Written by: Kevin Berge (All Images Courtesy of: WWE.com)
Let the war begin! Raw and SmackDown have been at each other's throats for a while, and last week's Raw showed them to be nearly at a boiling point. Now the brands will fight in five clashes to determine who is better even with championships on the line.
Survivor Series has never been more focused on one theme, but it was still up to the talent involved to prove their worth particularly with four full hours for only six matches with a main event between two monsters who have just been out of shape.
Survivor Series has never been more focused on one theme, but it was still up to the talent involved to prove their worth particularly with four full hours for only six matches with a main event between two monsters who have just been out of shape.
Exhibit A of what I feel like doing after this show.
TJ Perkins, Noam Dar, and Rich Swann def. Tony Nese, Drew Gulak, and Ariya Daivari
Overview: This match shifted back and forth until things broke down as everyone dived to the outside, leaving Swann and Daivari alone. Swann hit a spinning heel kick and standing 450 for the win.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was really good which shocked me because we have seen so many cruiserweight six-man tags. WWE needs to get away from them, but this was quite good as everyone got a moment and the moments flowed. Perhaps it was because the crowd actually cared for once.
Highlights:
- Swann hit a dropkick then tagged in Perkins for a high-angle senton bomb.
- TJP wheelbarrowed into a kneebar on Gulak.
- TJP and Dar hit tandem strikes on Daivari into a running dropkick.
- Dar swept the leg of Nese on the apron but walked into a Daivari spinebuster.
- Gulak transitioned from a spinning toe hold into an Indian Death Lock into an arm wrench on Dar.
- Swann hit a spinning back kick into an elevated double running foot stomp then a Frankensteiner on Daivari.
- Dar hit a suicide dive on Gulak then Nese hit a corkscrew senton on Dar into a somersault senton over the referee.
Analysis: This was really good which shocked me because we have seen so many cruiserweight six-man tags. WWE needs to get away from them, but this was quite good as everyone got a moment and the moments flowed. Perhaps it was because the crowd actually cared for once.
Rating: 8/10
SmackDown doesn't need the cruiserweights of Raw. They have cruiserweight Kane and Harper ready to do all the flips.
Kane def. Luke Harper
Overview: This match started out slow, but Luke Harper got rolling with some surprising athleticism. Kane answered with his own big moves before the two heavyweights went to their hard-hitting arsenal in full. Kane caught Harper's discus clothesline and hit a chokeslam for the win.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was about as good a Kane match as we have seen in a while without the need for gimmicks. Kane came in and rolls strong with Harper pulling out some great moves. It all just felt a bit superfluous though, like a TV match.
Highlights:
- Harper hit Kane with a suicide dive into a high-angle senton bomb then a big boot.
- Kane caught Harper top rope with an uppercut then a superplex.
- Kane rallied with a series of running forearms, whips and body avalanches in the corner, and then a side walk slam.
- As Kane bounced off the ropes, he ran into a single leg dropkick.
- Kane hit a big boot into a DDT.
Analysis: This was about as good a Kane match as we have seen in a while without the need for gimmicks. Kane came in and rolls strong with Harper pulling out some great moves. It all just felt a bit superfluous though, like a TV match.
Rating: 7.5/10
Why, Bayley, why? You're better than this. You've been taken over by evil brand pride!
Team Raw def. Team SmackDown in the Women's Traditional Five-On-Five Elimination Match with Survivors Bayley and Charlotte
Overview: Alicia Fox came out swinging and hit a scissors kick on Carmella for the first elimination. Alexa Bliss answered immediately with a throw into the turnbuckle and Twisted Bliss for a Fox elimination. Nia Jax eliminated Naomi by count out after throwing her hard onto the floor.
Natalya managed to roll up Sasha Banks for the elimination with an assist for Bliss. Charlotte big booted Natalya for the elimination. Lynch submitted Jax with the Dis-arm-her but was attacked afterward by an angry Jax.
