Survivor Series 2009 Previews and Predictions
Previews and Predictions of all the matches scheduled to take place at Survivor Series 2009.
DanG here again with the Previews and Predictions article.
As always for all the JayD fans out there he’s put the effort in and written the formal articles, which you can find at the links below.
It’s a slightly different format this month as a lot of the matches are cross-promotional.
Here’s the link for JayD’s Main Event matches preview:
WWE Survivor Series 2009 Main Event Matches Preview
Which covers:
-The World Heavyweight Championship Triple Threat match between The Undertaker, The Big Show and Chris Jericho
-The WWE Championship Triple Threat match between John Cena, Triple H and Shawn Michaels
-The Grudge match between Batista and Rey Mysterio
and here is the link to his Traditional Survivor Series matches preview:
WWE Survivor Series 2009 Team Matches Preview
Which covers:
-Team Mickie Vs. Team Michelle
-Team Morrison Vs. Team Miz
-Team Orton Vs. Team Kingston
DanG’s Views
Traditional “Survivor Series” Match
Five-On-Five Elimination Match
Team Mickie
Mickie James
Eve Torres
Kelly Kelly
Melina
Gail Kim
Vs.
Team Michelle
Michelle McCool
Jillian Hall
Beth Phoenix
Layla
Alicia Fox
As I’ve mentioned previously, I am not a major fan of the Diva’s division in WWE. This is not a slight on women’s wrestling, but rather of the talent shown in-ring (especially when compared to something like the TNA Knockout’s division).
I did however think that we were beginning to see something of a turning point in the recent match between Natalya and Mickie James.
This featured two of the best current WWE Divas in what amounted to a fairly decent bout. I would love to know then, who actually made the decision not to include Natalya in this contest, as between her, Mickie James, Melina and Beth Phoenix, this could have been quite an entertaining match.
As it is, I find it hard to get particularly raucous about this match even existing.
Predicted Outcome
I’m going to plump for Team Mickie here.
Mickie has been embroiled in one of the better (and I use that term loosely) feuds in the women’s division, and has been embarrassed several times by both Michelle and Layla.
Getting a win here would be the first step on the road to recovery (and a shot at the Women’s Championship).
Traditional “Survivor Series” Match
Five-On-Five Elimination Match
Team Morrison
John Morrison
Matt Hardy
Evan Bourne
Shelton Benjamin
Finlay
Vs.
Team Miz
The Miz
Drew McIntyre
Sheamus
Dolph Ziggler
Jack Swagger
A very interesting matchup here, which I am personally looking forward to.
A number of guys in need of being (or in the process of being) pushed. I especially like Team Miz, as this is a team entirely comprised of five young, talented athletes, who may well form the foundations for the future of WWE.
I can’t help but feel that Team Morrison is a bit more haphazard in terms of the superstars selected to represent.
Shelton Benjamin is a tremendous in-ring performer, but has no direct link to any feud currently affecting this match.
The same applies to Matt Hardy, whilst the “development” (and once again I use that term extremely loosely) of rivalries between Bourne/Swagger and Finlay/McIntyre has been tedious at best, and decidedly poor at worst.
As much as I like Evan Bourne and Shelton Benjamin as performers, both seem doomed to have permanent mid-card careers, and as such I can’t see either being heavily involved in the conclusion of this bout.
Finlay is a fine, technical wrestler but is at an age where he should be used more in putting young talent over (as he has been doing with McIntyre) than in being pushed. The only two that I can see having a major influence for Team Morrison here are Matt Hardy and the team captain himself.
Matt Hardy seems to have been somewhat forgotten about since the departure of his brother Jeff earlier this year, but definitely has the ability and popularity to warrant being pushed towards the upper tier of the WWE.
In addition to this, I would lay odds on John Morrison being pushed in the direction of a World Championship sooner rather than later.
So on one hand we have two guys who may have a solid reason to warrant victory here, and on the other we have five hungry individuals who all appear to have main event potential.
So how do I see this one going?
Predicted Outcome
Call me crazy, but I’m going for Team Morrison here.
It would be extremely difficult to have Team Miz win here, and at the same time give each man the necessary push.
I definitely expect to see at least one elimination by DQ (Sheamus, I’m looking at you) which would ensure that they did not lose as much face as would happen via a clean fall.
Morrison picking up the victory would also mean that Dolph Ziggler would gain more prestige by (eventually) taking the Intercontinental Championship from him, and allow both men to develop further and expand out from this rivalry.
Traditional “Survivor Series” Match
Five-On-Five Elimination Match
Team Kingston
Kofi Kingston
MVP
Mark Henry
R-Truth
Christian
Vs.
Team Orton
Randy Orton
Cody Rhodes
Ted DiBiase
CM Punk
William Regal
It is impressive (and extremely disappointing) just how quickly C.M Punk has gone from being World Heavyweight Champion, to a lackey in a mid-card 10 man tag match.
But I digress, as it’s definitely better to have him in this match than not on the card at all.
The main focus of this bout is definitely centred around the recent feud between Randy Orton and Kofi Kingston.
Kingston’s push from mid-card potential to a series with arguably the top heel on Raw has been extremely well executed, and I believe that he will receive an opportunity at the WWE Championship before too long.
Comprising the rest of the teams (or making up the numbers if you prefer) are the team of WSM/MVP, who have had recent contests with Legacy; R-Truth, who has been engaged in a bit of a nothing run with CM Punk (creating more sadness for this writer), and Christian who has had a long and bitter feud with William Regal over the ECW Championship (and what feels like more rematches than John Cena and Randy Orton).
Moving slightly off topic, but surely if ever there was a chance to really begin to push the Hart Dynasty, then it would have been in this match by partnering them with Legacy.
They are custom made for the two “heel” spaces that were open in this team, and this could have even given an opportunity for Cryme Tyme to replace R-Truth and Christian, in what would have been an original and refreshing contest (because what the world needs most is another Hart Dynasty/Cryme Tyme matchup … or not if JayD has anything to say about it!).
Predicted Outcome
I’m going to go for Team Kingston.
This is bound to come down to Orton vs. Kingston at the finale, and I believe that the former “Jamaican Sensation” will continue his push with a Trouble in Paradise from out of nowhere.
Failing that (and to hedge my bets), expect to see Orton pin Kingston, but with outside interference. This would mean that Orton would maintain his top heel status, but would also ensure that Kofi does not lose his push (due to Orton being unable to win cleanly).
Grudge Match
Singles Match
Batista
Vs.
Rey Mysterio
When I predicted a heel turn at Bragging Rights, I expected that we would (finally) see John Cena make the turn.
Instead we got a (admittedly well executed) turn from Batista against his one-time friend and Tag Team partner.
I actually don’t mind Batista as a wrestler, and believe that a monster heel persona suits his character better.
My objection to this match is that it is yet another rehash of Mysterio vs. Monster Heel (think Kane, Mike Knox or The Great Khali), which has been seen so many times, that I half expect the next themed pay-per-view to be called “Underdog”.
The obvious outcome here would appear to be Mysterio (once again) picking up the victory in a match after being dominated for approximately 97% of the duration.
But maybe, just maybe, creative are going to spring a surprise.
Predicted Outcome
I am actually going to back Mysterio here.
However, in order to keep the feud going, I will say that Batista takes Rey-Rey apart after the bell, after appearing to make the peace.
We will see if my crystal ball gets it right on Sunday!
World Heavyweight Championship Match
Triple Threat Match
The Undertaker (c)
Vs.
The Big Show
Vs.
Chris Jericho
The first of a double main event at this year’s WWE Survivor Series sees The Undertaker defend his Championship against both members of Jeri-Show.
I am absolutely delighted to see Chris Jericho in this match, as the thought of just the two giants slugging it out for 20 minutes did not inspire me with confidence.
Y2J is one of the very best wrestlers in the WWE today, and has the total package of everything that could be required by any champion.
The Big Show is admittedly a multi-time Champion himself; however I do not see him taking the title here.
The Undertaker is a deserving champion, but with the punishing work schedule that holding a title entails, is he still able to manage this to his full abilities?
I am tipping The Undertaker to lose the title either here, or at TLC and I do believe that it will be Chris Jericho who does this (unless CM Punk can make a fast switch from meaningless matches with R-Truth back to the main event picture).
My only doubt on Jericho taking the title here is that he is still Tag Team Champion with The Big Show, and this would make the defence of these titles a little more awkward.
Predicted Outcome
The Undertaker to retain.
I find it difficult to see him in a TLC matchup, however him dropping the title in that type of contest would also protect his image as opposed to losing cleanly to a CodeBreaker or even (unthinkably) tapping out to the Walls Of Jericho.
Leaving the strap on him an extra month would also give Jeri-Show the opportunity to drop the tag titles (to D-X?), and allow that division to continue to develop unhindered by singles competition.
WWE Championship Match
Triple Threat Match
John Cena (c)
Vs.
Triple H
Vs.
Shawn Michaels
The second Triple Threat match also sees the current Champion defend his title against a current tag team.
On paper both of the challengers would pose a stern threat in singles competition, so putting them both in the match should mean that there is no way for Cena to retain right?
Sadly not, though I will come to that shortly.
Unfortunately, outside of Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton and John Cena, there are currently no other worthy competitors for the WWE Championship on Raw.
Orton is currently out of the title picture due to the contractual stipulation put in place at Bragging Rights.
In my opinion, it is far too soon to put the belt back on Triple H.
He has been there 13 times already, and I’m sure it would not hurt for him to wait for a few more months for title reign number 14.
As much as I love Shawn Michaels as a competitor and would want him to take the title, I honestly cannot see him ever holding a major WWE singles championship ever again.
Likewise, if either member of D-X were to take the title, then this would also probably mean the end of the team, and put an end to the promising signs of a Tag Team title program between them and Jeri-Show.
Predicted Outcome
The WWE Championship has changed hands at each of the last three PPV’s and I struggle to see any value in it changing hands once again here.
As much as it would seem unlikely that both World Champions retain their respective titles in Triple Threat competition, this is exactly what I am going to predict.
John Cena to continue his title reign, with D-X going on to face Jeri-Show for the Tag Team Championships over the coming weeks.
The End
Thank you all for joining me for the previews and predictions again!
I hope you enjoyed what I had to say and consider joining us for Survivor Series live on Sunday.
DanG (on behalf of the WWEBlog Team)
