Pro Wrestling

WWE Survivor Series Recap

Posted on Author Jeremy Laracuente Comments(2)

A Thanksgiving Week tradition WWE Survivor Series live from Los Angeles, California. This event is billed as the one night a year that RAW and Smackdown Live go head to head. So let’s talk about the action. And be sure to take a look back at our recap of NXT Takeover War Games II.

Kickoff Show

10-Man Tag Team Elimination Match: Team Smackdown Live vs. Team RAW

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟 1/2

With five tag teams from both RAW and Smackdown Live competing to start of the night all men involved would look to be the last team standing. After a Shatter Machine, the Colons would be the first team eliminated. B-Team would be the second team eliminated, evening up the sides. But soon thereafter Sanity would be eliminated, giving the edge back to RAW. The New Day would then eliminate the Ascension, once again evening the odds.

The Lucha House Party would eliminate the Good Brothers, Gallows & Anderson. This would leave the Lucha House Party, the Revival and Bobby Roode and Chad Gable against The Usos and the New Day. The Usos would then eliminate the Lucha House Party. The Revival, Roode& Gable, The New Day, and the Usos would all try to pull out all the stops to win this match. After “Up Up Down Down” Roode and Gable would be eliminated. The Revival would eliminate the New Day.

With some many men that do not usually work together, the match was a bit sloppy. But it was a decent start to the night of brand warfare. In a very touching ohmage to Roman Reigns, during the trademark Uso Splash, the loading of Roman’s Superman Punch would be had during flight.

Main Card

Women’s Traditional 5 on 5 Tag Team Elimination Match: Team Smackdown Live (Carmella, Naomi, Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, and Asuka) vs. Team RAW w/ Alexa Bliss (Mickie James, Tamina, Nia Jax, Sasha Banks, and Bayley)

Laracuente Ledger Rating : 🌟🌟🌟🌟

The match would begin with Naomi and Tamina. But it would break down early. And in the melee, Tamina would Superkick Naomi. Which would be followed up by a roll-up by Carmella. Naomi and Tamina are eliminated. The last-minute addition of Many Rose would find a quick offensive flurry over Nia Jax. After a lot of back and forth and blind tags. Mickie James would be eliminated by Mandy Rose. Bailey would eliminate Carmella. Sasha Banks would eliminate Mandy Rose with the Bank Statement. The crowd was super into the match and especially booing Nia Jax. Sonya Deville and Bayley would both be counted out brawling at ringside.

But the blow would be more devastating for Smackdown as it would leave Asuka alone, taking on Sasha Banks and Nia Jax. We would have a dream match scenario as much if the match would be spent with Asuka versus Sasha Banks. Nia Jax would push Sasha off the top rope allowing Asuka to lock in the Asuka Lock on Sasha for the elimination. Nia would do this to allow herself to be the sole survivor.

Champion vs. Champion: Raw’s Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins vs. Smackdown Live’s United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 1/2

This would be billed as the first time these men would face off. These two Superstars would have the crowd hyped. However, the crowd would feel decidedly more Smackdown Live than Monday Night RAW. The match would feel very deliberate and methodical. But both of these men would show exactly why they are some of the best in the business. The back and forth contest would be such an intriguing bout. But ultimately Monday Night RAW would have a 2-0 lead on the Survivor Series Pay-Per-View.

Champions vs. Champions: Smackdown Live’s Tag Team Champions The Bar w/ Big Show vs. RAW’s Tag Team Champions AOP w/ Drake Maverick

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟 1/2

A physically tough bout between two powerhouse teams. This matchup would not be pretty as both teams would deliver some hard-hitting blows. AOP would control nearly all of this match. Drake Maverick would get involved and then run into the Big Show. Then Maverick would “pee” on himself in fear. But the distraction would allow AOP to pick up the win. Raw up 3-0.

WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Mustafa Ali vs. Buddy Murphy

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This match feature two of the top stars in the cruiserweight division of 205 Live. The high-octane style of Mustafa Ali would directly rival the hard-hitting style of Buddy Murphy. But Buddy Murphy would show off his flying ability as well. The strikes would be super impactful for both men. These two men would give the people a show. And the crowd would begin chanting 205 after a Spanish Fly by Mustafa on the outside. However, Buddy Murphy would prove to dominate and would retain his WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

Men’s Traditional 5 on 5 Tag Team Elimination Match: Team RAW w/ Baron Corbin (Bobby Lashley w/ Lio Rush, Finn Balor, Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, and Braun Strowman) vs. Team Smackdown Live (The Miz, Jeff Hardy, Samoa Joe, Rey Mysterio, and Shane McMahon)

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

In an unbelievable turn, Samoa Joe would get hit with a Claymore and be eliminated. The crowd would voice their displeasure and the early departure of Samoa Joe. The RAW men’s team would implode as Braun and McIntyre would attack each other. And Smackdown would quickly turn to capitalize on the discord by the RAW team. The Smackdown Superstars would work as a team and would place Strowman on the announce table. And Shane in “Shane O’Mac” fashion would hit a diving elbow off the top turnbuckle through the announce table.

Finn Balor would tag himself in and hit McIntyre with a step up enzuigiri. Finn Balor would start to take the battle to the Smackdown live team. But it would be Rey Mysterio to take advantage and eliminate Finn Balor. After a Coast to Coast, Shane McMahon would eliminate Dolph Ziggler. Braun Strowman would swat Shane out of mid-air during another Coast to Coast attempt. Strowman would then eliminate Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio, and the Miz.

This would leave Shane McMahon to take on Braun Strowman, Drew McIntyre, and Boby Lashley. After a standing dropkick and a running powerslam, Strowman would pick up the victory for RAW.

Champion vs. Champion: Smackdown Live’s Charlotte Flair vs RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The aggressive nature of both women would be on full display right from the opening bell. Both Ronda and Charlotte would truly battle to try and gain the upper hand. Ronda’s development would continue in this contest. Ronda would continue to show how quickly her transition from the MMA world to the world of WWE. Charlotte would control much of the matchup. And because of the prowess of Charlotte, Ronda would have to try new things to combat against Charlotte. Charlotte would focus on the on the leg to set up the Figure Eight. While Ronda would focus on the arm for her Armbar.

Charlotte would get herself disqualified herself by hitting Ronda with the Kendo Stick. Charlotte would continue a post-match attack. Ronda would be on the receiving end of a beating that would show a new side of the WWE Universe to Ronda Rousey. As Ronda was trying to recover enough to walk back under her own power she would receive a cold reaction from the WWE Universe.

Champion vs. Champion: WWE Champion Daniel Bryan vs. WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Daniel Bryan would start out quickly with a dropkick to the knee. Bryan would also taunt Brock Lesnar in an unconventional attempt to get in the head of Lesnar. But as soon as Lesnar got a hold of Bryan, Lesnar would throw a right arm at Daniel. Which would be quickly followed by a German Suplex. Brock would then take full control and the match (if you can even call it that) very uncomfortable to watch.

Daniel Bryan would then get a bit of offense as a couple of well-placed kicks to Lesnar’s face. Followed by a brief knockdown of the referee and a low placed kick on Brock Lesnar. Daniel would have some life shot back into his system. This match once Daniel Bryan got his “second wind” would actually turn into quite a match. And honestly, one of the best Brock Lesnar matches since his 2017 Survivor Series match against AJ Styles.

WWE Survivor Series Recap: 🌟🌟🌟 4/5

Overall this event was a good event. It had some highs and lows as well. But the biggest question was about the booking decision to have Smackdown Live lose every match on the main card. But it was a solid showing for the WWE.

Jeremy Laracuente

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