5 facts you need to know heading into WWE Survivor Series 2019

The annual Survivor Series event will emanate live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois, this Sunday. For the first time, WWE's third brand NXT will join RAW & SmackDown in the battle for brand supremacy.

WWE completed the build towards the show on this week's episode of SmackDown, and we'll find out this Sunday which brand will walk away with bragging rights.

NXT is going head-to-head with AEW Dynamite on Wednesdays, so WWE added them to the spotlight along with RAW & SmackDown for Survivor Series, and it worked out for them as NXT won the TV-ratings war against Dynamite this week for the first time since the TV-ratings rivalry.

All WWE title holders except the three world champions will be a part of the battle for brand supremacy, and Triple H has promised a big surprise for the fifth member of Team NXT. The stakes are high for this year's edition of the PPV, and with all three brands of WWE joining the mix, we can expect some high octane performances from the Superstars.

With that said, here are five facts you need to know about this year's edition of Survivor Series.

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#5 No Undertaker for the fourth consecutive year

The Undertaker

When the Undertaker missed WrestleMania 35 this year, it was for the first time in 18 years. However, Survivor Series was where The Deadman was born as he made his debut on the PPV in 1990. The last time The Undertaker competed at Survivor Series was in 2015 where he and Kane defeated The Wyatt Family.

The Deadman has been making sporadic appearances this year, with his last one coming at Extreme Rules 2019.

The last time he was associated with Survivor Series was in 2016 when he confronted Team SmackDown on the November 15, 2016, episode but didn't make an appearance on the PPV.

We haven't heard from The Deadman since he teamed up with Roman Reigns at Extreme Rules, and it's doubtful he'll make a surprise appearance this Sunday.

#4 The Miz is not on the match card after 8 years

The A-Lister didn't make it on the Survivor Series match card

When WWE announced the match card for this year's Survivor Series PPV, it was shocking to see The Miz's name not included on the list. The A-Lister has been there whenever WWE needed to revive their mid-card, and he's been a part of the PPV for the past eight years.

The last time he wasn't a part of the Survivor Series match card was in 2010 when he got kicked out by John Cena. He had a high profile match teaming up with R-Truth against Cena & The Rock in 2011 and has never failed to be a part of the PPV until this year.

The chances of him appearing on this year's PPV are very slim. He could still make it if he's named the surprise fifth member of Team NXT, but it's doubtful he'll get that prominent spot.

#3 First time in Chicago after 30 years

It's been 30 years since Survivor Series was held in Chicago

Chicago has one of the most passionate crowds in pro-wrestling. Whenever WWE hosts an event in Chicago, the fans turn up in large numbers, lighting up the event with their cheers.

The last time Survivor Series took place in Chicago was in 1989, and it took 30 years for WWE to bring the PPV back to the city. The Chicago fans never fail to raise their voices in unity, so we can expect them to be very vocal.

The Chicago fans would feel even more energized now that their hometown hero CM Punk is with the company on WWE Backstage, and they'll have their fingers crossed for the former WWE Champion to appear on the show.

Triple H teased a surprise member for Team NXT, and we'll have to wait till Sunday to find out if Punk makes his return.

#2 First time the Universal Championship is defended on the PPV

Can Daniel Bryan overcome The Fiend?

The Universal Championship made its debut during the 2016 brand extension, becoming exclusive to Monday Night RAW. The Superstars who have held onto the championship have defended the title on three of the Big Four PPVs, with Survivor Series the only exception.

Since 2016 the Universal Champion has been a part of the inter-brand warfare matches. Kevin Owens was part of Team RAW at the 2016 Survivor Series, and Brock Lesnar competed against the WWE Champion in 2017 and 2018.

This year marks the first time the Universal Champion will defend the title at a Survivor Series PPV, as Daniel Bryan will challenge The Fiend for the title this Sunday.

Bryan has a tough task ahead because The Fiend has looked unstoppable since his dominant win over Seth Rollins at Crown Jewel. Bryan teased reviving the Yes Movement during his match with The Miz on this week’s SmackDown, and we must wait till Sunday to find out if he can do the impossible by dethroning The Fiend.

#1 Brock Lesnar as a champion for the third consecutive year

The Beast Incarnate has a unique Survivor Series record!

Stone Cold Steve Austin was right when he named Brock Lesnar the greatest Superstar in the last decade. Ever since making his return in 2012, he's achieved more than any other Superstar on the WWE roster. The current reigning WWE Champion is on his fifth world title reign since his return, with one of those going over 500 days.

Lesnar will defend the WWE Championship against Rey Mysterio this Sunday at Survivor Series, and this marks the third straight year the Beast Incarnate is walking into the PPV as a champion.

Lesnar was the Universal Champion on the 2017 & 2018 editions of the PPV and is walking into this year's show as the WWE Champion. The Beast Incarnate continues to prove that he is the top Superstar in the WWE despite not making regular appearances on the weekly shows.

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