WWE
WWE Survivor Series and NXT TakeOver: War Games Preview
It’s hard to believe there are only three more WWE pay-per-view events left on the calendar season, with two taking place this weekend! WWE arrives in Los Angeles, California for their weekend event of NXT TakeOver: War Games and Survivor Series. There has already been a ton of news regarding this event, including last minute changes. Regardless, it all kicks off tonight with NXT!
NXT TakeOver: War Games
NXT is usually a safe bet to find themselves among the best yearly pay-per-views. This event seems no different with the destructive War Games match looming. Last year, War Games was thought as by some as the best pay-per-view within the WWE 2017 season. Will this year live up to the hype?
Shayna Baszler (C) vs. Kairi Sane – NXT Women’s Championship | Two-out-of-three Falls Match
Jordan: Kairi Sane
Kayla: Shayna Baszler
Thom: Shayna Baszler
Match Note: Shayna Baszler is the only two-time NXT Women’s Champion, and it looks like it may stay that way. Yes, Sane herself can become a two-time champion although NXT is very hesitant to strap the same belt on the same person two different occasions. There has only been one ‘two-time’ champion for the NXT Women’s Championship. With that said, if NXT wants to continue an intriguing Baszler vs. Sane rivalry perhaps Sane winning is ‘best for business’.
Aleister Black vs. Johnny Gargano
Jordan: Johnny Gargano
Kayla: Aleister Black
Thom: Aleister Black
Match Note: This could be the match of the night, and even match of the weekend! Many seem to think Gargano has taken a step back because he is not competing for the NXT Championship. That couldn’t be farther from the truth, as NXT pairing him in a match against Aleister Black makes sense. Sometimes putting on a match of the night, or even match of the year is just as good as winning a championship. This match may very well be that case.
Tommaso Ciampa (C) vs. Velveteen Dream – NXT Championship
Jordan: Tommaso Ciampa
Kayla: Tommaso Ciampa
Thom: Tommaso Ciampa
Match Note: NXT is not afraid to pull the trigger in crowning new champions. Velveteen’s chances of winning are actually much better than most are giving him. However, the build-up for Ciampa’s title reign has been almost a year in progress. It seems that Project Ciampa was actually a literal phrase, as he has been the most detailed and committed project in all of WWE. Expect a ton of close falls and a chance for Dream to win the belt on more than one occasion. However, it’s hard to pick against the champion even if all signs point to a very likely upset.
Undisputed Era vs. Pete Dunne, Ricochet & War Raiders – War Games Match
Jordan: Undisputed Era
Kayla: Dunne, Ricochet & War Raiders
Thom: Undisputed Era
Match Note: This match is going to be brutal, just ask Alexander Wolfe from last year’s match. It’ll be interesting how the story plays out in this match, as that seems more important than the actual result. There is a very good chance someone joins Undisputed Era (UE) tonight, with foreshadowing clues being Pete Dunne. Roderick Strong turned on Pete Dunne less than a year ago to join Undisputed Era, so it’s possible Dunne follows his footsteps here. UE is much like the New World Order (NWO) right now too. Both are heel factions that are looking to take over the ‘system’ with continual expansion. What better piece to add than an international star with gold strapped to his waist (or in this case hanging from his teeth). UE should win the match, but the big shock (the system) would be if Dunne joined the villainous faction.
Survivor Series
We now move to Survivor Series, taking place one night after War Games. The entire card feels thrown together in all honesty, as the past few months for WWE has been almost one big blur. Between Roman Reigns’ announcement, the Crown Jewel dumpster fire, and Becky Lynch’s injury – saying WWE has experienced bad luck would be an understatement. Hopefully, this show does a good job of planting seeds for upcoming rivalries, while also delivering in the ring.
Buddy Murphy (C) vs. Mustafa Ali – Cruiserweight Championship
Jordan: Buddy Murphy
Kayla: Buddy Murphy
Thom: Buddy Murphy
Match Note: It would be a bit surprising to see Murphy drop a belt he just won. However, the pop Murphy received in Australia shouldn’t go unnoticed. Yes, it was his hometown but the WWE fanbase fully support Murphy. This smells like a possible double-turn and future Wrestlemania match. If not the double-turn, we may see a triple threat at Wrestlemania that involves one Cedric Alexander. Time will tell.
