This Sunday, the WWE broadcasts its 27th annual Survivor Series pay-per-view live from the TD Garden in Boston. While the WWE has shied away from the original elimination tag format that made the event popular in its first couple of years dating back to 1987 and Survivor Series may have lost some of its luster from when it was a "Big 4" pay-per-view, Sunday's event should be exciting. The following is the finalized card along with some predictions and historical significance for each match:
The WWE's Survivor Series event used to consist of a card full of elimination tag matches and its original events took place on the night of Thanksgiving and then eventually Thanksgiving Eve before being relegated to Sunday's for good in 1995. This event, like most, takes place the Sunday before Thanksgiving to help somewhat keep the tradition alive, but only two traditional matches will take place.
It all starts off with the Survivor Series kick-off match:
One-On-One-Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz:
This match won't be on the regular card as it is part of the Survivor Series kick-off show leading up to the pay-per-view. These two have had a lot of matches over the last year, however they became allies after the Miz turned face. With the Miz recently walking out on and turning on Kingston on Monday Night RAW, the two will go head-to-head in a grudge match to kick off the proceedings. As far as a winner goes, it would make sense that the Miz should go over to jump-start his heel turn but it seems like the babyface Kingston may get his revenge to kick things off on a positive note.
The Pick: Kofi Kingston survives.
Now relegated to the pre-show, the Miz was in the main event just two years ago when he teamed up with R-Truth to take on John Cena and The Rock at Survivor Series 2011:
On with the show...
WWE Intercontinental Championship-Big E Langston (c) vs. Curtis Axel:
Unless the WWE decides to open up the actual pay-per-view with a traditional match, this makes sense as the logical opener to start this year's festivities. The WWE just gave this match away on free TV with Langston winning the championship from Axel on RAW, but Axel gets his rematch here where people have to pay to see it.
As far as a winner, it doesn't make sense for Langston--who John Cena is reportedly very high on--to win the title just to give it back six days later, and due to Axel's unimpressive run thus far in his WWE career, all signs point to Langston retaining.
The Pick: Big E Langston survives with his IC Title.
Curtis Axels' late father Mr. Perfect was paired up with Demolition back in 1990 to take on The Ultimate Warrior and the Legion of Doom and the Texas Tornado in a traditional match:
Traditional Seven-On-Seven Survivor Series Elimination Tag Match-Natalya, The Bella Twins (Brie and Nikki Bella), The Funkadactyls (Naomi and Cameron), Eva Marie, and JoJo vs. AJ Lee, Tamina Snuka,Kaitlyn, Alicia Fox, Rosa Mendes, Aksana, and Summer Rae:
WWE Divas Champion A.J. Lee and her fellow teammates' feud with the stars of the E! Network's Total Divas reality show will come to a head at the Survivor Series in a huge elimination match. The odds are that this match, as most pay-per-view matches involving divas are, will be rushed as seven people need to be eliminated in a short span before the match is over.
While it would make sense for the WWE to book their Divas Champion strong, it seems that at this point the WWE cares more about the popularity of the Total Divas show and will probably put the Bella Twins' team over here.
The Pick: The Total Divas team survives. Survivors: Natalya and The Bella Twins
Natalya is the niece of WWE Superstar Bret "Hitman" Hart, who will appear on the pre-show and was also involved in the infamous "Montreal Screwjob" in 1997 after he was forced to drop the belt to Shawn Michaels by Vince McMahon:
Traditional Five-On-Five Survivor Series Elimination Tag Match-Cody Rhodes, Goldust, Rey Mysterio and The Usos vs. The Shield and The Real Americans:
This match was rumored to be bigger and include The Wyatt Family and CM Punk and Daniel Bryan to give it a real important feel by adding two key midcarders in Punk and Bryan, but that speculation never came to fruition. This is one of just two traditional matches this year, showing how the direction of WWE has turned regarding elimination matches.
WWE has been able to reignite the tag division as Cody Rhodes and Goldust enter as the Tag Champions and have been feuding with The Real Americans. The Usos have been prominently featured on WWE television as a solid tag team as well and should be showcased in this match prominently.
A returning Rey Mysterio should bring more excitement to the match, but reports indicate that Mysterio was rushed back from injury and likely won't be used much in the match. One thing this match has going for it is there is its predictability factor as this contest can really go either way.
