ Styles, Bray Wyatt, Dean Ambrose, Randy Orton and Shane McMahon) defeat Team RAW (Braun Strowman, Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins)