Survivor Series feels important
The 31st-annual Survivor Series takes place tonight, and this edition may be the most star-studded one yet.
While the card is still not technically set, it is the only show where Smackdown and Raw face off throughout the card and the lineup is loaded.
New WWE champion A.J. Styles faces Universal champion Brock Lesnar, and there is a massive buzz about the match. Lesnar is an easy choice to win the match, but I look for the bout to be much more entertaining than Lesnar’s three other PPV singles matches this year.
The first, when Lesnar won the title from Goldberg at WrestleMania, lasted all of 4:47. He followed that with a win in 6:25 over Samoa Joe and a win in 9:00 over Braun Strowman. If this bout is given time, and I am hoping they get at least 15 minutes, could be really entertaining.
Could Jinder Mahal interfere to cost Styles the match?
The Shield is taking on The New Day in what is being billed as a dream match, and The Shield is the easy pick.
But is it too easy to predict?
In a match between the women’s champions, Alexa Bliss faces Charlotte Flair.
As stated in last week’s column, Flair was expected to beat Natalya for the Smackdown title, but no one was sure if it would happen on Smackdown (which happened) or in the very near future. Look for Flair to win to keep the buzz going from the 30 for 30 special on her father.
Intercontinental champion The Miz is taking on Baron Corbin, the U.S. champion, in another champion vs. champion match.
The Miz may be Raw’s MVP this year, and it would mean more for Corbin to win so he gets the nod in my book.
In the lone title match, Enzo defends the Cruiserweight title against Kalisto.
In the men’s elimination match, Smackdown will be represented by captain Shane McMahon, John Cena, Randy Orton, Shinsake Nakamura and Bobby Roode while Raw captain originally chose Braun Strowman, Samoa Joe, Finn Balor and his “son” Jason Jordan.
However, as everyone saw on Raw Monday, Jordan was replaced by the returning Triple H. I don’t see Cena, Triple H, Angle or Strowman being pinned, so look for some shenanigans to take place.
In the women’s elimination match, Raw is represented by captain Alicia Fox, the undefeated Asuka, Sasha Banks, Nia Jax and Bayley.
Word had been that Paige would finally return and be on the team, plans were changed Monday before Raw.
Becky Lynch is the captain of the Smackdown team and her teammates include Naomi, Carmella and Tamina Snuka while the fifth member is expected to be Natalya. Originally it was to be Flair, but with her winning the Smackdown women’s title, she is out of this match.
If Natalya isn’t put in it, could it be Paige or even Nikki Bella?
And could Carmella cash in her Money in the Bank title shot against Flair?
Mania’s economic impact
On Wednesday, WWE and Buddy Dyer, the mayor of Orlando, announced in a joint press release that WrestleMania generated $181.5 million in economic impact for the Orlando region during WrestleMania week.
The amount is a new record for Mania’s economic impact and it is the sixth straight year that WWE generated more than $100 million for the host region.
As stated in the release, Mania has generated more than $1 billion in cumulative economic impact for the cities over the last 11 years.
WrestleMania tickets are on sale
Speaking of WrestleMania, tickets are now on sale for the upcoming Mania. The event is taking place at the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
WWE tickets on sale for Pittsburgh show
Speaking of tickets on sale through Ticketmaster, it is running a special for the December 28 WWE house show.
Earlier this week, Ticketmaster emailed me its “Me+3 Four-Pack offer” with great seats available. Tickets start at $20 per ticket just off the floor level.
Information can be found at http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/8ytmnu?ac_link=tmpromo_tdls_em_cen_artist_wwe&wt. mc_id=EML_TMNT52939_123_47213[cta_button1&et_cid=TM_52939&et_rid=0146ffce04f78a649b407cf942755668f59f96496a441b19d68adf00bd108696&utm_source=&utm_medium=tmemail&utm_campaign=MS-97749-HotTicketDeals-WWE&utm_term=52939&utm_content=cta_button1&landing=c<http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/8ytmnu?ac_link=tmpromo_tdls_em_cen_artist_wwe&wt.mc_id=EML_TMNT52939_123_47213%5bcta_button1&et_cid=TM_52939&et_rid=0146ffce04f78a649b407cf942755668f59f96496a441b19d68adf00bd108696&utm_source=&utm_medium=tmemail&utm_campaign=MS-97749-HotTicketDeals-WWE&utm_term=52939&utm_content=cta_button1&landing=c>.
If the link does not work, email me and I will forward the email to you.
Ellsworth released
As speculated in this column last week, James Ellsworth was released earlier this week by WWE. He had served his purpose, and the underdog role could only be played out for so long.
On this date …
In 1995, the Spanish announce table was broken for the first time at a WWE show. It occurred at Survivor Series in a WWF title match when heavyweight champion Diesel knocked Bret Hart off of the apron and through the table.
I was at the show, and when it happened, the place went nuts because no one had seen anything like it.