The Good, Bad and Ugly: WWE Survivor Series 2018 Pre-Show

WWE Survivor Series (2018 style) is upon us, and that means Bobby is in to give you the Good, the Bad, and definitely the Ugly as we head into Staples Center!

One of my very favorite events.  A mainstay and vital time of year around Thanksgiving.  Oh how I miss the old school random tag matches.  The late 80’s early 90’s Survivor Series are a frequent watch on my WWE Network account.   It represents an original major show for the WWE, and usually involves some twist and turns. Of course this is the second year with the Raw vs Smackdown format. However the twist and turns happened a lot during the weekly Raw and SmackDown already but anything can happen in the WWE right?

The Good

Champion vs. Champion: Universal Champion Brock Lesnar vs. WWE Champion Daniel Bryan

I predicted this fued a long time ago.  After Daniel Bryan was injured and couldn’t continue I thought it was a dead idea.  Now here it is.  Although this is a crazy WrestleMania level match, we will see that we have a few matches on this card that also are WrestleMania caliber.  Classic David vs. Goliath 101, with a no doubt hot crowd prepared for this match.  I am beyond happy that Daniel Bryan is now a sort of heel.  Becky Lynch was doing this also facing the female Brock Lesnar Ronda Rousey.  This really will be a Good match.  I do however fear that we may not have Daniel Bryan much longer after, as he is going to be pushed to the physical limit with the Beast Incarnate.  The crowd goes bananas Daniel Bryan Wins after multiple low blows or some type of debauchery.

WWE Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair

Wooo! This is another crazy fantasy WrestleMania type of match of the night.  I really wish it was with Becky Lynch though, as I cannot get enough of “The Man.”  I’m glad she will be okay though and will be back soon!  Charlotte is the perfect replacement.  The Queen will certainly be bringing her A Game against Rousey.  The crowd was behind Becky Lynch in this one, but now it is a toss up in my opinion.  I expect brutality and punishment galore.  The crowd will love this.  Although it is a difficult call Charlotte Wins due to outside interference.

Champion vs. Champion: Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins vs. United States Shinsuke Nakamura

I won’t waste a lot of time on this one.  Read who is in it.  This will be a good match.  We will see both of their respective skills shine with one another and I would be surprised if this match falls flat.  I see that they will be feeding off of each other and most likely will work this match on the fly until the finish.  Seth Rollins Wins!  I expect Dean Ambrose will mess up his day though soon after his hand is raised.  Rollins will be beaten up quite a bit already and The Lunatic will pick the bones.

Survivor Series Tag Team Elimination Match:
Team Raw – Bobby Roode and Chad Gable, The Revival, The B-Team, Lucha House Party and The Ascension vs. Team SmackDown – The Usos, New Day, Sanity, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, and The Colóns

Old school Survivor Series type Tag Match.  I just love these.  The fans get their money’s worth.  You see a lot of talent and unlike a Battle Royal you see more action.  This match is filled with talent.  The story in this match and standouts I believe will be the members of Sanity. I really like Sanity and honestly anytime they are utilized it is interesting.  I know this match won’t be perfect but it will no doubt be good.  Winners!  Pick em!   I say Team SmackDown.

Survivor Series Elimination Match:
Team Raw – Mickie James, Nia Jax, Tamina, Natalya, and Ruby Riott (w/Alexa Bliss, Liv Morgan, and Sarah Logan) vs. Team SmackDown – Carmella, Naomi, Sonya Deville, Asuka, and Mystery Partner

Again, I love these type of matches.  The Women’s Divisions have been exciting, interesting and relevant.  They have been killing it!  I see Survivor Series as no different.  With the exception of Becky Lynch getting taken out, the segment on Raw was just awesome!  I really am excited for it, and this match will not disappoint.  I am a huge Liv Morgan fan however, but I hope she is not the pick.  I want someone new and unexpected.  I used the term Mystery Partner because that is what they called the Undertaker when he debuted.  I just want to be surprised and see someone we don’t expect.  Team SmackDown Wins!

The Bad

Survivor Series Elimination Match:
Team Raw – Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, Braun Strowman, Finn Bálor, and Bobby Lashley w/ Baron Corbin and Lio Rush at Ringside vs. Team SmackDown – The Miz, Shane McMahon, Rey Mysterio, Samoa Joe, and Jeff Hardy

I just don’t know how to feel about this match.  There is no doubt some talent, I just am not excited for it.  I do like the aspect of it being a traditional tag match but aside from that I am not surprised or excited overall.  I was hoping for something new but it is just more of the same old.   We will see a lot of action.  The match will be filled with high spots and risk, however I just don’t see it doing anything special.  They will all provide their usual role we see every week, and for an important show like Survivor Series, that is kind of Bad to me.  Team SmackDown Wins!

Cruiserweight Championship Match: Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Mustafa Ali

I am not saying that this will suck, it won’t be ugly.  However it will get lost.  No one will care about the outcome of this.  Both men are extremely talented and will deliver a stellar performance.  It just won’t be significant overall which makes it a Bad Thing.  Murphy Retains the Cruiserweight Championship!

The Ugly

Champions vs. Champions: Smackdown Tag Team Champions The Bar vs. Raw Tag Team Champions AOP

AOP is nothing to write home about.  We are going to see a lot of stiff contact and predictable action.  This is another that will fall through the Ugly cracks of the show.  The Bar is just an awesome team but working a team like AOP will inhibit their abilities and really Ugly up the show for us fans.  This match is a shame.  AOP Wins a very sad match.

I truly believe the WWE could and should do better, but I won’t be cynical.  I will be sitting back and enjoying the show no matter the case.  Check out my Post Survivor Series article and thank you for reading.  Please comment and share!  Prayers to the residents of California who are enduring this horrible disaster.  Much love to you.

How do you feel about this year’s Survivor Series? Let us know on social media @theCHAIRSHOTcom and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!