Bliss tried to roll Lynch to safety but took a big boot and elimination for her trouble. Bayley blocked a Dis-arm-her with the ropes and rebounded into a Bayley-to-Belly on Lynch for the win. Angry about not having the spotlight, Charlotte assaulted Bayley afterward.
Highlights:
Analysis: The women pulled out all the stops here without too many huge moments. Nia Jax stood out once again with a powerful performance particularly with the way she manhandled Naomi as well as double suplexing Lynch and Bliss.
The stories throughout were fun to watch. Beyond Jax's domination, we got Lynch and Bliss trying to both outshine one another and still win. Finally, WWE used the finish to jumpstart Charlotte vs. Bayley which should dominate the road to the Royal Rumble for Raw.
Natalya managed to roll up Sasha Banks for the elimination with an assist for Bliss. Charlotte big booted Natalya for the elimination. Lynch submitted Jax with the Dis-arm-her but was attacked afterward by an angry Jax.
Bliss tried to roll Lynch to safety but took a big boot and elimination for her trouble. Bayley blocked a Dis-arm-her with the ropes and rebounded into a Bayley-to-Belly on Lynch for the win. Angry about not having the spotlight, Charlotte assaulted Bayley afterward.
Highlights:
- Fox hit a single leg dropkick then Northern Lights Suplex on Carmella but was answered with a Bronco Buster.
- Jax stopped all of Team SmackDown when her teammates began in-fighting over tags then hit a body avalanche on each member.
- Jax double shoulder tackled Carmella and Natalya.
- Naomi dived onto Jax on the outside with a crossbody.
- Natalya and Bliss tried to team up on Banks, but she set them up for a double knee in the corner. Natalya escaped but got double kneed onto the floor instead.
- Natalya hit a discus clothesline and reverse German suplex on Charlotte then caught her top rope for a sit-out powerbomb.
- Lynch and Bliss attempt to suplex Jax but get suplexed instead.
- Lynch hit Bayley with a pump handle Bexplex.
Analysis: The women pulled out all the stops here without too many huge moments. Nia Jax stood out once again with a powerful performance particularly with the way she manhandled Naomi as well as double suplexing Lynch and Bliss.
The stories throughout were fun to watch. Beyond Jax's domination, we got Lynch and Bliss trying to both outshine one another and still win. Finally, WWE used the finish to jumpstart Charlotte vs. Bayley which should dominate the road to the Royal Rumble for Raw.
Rating: 8.25/10
Exhibit B
The Miz def. Sami Zayn to Retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship for SmackDown Live
Overview: Sami Zayn seemed just too fast and strong for The Miz at first until Miz targeted his knee in the corner. This allowed Miz to dissect and almost cripple Zayn. Still Zayn managed to pull out big moves even as he was hobbled.
The injury truly came to bare when Zayn tried to hit the Helluva Kick, failing due to a lack of speed multiple times. He ended deciding to use Miz's own figure four leglock instead, but Maryse rang the bell early to convince Zayn he had already won with Miz then rolling Zayn for the win.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was a quality match though it did lack the energy of some of Miz's recent top performances. Still, the actual wrestling here could not be remotely faulted as Miz was on point with a targeted assault of Zayn's right leg and pulled out the best in his arsenal.
Zayn also seemed to work well with Miz as the two transitioned well from one move to the next plus Zayn was perfect selling the leg at every turn. The finish was exactly how they should be booking Miz right now. It all worked but felt like it needed one last spark.
The injury truly came to bare when Zayn tried to hit the Helluva Kick, failing due to a lack of speed multiple times. He ended deciding to use Miz's own figure four leglock instead, but Maryse rang the bell early to convince Zayn he had already won with Miz then rolling Zayn for the win.
Highlights:
- Miz repeatedly smacked Zayn's right leg into the steel post.
- Zayn hit Miz with a somersault senton to the floor.
- Zayn blocked the figure four leglock and hit a Michinoku driver.
- Miz hit repeated dropkicks into the corner followed by an Awesome clothesline on Zayn.
- Zayn pulled out a sudden Blue Thunder Bomb.
