Liam Hoofe with his predictions for WWE Survivor Series 2016…
WWE have really put a lot of effort into this year’s Survivor Series in a clear attempt to make it one of the big shows again. The pay-per-view has felt incredibly normal for the best part of a decade now and this year they have really gone all out. The writing team have even opted to ignore ongoing story lines for the last month and instead focus on the Raw Vs Smackdown element of things here.
The show will likely deliver on the night, but with only six matches announced for the event and a rumoured lengthy run time, expect there to be an awful lot of filler on the night and some really long matches.
The Raw Vs Smackdown element has made this a surprisingly difficult show to call, and whilst the majority of the results will have little to no meaning it is still refreshing to have some difficulty in calling the winners.
Here are my match by match predictions for this Sunday’s Survivor Series.
Team Raw Vs Team Smackdown 10 on 10 Survivor Series Tag Team Match
This match has the serious potential to become messy. With 20 men involved in the match it will be really easy to get lost in the shuffle, and with Xavier Woods also hanging around outside the ring, this has chaos written all over it.
Expect Team Smackdown to pick up the win here, potentially following a betrayal from The Club. Whilst Raw has arguably the stronger team here, due to predictions for later matches, and the nature of this show I’m going with Smackdown for this one.
Prediction: Team Smackdown Wins
Kalisto Vs The Brian Kendrick for The Cruiserweight Title (If Kalisto wins, the Cruiserweight division moves to Smackdown)
This is an interesting match and one that could really go eitherway. Having two established stars wrestling for the Cruiserweight Title brings a degree of interest to the division and this match has arguably the biggest stakes on the night, what with about 20 superstars switching brand depending on the result.
I think Kalisto will take this one. Whilst I’m not really into the idea of Kendrick losing the title already (3 champions in 3 months hardly establishes the belt) but the fact that the WWE’s new Cruiserweight show, 205 will air on Tuesday night indicates to me that the division will be moving to Tuesday nights.
Prediction: Kalisto Wins The Cruiserweight Title and The Cruiserweight Divisions moves to Smackdown
Sami Zayn Vs The Miz
The Miz’s title victory on Tuesday indicates to me that he’s definitely walking away the victor this Sunday, changing the title twice in five days is not how the belt should be booked.
Some are speculating that the reason The Miz won was simply so Zayn could win it off a heel but I really don’t see the belt going to Raw. What I do see though is The Miz cheating to win this one, causing Zayn to request a move to the blue brand to get revenge. Zayn will provide a fresh opponent for The Miz and could also work brilliantly in the on going feud between The Miz and Ziggler.
Prediction: The Miz retains and Zayn moves over to Smackdown
Team Raw Vs Team Smackdown 5 on 5 Women’s Traditional Survivor Series Match
The second of the traditional survivor series tag team matches is likely to be one of the night’s best matches. The women’s division has never been better than it is right now and both brands will get to show off their talent this Sunday night.
The Raw division is a lot stronger than Smackdowns, with marquee stars like Charlotte, Bayley and Sasha all on the red brand and I think they will be the victors on the night.
WWE seemed keen on reminded us Charlotte was unbeaten on PPV and that streak shouldn’t be broken in a tag match. Nia Jax is also yet to lose since her call up to the main roster and I don’t see any of the Smackdown division being the ones to break that streak.
Prediction: Team Raw Wins
Team Raw Vs Team Smackdown 5 on 5 Men’s Traditional Survivor Series Match
If I had to pick one match to steal the show I’d go with this one. The talent involved almost guarantees we are in for a treat and there is such a wide array of different styles here that WWE surely can’t mess this one up.
It’s also the most difficult match of the night to call. 50-50 booking will lead to this being the deciding match on the night and after The Undertaker’s arrival on Smackdown this week I’m going to have to give this one to Team Raw.
Taker clearly said that if anyone messed up they would have to face his wrath, so whoever that man is will likely be Taker’s first feud back in the business. If I have to call who is going to cost them the match I’m going for Styles. A feud between him and Taker, with the deadman having one last run with the title between the Rumble and Wrestlemania would be perfect.
Expect plenty of shenanigans involving James Ellsworth as well. I’m calling him distracting Braun and the beast chasing him around the ring, leading to a count out.
This will also be a good chance to get the Universal title and Kevin Owens over more by having him as the sole survivor.
Prediction: Team Raw Wins
Goldberg Vs Brock Lesnar
Rumors have been doing the rounds this week that Lesnar will pick up the victory and Goldberg will get a big send off this Sunday and I really can’t see past anything but that.
Lesnar has been booked to look unstoppable for the past 2/3 years and whilst I think Goldberg will give him the biggest challenge he has had in some time, Lesnar will come out on top. Expect to see a lot of suplexes and about 3 F5s to ffinally put Goldberg away.
Prediction: Brock Lesnar Wins.
What are your Survivor Series predictions? Let us know in the comments below…
Liam Hoofe