WWE returns to pay-per-view (PPV) — if your cable provider is carrying the event, of course — tomorrow night (Sun., Nov. 18, 2018) live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California with its Survivor Series event starting at 5:00 p.m. ET with the Kickoff show leading right on into the main course at 7 p.m. ET on the WWE Network.
Set for the card: It’s Monday Night Raw vs. SmackDown Live!
Luckily for you Cagesiders, our staff of learned wrestling blowhards is here to help figure out just how the event is going to play out with predictions for each match on the card.
Let’s get to it.
Survivor Series predictions
Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair
Geno Mrosko: If there was ever a time it’s appropriate to get the Four Horsewomen involved, on either side, this is it. Bayley and Sasha Banks aren’t even booked on the card, and Lynch just made up with Charlotte in some small way. Perhaps they don’t take it there, and if not, I can’t assume this ends any way other than Charlotte putting Rousey over on her way to bigger things next year. Pick: Ronda Rousey
Sean Rueter: Coming off a string of losses to The Man, we may have stumbled onto the first time in her career where The Queen actually needs a win. I expect to overbook this to almost Triple H vs. Sting levels, with Becky and Nia appearances, and probably other Horsewomen at least teased via crowd shots. And what better way for Rowdy to take her first loss and get the undefeated albatross off everyone’s necks. Pick: Charlotte Flair
Kyle Decker: The shuffles of the two main matches are going to make this tough to predict, especially because I can see both ending in a weird smoz. I can see Becky getting involved. In fact, I’d be surprised if we don’t see the Irish War Goddess. I’ve fantasy booked an angle in my head where the WWE four horsewomen come together to lay a post match beating on Ronda. One thing I’m certain of is Ronda isn’t taking a clean loss because she’s the only one with a title. I’m going to say Ronda but would be the least surprised at a no contest too. Pick: Ronda Rousey
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: First off, damnit Ronda, you’re a millennial too, stop it. I didn’t like it when JD Drake did the same thing in Evolve recently and he’s easy top five for me today, don’t you start. That being said, this match is real interesting, not least because a week ago we all figured we wouldn’t see it until it was a WrestleMania main event. I definitely feel like there’ll be shenanigans afoot, but count me in for the swerve victory for Charlotte Flair in order that Ronda might exorcise her, uh... issues... with losing. Pick: Charlotte Flair
Cain A. Knight: I think Becky Lynch actually would have won this match. But everything is changed now, and Charlotte Flair doesn’t need this win. Ronda’s first loss should come at the hands of The Man, not The Queen. Unless there is some major angle planned, Charlotte will lose this one and go back to doubting herself. Pick: Ronda Rousey
Stella Cheeks: I feel like the only thing that I can predict here is that it will not be a clean finish. I don’t think they will throw Charlotte away to Ronda, especially considering her pedigree, but there is no way Ronda is losing. There has to be some sort of shenanigans to give Ronda the W, but to protect Charlotte. I’m predicting some sort of 4 horsewomen run-in. Regardless, this match will be less about the wrestling and more about the long term story. Pick: Ronda Rousey
Brock Lesnar vs. Daniel Bryan
Geno Mrosko: One of the good things about turning Bryan heel is that he can lose here and it doesn’t matter nearly as much. Heels are born to lose. Plus, it’s Lesnar. Plus, whatever, this was last minute anyway. Pick: Brock Lesnar
Sean Rueter: You don’t turn Bryan and then have him lose. I mean, the best way to have this match take up much time where Brock goes over in the end is to structure it like last year’s Survivor Series match against AJ Styles. And if they were going to do that, why not wait until next week to officially turn DB? This whole thing is weird, which leads me to a weird pick. Pick: Daniel Bryan
Kyle Decker: So Brock is probably going to win this, though having Daniel’s first match as champion being a Lesnaring is quite the booking. But with AJ Styles lurking to deliver a receipt, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t get involved here. (Unlike with women’s match, I don’t have a fantasy book where he reforms Fortune with Bobby Roode or something like that. Though Flair and Nigel are both around...) What I can predict is I’m going to cringe at every ugly German Bryan takes. Pick: Brock Lesnar
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: BROCK’S GONNA GET HIS [REDACTED] HEAD KICKED IN! (clap)(clapclapclap)(clap)(clap)(clapclap)(clap)(clap) Pick: Daniel Bryan
Cain A. Knight: I’m very tempted to give SmackDown a cheap DQ win after AJ Styles interferes and attacks Bryan. But if this is the only time I’m ever going to witness Lesnar versus Bryan, I really hope it doesn’t have a screwy ending. Bryan can play pseudo-babyface for one more night before reminding everyone that he is a full-blown heel on Tuesday. Either way, it’s extremely unlikely that Bryan will win this one clean. I would have been super stoked about this match if it was late 2013, where Brock was going out there putting on an incredible 20+ minute match with CM Punk. I’m still hyped for this one, but my expectations for Suplex City Brock in 2018 are a couple notches lower. Eat, sleep, F-5, repeat. Pick: Brock Lesnar.
