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There's something oddly endearing about WWE's phenomenal ability to book on the fly. A week from Survivor Series, the PPV's secret weapon in 'The Man' Becky Lynch got taken out by an errant shot from a sloppy Nia Jax.
Even then the company managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat by alternating the card up and down, much the way they had done last year dialed up to ten. Going into Survivor Series the two huge champions versus champion matches saw major changes. On one end we got Charlotte Flair versus Ronda Rousey, a bonafide Wrestlemania main event. On the other side, Daniel Bryan turned heel to set up his long wished bout against Brock Lesnar.
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WWE's roster had a tough task to follow after an unbelievable NXT Takeover War Games and while they really didn't; this has been one of the better pay per views. The stakes of brand warfare are minimal but they provide tantalizing dream collisions as mentioned.
Sure a clean sweep and inconsistency (a staple of 2018's WWE) marred this PPV but how well did it really do, why don't we find out.
Nothing to Kick-Off
Ten Team Traditional Survivor Series Match: Team RAW (Captains Bobby Roode and Chad Gable, The Revival [Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder], The Ascension [Konnor and Viktor], B Team [Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas] and Lucha House Party [Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik/w Kalisto] vs. Team Smackdown [Captains The Usos [[Jimmy and Jey], The New Day [Xavier Woods and Big E/w Kofi Kingston], Good Brothers [Gallows and Anderson], Primo and Epico Colon and Sanity [Killian Dain and Eric Young/w Alexander Wolfe]
That fact that WWE doesn't care about its tag team division is clear the moment Braun Strowman wrecked the RAW team this past Monday prior to naming their captains through a battle royale. It reflected during a lethargic opening of swift eliminations (huge oxymoron) of wanton teams to set up the exciting finale between the team of Roode/Gable and Revival against New Day and Usos.
Revival had a coming out party, despite using a few too many high-flying moves for characters all about the fists. The Usos won a meaningless contest which got not point standing in the official RAW versus SmackDown chart. Technically RAW did not clean sweep SmackDown, but you know why WWE doesn't want you to know?
Because someone made a huge blunder in booking the end of the match. SmackDown was never meant to win, way to show you care WWE; meanwhile Undisputed ERA tore the house down as a unit on NXT Takeover.
Result: The Usos beat Revival and are sole survivors to give SmackDown the point (just don't tell anyone about it)
Rating:
Leaning into the hate
Traditional Survivor Series Match: Team RAW (Nia Jax, Tamina, Sasha Banks, Bayley and Mickie James/w Captain Alexa Bliss) vs. Team Smackdown (Captain Naomi, Asuka, Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, and Carmella)
Props to WWE for really going all in with the hate on Nia Jax, after she blasted Becky Lynch with a horrible punch sidelining her. They went the extra mile to get the heat on her and Nia played her part well, at least as long as she was pulling the banter. In the ring, she's a dud much like Tamina.
Rounding out the RAW women's team then is a poorly utilized Mickie James and suffering from the horrible Babyfaces are stupid syndrome; Sasha Banks and Bayley, replacements for the bickering Ruby Riott and Natalya.
On the other end, Smackdown went the predictable choice of replacing Charlotte Flair with Mandy Rose, which was smart given how her and Sonya Deville got good shine in an often boring match. WWE booked some smart stuff here, especially pertaining to Nia.
Yet that's the essential problem with the company, they book just about good narratives. What makes them worse is they have better options, they'd rather let waste. This isn't really worth harping over and even though that play on heat was smart, WWE should know better and send Jax back to the performance center for some training and conditioning, she needs it.
Result: Nia Jax betrays Sasha Banks then takes down the once indomitable Asuka to win for RAW and become the sole survivor!
Rating:
Cooling it down
Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins vs. United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura
With a stacked roster right out of the best of the best of the Independent scenes from past, it's hard for WWE to really give us a blockbuster never seen encounter on the main roster. This is especially true when you factor in past confrontations from NXT. Yet that was the case here with a banger from Shinsuke Nakamura and Seth Rollins.
