Tonight is Survivor Series, the event that features several matches pitting Monday Night Raw against SmackDown Live to see which brand is truly superior. There are two traditional five-on-five elimination matches as well as four Champion vs. Champion matches, including the dream match of Brock Lesnar vs. AJ Styles.
The New Day vs. The Shield
To kick off the brand war, two of the best teams in WWE history do battle for the first time ever. The New Day broke records in the tag team division, holding the longest Tag Team Championship reign in WWE history while also having four title runs under their belts (pun intended). The Shield dominated for a couple years before breaking up, then each member has held at least one world championship.
Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose lay Xavier Woods and Big E out at ringside, respectively, leaving Kofi Kingston as the only member of the New Day in the ring. After Roman Reigns hits Kingston with a spear, all of the Shield finish him off with a Triple Powerbomb from the top rope to put Raw ahead 1-0. Winners: The Shield
Predicted Winners: The New Day (0/1)
Becky Lynch (c), Carmella, Natalya, Tamina, & Naomi (w/Lana) vs. Alicia Fox (c), Asuka, Sasha Banks, Bayley, & Nia Jax – Elimination Match
Since the brand split, it has been a standard of Survivor Series for there to be two five-on-five traditional Survivor Series elimination matches. This match features five women from each show squaring off while later on, the men will also have a five-on-five match.
Bayley blind tags herself in and after Becky Lynch suplexes Alicia Fox, Bayley sneaks in a roll-up to score the first elimination. Eliminated: Becky Lynch
Bayley tries to fight the entire remaining SmackDown team by herself, but her guts don’t play in her favor. After Carmella superkicks her, Tamina hits the Superfly Splash to even things out. Eliminated: Bayley
Tamina then hits Nia Jax with a cross body outside the ring. Instead of trying to bring her into the ring, Tamina goes for the count-out elimination to take out one of the most dominant forces on Team Raw. Eliminated: Nia Jax
Naomi manages to eliminate Fox with a quick pinfall, but Sasha Banks immediately capitalizes by forcing Naomi to tap out to the Bank Statement. Eliminated: Alicia Fox & Naomi
The match then transitions to Asuka and Carmella, but Carmella makes the mistake of angering the Empress of Tomorrow. Asuka then kicks Carmella square in the face, eliminating Ms. Money in the Bank. Eliminated: Carmella
Tamina knocks Asuka off of the ring apron, giving Natalya the opportunity to eliminate Sasha Banks with the Sharpshooter. Even though it is a two-on-one handicap match, Natalya and Tamina still have to try and get through the undefeated Asuka. Eliminated: Sasha Banks
Asuka dodges a Superfly Splash from Tamina, then eliminates her with a unique armbar. She then locks Natalya into the Asuka Lock, forcing the now former SmackDown Women’s Champion to tap out and making Asuka the sole survivor. Winners: Alicia Fox, Asuka, Sasha Banks, Bayley, & Nia Jax
Predicted Winners: Alicia Fox, Asuka, Sasha Banks, Bayley, & Nia Jax (1/2)
Baron Corbin (United States Champion) vs. The Miz (Intercontinental Champion) (w/The Miztourage)
Along with the traditional Survivor Series elimination matches, this year’s event features Champion vs. Champion matches. With plenty more to come later tonight, this starts with the mid-card belts. The Miz is arguably the best Intercontinental Champion of the modern era, while Baron Corbin is enjoying his first title ever as the United States Champion. To Corbin’s credit, he did capture the title from the current WWE Champion, AJ Styles.
The Miztourage helps The Miz gain advantages throughout the match, but one second is all Baron Corbin needs to counter a running strike into the End of Days to finally give SmackDown a win tonight. Winner: Baron Corbin
Predicted Winner: Baron Corbin (2/3)
Sheamus & Cesaro (Raw Tag Team Champions) vs. The Usos (SmackDown Tag Team Champions)
As of just a couple weeks ago, The Usos were originally scheduled to face Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. However, Sheamus & Cesaro captured the titles a couple weeks ago thanks to a distraction from the New Day faking out the entire Raw locker room.