Stella Cheeks: UUUUUUUUUUUUGGH. I cannot believe I have to watch another Brock Lesnar match. Sorry Dbry. Pick: Brock Lesnar
Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Geno Mrosko: I don’t really know what to say about this match. It’s happening, that’s for certain. I fully expect a Dean Ambrose run-in. Maybe a nut shot. I don’t know. Pick: Shinsuke Nakamura
Sean Rueter: Bit of advice here, Kingslayer. Watch out for Lunatics, and don’t stand with your legs spread apart. Not even a little bit. Pick: Shinsuke Nakamura
Kyle Decker: Seth ain’t focused. Nakamura is and he’s heartbroken Seth isn’t. Knee. To. Face. Pick: Shinsuke Nakamura
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Seth at least made it into the WWE World Cup Tournament to Determine Who Is Best in the World, Shinsuke did not. Ergo... Pick: Seth Rollins
Cain A. Knight: I need to find a few wins for the SmackDown side of the equation, and this match presents another opportunity for Dean Ambrose to screw Seth over. Pick: Shinsuke Nakamura
Stella Cheeks: Is this whole PPV just going to be run-in shenanigans? Because this match is prime for a Dean-y A run-in to F over Seth. Nakamura is going to knee Seth’s face off the moment Seth looks away. Pick: Nakamura
AOP vs. The Bar
Geno Mrosko: The Bar have Big Show but AOP has DRAKE MAVERICK. This one’s easy. Pick: AOP
Sean Rueter: We’re about due for a Big Show turn, aren’t we? Just kidding (I think), but a win does a lot more for the young hosses here than it does for the veteran hosses, so... Pick: AOP
Kyle Decker: Two hoss teams so it comes to the men on the outside. DRAKE MAVERICK or the Big Show? Yeah, it’ll be a big bad show tonight. Pick: The Bar
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Honestly this had ought to be a trios match with both teams’ ringside seconds in. Tell me y’all don’t want to see DRAKE MAVERICK wrestle the Big Show. Go ahead. I won’t believe you, but you can tell me. But since it’s a straight tag, we’ll go youth and exuberance over age and wisdom, and boy what a spectacle it’ll be if DRAKE’s boys can get the Bar up for Super Collider, eh? Pick: Authors of Pain and a continuing refusal to abbreviate perfectly good team names
Cain A. Knight: I don’t even think Authors of Pain got any television time on the go-home episode of Raw, and so this heel versus heel match feels like complete filler. But unlike last year’s heel versus heel filler match of Miz vs. Corbin, this one might actually be pretty good. The Big Show gives an advantage to The Bar that DRAKE MAVERICK won’t be able to counter. Pick: The Bar
Stella Cheeks: DRAKE MAVERICK ain’t showing up to work to have his team lose and honestly if AOP does lose they should just send them packing. This is their opportunity to prove that they are not a joke. Pick: AOP
Raw vs. SmackDown (Women)
Geno Mrosko: The Raw side just looks superior than the SmackDown side here, not least of all because the blue team doesn’t even have a full squad as of this writing. Pick: Raw
Sean Rueter: There’s no way Team Blue can form a proper strategy when they don’t even know the make-up of their team. Plus, there’s a non-zero chance Nia further mucks up their plans by punching someone right in the eye. Pick: Raw
Kyle Decker: SmackDown women are a bit more stacked, even with losing Charlotte Flair. The Raw team is more volatile with Ruby Riott and Natalya hating each other. But they also have Nia Jax, who will be facing Ronda Rousey for the women’s title soon. I say the men and the women split and will go with the SmackDown women here. Pick: SmackDown
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: SmackDown’s gonna win this one for the Man. Pick: SmackDown
Cain A. Knight: Charlotte’s removal from the blue team leaves Asuka as their only member who is a credible threat against Nia Jax. But considering that Nia and Tamina will probably be kept strong for an upcoming feud with Ronda Rousey, I think they will carry the red team to victory, with Nia Jax as the sole survivor. I certainly won’t complain though if Asuka goes crazy and wins it all by herself for Team Blue. Pick: Raw
