Survivor Series is live on pay-per-view this Monday; how is the card shaping up?

We take a look at the past with Raw going "Old School" this Friday, and then look to the future to see whether the Nexus will feature prominently at next year's Royal Rumble.

Thanks for joining us for this week's Gimme Five.

1) Survivor Series. Are you excited about this year's card and event?

Dion:
With only a few matches officially announced, the main events are looking pretty solid at least. It would've been nice to see some traditional Survivor Series matches being built up from a few weeks back though.

Simon:
I definitely like the build and developments of the Orton/Wade/Cena situation - but has that come at the price of what the Survivor Series once was? I mean - that match could be on any PPV and it would sell and work. But we have no real build to any traditional Survivor Series matches - and you think since they had to save the Survivor Series from extinction they would try and promote that aspect. But then, we've just had Bragging Rights not so long back...

Stevie:
It's feeling pretty lacklustre to me and I'm having trouble getting excited. I'm sure it'll be a fine event, they usually are, and Free or Fired will deliver. Hopefully they'll throw some traditional Survivor Series matches on the card - after all, they've been featured on SummerSlam and Bragging Rights this year! They can't really sell the event on the name alone any more so who knows why they've done this the way they have.

Steph:
Not so much! I like the gimmicky PPVs, and as others have said, the actual Survivor Series gimmick hasn't been pushed at all this year.

Luke:
I'm getting pumped for the Barrett/Orton confrontation due to the side story involving both Otunga and Cena. Will Cena turn heel? Will Otunga screw Barrett? Will Cena screw Barrett? Will Orton still be champ? Apart from that, not really. WWE drop the ball hard with Survivor Series these days, where they could utilize the concept of bragging rights at the PPV instead of having it a few weeks earlier. That way, you could have classic Survivor Series styled matches involving the brands and it would mean more.

David:
Only having three announced matches makes it a little difficult to get excited, but those three look quite good. Having no traditional Survivor Series matches could hurt, but then again, it worked for Survivor Series 2002 - and the John Cena saga should be able to fill the 'surviving' quota for the show.

Matt:
I say it every year… until they return the entire card to being just classic Survivor Series matches, then it’s going to continue to be just another run-of-the-mill PPV. I miss the whole "Teams Of Five Striving To Survive" concept! The fact that they even have to call such a match a “classic” sort of tells you something.

Kirsty:
I am looking forward to it, I expect to see a payoff in the Cena/Nexus angle. I hope so anyway, because as awesome as it is, it diminishes Orton's run with the strap. Like many others, I wish they would return to the traditional Survivor Series format, but if is hasn't by now it ain't gonna.

Scott:
Not wanting to include any spoilers for this weekend’s WWE shows, but the card is now looking very good and very interesting. And the culmination of the Cena vs. Nexus story will be enthralling. And, meanwhile, Miz waits in the wings, briefcase in hand...

2) If you had to pick a Tag Team of the year for 2010 who would it be and why?

Dion:
The Hart Dynasty, without a doubt. Head and shoulders above the rest.
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Simon:
I have to agree that the only tag team that has seemed to mean anything this year - and performed - was Hart Dynasty. So, of course the break-up of that team is now in action. Ridiculous.

Stevie:
Motor City Machine Guns. No doubt. Unless I have to pick a WWE tag team? There's only the Hart Dynasty and The Usos, isn't there? Aren't they splitting them up anyway? I'm sticking with the Guns.

Steph:
I do love the Harts but they lose points because I got bored with Natalya being under-utilised (and now of course having to be separated from the team to make her own championship bid). So I'm going to go with Vance Archer/Curt Hawkins - I honestly miss their little Two Stupid Dogs-esque dynamic.

