5 alternative Raw vs SmackDown matches for survivor series

The last major WWE PPV of the year, Survivor Series, is around the corner. But just like almost all other WWE PPVs this year, fans are not waiting with bated breath for Survivor Series. WWE has already announced six matches for the marquee event, but the fans aren't remotely thrilled with how the match card is shaping up.

Owing to booking matches like Natalya v/s Alexa Bliss, Brock Lesnar v/s Jinder Mahal, and Baron Corbin v/s The Miz, Survivor Series might prove to be a damp squib this year. The traditional Survivor Series match and the battle between the tag team champs might prove to be the only saving grace. But will it be enough, most people don't think so.

Battles between Raw and Smackdown for brand supremacy is a tried and tested formula for the WWE to garner a plethora of eyeballs. But the execution of the idea could have been far better for sure. The Champion v/s Champion gimmick could have been easily done away with. The result would have been a far more interesting match line-up. But until and unless something drastic happens, like what happened with the TLC event, this uninspiring match line-up is what WWE is going to dish out to their ardent followers.

But fantasizing about what could have been, has never hurt anyone. So, these are the five other interesting and much better matches, WWE could have booked for Survivor Series instead.

---

#1 Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose v/s Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens can beat any tag team in the world

The "Numero Uno" tag team of the blue brand, The Usos, is all set to lock horns with the reunited brothers in arms, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. This match has all the potential of being an instant classic. But is this bout a crowd puller? Definitely not!

The heel turn of the goody two shoes, Sami Zayn, is without any shadow of a doubt, the biggest "holy shit" moment of the year thus far. Zayn shocked the entire world when he helped his frenemy, Kevin Owens, defeat the prodigal son, Shane Mcmahon. Thus, the recently formed alliance of KO and Zayn is the best thing that happened to Smackdown in a long time.

Owens and Zayn have all the momentum in the world. The duo of Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose is the best tag team on Raw at the moment. Thus, a match between these four incredibly talented superstars would have set the ring on fire. Their clash would have been one for the ages and a match of the year candidate for sure.

#2 Shane Mcmahon v/s Kurt Angle

Shane v/s Kurt will be an epic encounter for sure

Smackdown recently invaded RAW, and the result was an action-packed episode that the fans will remember for the foreseeable future. The members of the WWE Universe are now on the edge of their seats in anticipation of how RAW will respond to the siege.

But when the two brands are at each other's throat to claim the bragging rights, it only makes sense that the leaders of the two entities clash with each other as well. The tension between Shane-O-Mac and Kurt Angle has already been established. And a brutal match between the two at Survivor Series would have been epic.

Shane and Kurt have already battled each other once, in what seems like an eternity ago. It was a brutal and thrilling encounter that is still etched in the memory of many WWE fans. And even though 16 years have passed since they last battled each other inside the squared circle, WWE might have missed the opportunity by not pitting Kurt against Shane in a match at Survivor Series.

#3 Samoa Joe v/s Shinsuke Nakamura

It is time to revive this epic NXT rivalry

Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura are two of the most naturally gifted in-ring performers in WWE at the moment. Ever since their move to the main roster, WWE has failed miserably to effectively utilize these massively talented superstars. Their heated rivalry in NXT is still considered to be the best feud in the young history of NXT till date. And thus, a back and forth match against each other at Survivor Series would have certainly turned the tide back in their favour.

Joe is currently out of action due to an injury. But a match against the king of strong style would have been a great way for the Samoan submission machine to return. These two great rivals have the ability to extract the absolute best out of each other inside the ring. Therefore, a glorious match between the two would have made Survivor Series a must watch extravaganza.

#4 Brock Lesnar v/s Randy Orton

Randy Orton deserves an opportunity to redeem himself

Everyone is still shocked by the fact that the next opponent of Brock Lesnar is none other than the "Modern Day Maharaja", Jinder Mahal. Jinder has consistently failed to deliver even a half decent match, and the fans can't wait for him to lose the WWE Championship. Brock Lesnar has completely annihilated his opponents for the past couple of years. Undertaker, John Cena, Triple H, Samoa Joe, Braun Strowman, etc have all failed to slay the "Beast Incarnate". Thus, a match between Brock Lesnar and a weak champ like Jinder Mahal does not make any sense.

It would have been a smart booking decision to pit "The Beast" against "The viper" instead. Randy Orton is the only wrestler on the blue brand who can match Lesnar's star power. And who can forget the beating he received at the hands of "The Beast" at last year's Summerslam. Randy Orton most certainly deserves an opportunity to redeem himself, and Survivor Series would have been the perfect opportunity for him to do so.

#5 AJ Styles v/s Finn Balor

AJ Styles deserves a rematch

AJ Styles v/s Finn Balor stole the show at TLC. The horrible illness of Bray Wyatt had a silver lining, as fans finally witnessed the most awaited match of the WWE at the moment. Their battle obviously was the best match of the night, as Finn Balor and AJ Styles delivered their absolute best.

Finn Balor and AJ Styles are the best in-ring performers in the WWE at the moment, and their clash at TLC was merely a trailer of what they are capable of doing if they are involved in a long drawn rivalry. Finn Balor may have won the fight, but the war has just begun. Survivor Series was the perfect opportunity for WWE to give AJ Styles the rematch that he so rightfully deserves. A match of such calibre, packaged with a proper storyline build-up would have been gigantic for the WWE. But WWE had other plans.

Let's hope that these two gifted wrestlers come face to face, sooner rather than later.