- Zayn hit an exploder suplex, but Miz dodged his Helluva Kick then locked in the figure four leglock.
- Miz used Daniel Bryan's repeated kicks but missed the roundhouse to get rolled into a figure four leglock by Zayn.
Analysis: This was a quality match though it did lack the energy of some of Miz's recent top performances. Still, the actual wrestling here could not be remotely faulted as Miz was on point with a targeted assault of Zayn's right leg and pulled out the best in his arsenal.
Zayn also seemed to work well with Miz as the two transitioned well from one move to the next plus Zayn was perfect selling the leg at every turn. The finish was exactly how they should be booking Miz right now. It all worked but felt like it needed one last spark.
Rating: 8.5/10
Can you follow the action? Yeah, neither can I and I really am starting not to care to.
Team Raw def. Team SmackDown in the Tag Team Traditional Ten-On-Ten Elimination Match with Sole Survivors Sheamus and Cesaro
Overview: After throwing fashion police tickets at everyone, Fandango walked right into the Midnight Special for an elimination with an Uso superkick on Kofi getting another rapid elimination. Zack Ryder ended up taking a Magic Killer after a flurry of offense on Gallows and Anderson.
American Alpha evened things up with a Steinerizer on Primo. The Magic Killer eliminated American Alpha. Luke Gallows accidentally knocked Enzo off the apron only to run into a Gore elimination. A big boot and Bada Boom Shaka Laka eliminated Rhyno.
After The Usos hit superkick and splash on Enzo for the elimination, it was down to The Usos and Sheamus and Cesaro. The two went back and forth with multiple nearfalls until Cesaro locked Jimmy Uso in the Sharpshooter then Sheamus blocked his partner's save with a Brogue Kick, forcing the tap out final elimination.
Highlights:
Analysis: This match started out as a mess. The wrestlers seemed to have no idea how to keep the pace rolling, and it showed. The decision to have two quick eliminations for shock value really killed the mood. Even once it was down to three on three, this was still messy.
However, the final surprisingly long segment between The Usos and Sheamus and Cesaro was so good that it elevated the match. The two kept the energy in a flurry and truly made each nearfall count. I would love to see more from these two teams some time.
American Alpha evened things up with a Steinerizer on Primo. The Magic Killer eliminated American Alpha. Luke Gallows accidentally knocked Enzo off the apron only to run into a Gore elimination. A big boot and Bada Boom Shaka Laka eliminated Rhyno.
After The Usos hit superkick and splash on Enzo for the elimination, it was down to The Usos and Sheamus and Cesaro. The two went back and forth with multiple nearfalls until Cesaro locked Jimmy Uso in the Sharpshooter then Sheamus blocked his partner's save with a Brogue Kick, forcing the tap out final elimination.
Highlights:
- Mojo stopped Epico from tagging out with a tackle to the knee.
- Ryder hit double knees to Anderson then a missile dropkick.
- American Alpha double dropkicked Gallows and Anderson.
- Epico hit the Tripleta on Gable then Primo hit a diving axe handle.
- Most of the remaining wrestlers outside take an Air Enzo.
- Slater hit a crowd dive onto everyone off the top.
- Jason Jordan assisted a Gable somersault plancha outside.
- Slater flurried right into an Anderson spinebuster.
- One Uso dodged a Brogue Kick then hit an enzuigiri into a double superkick on Cesaro with Sheamus saving the pin.
- A connected Brogue Kick nearly ended the match.
- Sheamus hit an avalanche White Noise got splashed immediately.
- Cesaro's uppercut train was stalled by an Uso uppercut but Cesaro replied with a springboard corkscrew uppercut.
- Cesaro dropkicked one Uso, 619ed the other, hit a running uppercut outside, then hit a diving crossbody back into the ring.
- Cesaro hit the swing into a Sharpshooter with it broken up by a low superkick into a single leg Boston crab which was reversed into a Sharpshooter.
Analysis: This match started out as a mess. The wrestlers seemed to have no idea how to keep the pace rolling, and it showed. The decision to have two quick eliminations for shock value really killed the mood. Even once it was down to three on three, this was still messy.
