This is how desperate Vince McMahon is to make the last of the Big 4 PPV's palatable to the discriminating PPV buyer.
One week after he was named to Team Raw, Jason Jordan, storyline offspring to GM Kurt Angle, was bounced thanks to an injury angle after beating Bray Wyatt. Wyatt injured Jordan after the match, but didn't get the benefit of taking Jordan's spot. They've already got 2 big men on Team Raw with Braun Strowman & Samoa Joe, but how do you make up for losing the youth and relative inexperience of Jordan?
By bringing in Triple H, and ratcheting up the drama between Angle and HHH/Stephanie. Which we don't need.
Once again, the Princess is being posited as a ventriloquist dummy for her father, doing his bidding. Triple H identifies more as a Raw guy anyway, so it's more than a fair trade-off, but now you have four guys, two on each team (Shane McMahon & John Cena on Team Smackdown) who aren't regularly competing. They say this will lead to Angle-HHH at Wrestlemania. Please. Do we need to go there and take the criticism that is sure to follow of two part-timers taking a match away from younger more deserving competitors? Unfortunately, due to the myopic mindset of Vince McMahon, that's the direction they're taking, and they shouldn't.
We've talked before at length about how the elder McMahon refuses to retire, nor is he willing to accept a storyline end game that would send him off to the funny farm, since his persona gradually became more insane around 15 years ago. His nonsensical method of storytelling would be the worst on TV, except that there are certain genre shows (i.e. "Legends of Tomorrow") that have shown signs of being worse. The common thread being, the writers don't really have a firm grasp of what they're trying to convey. In WWE's case, the writers aren't allowed to think for themselves. That's a big problem that will never go away.
Here's the lineup as it stands right now:
5-on-5 Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Match
Team Captain Kurt Angle, Braun Strowman, Finn Balor, Samoa Joe, Triple H vs. Team Captain Shane McMahon, Randy Orton, Bobby Roode, Shinsuke Nakamura, John Cena
[On paper, this is an even match, with HHH replacing Jordan. Given the mindset of Chairman Wackjob (Vince), and considering Raw lost to Smackdown in this event last year, Raw gets the win back this year, mostly due to a 2-man mutiny on Smackdown (Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn).]
5-on-5 Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Match
Team Captain Alicia Fox, Nia Jax, Asuka, Sasha Banks, Bayley vs. Team Captain Becky Lynch, Carmella, Tamina Snuka, Naomi, Charlotte Flair
[Again, an even match. I can't see Asuka losing at any time here, so Team Raw will win this one, too, with Asuka joined by Bayley & Sasha Banks as the survivors.]
RAW vs. SmackDown
WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar vs. WWE Champion AJ Styles
[Should be a show-stealer. Brock goes over, but don't be surprised if Jinder Mahal spoils the party, only to eat an F-5 himself.]
RAW vs. SmackDown
WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. WWE United States Champion Baron Corbin
[Miz goes down again, as I can't see him using the Skull Crushing Finale on the taller Corbin. Corbin needs to be reestablished as a monster heel for Team Blue.]
RAW vs. SmackDown
RAW Women's Champion Alexa Bliss vs. SmackDown Women's Champion Natalya
[I hate Alexa's "goddess" persona, which is really a female version of the equally stale Miz, but this is a spot where the veteran (Nattie) puts over the younger talent, so Alexa, in need of a face turn at some point, goes over.]
RAW vs. SmackDown
RAW Tag Team Champions Sheamus and Cesaro vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos
[This one's really for the Tag Team of the Year, considering how frequently these two teams have been champions in this past year alone, along with the New Day. Gotta go with Team Blue again here.]
RAW vs. SmackDown
The Shield (Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods)
[Big E eats a Shield Bomb. 'Nuff said.]
Kickoff Pre-show: WWE Cruiserweight Title Match
Kalisto vs. Enzo Amore
[Whoop-de-freakin'-do. Vince must like Enzo, otherwise he wouldn't be cruiser champ, and what to do when Cass returns? Turn Enzo back face?]
Hmmm, I have Raw winning 5 of 7. They won 2 of 3 last year, so the percentage is still good. Angle keeps his job for now, but you have to wonder if there's a surprise screwjob in the works, to mark the 20th anniversary of Montreal. You better hope there isn't one. Just sayin'.