Stella Cheeks: The SmackDown team looks impressive, even without Charlotte, plus they are united. The Raw team has a lot going on in terms of in-fighting. Nia and Tamina vs everyone, Nattie vs. Ruby, Mickie vs my heart. The Raw team will be their own destruction. Pick: Team SmackDown
Raw vs. SmackDown (Men)
Geno Mrosko: SmackDown would have been in a great position had they put Randy Orton on the team. He’s a legend in this match. They blew it. Pick: Raw
Sean Rueter: Whose team has the Best in the World on it? That’s what I thought. Pick: SmackDown
Kyle Decker: Part of me wondered if Corbin was going to sabotage his own team to try to get out of facing Braun Strowman, but I don’t see Braun taking a loss here if they want to keep him strong for the eventual match with Brock. Pick: Raw
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Shane’s whole story about firing talent that don’t live up has to pay off somewhere, doesn’t it? Feels like a loss and a tantrum here, followed by firing somebody is like a solid guess for Tuesday night. Pick: Raw
Cain A. Knight: Based on how all of these men are presented in kayfabe, there’s nobody on the SmackDown side who can hang with Strowman or McIntyre. Even if one of those two dudes gets eliminated with a lame count out or disqualification, the other one will survive. Considering how this year’s Elimination Chamber match and last year’s Survivor Series match were dominated by Strowman, there’s a decent chance that he ruins this one too by beating way too many people with his boring finisher. Please spread the wealth around this time, WWE. Pick: Raw
Stella Cheeks: The Raw team has Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman. The SmackDown team has Shane McMahon. Duh. Pick: Team Raw
Raw vs. SmackDown (Tag team)
Geno Mrosko: I guess the blue team has to win one of these elimination matches. Might as well be the pre-show. Pick: SmackDown
Sean Rueter: If Raw had put former SmackDown tag champs Beauty and The Man-Beast on their squad maybe, MAYBE, I would have been able to take them seriously. But as currently configured, they just don’t have an answer for what Epico & Primo bring to the table. Pick: SmackDown
Kyle Decker: Gotta be SmackDown here just because they have the Usos and New Day and the entire Raw tag division is pretty much a joke at this point. Pick: SmackDown
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Since both teams have at least one trio on them, you think they’re gonna just let this be an 11 vs. 11 tag? Although I guess that’s vaguely unfair to whichever of SAnitY or New Day have to leave a man behind... Anyway, this is the most thrown together thing on the show. No doubt it’ll be fun, but... Pick: SmackDown
Cain A. Knight: The Usos and New Day don’t even need anyone else on their side to prevail against Raw’s collection of jobbers. Raw’s team is so bad that this match has been dumped onto the pre-show instead of the cruiserweights. Pick: SmackDown
Stella Cheeks: THE RAW TEAM IS A WALKING JOKE. Oh, is the B-TEAM going to beat The Usos? I think not. Seriously, what happened to their tag division? Pick: SmackDown
Buddy Murphy vs. Mustafa Ali
Geno Mrosko: Who? Pick: Mustafa Ali
Sean Rueter: Ali might be my favorite performer on the planet right now, but the Juggernaught deserves more than a one event reign. Plus, I like the Heart of 205 Live chasing and am down to watch a few more weeks/months of that. Pick: Buddy Murphy
Kyle Decker: Let’s see Ali. Feels like it’s been his time for awhile now. Pick: Mustafa Ali
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: My man Ali’s coming off hot from a hell of a weekend in Evolve, and while Buddy Murphy’s got that big league title cred, he ain’t got nothing on Darby Allin’s maniacal desire to leap off anything above eye level. Mustafa said he’s coming back with the title next time Evolve’s in Chicago, and babyfaces don’t make promises they’re not going to keep. Pick: Mustafa Ali
Cain A. Knight: Survivor Series isn’t taking place in Australia, so Buddy Murphy’s time as champ is over. Pick: Mustafa Ali
Stella Cheeks: Mustafa and Cedric need to feud away from the belt. Buddy should retain, if only to keep the Cedric/Ali feud hot. Plus, Buddy is a solid champ. He can keep it until Drew takes it #ForABetter205 Pick: Buddy Murphy
That’s how we see the card playing out.
How about you?