However, the final surprisingly long segment between The Usos and Sheamus and Cesaro was so good that it elevated the match. The two kept the energy in a flurry and truly made each nearfall count. I would love to see more from these two teams some time.
Rating: 7.5/10
Exhibit C
The Brian Kendrick def. Kalisto by Disqualification and Retains the WWE Cruiserweight Championship for Monday Night Raw
Overview: Kalisto and Kendrick seemed to be working at an equal clip until Kendrick used his veteran ring awareness to viciously injure Kalisto. Kalisto exploded back late in the match before Baron Corbin snuck in and assaulted Kendrick then Kalisto to cause a DQ.
Highlights:
Analysis: This match was quite good, perhaps the best we have seen from the cruiserweights on the main roster. Kalisto and Kendrick built the match so well, going bigger and bigger with some surprising big moments in the match.
The finish was also excellent as it saved both men and felt appropriate for Kendrick who has taken any win he possibly could. This also could lead to some interesting stories for Corbin who cost SmackDown a whole division.
Highlights:
- Kalisto started hot with a headscissors into a suicide dive.
- Kendrick missed the Sliced Bread then blocked the Salida Del Sol.
- Kendrick short armed Kalisto right into the turnbuckle then trapped his head between post and steps, kicking them into him.
- Kalisto hit a standing Spanish Fly off the apron to the floor.
- Kendrick blocked a top rope Salida Del Sol and hit a top rope reverse headlock takedown into an immediate Captain's Hook.
- Kendrick got his foot on the ropes after a Salida Del Sol.
Analysis: This match was quite good, perhaps the best we have seen from the cruiserweights on the main roster. Kalisto and Kendrick built the match so well, going bigger and bigger with some surprising big moments in the match.
The finish was also excellent as it saved both men and felt appropriate for Kendrick who has taken any win he possibly could. This also could lead to some interesting stories for Corbin who cost SmackDown a whole division.
Rating: 8/10
A reminder that Kevin Owens once more was trumped by a list.
Team SmackDown def. Team Raw in the Men's Traditional Five-On-Five Elimination Match with Survivors Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton
Overview: This match started off as you'd expect, a showcase of the best trying to go big to take an early victory. No one went down until AJ Styles and Dean Ambrose started fighting, allowing Braun Strowman to slip in and powerslam Ambrose for the elimination.
Strowman was eliminated by count out thanks to a Shane McMahon elbow drop through a table and James Ellsworth holding Strowman back from returning to the ring. Styles hit a running forearm on Owens, frustrating KO who attacked Styles with the List of Jericho.
This got KO eliminated with Chris Jericho following when he tried to pick up the List and walked into an RKO. Shane took a mid-air Spear off a Coast to Coast attempt for the elimination then Ambrose returned out of anger to help triple powerbomb Styles for an elimination.
Finally, it was down to Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns against the entire Wyatt Family with Luke Harper appearing. Rollins frog splashed into an RKO elimination. Then Randy Orton took a Spear for Bray Wyatt, so he could Sister Abigail Reigns for the final elimination and win.
Highlights:
Analysis: I wouldn't call this match terrible, but, for the talent involved, it was bad. Still, the talent put in some great work at times to make for a poorly structured, overlong mess that often felt like it was booked by a group of people who just cared that they all got their spots in.
Styles, Reigns, and Orton were the MVPs for the most part in the match while Shane was the noticeable drag as he just was not in shape for this. He seemed to get injured during the Spear elimination as did Reigns, and I hope they are both all right.
Strowman was eliminated by count out thanks to a Shane McMahon elbow drop through a table and James Ellsworth holding Strowman back from returning to the ring. Styles hit a running forearm on Owens, frustrating KO who attacked Styles with the List of Jericho.
This got KO eliminated with Chris Jericho following when he tried to pick up the List and walked into an RKO. Shane took a mid-air Spear off a Coast to Coast attempt for the elimination then Ambrose returned out of anger to help triple powerbomb Styles for an elimination.