Luke:
In the WWE, The Hart Dynasty. They have had an incredible year, have gotten over with the fans, captured gold and are a great team to watch. They remind me of an old school tag team rather than a "slap together" job by creative when they have nothing for somebody (eg. Drew and Rhodes). Overall, I agree with Stevie that the Motor City Machineguns own the title of Tag Team of 2010. They are a selling point to watch TNA and have had incredible matches against Generation Me this year. I recommend watching their match against Beer Money from an episode of iMPACT!, even if you're a TNA hater.

David:
The Motor City Machine Guns. I can't say I've seen all, or even the majority, of their matches this year, but what I have seen has been spectacular.

Matt:
It would be a dead heat between TNA's Motor City Machine Guns and Beer Money. Their recent “Best Of Five” series is the best tag team wrestling I have seen since the classics of the late eighties. The final match was up there with anything The Harts, Road Warriors, Bulldogs or Killer Bees might have busted out. Just hoping they release the rivalry on DVD?

Kirsty:
The Hart Dynasty. Although I'm glad to see Nattie getting some singles action (please let her be on her way to the title), I'm annoyed they're clearly planning on breaking Smith and Kidd up. They're the best tag team WWE has seen in ages.

Scott:
Shane Whitehead and Kade Morgan.

3) Do you like the idea of Raw going "Old School" and bringing out some blasts from the past, or do you think that this will mean little to the new generation of fan?

Dion:
I do like the idea, although I'm not as excited as I could be. It seems to be the usual suspects who are on the WWE Legends payroll - the kind that always get called up every now and then.

Simon:
It'd be nice if this was built up a bit more and we had some teasers but it's got a feeling of cobbled together from the usual old cronies. A shame really. I'll still tune in for some laughs and nostalgia.

Stevie:
Nostalgia and history are always good to keep in the current eye every so often. Creates more interest in the product overall and adds to more potential story ideas. Plus the Raw viewers are mainly made up of Dads (who want to keep watching wrestling) and their kids (who they're using as an excuse to keep watching wrestling) so I think it's a good idea. Here's hoping Nexus breaks a few old hips though...

Steph:
I can't really criticise anything that gets more Dusty and Ted Sr on my screen. But it's getting a bit too obvious which superstars of the days of yore are still hanging around backstage and which ones have absolutely divorced themselves from wrestling/WWE (or just appear in one-offs to tease the smarks, like the Rock and Lita).

Luke:
It's cool they are giving old WWF fans a blast from the past. I like how they have given the fans from the "Next Generation Era" a turn for some old school feel as most of the merchandise revolves around that era of Raw. For those who don't know that era, it was the time of 1994 - 1997 when Bret, Shawn, Diesel and even Goldust ran the roost. I think its a cool concept, though, without a few key names in the mix it might be a massive failure as WWE likes to let the same old legends out for any big edition of Raw. I don't think it will pull very big, but it is a cool thing to have.

David:
It should be a fun little novelty, but it doesn't mean a whole lot to me. I started watching wrestling in 2000, so most of the big names getting dragged out will be people I didn't grow up watching. If Raw ever decides to backtrack ten years for a one-off though, I'll be all over it.

Matt:
Put it this way… it is the first Raw I have taped all year so I can watch over and over again! Fans of today don't realise what they are missing! We need to educate them as to why these guys are legends, how much better they were at ring craft and psychology and how spoiled for choice wrestling fans were back in the day, with rosters chock filled with great workers (rather than fillers and has-beens!).

Kirsty:
Both. I like the idea because I am old school, so for my money it'll be a good show. I do not, however, think that many of the younger generation will care overmuch.

Scott:
Its going to be a mixed bag. Reactions for this Monday’s Raw seem mixed; a lot of love but also a lot of hate. Me, I don’t mind, as long as it is entertaining.

4) Casting forward to the Royal Rumble are you expecting Nexus to figure strongly?

Dion:
Definitely. I'm sure they'll dominate large parts of the Rumble match.

Simon:
I would expect that we might see the start of a bit of a bust-up between some of Nexus at this match, even. But they'll definitely do some damage in the main match as a collective I would think.