Survivor Series Tag Teams: Team Raw vs. Team Smackdown Live
Jordan: Team SD Live
Kayla: Team SD Live
Thom: Team SD Live
Match Note: From just a pure roster standpoint, Smackdown Live should win this pretty easily. On paper, it really isn’t even a close call. The Raw tag team division could use a boost, which WWE might lean towards. Again though, on paper, the team difference isn’t even close. Smackdown Live has the edge by a large margin. If there was a point spread in Vegas for this match, Smackdown Live SHOULD be favored by double-digits.
Survivor Series Women: Team Raw vs. Team Smackdown Live
Jordan: Team SD Live
Kayla: Team SD Live
Thom: Team Raw
Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Jordan: Seth Rollins
Kayla: Shinsuke Nakamura
Thom: Seth Rollins
Match Note: Many feel Dean Ambrose will interfere and cost Seth the match, which is very possible. The only thing is that Dean’s interference may not be warranted until Seth has to put his Intercontinental Championship on the line. A Dean Ambrose interference would mean very little in a non-title match, so maybe WWE wants to save that moment for later. Regardless, this match is unpredictable with one certainty – it may be the match of the night.
Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair
Jordan: Ronda Rousey
Kayla: Charlotte Flair
Thom: Ronda Rousey
Match Note: Originally, Becky Lynch was going to compete against Rousey. What a shame she can’t, as Becky Lynch was arguably the most popular star on either the male or female roster. Charlotte can more than fill in for Becky, but the hype for Charlotte vs Ronda’s first match is now gone. WWE will save this future fued between two of the best female combat sports performers, and use this match as a stepping stone for future storytelling. Hopefully, Becky gets healthy soon because her absence is without a doubt the biggest buzzkill of 2018.
Authors of Pain vs. The Bar
Jordan: AOP
Kayla: AOP
Thom: The Bar
Match Note: This match result will be dictated by one person, The Big Show. If Big Show is involved the Bar should win. If Big Show interferes and AOP still wins, then WWE is letting you know that AOP is going to be fast-tracked as the best tag team in all of WWE. The Bludgeon Brothers were heading in that direction until an Erick Rowan injury set the duo back. It’s very possible WWE is just doing a ‘copy and paste’ from Bludgeon Brothers to AOP and may have actually been the matchup here if not for Rowan’s injury.
Survivor Series Men: Team Raw vs. Team Smackdown Live
Jordan: Team SD Live
Kayla: Team Raw
Thom: Team Raw
Match Note: WWE has teased a Raw victory all month. It started with Shane entering himself into a World Cup final and winning. It then trickled into Raw as Stephanie continually reminds everyone that Raw has won the past two years. WWE has maintained that Raw is their flagship show and so it’s very rare to see Smackdown overtake in the story. Also, Raw has Braun Strowman. It’s very possible there is a Team Raw fallout based on Stephanie’s words to Braun Strowman on Monday. It’s also very possible for a fallout between Strowman and Baron Corbin, along with the fact Strowman was double-crossed by Triple H in last year’s Survivor Series.
Brock Lesnar vs. Daniel Bryan
Jordan: Brock Lesnar
Kayla: Brock Lesnar
Thom: Brock Lesnar
Match Note: Hopefully this isn’t a squash match, as on paper this is a fantasy match for fans to enjoy. In the ring though, the size difference is evident. There is a small chance Brock wins the way he did against Roman at Wrestlemania or Randy Orton at SummerSlam. Hopefully that’s not the case, and instead, we get a classic like last year’s Lesnar vs. Styles match. Ironically, Styles dropped his WWE belt just one week before the event – which was a callback to the moment Jinder Mahal lost his belt one week before Survivor Series to A.J. Styles. Mahal even came out on Raw to remind everybody what happened a year ago, so all the clues for this match happening were laid in front of our eyes.
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Photo Credit: NXT via Twitter
