WWE Survivor Series 2020: Ranking the build-up of each match

#5 United States Champion Bobby Lashley vs. Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn at WWE Survivor Series

While this match isn't very exciting on paper because of the expected outcome of WWE having Bobby Lashley win, it's build has been at least a little better than that of the match featuring the women's Champions.

Sami Zayn has cut a few promos over the last few weeks. In those, Zayn has claimed that as WWE's Intercontinental Champion, he represents the people of the world and not just one country like the United States Champion. He has a point and Lashley has just said the usual tough-guy responses that we've come to expect from him in WWE.

One strange difference, however, was that although both men defended their titles prior to the actual pay-per-view, the opponents were vastly different. Lashley put down a challenge from Titus O'Neil. While O'Neil looked good in his match with Lashley, the outcome was never in doubt. Zayn, on the other hand, had to defend the Intercontinental Championship against the former US Champion, Apollo Crews.

In terms of trajectory in WWE, those are two vastly different challenges for each man. Zayn had a chance to lose his title prior to the pay-per-view but since it would have been to the man Lashley beat for his title, it was a little less likely. Even on the go-home SmackDown, Zayn consistently reminded us that he has a match to worry about on Sunday instead of an impromptu tag team match. The Great Liberator did the best job selling this match, but he usually does just that for every WWE feud he's in.