5 reasons why Shield vs New Day is the match to make for Survivor Series

Survivor Series nears and with it a number of mouth-watering match-ups. In fact, I can say that apart from WrestleMania, I've not looked forward to any other pay-per-view as much this year.

In keeping with the explosive show they put on last year, with Goldberg squashing Brock Lesnar in a stunning upset, it looks like the WWE has gone all out to fulfil expectations yet again.

The traditional 5 on 5 Survivor Series men's is practically un-missable given the whole under siege angle that's cooking...and the Champion vs Champion clashes are equally intriguing.

With SmackDown Live establishing itself as a legitimate contender to Raw and not just a forgotten sideshow, all the matches assume greater brevity too.

but no one match typifies the rivalry between the brands like one we hope the WWE will see the sense to make on Raw. (which is only a few hours away as of this writing).

I am, of course, talking about the Shield versus New Day.

Raw's protectors vs SmackDown Live's first line of attack.

The Hounds of Justice versus the Power of Positivity.

And given that Roman Reigns is returning this week and Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose have also been relieved of the Raw Tag Titles, we're hoping this match is good to go for Survivor Series.

Here's why.

---

No other options for Roman Reigns

Thrusting Reigns into the 5 on 5 match isn't a good idea

Given the fact that all the 5 spots on Team Raw have been filled and that Reigns doesn't hold any other Championship, there is literally no other way the WWE can accommodate the Big Dog in Survivor Series in a telling way.

Of course, they could shuffle Team Raw and perhaps remove Jason Jordan, giving Reigns the spot but if that was their plan all along, why even insert him into the team last week?

So unless WWE makes the Shield vs New Day, Reigns will officially sit out Survivor Series and we absolutely can't have that.

He can interfere in some match, but it's highly unlikely that the WWE will advertise that beforehand and they always advertise their biggest stars in the lead up to pay-per-views.

Technically, the WWE have booked themselves into a corner.

Traditional Survivor Series 5 on 5 match gains unpredictability

Team Angle can actually breathe without the presence of Roman Reigns

If Reigns was part of Team Raw, it's pretty obvious how the match would be booked.

Almost every booking decision nowadays revolves around how to get him over as much as possible before WrestleMania 34 that there is no way in hell that the team he is part of, Team Raw, is taking a loss at Survivor Series.

And having invested so much time into the under siege angle and Kurt Angle's job being on the line and all that, it makes little sense if everyone knows which team will win heading into Survivor Series.

Even in the age of the internet where there are next to no surprises and secrets anymore, that's just taking it too far.

All things considered, it's better for the pay-per-view as a whole if Reigns isn't involved in that match at all.

Payoff from TLC

This was cool...but the Shield needs to have Roman Reigns

The whole build to TLC was predicated on the reunion of the Shield and though they were up against a haphazardly cobbled together crew of misfits, almost everyone was on board with the Hounds of Justice coming together again.

Unfortunately, it wasn't to be as Reigns was shelved with a viral infection and Kurt Angle took his place.

Don't get me wrong here. I enjoyed watching the Olympic Hero perform in a WWE ring after so long...but the Shield angle remained incomplete without the presence of the Big Dog.

So having him back for Survivor Series, alongside his brothers-in-arms, makes a lot of sense.

If the Shield's reunion was intended in the first place so that the WWE could get him over, it would only be fair to everyone involved - fans included - if they see it through at Survivor Series.

Spotlight on Roman

Roman Reigns will have more chance to shine if he's NOT part of the 5 on 5 match

Just like New Day were front and center in both of SmackDown Live's sieges on Raw till date, it makes sense if the WWE has Shield leading the charge for the Red Brand.

But that cannot happen without Roman Reigns.

Booking the Shield as Raw's answer to SmackDown Live's double salvo led by New Day involves shining all of the spotlight on the returning Big Dog.

Practically, the WWE is booking him to be the difference maker in the war between both the brands and stem the tide of dominance that SmackDown Live is enjoying so far.

Like him or otherwise, I'd say it's a much better way for the WWE to get him over than just inserting him as one among five members on Team Angle.

Two most dominant factions

As goofy as they are, the New Day have always brought it!

Even without project Roman influencing each booking decision of the WWE, a showdown between New Day and the Shield makes sense on almost every level.

They're the two most dominant factions in WWE's recent history, without a doubt.

They're both incredibly over with the WWE Universe.

All six of them are good workers, meaning that the match is likely to yield fireworks.

And eating a loss doesn't really affect New Day's legitimacy because they're goofy, easily likeable and hold the all-time WWE record for longest ever Tag Team reign as well.

If I can fault anything in this scenario at all, it's that there hasn't been a personal rivalry between the factions that has eventually led to this match.

But hey, I'm just thankful that there's a good chance of it happening at Survivor Series in the first place.