Survivor Series Could Be More Than Just “Brand Warfare”

Ahyessir, we’re getting closer and closer to Survivor Series. Did you know that it’s the one time of the year where Smackdown and Raw compete head to head? That’s what everyone on the show’s been saying.

You know what, that idea is alright and all, but it could be so much better than that. Survivor Series used to have stakes. There used to be a reason you wanted to survive. Nowadays, that reason’s a lot less clear. Why exactly do they want to beat the other team so badly? Pride? Bragging rights? Do they all get a bonus in their paycheck or something?

Basically, the whole “brand warfare” shtick has run its course for now.

It Doesn’t Really Make That Much Sense

Remember how the New Day were on Raw last year? Remember how they were an integral part of Raw last year? So why in the blue hell are they suddenly taking a collective dump over the Red brand? Is Raw really that bad?

And then there’s Rusev, the number 10 pick in last year’s Draft.. He, too, was moved in the Shakeup to Smackdown. Suddenly he reacts like a bull when he sees the color red. Isn’t this all just a tad bit strange? It’d make sense for guys like Dolph Ziggler, AJ Styles, or Baron Corbin, who were Team Blue from the start, but for New Day, Rusev, and even Charlotte to suddenly act like Crips when there are Bloods around is really bizarre.

I get that there’s sort of a precedent for this. In the NBA, people get drafted to new teams all the time. In football, people get bought and sold in every transfer window. Still, I’m pretty sure that Kyrie Irving doesn’t suddenly hate the Cleveland Cavaliers. I’m pretty sure Neymar doesn’t just really hate Barcelona now. Sure, if they face their old teams, they work with the new team and try to win, because duh. They’re a team.

That excuse doesn’t work for Survivor Series. This is the only time of the year where the members of the brands team up against each other. Meanwhile, people who are otherwise teammates in November beat each other up for a living. It’s absurd. Why are they so concerned with brand supremacy when they can’t stand half of the people on their own roster?

There Are Better Stories to Be Told

At Hell in a Cell last month, Sami Zayn shocked the world by saving his former best friend and bitter enemy and now current best friend Kevin Owens from certain demise. Now 5 weeks later, neither of the men are even on the card of Survivor Series. Sure, they’ll interfere in a meaningless “Brand Supremacy” match, but it’s kind of a waste. Why not have a Team Sami & Kevin v. Team Shane? That makes much more sense. Owens, Zayn, and other disgruntled heels who have beef with the Commissioner can all team up against him. Imagine a match of Owens, Zayn, Rusev, Aiden English, and Dolph Ziggler taking on a team of Shane McMahon, AJ Styles, Randy Orton, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Bobby Roode? Now realize that half of those people aren’t even on the card.

Raw also had a prime opportunity to do something. Imagine the Shield and Braun Strowman taking on The Miz, Kane, and The Bar in a 4-on-4 traditional Survivor Series elimination match. That could have been all types of awesome. Shield and Strowman? That’s a wrecking crew right there. I’d love to see them team up.

Hopefully next year, WWE moves past the gang mentality for Survivor Series. There is so much more that can be done. There’s so much more to this than that.