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Brand warfare comes to WWE next Sunday at Survivor Series, and much like the past two years, it promises to be a fun, if somewhat inconsequential PPV. While WWE is steadfast in holding the traditional Survivor Series match as a battle between the best of each brand, it is now that WWE should look to make a systematic change in not only placing its world championships front and center, but determine the company's future.
This will be the first PPV for the company, without the aid of Roman Reigns for quite some time. He will be back, believe that. For now, though, WWE will need to look at the mix and match of all-stars including two brilliant women this year, to see who could truly head the company's future.
It is why the stakes are much higher than just brand warfare and with WWE once again placing its premiere Universal championship on a part-timer, that both brands world champions get established as torchbearers. So as the future remains strong with the world title, and whosoever they put over next is the real big deal in this company.
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On one end is AJ Styles and on the other Brock Lesnar, both men providing us with a furious show-stealing contest last year will be the faces of their brands going in. More importantly, they are the main level talent of each brand. Thus we make a case for why it is that this the match that should go on last at Survivor Series 2018.
#3 It defines brand warfare
Recently, WWE added an Instagram post that marked the scores of the past two Survivor Series brand warfare events. Shockingly, in both cases, RAW came out ahead in the points table. Yet it doesn't matter to either brand, as the build to both shows has always been about the Traditional Survivor Series match between the men.
We've had heated confrontations in the undercard both years, but let's face it, the final contest between the men determines the real top brand. In 2016, this was particularly true with an exhilarating Smackdown win, despite the fact that the brand lost the other two traditional Survivor Series matches.
This makes no absolute sense when you consider that the world champions of both brands face off. The two men holding the title are the best of the best on their respective rosters. They highlight the prime representative of each show, despite the fact that Brock Lesnar rarely ever appears. So for that matter, these two competitors should, therefore, be in the top spot.
#2 Places the world titles front and centre
Speaking of which, in pro wrestling, it's a tradition that the world championship is the prime goal of every competitor. At the same time, it is a tradition that the world champion main events the card. Unfortunately most of the time this is far from the case for the World Championships. This year alone is proof of that.
The year has seen 12 special events so far, with the world titles only main eventing four of them and the WWE championship hasn't been in the main event since the shows became dual branded. This is disheartening considering the Universal Championship has been missing for a number of shows.
It highlights how poor the world championships are. Sure we can say that the man makes the title and it does apply. However, even then it is the championship that is the primary goal of each man in the company and outside. When the world titles of the biggest wrestling promotion are such, what does that truly say?
This is why even though it isn't a title match both Lesnar and Styles should main event. In fact, it becomes doubly so, since both brand's world champions are the ones squaring off. It determines the true best in WWE and maybe even the world (Sorry, Shane).
#1 It redeems AJ Styles as the main event talent
As aforementioned, despite a year-long WWE title reign, AJ Styles has barely, if at all, sniffed the main event. It's a testament to his talent that he is still over, much like a slew of world champions across the decade treated secondary to the favored opposition. He has the championship, but he doesn't feel like champion material even then.
By giving AJ Styles the main event against Brock Lesnar, it would solidify his status as the Alpha of Smackdown in a finer way than the reign itself.
In their first match last year, Styles took Lesnar to the limit. In fact, the notoriously lazy Lesnar gave a great contest, while also selling his leg injury even when the cameras weren't rolling. It shows that The Beast respects The Phenomenal One and might not mind doing the job for him.
Finally, with seven brand warfare matches set, WWE could place the two brands on a draw ending it with this thrilling champion versus champion bout as the decider. If Styles wins, it would, in fact, be the great underdog story as the face of Smackdown takes the perceived B Show over the line.
If their previous match was Rocky, then this one could be Rocky II as AJ Styles finally conquers The Beast. That's why it'd be the perfect main event!
