Last-minute WWE Survivor Series rumors: Former Universal Champion to attack The Undertaker, Roman Reigns reason for late change?

By Pratyay Ghosh
Modified Nov 21, 2020 18:28 IST
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It's almost time for WWE Survivor Series 2020. The event is set to showcase The Undertaker's final farewell. However, is this actually going to be The Undertaker's farewell or is it an elaborate set up for The Deadman's match at WrestleMania 37?

We also take a look at a couple of WWE legends who could be set to return at WWE Survivor Series as well as a former Universal Champion who could be set to take time off following the PPV. Read on for full details.

#5 The Fiend set to attack The Undertaker and set up a match for WWE WrestleMania 37?

The Undertaker’s farewell is set for Survivor Series this Sunday, 30 years on from his WWE debut. However, The Undertaker’s farewell may not be as cut and dry as most of us expect. Rumors suggest that this farewell angle could be used to set up The Undertaker’s final match at WrestleMania 37.

We could see The Fiend attack The Undertaker at Survivor Series to set up the match. Wyatt has dropped certain hints in recent weeks including using the number “19/11” during a Firefly Fun House segment. 19/11 was the date of Undertaker’s WWE debut 30 years ago.

The Undertaker had a lot of praise for The Fiend during his recent appearance on WWE's The Bump:

"This iteration now, I mean, the possibilities are limitless. Because he has really taken his character to the next level. It's original and it's so different from what everybody else does. It's so thought-provoking and it draws emotions from people.
"I would love to have been able to work a program with The Fiend. I mean my goodness, there's no telling what kinda matches we'd come up with. You know, just due to the strength of his character and obviously The Undertaker character. It would have been something else. It might have been a buried alive swamp match from Alcatraz. The possibilities would be limitless with those two characters."

Bray Wyatt also replied to a Tweet from WWE about the Superstars Undertaker has battled over the years, replying “Not quite ALL”.

#4 JBL and Kurt Angle could be at Survivor Series

A number of WWE Superstars are set to be at Survivor Series this weekend including Undertaker’s kayfabe brother Kane as well as members of the BSK - Bone Street Krew - which was confirmed by Savio Vega.

It looks like two more big names will be at Survivor Series. The first is former 6-time WWE world champion Kurt Angle. This was reported by PWInsider recently. Here’s what the report said about the Olympic gold medallist being at Survivor Series:

"WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle and Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle is scheduled to be in attendance at the Survivor Series this Sunday, PWInsider.com has confirmed. It is likely that Angle is being brought in for the Undertaker's Final Farewell. As previously reported, Kane, The Godfather and Savio Vega will also be in attendance at the PPV. Whether any of them will appear on camera remains to be seen. It's entirely possible they are being brought in to film WWE Network content or additional material related to Undertaker that will be released down the line."

WWE legend JBL could also expected to be at Survivor Series. He briefly hinted that he could make an appearance on Sportskeeda’s UnSKripted:

"I’m not sure if anything’s been announced whether I’ll be there so I’ll leave the first part of that question alone. "

#3 Why WWE replaced Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose in the women’s Survivor Series match

Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke were replaced in the RAW women’s Survivor Series team by Peyton Royce and Lacey Evans.

The reason behind this late change goes back to RAW a couple of weeks ago. Following the match between Asuka and Nia Jax, there was a brawl in the middle of the ring. The brawl saw Nia Jax toss Mandy Rose out of the ring. However, the spot was a little awkward as Rose briefly got caught in the ropes before crashing to the floor at ringside.

Unfortunately, it looks like Mandy Rose may have landed awkwardly and injured her shoulder. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer acknowledged that despite Nia Jax’s reputation of injuring other Superstars accidentally, she was not at fault for this incident.

Dana Brooke was "injured" after she was attacked by Reckoning on WWE RAW. Dave Meltzer reported that the injury angle with Dana Brooke was done so that she and Mandy Rose could be replaced by Lacey Evans and Peyton Royce on the RAW women's team at Survivor Series.

#2 Seth Rollins set to take time off from WWE after Survivor Series

Seth Rollins is a part of the WWE SmackDown men's team for Survivor Series. Rollins, who recently ended his feud with the Mysterio family after a loss to Rey Mysterio, is expected to take time off following Survivor Series as Becky Lynch is expected to give birth to their first child in the next couple of weeks. Here's what Dave Meltzer said:

"Becky Lynch is about to give birth within a week or two. That’s why they blew off the Rey thing this week and they’re gonna do the Seth Rollins and Murphy match next week and then the Survivor Series and probably after Survivor Series, maybe a week after [he will stick around]. He’s gonna be gone probably until the first of the year maybe. I don’t know if there’s a definite date but that’s out and that story is out and that story is true." H/T: WrestlingNewsCo

Seth Rollins taking time off is the reason why WWE have wound up the storylines he's been involved in ahead of Survivor Series. Dave Meltzer also reported that Rollins is expected to return to WWE "fairly quickly".

#1 Why Drew McIntyre was chosen to face Roman Reigns at Survivor Series

Randy Orton was originally slated to face Roman Reigns at Survivor Series. This was until McIntyre beat Randy Orton on RAW to win the WWE Championship. On a recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer revealed a possible reason why WWE chose to have McIntyre face Roman Reigns instead of Orton vs Reigns:

"In the end, yeah, you could have held off till the PPV but I guess they wanted a babyface-heel dynamic in this match. I mean, Roman Reigns and Randy Orton would have been such a nothing match. I mean really, not even that it's been done before. I know technically as a wrestling match it'd have been fine. They're both good wrestlers but its two heels... the eventual thing would be that everybody would cheer Roman Reigns and they're not really looking for that this week. Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre is kind of like the battle of the top dog in each brand. Drew has been the one that since before WrestleMania, since the Rumble really, has been pushed as the top guy on one side and Roman Reigns just destroyed everyone on the other side."

From what Dave Meltzer has said, one of the reasons behind Drew McIntyre beating Randy Orton could have something to do with WWE wanting a babyface vs heel dynamic for the match: