WWE Survivor Series 2023 Preview And Predictions
It’s that time of the year once again when WWE puts all of its top stars in a huge steel box, shakes it up like a bartender at a cocktail bar and waits to see how beaten up they are at the end of the night. It’s the 37th annual Survivor Series, which will take place on Nov. 25 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., just outside of Chicago.
There are only five matches on tonight’s show, but WWE’s game plan for their Premium Live Events this year has been quality over quantity. So, without further ado, my name is Sam Palmer from Vendetta Sports Media, and here is everything you need to know about Survivor Series 2023, and what I personally think will happen!
Will CM Punk show up?
Let’s get this out of the way first. When CM Punk was fired by AEW at the beginning of September, everyone immediately thought that he would be going back to WWE, especially given the fact that Survivor Series is taking place in his hometown of Chicago. The man himself has dropped teases on social media, and WWE has even leaned in on this buzz by referencing the former AEW World Champion on TV.
However, the speculation about Punk potentially popping up has divided fans. Some have stated that they will be actively annoyed if Pepsi Phil isn’t there, while some don’t want him there in the first place as he will overshadow the rest of the show. What do I think will happen? He won’t be there. He may go back to WWE at some point, that’s certainly a possibility, but Survivor Series won’t be the time or place.
PREDICTION: HE WON’T BE THERE, JUST ENJOY THE SHOW!!!!
Damage CTRL vs. Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair & Shotzi — WarGames Match
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get on to the meaty portions of this year’s Survivor Series: The WarGames match. The double cage match is meant to be “The Match Beyond,” which isn’t really the case anymore, but we can let that slide. This year’s women’s match sees a freshly revamped Damage CTRL take on the all-star team of Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair and Shotzi, and there are a multitude of ways this one could go.
The main problem with Damage CTRL at the minute is Bayley; she is unravelling on a seemingly weekly basis which could prove costly in a match as unpredictable as this. However, when you have someone like Iyo Sky, who is known for her antics in a match like this, as well as new group members like Kairi Sane and Asuka, that’s going to be a tough team to beat.
Bayley will play a part in the finish on some level, but I don’t think it will be enough to cost her team the victory.
PREDICTION: Damage CTRL
Santos Escobar vs. Dragon Lee:
The most recent addition to the show thanks to an injury to Santos Escobar’s original opponent Carlito sees Escobar take on a man who is taking WWE by storm since moving to the main roster: Dragon Lee. Santos cost Rey Mysterio the United States Championship at Crown Jewel, and looks as if he is turning to the dark side more and more as the weeks roll on, so a victory over Carlito (my original prediction) would have been his big coming out party as the next big heel in WWE.
However, that’s not the match anymore. Instead, he’s got Dragon Lee who might be one of the most exciting additions to WWE’s main roster in years. He’s only been in the company for less than a year and already has people backing him to be a champion come the turn of the new year, but that’s the problem.
As talented as he is, Lee can afford to eat a pin here or there, and for that reason, I’m picking Santos to win. But, don’t be surprised if this one steals the show.
PREDICTION: Santos Escobar
Gunther {c} vs. The Miz — WWE Intercontinental Championship:
Is it weird to say that this is the match I am looking forward to the most?
Gunther has completely revamped the WWE Intercontinental Championship during his time with the belt, setting the record for the longest reign in the belt’s history. But in Chicago, he will be meeting someone who wants to make history with the title in his own right.
Only Chris Jericho has had more reigns with the IC Title than The Miz, and only Pedro Morales has held the belt for more days in total than The Miz. Plain and simple, The Miz is one of the greatest champions in the belt’s history but these are two completely different wrestling ideologies at play. The Ring General fought his way through the independent scenes around the world and established himself as a true wrestler’s wrestler taking on the man who might be the most WWE wrestler in history.
It will probably be great, but I can’t see anyone taking the IC belt away from Gunther at this moment in time.
PREDICTION: Gunther
Rhea Ripley {c} vs. Zoey Stark — WWE Women’s World Championship
Speaking of dominant champions, Rhea Ripley is on this show too as she looks to make her seventh defense of the WWE Women’s World Championship against Zoey Stark.
Rhea has defeated the likes of Raquel Rodriguez, Natalya and Zelina Vega one-on-one, and escaped a five-way match at Crown Jewel with her title in a match that included Zoey Stark.
To put it bluntly, Rhea is going to retain, that’s almost a guarantee and I can see her holding on to her title until WrestleMania 40 at the very least (WWE seems to love a long title reign nowadays). But this could be one of those star-making nights for someone like a Zoey Stark.
She is finally getting the credit that she deserves in the ring, but for me personally, it’s just not her time right now.
PREDICTION: Rhea Ripley
The Judgment Day & Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn & Randy Orton — WarGames Match
Four matches down, one to go, it’s time for your main event … I think (I don’t know the order of the matches). However, this is the match that has been building for months over on RAW, it seems that ever since WrestleMania 39, you couldn’t go one week without a member of the Judgment Day getting involved with one of their opponents in this match. So, in theory, this should be the main event, but even if it’s not, what a match this could be.
There are so many different threads being woven through this contest. On the babyface team, Jey didn’t look too thrilled about Randy Orton being announced as the fifth member of the team, Sami will be teaming with Jey despite everything they went through in The Bloodline saga, and Seth and Cody don’t have the best of pasts either.
On The Judgment Day’s side, Damian Priest thinks he’s the leader, Finn Balor thinks he isn’t, Priest also has the Money in the Bank briefcase to throw in the mix, and then Drew McIntyre has the capability to cause dissension between even the closest of friends.
As far as a winning team is concerned, I’m going to go with the good guys. I don’t think The Judgment Day will be hurt by a loss considering they will still be the strongest faction on Raw regardless of the result, and the likes of Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh are much more likely to eat a pin than a Cody, Orton or Sami. If it is the main event, expect a happy ending, but keep an eye on Jey Uso as he could be the one to allow this match to fall apart for his team.
PREDICTION: Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn & Randy Orton
Are you looking forward to WWE Survivor Series 2023? Let us know in the comments section below, and don’t forget to follow Vendetta Sports Media on all of your favorite social media platforms!
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