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Survivor Series is just around the corner and WWE has revealed the five-on-five teams set for the PPV. Fans were left surprised by some of the picks.
For the Monday Night RAW Survivor Series team, we have Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Carmella, Zelina Vega, and Liv Morgan. Ripley is the only one on the team who was on RAW before the draft. As Survivor Series is about brand supremacy, shouldn't the team be made up of those who have been there for a while?
What about SmackDown's Survivor Series team? The blue brand's team includes Sasha Banks, Shotzi, Shayna Baszler and Natalya. Aliyah was removed from the match last Friday. Although it's great that these women are being showcased, there are some noticeable snubs:
#7 RAW Survivor Series Team: Doudrop
Doudrop might not have been on the main roster for very long, but she has made a huge impact. The former Piper Niven has been a standout of the indie scene as well as a popular star in Japan and NXT UK. So far on RAW, however, she hasn’t been able to show off all she can do.
What better way to establish herself as a real threat and see her face off with new opponents than to include her in the five-on-five Survivor Series match?
Doudrop's inclusion could've added a fun powerhouse to the mix. The Scottish superstar is an amazing talent who simply needs more opportunities thrown her way.
#6 RAW Survivor Series Team: Tamina
Nobody is meaner than Tamina and the RAW Survivor Series team needs her. Tamina is one of the longest contracted female stars that WWE has on their roster, alongside Natalya, and deserves all the love and recognition she has been getting as of late. The pandemic era of wrestling really allowed her to show off what she can do and the crowd have jumped on board the "Tamina Train".
Natalya and Tamina used to be a tag team and even won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship together, but they were split in the draft this year. With Natalya on the SmackDown team, it would make storyline sense to put Tamina on the RAW team at Survivor Series.
Tamina has been on RAW for a while and is an absolute powerhouse inside the squared circle. She is also a sentimental favorite and has always been the muscle for other superstars. If she had been included this year it could have been another breakout moment for her.
#5 SmackDown Survivor Series Team: Sonya Deville
Sonya Deville hasn’t been back in the ring for some time. She has aligned herself with fellow former MMA fighter turned wrestler Shayna Baszler. A great way for Sonya to make her in ring return would be as a part of the Survivor Series SmackDown Women’s team. The obvious way this could be achieved would be Sonya Deville using her authority to take someone else's place.
It would have made more sense for Naomi to have already been on the team and taken out by Shayna Baszler in order for Sonya to insert herself into the match. Deville is a fantastic in-ring performer and just as good on the mic but has not competed inside the squared circle since 2019.
Survivor Series will be an opportune moment for Sonya to return to in-ring action as WWE has been slowly building up to this. If not now, then when? They may be saving her in-ring return for the Royal Rumble, but fans might want her back sooner rather than later.
#4 RAW Survivor Series Team: Dana Brooke
Dana Brooke is a greatly underrated talent within the WWE Women’s division. Fans who have watched her grow from her time on the NXT brand all the way up to the main roster have been very vocal about wanting more for Brooke. Despite being paired up with the likes of Mandy Rose and Charlotte Flair, Brooke has never had her moment in the spotlight.
Brooke has been on Monday Night RAW for most of her main roster career and has more right than anyone to be on this year's Survivor Series team. Yet again, she has been overlooked and underutilized. She works hard and is a safe worker. Facing off against the likes of Sasha Banks or Shotzi Blackheart could be a star-making moment for her.
#3 Raw Survivor Series Team: Nikki A.S.H.
Nikki A.S.H. should be on the Survivor Series team. She has been on RAW for almost the entirety of her main roster career. On top of this all of her WWE Tag Team Championship runs have been on the red brand, and she is also the current tag team champion alongside Rhea Ripley.
Rhea Ripley is on the team, which is understandable as she won the WWE Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania. While Ripley has been presented as a star should, Nikki A.S.H. has not.
After only having a single short run with the RAW Women's Championship, fans are left wondering when Nikki will receive more moments to prove her worth as the standout that she is.
#2 SmackDown Survivor Series Team: Xia Li
What better way to debut Xia Li than as part of the Smackdown Survivor Series Team? We've had weeks of vignette promoting Li’s arrival to SmackDown but where is she?
Xia Li is a home-grown talent from the performance center, has a natural ability in the ring and is the first Chinese woman to compete in a WWE ring. Having appeared in both Mae Young Classic tournaments, two Royal Rumbles and having 4 years of wrestling experience, she is set to be a huge star.
Her fan base has grown. Her history making signing needs to be capitalized on. WWE has an incredible opportunity to promote an original and dynamic superstar. Why not give her the chance to compete with the rest of the talented roster at Survivor Series?
#1 SmackDown Survivor Series Team: Toni Storm
Where in the world is Toni Storm? This is a question being asked constantly amongst WWE fans. She is a former NXT UK Women’s Champion, has worked all over the world and is likable but she hasn’t been on SmackDown for weeks.
What greater way to reintroduce her to the WWE Universe than as part of the five-on-five survivor series match. Her friendship and short-lived tag team with Liv Morgan could be a mini story within the match, with the two locking up but also being conflicted. Seeing Storm and Morgan as friends or opponents is a treat for fans as they should be the next big stars of the Women’s division.
The fact that Toni Storm has only had 3 matches to date since coming to SmackDown is a travesty. Royal Rumble and WrestleMania are fast approaching, and the company should be investing in newer talent.
How great would it have been to see Storm fight alongside and against the likes of Sasha Banks, Rhea Ripley and Natalya? Hopefully, in the near future, the former NXT UK Women's Champion will get her time to shine.
