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Following an eventful Hell in a Cell pay-per-view, WWE is set to enter Survivor Series season all guns blazing. This year's Survivor Series could revolve around The Undertaker, who debuted at the PPV 30 years ago. With The Deadman being the theme of the event, one has to wonder the extent of brand warfare WWE may go to for Survivor Series.
The last few editions of Survivor Series has solely focused on brand supremacy between RAW and SmackDown, with NXT being included in the previous year. They may go the same route this year, either with or without NXT. There are quite a few brand-specific storylines that require resolving as well.
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Also, there is the question of whether The Undertaker will wrestle at Survivor Series. Whatever the case may be, the show seems to be a pretty intriguing one.
With multiple directions possible for WWE Survivor Series 2020, here are five matches that could happen at the event.
#5 Tucker vs. Otis could happen as a RAW vs. SmackDown Survivor Series match
With brand warfare likely happening at Survivor Series, some of the cross-brand matches should be focused on storytelling. We just saw SmackDown's Otis face The Miz, who is now on RAW, at Hell in a Cell with the Money in the Bank contract on the line.
But the end of that match may have birthed a fresh new angle for Survivor Series. Tucker turned heel and cost Otis the match, with the two having somewhat of a physical confrontation backstage afterward. It seems like the two will face each other soon, despite being on separate brands.
It would make sense for this to be the Kickoff Show match at Survivor Series to avoid any further dent in the credibility of the brand split. Neither Tucker nor Otis should appear on the other's show, 'El Gran Gordo' costume or not.
They should just face off at Survivor Series simply to put a bow on the Heavy Machinery break-up. Otis would win, possibly setting him up for a push on SmackDown.
#4 The Hurt Business vs. RETRIBUTION in an 8-man Survivor Series Elimination Match
RETRIBUTION has had a week to forget. After Mustafa Ali was revealed as the leader of the faction, the WWE Universe expected great things for RETRIBUTION. Unfortunately, they already seem to have lost a ton of momentum in their feud with The Hurt Business. The rebellious stable was defeated by their big rivals on RAW before RETRIBUTION flopped at Hell in a Cell as well. Hopefully, things turn around for them in time for Survivor Series.
Mustafa Ali has done well with the limited opportunities he has gotten to shine as the leader of RETRIBUTION, but it doesn't seem like it's going to last. RETRIBUTION's Slapjack lost to Bobby Lashley in three minutes at Hell in a Cell.
Survivor Series could be a make or break pay-per-view for RETRIBUTION. If they are to succeed in WWE, they have to defeat Lashley and co. soon. It would be an interesting way to give RETRIBUTION their first major win, as a unit, in WWE.
If this match does go ahead, it would be a real test for Ali's group and their prospects on RAW. Hopefully, Survivor Series is the start of bigger and better things to come for the leader of RETRIBUTION.
#3 Sami Zayn vs. Daniel Bryan for Intercontinental Championship at Survivor Series
If WWE goes ahead with the brand warfare gimmick for Survivor Series, it should not extend to the entire card. Some Champion vs. Champion matches sound interesting, but some just aren't that inspiring. Sami Zayn is the current Intercontinental Champion and should defend his title at the event.
Bobby Lashley could be occupied with RETRIBUTION and regardless, there are much better options for Zayn. It looks like he will soon start feuding with the returning Daniel Bryan, who he did defeat at WrestleMania 36. But with The Great Liberator back to his best in the ring, their next match could be a classic.
Bryan's vision for the Intercontinental Champion involves weekly title defenses and an increased spotlight on the undercard of SmackDown, which sounds exciting in theory. We could see it in practice as soon as the week after Survivor Series. This match is being built very nicely, following the passion of Bryan's promo about Zayn's title.
While RAW and SmackDown could be feuding with each other, some stories should remain untouched on either brand for Survivor Series. Sami Zayn vs. Daniel Bryan feels like one of those stories. A 15-minute Intercontinental title match between the two could steal the show at Survivor Series.
#2 Asuka vs. Sasha Banks vs. Io Shirai could steal the show at Survivor Series
If NXT is indeed a part of Survivor Series 2020, we could see quite a few triple threat matches. WWE should not go overboard with the brand warfare concept and allow various storylines, like Hurt Business vs. RETRIBUTION and Sami Zayn vs. Daniel Bryan, to play out on their own. That being said, the most exciting possible triple threat for Survivor Series involves the Women's Champions.
With Sasha Banks winning the SmackDown Women's Championship inside Hell in a Cell against Bayley, she joins Asuka and Io Shirai as WWE's top females. The 'Legit Boss' has some history with both stars, having faced them over the summer when she was still friends with Bayley.
Shirai defeated Banks on NXT in July thanks to some interference from Asuka, so the three are all linked with each other. If this match happens, we can expect a callback to this specific match. Asuka and Sasha Banks themselves have faced each other numerous times over the RAW Women's Championship and have even swapped the title over the summer.
The in-ring brilliance of all three Superstars, along with their top-class character work and history with each other, would make a possible triple threat between Sasha Banks, Io Shirai, and Asuka a mouth-watering prospect. If there is only one match that NXT could be involved in at Survivor Series, this needs to be the match.
#1 The Undertaker vs. "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt could happen if he decides to wrestle at Survivor Series
Survivor Series is being built around The Undertaker's 30th anniversary in WWE, but it isn't known if he will wrestle at the event. Five years ago, WWE celebrated 25 years of the Deadman at Survivor Series, as he teamed with Kane to defeat The Wyatt Family. He could have a similar match that isn't too physically demanding of him if he does show up.
The Undertaker seemed to indicate that he is content on retiring, but anything can happen in WWE. He could very well be on his way towards one more match to celebrate three decades of his legendary self in the company. If Taker does step into the ring once again, it has to be for the best possible story.
The best possible story is against Bray Wyatt, the man whose stable he decimated at Survivor Series 2015. Undertaker even defeated him at WrestleMania that year, damaging his stock as a main-eventer. Now with his alter-ego, The Fiend, Wyatt could be set on righting that wrong five years later.
It makes for one heck of a story, which takes importance over the quality of the match at this stage of The Undertaker's career. He and The Fiend could do something really cool and supernatural, considering Survivor Series will take place inside the WWE ThunderDome.
Again, it is not known whether Undertaker will wrestle or even show up at Survivor Series. All we know is that his legacy will be celebrated. But if he does wrestle, it has to be against "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt so his legacy can be decimated, exactly 30 years to the day it truly began.
