Survivor Series tonight
The WWE presents the 30th edition of the Survivor Series tonight, and the show is returning to its roots.
Long gone are the days when the show featured several five-on-five elimination matches, although tonight’s event will have three between Raw and Smackdown.
In the men’s elimination match, Team Raw will feature Kevin Owens, Chris Jericho, Braun Strowman, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins while Team Smackdown is represented by AJ Styles, Randy Orton, Dean Ambrose, Shane McMahon, and Bray Wyatt.
The women’s match will see Becky Lynch, Naomi, Nikki Bella, Carmella, and Alexa Bliss representing Smackdown (with Natalya serving as the team’s coach) while Raw is going with Charlotte, Nia Jax, Bayley, Sasha Banks, and Alicia Fox.
The elimination match featuring tag teams will see Raw represented by The New Day, Shining Stars, The Club, Enzo & Cass, and the team of Cesaro and Sheamus while Smackdown will feature The Usos, Breeango, American Alpha, The Hype Bros., and the team of Rhyno and Heath Slater.
This will be the first elimination match featuring five tag team on each side since the 1988 show.
Brian Kendrick defends the Cruiserweight title against Kalisto with the stipulation that if Kalisto wins, the entire Cruiserweight division will shift from Raw to Smackdown.
I look for this to happen as the new cruiserweight show titled 205 that starts shortly will be filmed after Smackdown each week.
The Miz defends the Intercontinental title against Sami Zayn and if Zayn wins, the title goes to Raw.
The main event match, at least in terms of hype, will see Goldberg return to the WWE for the first time since WrestleMania XX in 2004 when he faces Brock Lesnar.
My thoughts are that if Goldberg wins cleanly, it destroys what Lesnar has done since his return including ending The Undertaker’s Mania streak and devouring John Cena at SummerSlam two years ago.
However, it makes no sense for Goldberg to come back for one match, lose convincingly, and fade away.
The WWE is in a unique situation as Lesnar is its true beast while Goldberg is back for a possible one-time appearance.
If I had to guess on a finish, I say Goldberg wins via help from Shane McMahon or someone else.
After all, Lesnar and McMahon have a history dating back to SummerSlam with the latter even saying that it wasn’t over between the two.
If someone interferes to help Goldberg, look for it to lead to a match between that person and Lesnar at Mania.
Ellsworth update
A few weeks ago, I mentioned in this column about how someone should start a hashtag to get James Ellsworth into the Royal Rumble.
Well, it appears that Ellsworth’s run is going to last much longer as word is that he will be signing a WWE contract shortly, if he has not already.
Further proof is that he has informed independent promoters that he is not taking anymore bookings, effective today.
This truly is a feel good story, although I have received several texts and emails about how he should not be on TV because of how small he is.
I think it is great as it shows that despite the odds, underdogs truly can be successful.
Fans are buying into the underdog role, literally, as the WWE cannot keep Ellsworth’s t-shirts in stock.
I have communicated with Ellsworth, and I wish him the best with his WWE endeavor.
WrestleMania tickets now on sale
Tickets for WrestleMania 33, which takes place in Orlando on April 2, are on sale now.
Go to www.ticketmaster.com to order them.
If you are planning on going, don’t wait because the best seats will be gone shortly if they aren’t already.
Mania 32 impact
Speaking of Mania, the WWE released details this week on the economic boom that the show generated for the Dallas/Arlington area and it set a new Mania record.
The week-long celebration of Mania generated $170.4 million in revenue.
Over the past decade, Mania has generated almost $1 billion in cumulative economic impact for the cities that have hosted the extravaganza, and this year’s show generated $23.8 million in federal, state and local taxes.
The economic impact derived from the week was equal to the creation of 1,550 full-time jobs.
Sin Cara update
Last week, the brawl between Sin Cara and Chris Jericho was covered briefly in this column.
In the piece, it mentioned how he may be moved to Smackdown so that he and Jericho would be on opposite brands moving forward.
Now it appears that he may be kept on Raw, although other punishments are being handed down.