NZPWI Roundtable: WWE Survivor Series 2020

by NZPWI

November 23, 2020

NZPWI Roundtable: WWE Survivor Series 2020

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Universal Champion Roman Reigns collides with WWE Champion Drew McIntyre at Survivor Series.

Raw Women’s Champion Asuka meets SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks in a SummerSlam rematch.

Bobby Lashley and Sami Zayn do battle to see whether the Intercontinental or United States Championship means more.

And, of course, 5-on-5 Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Matches return as Raw and SmackDown battle for brand superiority.

Who’ll emerge as the best of the best? Join the NZPWI Roundtable as we break down the card for Survivor Series.

* * *

Drew McIntyre vs. Roman Reigns

David Dunn:
McIntyre vs. Reigns feels like a match for the ages, and I’m sure both men are feeling that pressure. Their stats and accomplishments are very even on paper so it may fall to the man on the outside of the ring, and in the ear of the tribal chief, to be the difference-maker.
Winner: Roman Reigns

Grady Hooker:
I’m surprised Drew McIntyre found his way into this match but now he has to go up against the tribal chief, who isn’t thinking about losing any time soon.
Winner: Roman Reigns

AJ Murtagh:
This is the most enticing match on the card, in my opinion. Both men are on top of their games right now and this could go either way. The man who is willing to do anything to win will get the victory. And we know who that is.
Winner: Roman Reigns

Steve McCleary:
Big-time match right here. A month back I’d have put these two neck-and-neck but now that Roman has shaken off any ring rust, and Drew has suffered a loss during a vicious Orton rivalry, I’d say the edge goes to the chief.
Winner: Roman Reigns

Asuka vs. Sasha Banks

David:
Is anyone ready for Asuka? Not traditionally – and what is Survivor Series if not the home of WWE’s traditions?
Winner: Asuka

Grady:
Sasha Banks is coming off a high by finally taking down her nemesis in Bayley and having her episodes of The Mandalorian debut. I think this level of energy and motivation is going to carry her through the tough opponent of Asuka.
Winner: Sasha Banks

AJ:
A year ago I would have given this to Asuka easily but Banks has really returned to form in the past few months. There is a fire in Sasha right now that I think will give her the edge, but it will be close.
Winner: Sasha Banks

Steve:
One of these people is powered by a Star War. Never bet against the support of that many nerds.
Winner: Sasha Banks

The New Day vs. The Street Profits

David:
The New Day is the most successful WWE tag team of all time, and now they can demonstrate why in this all-star game scenario.
Winners: The New Day

Grady:
This match should be a good one, but The New Day are one of the best tag teams of all time and they showed why this past week on Raw against The Hurt Business.
Winners: The New Day

AJ:
Instinctively I lean towards The New Day taking this one as they are undoubtedly one of the best tag teams in WWE history. But being the best can lead to a lack of hunger. I’m going out on a limb here but I think The Street Profits have more to prove and prove it they will.
Winners: The Street Profits

Steve:
This should be fun. I’m picking enthusiasm over experience.
Winners: The Street Profits

Bobby Lashley vs. Sami Zayn

David:
Lashey has a big size advantage over Zayn – that goes for his physical stats as well as the number of people he’ll have in his corner.
Winner: Bobby Lashley

Grady:
I am judging this one purely on who has the better burns on Twitter and that is Sami Zayn.
Winner: Sami Zayn

AJ:
Unless Retribution get involved I think Lashley will overpower Zayn and I don’t see Zayn having enough brand loyalty to put up much of a fight.
Winner: Bobby Lashley

Steve:
My heart says Sami but my brain says Bobby. Sami’s won the tweet war, though.
Winner: Bobby Lashley

5-on-5 Survivor Series Elimination Match:
Team Raw (AJ Styles, Braun Strowman, Keith Lee, Riddle & Sheamus) vs. Team SmackDown (Jey Uso, Kevin Owens, King Corbin, Otis & Seth Rollins)

David:
This one has Team Raw written all over it, right? NXT swept the Survivor Series line-up last year, and with Keith Lee and Riddle now flying the red flag, they should bring similar energy and levels of success.
Winners: Team Raw

Grady:
I know they are having trouble working together, but you cannot deny the pedigree of talent on Team Raw. It is five of the strongest competitors on the roster, and they simply can’t lose.
Winners: Team Raw

AJ:
Maybe I’m just being contrary but I have to go with the blue brand here. I think the division within Team Raw will end up costing them the match. That may be a simple analysis, but it’s really how I see this shaking out.
Winners: Team SmackDown

Steve:
Raw wins on paper, but they just haven’t shown it in action.
Winners: Team SmackDown

5-on-5 Survivor Series Elimination Match:
Team Raw (Lacey Evans, Lana, Nia Jax, Peyton Royce & Shayna Baszler) vs. Team SmackDown (Bayley, Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Natalya & Ruby Riott)

David:
I don’t like the chemistry—or lack of it—on Team Raw. Nia Jax will end up handing SmackDown the victory if she smashes Lana through a table again.
Winners: Team SmackDown

Grady:
I think Bianca Belair is going to be decision-maker here, she could take out two or three or four, maybe even the entire Team Raw on her way to securing a win for the blue brand.
Winners: Team SmackDown

AJ:
I think Team Raw had the stronger team before Bayley and Natalya joined Team SmackDown. That said, at this point, I still have a hard time betting against Team Raw.
Winners: Team Raw

Steve:
Ha, like I’m gonna bet against a team featuring Baszler.
Winners: Team Raw