RAW vs. SmackDown: Ranking the 5 greatest inter-brand matches in WWE Survivor Series history

Ever since the brand split returned in 2016, it has become a Survivor Series tradition for RAW and SmackDown to battle against each other. The November pay-per-view is now filled with matches between the champions of both brands, along with the traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series elimination matches for the men and the women of RAW and SmackDown.

It is an exciting concept, although it has looked pretty forced in the past few years. There isn't any real reason for Superstars to show loyalty for their brand, considering that the WWE Draft was a month ago. Nevertheless, every edition of Survivor Series does deliver a few gems.

NXT was included in 2019's brand warfare, keeping things relatively fresh. But this year, it is back to RAW vs. SmackDown at Survivor Series. WWE has spoiled fans with some legitimate dream matches as part of this pay-per-view, with most of them delivering spectacularly.

If you are in the mood for some good inter-brand wrestling ahead of this year's Survivor Series, here are the five greatest matches between RAW and SmackDown Superstars in WWE Survivor Series history.

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#5 10-man Survivor Series Elimination Match (WWE Survivor Series 2005)

The original deserves a mention.

Long before brand warfare became an annual Survivor Series tradition, WWE built an organic feud between RAW and SmackDown in 2005. It was intense, having been born out of a disrespectful gesture from RAW general manager, Eric Bischoff, towards the blue brand on a special episode of the Monday night show.

There were several invasions and brawls along the way, as the two brands had a growing issue with one another. The feud culminated in a 5-on-5 traditional Survivor Series match, featuring major stars like Batista, Shawn Michaels, and Randy Orton. There were several twists throughout this enthralling contest.

Batista, who was the World Heavyweight Champion at the time, was eliminated early on following a double Chokeslam from Kane and The Big Show. However, his SmackDown team got an overwhelming advantage. RAW's Shawn Michaels was left in a 3-on-1 situation at the end.

After eliminating Rey Mysterio and JBL, HBK eventually succumbed to an RKO from Randy Orton, who became the sole survivor. The Viper was at his sneaky best here, cutting Michaels' comeback short and surviving yet again. Winning the original RAW vs. SmackDown match cemented his legacy as Mr. Survivor Series.

#4 Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair (WWE Survivor Series 2018)

A solid back-up plan for The Man.

This match should be fondly remembered, simply because of the fact that it served as the perfect replacement for the planned women's main event of Survivor Series 2018. Ronda Rousey vs. Becky Lynch had to be canceled after The Man suffered a concussion six days before the event.

As a result, WWE called upon Charlotte Flair to take Becky's place at Survivor Series. The ensuing match was incredible, aptly demonstrating the excellent in-ring skills of Charlotte and Rousey. They had a hard-hitting brawl, with both women not holding anything back.

The action was physical and intense, with the finish bringing out even more aggression from The Queen. She intentionally lost by disqualification, repeatedly smacking her opponent with a kendo stick. This planted the seeds for further animosity between the two dominant females.

Ronda Rousey had less than a week to prepare for her match with Charlotte Flair and it is fair to say that she was great here. Everything would eventually come to a conclusion between the two of them and Becky Lynch in the main event of WrestleMania 35, where the latter stood tall after winning both the RAW and SmackDown Women's Championships.

#3 Brock Lesnar vs. AJ Styles (WWE Survivor Series 2017)

A phenomenal 'David vs. Goliath' clash.

WWE fans rejoiced when Brock Lesnar's Survivor Series 2017 opponent was changed from Jinder Mahal to AJ Styles. Another dream match that wasn't initially planned, this 'David vs. Goliath' match stole the show at Survivor Series. One could easily tell that Lesnar loved working with Styles.

The Beast sold a lot for the Phenomenal One, creating a captivating contest that was fuelled by the belief that AJ had a chance to topple his mighty opponent. WWE truly made the fans believe that he could win, despite the predictable nature of the match.

The finish was perfectly executed, with Lesnar catching Styles in mid-air and planting him with an F5 for the hard-fought victory. This match was hard-fought, as proven by the Beast's expression after winning. His opponent's stock was instantly raised, even in defeat.

This match was another example of Brock Lesnar excelling alongside smaller wrestlers. A lot of his best matches have come against the likes of Eddie Guerrero and CM Punk. AJ Styles comes in that category, as does one other Superstar.

#2 Brock Lesnar vs. Daniel Bryan (WWE Survivor Series 2018)

Even better than Brock Lesnar's previous Survivor Series match.

A year after AJ Styles faced Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series, he was set to do so again after holding onto the WWE Championship for over 365 days. However, he was beaten for the title five days before the event by Daniel Bryan, who shockingly turned heel in the process. It was Bryan's turn to step up against The Beast.

Despite the heel turn, it proved to be a masterstroke on WWE's part. Bryan and Lesnar crafted a spectacular contest that surpassed previous year's bout in terms of quality, drama, and impact. The Beast ably destroyed the new WWE Champion to the point where it felt uncomfortable.

But just when everybody thought Survivor Series 2018 would end with a squash match, Bryan took advantage of a referee bump and hit his larger opponent with a low blow and a running knee. That resulted in one of the greatest near-falls in recent WWE history.

From that point, Bryan got more and more offense. A victory for him seemed believable, thanks to some excellent selling from Lesnar. However, he eventually succumbed to an F5 after the 8-time WWE World Champion aggressively got out of the LeBell Lock.

It was as tense and emotional as one could have expected it to be, living up to ridiculously high expectations. They told a fantastic story, with the fans feeling sympathy for a man who had turned heel less than a week ago. This match was simply a pro wrestling masterclass.

#1 10-man Survivor Series Elimination Match (WWE Survivor Series 2016)

A version of The Shield vs The Wyatt Family was the perfect finale to this epic masterpiece.

There aren't any true stakes to the RAW vs. SmackDown feud at Survivor Series, but that is made up for by the perfect combination of relentless action and masterful storytelling. The 2016 men's elimination match had both of them in abundance. WWE did a fantastic job of building this match, one layer at a time.

Each Superstar had a purpose in this match, as every elimination was logical for their own reasons. Both, RAW and SmackDown had the perfect balance of experience, star power, and freshness. There were so many plot points, featuring a years' worth of continuity. Something WWE could use more of right now.

Some of the more satisfying eliminations from this Survivor Series classic include Braun Strowman being counted out because of James Ellsworth, a Shield Triple Powerbomb to take out AJ Styles, and a Frog Splash countered into a mid-air RKO to eliminate Seth Rollins. There were also several storylines furthered during this match.

Styles and Dean Ambrose continued their heated rivalry and caused each other's eliminations, including that triple powerbomb. Meanwhile, Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho's friendship stumbled a little after KO got disqualified for using the 'List of Jericho' as a weapon. The final stretch was also incredibly done.

Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns faced off against Bray Wyatt and then-Wyatt Family member, Randy Orton, in a version of the legendary feud between the Wyatts and The Shield. In the end, Orton sacrificed himself to allow his "leader" to pin Reigns and win the match for SmackDown.

This victory launched the 'New Wyatt Family' into legitimacy, along with the many tidbits of storytelling and characterization that this match achieved. Leaving aside the lack of stakes, this was one of the greatest matches in Survivor Series history.