Survivor Series Is WWE’s Blueprint
On the past few weeks of WWE programming it really felt like anything could happen. SmackDown was invading Raw, and Raw was plotting its revenge against SmackDown. Ever since the WWE split their brands and divided their roster the two shows have felt like their own, individual worlds. But rivalries, feuds, and most importantly stories shouldn’t be arbitrarily divided and Survivor Series reveals to us why. When given even the slightest reason to create conflict, drama naturally occurs.
Drama makes any wrestling match better. Kazuchika Okada versus Kenny Omega will forever be a match dripping with history and expectation. AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Finn Balor will always have a connection thanks to their days in NJPW and anytime they touch it’ll be a must-see moment. This drama is built in with their characters and their past. In the WWE there are plenty of existing histories that layer matches with meaning and emotions. When Kane emerged to help Braun Strowman beat Reigns, some fans remembered that it was Reigns who “retired” Kane’s brother, The Undertaker. Maybe the WWE had thought of that, maybe not, but it effectively made that moment more meaningful. Knowing a character’s past can help writers craft a narrative and avoid making the WWE’s choices look random or spur of the moment.
When Survivor Series comes around, a lot needs to be done. In normal stipulation matches, any feud will do. Even when you toss in a Hell in the Cell, most feuds can be bent to fit inside the devil’s playground. However with Survivor Series you suddenly need to toss old feuds aside and bring an entire roster together to fight. But it does mean you can utilize those existing stories, ignore them, create new ones, and generally rewrite how brands, champions, and wrestlers are perceived.
This Survivor Series isn’t the most important one, but it could be vital for WWE’s future. WWE’s financials are actually pretty good, but there other numbers that are concerning. Network numbers are down, PPV numbers are down, and the general mood from some fans is pretty sour. Survivor Series will hint at where WWE wants to go as both the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania sit proudly on the horizon. Champions who defeat their counterparts may have to worry a loss before the end of the year. The elimination matches might have new alliances form, turncoats revealed, or some other swerve we can’t imagine.
As we know, in the WWE anything can happen, even if it doesn’t make much sense. I don’t expect much from the WWE these days, but their choices during Survivor Series will be incredibly telling. Who gets their moments to shine and who is squashed and ignored? The “Road to WrestleMania” really begins with Survivor Series and how the WWE ramps up and approaches the event will be an interesting one to watch.
