There were no new champions crowned at Sunday’s Survivor Series and the pay per view as a whole was okay as RAW battled SmackDown. Here’s a report on each match from Survivor Series with a grade attached. Don’t agree with a grade, then feel free to score the show. If you missed the pay per view, be sure to check our Survivor Series results.
Team Raw (Bobby Roode & Chad Gable, The Revival, The B-Team, Lucha House Party and The Ascension) vs. Team SmackDown (The Usos, New Day, SAnitY, The Colons and Anderson & Gallows)
There were too many people involved in this match. Just looking at the graphic for the match and you knew this was probably not going to be a memorable affair. I figured New Day, The Usos and Baby Roode & Chad Gable would probably be the stars. Props to Lucha House Party who changed course early after Kalisto suffered an apparent injury. I also thought The Revival showed why they belong in the title picture. My biggest disappoint was how quick The B-Team were eliminated as they are still massively over with the crowd. Grade: B-
Authors of Pain vs. The Bar (Cesaro & Sheamus)
The most interesting part was that these two teams have never met before. The match was decent, with the highlight being Drake Maverick pissing his pants. Like Big Show, I could not stop laughing at the booking decision. At the same time, someone having an accident in their pants should not be the star moment of the match. Grade: B-
Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
For the first time ever, Seth Rollins took on Shinsuke Nakamura. For a match that looked like the show stealer on paper, it just did not deliver like many hoped. I am not sure if there was too much pressure being placed on both or if we were waiting for Dean Ambrose to get involved. The match was not awful; it just did not meet expectations. I have noticed a pattern where Nakamura’s matches seem to getter better as the feud gets deeper. Unfortunately, this was one time match and not part of larger feud. Grade: B
Team Raw (Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, Finn Balor, Bobby Lashley & Braun Strowman) vs. Team SmackDown (The Miz, Rey Mysterio, Shane McMahon, Samoa Joe & Jeff Hardy)
Team RAW was not on the same page, yet they had little trouble getting the win. Samoa Joe was eliminated early, but I feel like that is because he is not near 100%. Drew McIntyre looked strong; as did Braun Strowman by basically eliminating all of SmackDown. It felt like the match focused around Shane McMahon when he should have given his spot to a full-time wrestler like Randy Orton. There was lots of talent in the ring, but not enough done to deliver a compelling match. This felt like a major letdown. Grade: B
Team Raw (Mickie James, Nia Jax, Tamina, Sasha Banks & Bayley) vs. Team SmackDown (Carmella, Naomi, Sonya Deville, Asuka & Mandy Rose)
If you decided to watch the pre-show, you would know how both teams underwent late changes. A few things stood out during the match. Nia Jax had so much heat and she embraced it by acknowledging the injury done to Becky Lynch. Mandy Rose needs lots of work, but WWE seems high on her future. Then there was Asuka, who is in the opposite spot of last year. She went from unbeatable to just another female superstar. The best decision here was adding Sasha Banks and Bayley as late additions. They saved the match from bombing. Grade: B
Brock Lesnar vs. Daniel Bryan
Interesting back story as this match was confirmed Tuesday night and both are supposed to be top WWE heels. Brock Lesnar did his thing by hitting suplexes and Bryan only leveled the playing field after a low blow. I do not think many pictured Bryan getting the win, but he showed an aggressive and somewhat possessed side. The match is done and the bigger question will be how to book Bryan going forward. I thought WWE should have allowed Bryan to mount a little more offense since he just turned heel. Grade: B+
Cruiserweight Championship Match: Buddy Murphy vs. Mustafa Ali
WWE needs to do something about 205 Live. They have been delivering some of the best matches of the year and nobody knows as the brand seems lost between RAW, SmackDown and NXT getting all the attention. I imagine most people do not know much about Buddy Murphy or Mustafa Ali, but they should. It is a shame that the Cruiserweight division finally steals the show, yet people only watch their one match on per pay per view. There is so much talent that fans are missing out on from 205 Live. Grade: A-
Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair
It did not matter who was in the ring as the California crowd wanted Becky Lynch. Still, they got Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte; which could have closed Wrestlemania 35. The way WWE booked the match, that is still a possibility. This was easily my favorite Rousey match and it ranks up there with stealing the show at WrestleMania 34. With the post match beating from Charlotte, it makes me wonder what is next. Does Charlotte align herself with Becky or does Rousey seek revenge? I liked the disqualification ending as both still looked strong and Charlotte is back to being the heel. Although, you probably could not tell as the crowd seemed to turn on Rousey as Charlotte beat the crap out of the former UFC Champion. Grade: A-
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