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It's a Survivor Series tradition. Ever since the brand split happened, we saw invasions carried out by one brand upon the other. We even saw one last night from SmackDown Live, that took social media by storm. Everyone expected retaliation from RAW upon SmackDown Live, this week.
Only there wasn't one, on this week's show. As the show went off the air, fans were left scratching their heads. Why wouldn't Team RAW invade SmackDown Live, ahead of their big pay-per-view event?
I can only guess in this article, and I invite you to do so too. Let me know your thoughts and views in the comments.
So why did Team RAW not invade SmackDown Live this week?
#5 To focus on Daniel Bryan's big heel turn
All of the wrestling world is in shock right now. Daniel Bryan is your new WWE Champion and he won the title with a low blow. After winning the title, there was no sign of sportsmanship or comradeship at all. Bryan would turn heel on AJ Styles, a man he claims to respect. This was a huge angle and an invasion could have ruined it.
For this very reason, WWE did not carry out an invasion angle during the show. Had they done that, the big talking point would not have been Daniel Bryan's win and subsequent turn. It would have been how RAW invaded SmackDown Live and the fallout of the invasion.
Of course, WWE could have booked an invasion in such a manner that it actually enhanced the story and did not detract from the same. Maybe they just could not come up with something in time and pulled this angle.
#4 The men's team is not united
The team for the traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series match comprises of volatile elements. Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre may see eye to eye, but Finn Balor and Braun Strowman certainly don't. And who even knows what Bobby Lashley is thinking at any point in time, right? It would not make sense to see them united.
Yes, having heels and faces team up would make sense ahead of Survivor Series. But it would certainly affect the long-term storytelling and ruin plots, in the process. Bear in mind that Survivor Series is just a pit stop in the never-ending drama that is known as sports entertainment.
In a way, I was actually glad that the invasion didn't happen, at least for the men's team. It could have done more harm than good.
#3 Top RAW stars work a part time schedule
SmackDown Live has a roster of talented individuals dedicated to enhancing the overall product. RAW has two superstars in the two key matches at Survivor Series, who're not really full timers performers. It would have been strange to see Brock Lesnar on SmackDown Live. The same holds true, to a lesser degree, for Ronda Rousey.
The fact of the matter is that while the full timers of RAW could have invaded SmackDown Live, it would have looked strange without the two top performers, in my opinion. That could be the reason that they decided to pull the plug on this invasion angle.
It would have seemed, quite rightly, that Team RAW is not as united as Team SmackDown is, to winning Survivor Series. And it is the truth.
Sometimes, the truth hurts...
#2 To avoid more stray injuries
While sports entertainment may be simulated combat, the performers go through a rigorous training program so as to not hurt one another while performing between the ropes. Accidents do happen but can be avoided once you've worked with one another. Last night, a stray shot from Nia Jax knocked Becky Lynch out.
Becky Lynch was on the precipice of a big push. She was on the verge of becoming the hottest thing in the company when this happened. And this unfortunate injury may have forced WWE to take the decision to pull the plug on the invasion angle, at this time.
This is because performers who're not used to facing one another could hurt the other accidentally. This may actually be a judicious booking decision, all said and done. WWE cannot afford another accident right now.
#1 Just to not make things too predictable
We often complain that WWE is too predictable nowadays. Sometimes, being unpredictable also means not doing the obvious. Maybe the plan was to only have Paul Heyman show up on SmackDown Live. Maybe the plan was merely mental warfare and really, nothing more.
Paul Heyman and AJ Styles exchanged a few words that set the whole episode of SmackDown Live in motion. It would lead to a brand new champion being crowned. It would lead to carnage, chaos and confusion on SmackDown Live, ahead of the big match.
No, there was no invasion from RAW on SmackDown Live this week. But that did not stop it from being arguably the best episode of the show since SmackDown 1000.
Let me know what you thought about the episode in the comments.
