BANKIE'S HOT TAKE #6 - Survivor Series Thoughts: 24 Hours Later
I wanted to write quickly about my feelings regarding Survivor Series: War Games last night in Boston, Massachusetts.
Last night, I sat down, ate my brains in baked mac and cheese, and live tweeted the entire show on my Twitter handle HERE: https://twitter.com/BankieBruce/status/1596663629428191232
Well, after digesting everything, both food and show, 24 hours later, the question is simple: Do I feel the same way as I did last night regarding the pay-per-view?
In a word - YES.
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Survivor Series was a Hell of a show. The more we see Triple H as the head of creative in WWE, the long term storytelling is more apparent.
I was a huge fan of the initial black-and-gold era of NXT. You could tell the attention to detail in every situation. NXT paid attention to its history, respected its characters, built programs properly, and had the fans guessing and on its toes with its creative decisions. Compared to Vince McMahon’s formula for main roster WWE programming, which was basic wrestling to the lowest common denominator (which is not a knock at all, just the formula that was proven to work time and time again), NXT was a breath of fresh air. It mixed heavy metal, state-of-the-art wrestling, and homegrown talent developing alongside independent stalwarts.
The further we get into Triple H’s philosophy, the hybrid of wrestling and sports entertainment gets more infused.
Both War Games matches were spectacles in their own ways. The Women’s division is on another level. DAMAGE CTRL, Nikki Cross and Rhea Ripley against Bianca Belair, Becky Lynch, Mia Yim, Asuka, and Alexa Bliss was a demolition derby. These women beat the Hell out of each other and left it all out there. With all due respect to the NXT Women War Games matches over the past few years, this one blew them all out of the water.
The Men’s War Games was a master class in storytelling. The Bloodline is just on another level in professional wrestling. Roman Reigns leading the way and helping Sami Zayn become a beloved superstar after the last several years of being a conspiracy theorist, while completely making every opponent he faces look as strong as possible, showcases why he truly is the diamond of the industry. Absolutely beautiful.
Side note - I really want to see Jey Uso as a World champion. Don’t ask me why.
AJ Styles and Finn Balor is a match that, if I was a pro wrestler, I would watch on repeat to understand how to perform on a high level.
The final five minutes of the United States championship match was absolutely insane. Hey, for those that said Austin Theory was dead in the water after his failed Money in the Bank, I’m guessing you’d be eating crow. Within a two week span, Theory has become renewed, refreshed, and has gained an edge the likes of Randy Orton did after feuding with Mick Foley in 2004. Just my two cents.
Shotzi came out of the match looking stronger than she did coming in. All that needs to be said.
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My Hot Take? Survivor Series was a fine, fine show. I cannot wait to see what happens next on television over the next month. As a wrestling fan, I can’t complain when everyone works hard and puts on quality performances.
Pro wrestling is fun right now. Let the good times roll. #BANKONIT
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