Much like his matches with AJ Styles, this one didn't completely live up to vaunted expectations though this match didn't have a featured place. Yet it felt fresh and good, plus even while slowed down Nakamura put on his game face to give us a fun war. Thankfully WWE didn't lean on any Dean Ambrose shenanigans.
Seth Rollins played to the gallery with a performance reflecting much of his 2018, with hopes that now might be his time at the top of the food chain. Nakamura while psychological was also straight. The taste for more with these two is palpable and that show of respect may hint to a change for Nakamura on the blue brand in need of babyfaces.
Result: Seth Rollins hits the curb stomp to win and send RAW in the lead
Rating:
Piss Poor
WWE RAW Tag Team Champions AOP (Akam and Rezar)/w Drake Maverick vs. WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions
I wouldn't put it past WWE and Vince McMahon to have planted former star Enzo Amore into the crowd for a few licks. The star fired earlier this year made his presence felt in the crowd as he spewed his catchphrases, eventually taken away by security, while distracting from what could have been a belter of a match.
To be fair to Amore, that could have been isn't his fault but rather the inept booking that saw a joke moment define this anticipated hoss battle. That one we can squarely and definitely blame on Vince McMahon. His penchant for juvenile humor reared its ugly head in a match more focused on a Big Show and Drake Maverick confrontation.
The diminutive manager of the AOP faced off with the giant ended up wetting his pants, distracting Sheamus long enough to eat the last chapter and see AOP take this contest once more for RAW. Of course, none of it mattered at the sight of a grown man actually wetting himself, again putting a nail on the coffin of the tag team division.
Result: AOP smack a distracted Sheamus to win and earn yet another pont for RAW
Rating:
Steal the Show!
for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Mustafa Ali
You either really have to despise the apathetic and disrespectful California crowd or actually feel poor for their non-reaction to this unbelievable match, with the only real stakes on the show. Even with Triple H at its helm, the damage done to the 205 Live brands effected what was a hard-hitting contest between the juggernaut and the heart of 205.
The arena did come alive for the big spots and the obligatory 'this is awesome' chants but it felt more like a process, in a match that kept motioning them to partake. Even then kudos to Murphy and Mustafa for the best pure wrestling match of the night.
Ever since he broke into 205 Live, Murphy has been a revelation, especially against Mustafa. Thrice into the match he overpowered and threw Ali like he were nothing, proving he's a wrecking ball that is going to become harder to stop the longer his reign goes on. These two left it out and hopefully, WWE sees that as a sign to give the Cruiserweights a bit more of a showcase.
Result: Buddy Murphy hits Murphy's Law and pins Mustafa Ali to win and retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship!
Rating:
Unbridled chaos
Traditional Survivor Series Match: Team RAW (Braun Strowman, Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler, Finn Balor, Bobby Lashley/w Lio Rush and Captain Baron Corbin) vs. Team Smackdown (Captain The Miz, Shane McMahon, Rey Mysterio, Samoa Joe, and Jeff Hardy)
As expected this one began with an all-out melee that unfortunately took out Samoa Joe early. After which the match settled into a pace reminiscent of the women's survivor series contest with an imploding RAW team going over a united SmackDown front, way to highlight the B in the B show.
Similarly, the match took cues from the past two years contests with a table spot to see Braun down for the count. Meanwhile Miz played smart and tactical captain, having Shane pull off another upset on Ziggler. We also got a slew of dream confrontations between the likes of Rey Mysterio and Finn Balor, who got to run wild for some time.
Eventually, a way to put over the contingent of Strowman, McIntyre, and Lashley; the match ended as last years with Shane going down fighting. Nothing great to talk about, though Corbin smartly took out Strowman after the match before he could beat him. Also of importance, Strowman leveled perennial rival Roman Reigns record of four eliminations in one match.
Result: Strowman smashes the best in the world Shane McMahon to win a point for RAW with sole survivors Bobby Lashley and Drew McIntyre
Rating:
I saw the devil!
RAW Women's Champion Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair
This was near perfection.