Finally, it was down to Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns against the entire Wyatt Family with Luke Harper appearing. Rollins frog splashed into an RKO elimination. Then Randy Orton took a Spear for Bray Wyatt, so he could Sister Abigail Reigns for the final elimination and win.
Highlights:
- Styles and Owens started with Styles dodging a pump up powerbomb then missing a pele kick then dodging powerbomb before Owens ducked out of a Styles Clash.
- Jericho saved his best friend KO before he took a Dirty Deeds.
- Owens hit a diving rolling senton outside onto everyone.
- Shane set up to dive on everyone but got caught by Strowman.
- Strowman dropkicked Wyatt and went after him until Orton RKOed Strowman into the table.
- Jericho hit double Codebreakers on Shane then Orton.
- Orton hit an effortless superplex on Rollins.
- Reigns nailed three straight Samoan drops on everyone from Team SmackDown but Shane then hit Styles with a Niagra driver.
- Shane came back hot with a DDT on Reigns and flurry of almost wrestling moves on Reigns and Rollins.
- Rollins hit a superplex into a Falcon Arrow on Styles.
- Harper threw Reigns into the steel post then hit a superkick.
- Wyatt's Sister Abigail was thrown off into a Superman Punch.
Analysis: I wouldn't call this match terrible, but, for the talent involved, it was bad. Still, the talent put in some great work at times to make for a poorly structured, overlong mess that often felt like it was booked by a group of people who just cared that they all got their spots in.
Styles, Reigns, and Orton were the MVPs for the most part in the match while Shane was the noticeable drag as he just was not in shape for this. He seemed to get injured during the Spear elimination as did Reigns, and I hope they are both all right.
Rating: 7.5/10
Is this streak of dominance just going to be a thing each part-timer passes to the next part-timer?
Goldberg def. Brock Lesnar
Overview: Brock Lesnar immediately lifted Goldberg into the corner but got immediately smacked to the mat. Goldberg hit back to back Spears then the Jackhammer for the win.
Analysis: ...I can barely finds the words. I hated when Brock Lesnar ended the Streak, but I ended up convincing myself it was for a greater purpose. He would carry the torch than pass it along. I guess it passed it along... to Goldberg, a guy who still hasn't proven he can do anything in the ring anymore.
Analysis: ...I can barely finds the words. I hated when Brock Lesnar ended the Streak, but I ended up convincing myself it was for a greater purpose. He would carry the torch than pass it along. I guess it passed it along... to Goldberg, a guy who still hasn't proven he can do anything in the ring anymore.
Rating: Worst Waste of Build Up Ever
Exhibit F as in I'm done, I'm out, that's what this show deserves.
Final Notes: James Ellsworth met Gallows and Anderson who made fun of him until Mick Foley told them to back off and offered Ellsworth a potential contract with Raw. Shane McMahon interrupted bickering between Ambrose and Styles, demanding they get on the same page.
Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley celebrated their early victories backstage and announce New Day vs. Cesaro and Sheamus for the Raw Tag Team Championship tomorrow night on Raw. Daniel Bryan confronted Baron Corbin and told him there would be consequences for his actions.
Conclusion: This was a failure. No, the matches were not terrible, but it was a collection of bad decisions and poorly conceived matches. The women were the only ones to have a solid match from start to finish between the three elimination matches.
I am truly and wholly stunned by this abomination, this catastrophe, that wasn't worthy of my time watching or reviewing it.
Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley celebrated their early victories backstage and announce New Day vs. Cesaro and Sheamus for the Raw Tag Team Championship tomorrow night on Raw. Daniel Bryan confronted Baron Corbin and told him there would be consequences for his actions.
Conclusion: This was a failure. No, the matches were not terrible, but it was a collection of bad decisions and poorly conceived matches. The women were the only ones to have a solid match from start to finish between the three elimination matches.
I am truly and wholly stunned by this abomination, this catastrophe, that wasn't worthy of my time watching or reviewing it.