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The ongoing divide on WWE RAW, especially in the slow building form of Kurt Angle's feud with Baron Corbin and largely the Authority, tends to indicate Survivor Series will head in a way far different from past two iterations. If that is the predicted route, then questions arise over what could have been or should happen if Survivor Series takes the Brand warfare route.
Despite logical inconsistencies, the past two Survivor Series ever since the Brand Split have shown the light on an interesting concept with harmless but fun stakes. Chief among them is the big ten man match and confrontations between dream teams of the best of Smackdown and RAW. The same should happen this year.
Brand warfare adds a lot of interest to the Survivor Series PPV, especially with last year's perfect formula. Last year's event saw champions of each brand take on each other, while two solid traditional Survivor Series matches flanked the war.
This year, we'd have pretty much the same if WWE doubled down on the brand warfare. However it seems they might not, yet still, a fan can dream and maybe explain why it just fits.
#5 It gives Survivor Series identity
Sure, Survivor Series already has the traditional match that makes it unique, but WWE's second longest running PPV has poorly coasted on this for the better part of a decade. Vince McMahon's weird apathy towards his own creation, nearly saw Survivor Series replaced by Money in the Bank as one of the big four, at one point.
The brand warfare element of the PPV has given it a new lease on life, especially after a poor run of events. One could argue that the last time the PPV and its traditional match were relevant before the brand split was in 2005 when the two brands went to war. Sure, there was the time Dolph Ziggler destroyed the Authority, but that didn't last much like this regime battle between Angle and Corbin won't matter.
In many ways, this struggle for brand supremacy becomes that much more interesting, with the two shows set to broadcast in equal importance on different networks next year.
Survivor Series could latch onto that, to add logic to the proceedings which will see rivals take arms against others simply because of the day slot and color of their programming. For Survivor Series to truly hold up in this day, brand warfare is the most exciting way.
#4 Part-timers serve a larger logical purpose
With Shawn Michaels returning to in-ring action and The Deadman staring down his path, there's little doubt that the two will square off at The Undertaker's birthplace. In 2016, Undertaker declared himself a SmackDown guy, though he ended up participating on RAW after. The Undertaker will always remain synonymous with Smackdown, as Shawn Michaels has been to RAW.
It would thus be fitting that the two legends of their brands face off on a PPV all about brand supremacy. Removing the part-timers from the whole equation and then letting them main event, just diminishes the purpose of the exercise. Yet, placing stakes of brand legacy into the mix uses the part-timers for a better purpose.
It'll also let them mix it up with the other stars on the road to Survivor Series, just imagine Finn Balor stopping the Undertaker or AJ Styles hitting back at Shawn Michaels. Lastly, it will showcase that nothing is above the product and brand.
Also, who doesn't want to see Undertaker represent Smackdown, he owes it to the blue brand even if Vince weirdly doesn't like it.
#3 Under Siege 2: Dark Territory
Bad Steven Seagal movie aside, the Under Siege element of last year's brand warfare gave it a vicious spin that while lacking in inter-brand logistics, was admittedly fun. Shane McMahon ruthlessly took Kurt Angle's brand to task, renewing a fun rivalry between the two. Meanwhile, SmackDown stars destroyed RAW, with Chad Gable hilariously pushing Rusev aside just to get first hit on former partner Jason Jordan.
These fun little details made both the Smackdown hit and the RAW retaliation a treat to watch especially as each side saw some combustible alliances form to cause some irreparable damage in dream confrontations. A lot of story elements also came into play, with RAW's eventual comeback deriving a sense of tension through the proceeding month on to Survivor Series.
Just imagine, with Kurt Angle and Baron Corbin at each other's throat, Stephanie McMahon catches them by the jugular and in a shocking turn of events, RAW ends up invading SmackDown. In retaliation, we could definitely see Shane McMahon make a stunning return to lead the charge for the Blue Brand.
#2 Adds a twist to some intense feuds
The crack in The Shield gets bigger, Drew McIntyre is tiring of Dolph Ziggler and Braun Strowman. Meanwhile, Charlotte and Becky's relationship deteriorates while Daniel Bryan and Miz keep orbiting one another. Feuds across the board are more intense within brands then they were last year.
In fact, RAW itself has a power struggle going on. It's why it is hard to believe that WWE might go the brand warfare route. However, if they did it would give a rest stop to these feuds in a way appreciable, after the way WWE has continuingly stretched rivalries in the past year. The tension from within the two sides becomes as much as there would be between them.
It allows WWE to milk this intensity for all its worth, placing storytelling front and center of the clerical brand warfare matches. The divided contest could also elevate the main stories going in. Dean Ambrose with no championship would be in the thankless role as fodder among foe Strowman in the ten-man match.
Meanwhile, Lynch could show up Charlotte, by promising to destroy Ronda Rousey as well; setting up a Wrestlemania 35 blockbuster.
#1 The epic dream matches
Since we're already speaking of them, why not dive head into it. What brand warfare does above else is providing the company to deliver some exciting dream matches that might not come to fruition despite trades every year. Last year this was in the form of a blockbuster between AJ Styles and Brock Lesnar as well as a barnburner between The Shield and The New Day.
This year, it could be just a bit more. With both men holding world championships and likely heading into Survivor Series with the same, one could see AJ Styles and Roman Reigns round out their epic trilogy that began with a slew of stellar matches in 2016. Just as well the undercard champion versus champion bout would see a fan's wet dream as a game Shinsuke Nakamura tackles an always-on form, Seth Rollins.
New Day might just be tag team champions against the ruthless duo of Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre, or if the Bar can secure the titles then we'd have one hard-hitting contest to look forward to. Ronda Rousey gets to face her first real wrestling challenge in Becky Lynch.
While what can one say about the Traditional Survivor Series matches, there's a veritable cesspool of performers that can partake in this mayhem. From seeing the Bellas face their future in the IIconics. To having Kurt Angle lead the charge in a dream fight against Daniel Bryan, even the peripherals adding a lot as a ruthless Randy Orton tackles a dazzling Finn Balor.
It makes you question, why isn't Brand Warfare happening? It's the perfect year to set it up.