With rumors abound of them main eventing Wrestlemania ever since Ronda Rousey made her presence felt at the 2018 Royal Rumble, everyone has expected a prestige competition between the two women with some form of wrestling pedigree. The kind Charlotte's father pulled out of his rabbit hat on every occasion say against a Ricky Steamboat.
Sure it'd take time for Rousey to reach that sort of level, however considering how quickly she's picked up the game it didn't seem implausible. So kudos on WWE subverting those expectations to deliver a harsh and gritty slugfest between the two women. It's as if they'd pummel each other down into the ring and in Charlotte's case that nearly came true.
There was no flash, no pomp and barely enough counter wrestling before these women went on an all-out war. Substituting for her bitter frenemy Becky Lynch, Charlotte gave Ronda one hell of a fight. Yet Ronda also kept coming back, rallied by a hot crowd so much so that after months of creeping self-doubt Charlotte snapped.
She took the disqualification to completely brutalize Rousey post-match. Sure Charlotte's played the Queen bee heel, but this was no royal thrashing; this was barbaric. Sure Becky Lynch has been a badass bruiser, yet this just went into horrific overdrive. Despite bleeding blue, Charlotte saw red and the fans went with her all the way. In fact, Ronda got booed out of the arena, as she left a mess.
This is far from over, yet Becky Lynch waits in the wings. While one can nitpick about Ronda not selling the hurt arm from RAW or Charlotte's arc mirroring to close to Daniel Bryan's heel turn. This is what women's evolution is in wrestling, another game-changing moment in 2018.
Result: Charlotte snaps to give Ronda Rousey the win by disqualification and RAW another point.
Rating:
Rumble in the Jungle
WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar/w Paul Heyman vs. WWE World Champion Daniel Bryan
That kayfabe has pretty much been destroyed by the advent of social media, means that WWE's plans rarely come to fruition regarding whom fans should boo or cheer. The previous match showcased this, thus giving WWE reason to say that all it matter is that you react.
It's historically transferred into the notion that no longer do WWE superstars really play heels or faces but rather characters with ever-evolving arcs. This is what then made the match between uber heel boss Brock Lesnar versus newly turned Daniel Bryan an intriguing prospect. Bryan played into it by being sneaky and baiting fans with the 'Yes' chants before pulling away.
This began as a typical match as Brock rag dolled Bryan, with confusion as to if one should cheer for Bryan gaining his comeuppance or feel bad for the man who returned from retirement just this year. WWE leaned perfectly into the real-life tension of seeing Lesnar manhandle a glazed over Bryan, wince-inducing at its finest. Yet Brock is a relatively safe pair of hands, especially with a foe he respects.
Mind you he respects Bryan and it showed in a hell of a competitive match, that saw the sneaky WWE World champion nearly tap him out. Even after losing to the beast, the former yes man had a sinister smile plastered over his face. He'd fulfilled a dream match he desperately craved and gave it his all.
What could have been a cliche David versus Goliath fight turned into a poetic jungle war between a vicious hyena and wounded lion.
Result: Brock Lesnar hits the F5 to win and give RAW a clean sweep
Rating:
Final thoughts
With his story especially with Braun Strowman and Kurt Angle far from over, it was obvious we'd witness a clean sweep by RAW under acting GM Baron Corbin; especially after Stephanie McMahon's warnings. The fact that WWE didn't acknowledge the tag team efforts is pitiful.
Regardless the big news heading out of the event is the unexpected breakdown of Charlotte Flair, it adds the wrinkle to her, Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey's story that is definitely far from over. One wouldn't hesitate to hope that all three women get to main event Wrestlemania next year, how that comes about is now the question.
Meanwhile, Bryan showed some verve and will have to now answer for his crimes against AJ Styles. This Ring of Honor version of him is a delight. Braun can get his hands on Baron Corbin then Lesnar, until hopefully Drew McIntyre steps up.
Finally, SmackDown has lots of restructuring to do after the horrifying loss. You can believe that a redemption story for next years Survivor Series is in the works. Till then this see-saw event is what we have to deal with.
Final Rating:
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