While The Shield has been a driving force since their debut last year making it possible they survive the match, the recent hints at the faction breaking up make it seem as though the WWE may further the storyline by having things fall apart in the match. Plus, with a returning Mysterio and the WWE tag champs looking to be booked strong, it seems as though the faces may get the nod Sunday night.
The Pick: The face team wins. Survivors: Cody Rhodes and Goldust, possibly Mysterio too if he's healthy enough.
The Shield made their debut last year at the Survivor Series, helping CM Punk retain the WWE Championship against John Cena and Ryback:
One of the best Traditional Survivor Series matches of all time was Team WWF vs. Team Alliance in 2001:
The WWE Survivor Series has gone a long way since the original event in 1987 where a traditional match not only closed the show, but featured the two superstars with the biggest feud as Hulk Hogan and his team battled Andre the Giant and his team.
Tag Team Match-CM Punk and Daniel Bryan vs. Luke Harper and Erick Rowan:
With the rumors of the Wyatt Family and Punk & Bryan being involved in the traditional match subsided, we are left with this tag team match between the rivals.
Punk and Bryan were attacked by the Wyatts on RAW a few weeks ago sparking the rivalry that has led to this match. Since the initial attack, each side has stood tall on episodes of RAW and SmackDown leading up to the event.
It seems as though the WWE is trying to push the Wyatts, but it is also tough to see two of the top babyfaces in Punk and Bryan dropping a major match at Survivor Series. It seems as though Punk and Bryan are gearing up to get their revenge, but with the WWE trying hard to get the Wyatts over for a rumored possible altercation with The Shield down the line, Bray Wyatt will probably somehow cost the babyfaces the match at Survivor Series.
The Pick: Luke Harper and Erick Rowan survive, but they don't win cleanly.
CM Punk had a show-stealing moment at the Survivor Series in 2011, winning the WWE Championship and launching a historic 434-day title reign:
A tag match involving major stars took place in Survivor Series 1992 when "Macho Man" Randy Savage teamed up with Mr. Perfect to take on "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair and Razor Ramon:
World Heavyweight Championship-John Cena (c) vs. Alberto Del Rio:
John Cena returned from surgery to repair a distended elbow and torn triceps months earlier than expected on Oct. 27 at the WWE's Hell in a Cell pay-per-view and walked out of his first match back with Alberto Del Rio's championship.
The two have been feuding ever since leading up to this rematch at the Survivor Series. With rumors of there possibly being a title unification match between the World Heavyweight Championship and WWE Championship at WrestleMania, logic points to Cena going over. That, along with the fact that Cena is trying to bring an important feel to the title that couldn't possibly be obtained through a short one-month reign, it stands to reason that Cena will go over and probably hold onto the title until WrestleMania on April 6.
The Pick: John Cena survives and retains the title.
John Cena made his Survivor Series debut a decade ago in 2003 as part of Team Angle in its match vs. Team Lesnar:
The last time Survivor Series was in Cena's home state of Massachusetts, he returned from another injury and defeated Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight Championship in 2008:
WWE Championship-Randy Orton (c) vs. The Big Show:
The Big Show's feud with Triple H continues here with Randy Orton, and it will be interesting to see if Orton can beat Big Show "with no help" as WWE has been building to on programming. With a rumored altercation between The Big Show and Triple H set for either December's TLC pay-per-view or January's Royal Rumble pay-per-view, this match could go one of two ways, but it's likely that Orton will retain.
The possibility of Big Show going over would likely only be achieved if the WWE wants to put the title on Big Show, save the Triple H match for the Royal Rumble and have Orton win it back at TLC in December in a rematch with The Big Show.
It stands more likely that Orton, probably with Triple H's help, will retain the title at Survivor Series, either setting up Triple H and Big Show at TLC or a rematch between Orton and Big Show at TLC to leave the Big Show and Triple H match as a special attraction at the Royal Rumble.
The Pick: Randy Orton survives the Survivor Series as WWE Champion.
The Big Show won the WWE Championship for the first time from Triple H and The Rock as a replacement for Steve Austin in 1999:
Orton was the sole survivor for three years in a row, starting with a huge win in 2003:
Throwback: One of the best title matches in history of the event saw Bret Hart defeat Diesel in 1995:
The 27th annual Survivor Series takes place this Sunday at the TD Garden in Boston, and while the elimination matches have been toned down rapidly the last few years, the hope is that the WWE can pull out all the stops to make this once great pay-per-view feel prestigious once again.
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