Cesaro eats a double Superkick to try and save Sheamus, but it just gives The Usos the advantage. While Jimmy Uso keeps Cesaro down at ringside, Jey Uso finishes off Sheamus with a top splash to tie up the SmackDown vs. Raw battle. Winners: The Usos
Predicted Winners: Sheamus & Cesaro (2/4)
Alexa Bliss (Raw Women’s Champion) vs. Charlotte Flair (SmackDown Women’s Champion)
Like the previous match, the billing for this fight changed very recently. Just five days ago, Charlotte flair defeated Natalya to capture her first SmackDown Women’s Championship. This led to Natalya competing in the elimination tag match earlier tonight, and now Charlotte faces Alexa Bliss, the only other woman to have held both the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships.
Bliss looks to finish Charlotte off with the Twisted Bliss, but Charlotte gets the knees up to counter. She then capitalizes with a big boot and the Figure Eight Leg Lock, securing the third consecutive victory for SmackDown Live. Winner: Charlotte Flair
Predicted Winner: Alexa Bliss (2/5)
Brock Lesnar (Universal Champion) (w/Paul Heyman) vs. AJ Styles (WWE Champion)
Like AJ Styles’ matches with John Cena last year, no one would have ever expected Styles to have a match with Brock Lesnar. Styles entered his name into this match by capturing the WWE Championship from Jinder Mahal a few weeks ago. This is the first match between both of these men, as well as the first match between a WWE Champion and a Universal Champion.
The match is surprisingly even, but AJ Styles attempts one too many Phenomenal Forearms. Lesnar counters the last attempt into an F5, barely winning the match and leaving the brand supremacy battle to the last match. Winner: Brock Lesnar
Predicted Winner: Brock Lesnar (3/6)
Kurt Angle (c), Braun Strowman, Finn Balor, Samoa Joe, & Triple H vs. Shane McMahon (c), Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Roode, Randy Orton, & John Cena – Elimination Match
After everything that has transpired earlier tonight, both brands are even at three matches apiece. Five of the best male Superstars from each show compete in the main event to determine which brand is really supreme.
Shinsuke Nakamura lays out most of team Raw until Braun Strowman tags himself in. The Monster Among Men hits the King of Strong Style with a running powerslam, picking up the first elimination. Strowman then does the same thing to Bobby Roode. Eliminated: Shinsuke Nakamura & Bobby Roode
Tension brews between Samoa Joe and Finn Balor, giving John Cena an opportunity to take advantage. Cena hits Joe with two Attitude Adjustments, scoring the first member of Raw to be eliminated. Eliminated: Samoa Joe
Following two Angle Slams and the Coup de Grace from Finn Balor, John Cena is eliminated from Team SmackDown. Eliminated: John Cena
Randy Orton dodges Finn Balor’s second attempt at the Coup de Grace, then hits his vintage RKO out of nowhere to only give Raw the 3-2 lead. Eliminated: Finn Balor
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn attack Shane McMahon at ringside, but he is able to send them retreating with a steel chair. Meanwhile, Braun Strowman takes care of Randy Orton with the running powerslam. Raw has Kurt Angle, Triple H, and Braun Strowman left, while SmackDown is only represented by Shane O’Mac. Eliminated: Randy Orton
While Angle has McMahon in the Ankle Lock, Triple H breaks it up and Pedigrees the Raw GM, giving his brother-in-law a free elimination. It seems like he was going to help out McMahon, but instead, he wanted the glory all to himself. He then Pedigrees McMahon to win the match. Winners: Kurt Angle, Braun Strowman, Finn Balor, Samoa Joe, & Triple H
After the match, Strowman warns Triple H that if he ever tries to cross him, he will “never play this game again.” Triple H then tries to attack Strowman from behind, but the Monster Among Men then lays him out with two powerslams to close the show.