Stevie:
I'd say so, unless Vince freaks and busts up the team prematurely. Otherwise I'm looking forward to a little gang warfare towards WWE Superstars during the Rumble match, as well as Starscream finally turning on Megatron.

Steph:
I hope not, honestly. They'll be there, but I just want to see something different from them. Yes, you're a stable, yes your main tactics are ganging up on single opponents, but Legacy did it first and did it better with fewer people. Learn a new trick!

Luke:
I'm starting to really get behind the Nexus angle more than ever before now. The storyline between Cena and Barrett is heating up as well as the "loyalty" storyline involving the rest of Nexus and Otunga is giving the angle some interesting moments. I'd like to hope that Nexus follow through to the Rumble. There are many interesting paths this story could take us down to make the Rumble and the Road to WrestleMania huge for Barrett and the Nexus.

David:
I doubt all of its members will be allowed to enter the Rumble. Although, you have to figure Barrett (unless he's the WWE Champion), Gabriel and Otunga will be in there, so that's 10% of all the participants. They won't all be final four material though, so, they'll be featured, but not strongly.

Matt:
Hope not! Then again, perhaps that is a token way of explaining how Barrett might get to headline at 'Mania by winning the Rumble? Personally I'd like to see one of Nexus screw him out of the chance (Otunga?). Cena vs. Orton would make for a great 'Mania main. Well, there’s nothing else doing.

Kirsty:
Does the Pope wear a funny hat?

Scott:
Nope. We’ll be on the Road to WrestleMania by then, so it’ll be time for the more established names to shine. Barrett will still be there (or thereabouts), but the (possible, likely?) return of Triple H, Undertaker or even Chris Jericho is all we’ll be talking about come January.

5) Right now if you could bring back one past performer, give them all the powers they had at the height of fame and unleash them who would you pick?

Dion:
The Rock. The industry needs him. Badly.

Simon:
The Rock was the last great charismatic hero and heel in wrestling - capable of both and then of transcending both roles in fact. But he has moved on. We can't hope for him back. I would give Roddy Piper back his youth to see him go again - because he was someone that, on paper, should never have worked but somehow always delivered - and could cut promos better than anyone and commentate...

Stevie:
The Rock. No doubt. The thought of it makes me giddy. At the very least he'd make all the generic cookie cutter promo types suddenly have to learn how to be entertaining. And I think we'd all like to see Rocky talk trash with Miz and CM Punk.

Steph:
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. I would fangirl even Nexus if they had the god-king of all managers directing their run-ons.

Luke:
The Rock. His charisma, mic skills, electric in-ring style would be great. He would put over younger stars like he did in the Atittude era and make the WWE a happy place. Either him or I'd bring the Beer drinking, finger gesturing, foul mouthed, in-ring active, road ragin' Stone Cold Steve Austin back. But the probability of either Rocky coming back is about the same as Austin lacing the boots again, but I can still dream.

David:
Ric Flair. I'm not sure whether to be amazed or just depressed that he's still wrestling in TNA despite his beautiful retirement ceremony following WrestleMania XXIV, but I wouldn't mind winding back the clock a bit and having a younger version of the stylin', profilin', wheelin', dealin' kiss-stealin' son-of-a-gun back in WWE. Although, it's quite hard to pick just when Flair would have been at the height of his fame - perhaps it was when he retired?

Matt:
I’d love to say Bret hart because watching him at the peak of his powers schooling the roster would be gold and, by some miracle, I might get to see fantasy match of Hart vs. Angle played out! But if I had just one pick, it would have to be Andre the Giant. There has never been a wrestler so intimidating in all of wrestling history, and there has never been someone able to make you genuinely fear for the safety of his opponents quite like “The Giant”.

Kirsty:
The Rock. Without a doubt.

Scott:
Mr Perfect. A slight tweak and his gimmick would be heel-gold. He’d leave even the likes of Chris Jericho in his dust.