Half the card was set up last month:
WWF Title: Roman Reigns (w/HRE) v. AJ Styles
Tag Titles: The Usos v. Holy Roman Empire (McIntyre/Lashley)
Women's Title: Ronda Rousey (w/Heyman and Walter) v. Bianca Belair
Sami Zayn v. Tyler Black
Kevin Steen v. Sheamus
And here's the other half:
IC Title: Prince Devitt (w/McDonagh) v. Pete Dunne (w/Bate)
Asuka v. Iyo Sky
Becky Lynch v. Rhea Ripley (w/Baszler)
Solo Sikoa (w/Priest) v. Austin Theory
Alexa Bliss/Nikki Cross v. Dakota Kai/Shotzi
Devitt won the vacant IC belt at Summer Slam; the previous year was a closed program, Bullet Club members in various combinations fighting for the title -- Devitt says he's taking on all comers, it doesn't matter who they are, it doesn't matter where they work - he'll take on anyone who comes through that curtain (Devitt's a tweener, so that adds to the potential of his fighting anyone).
Who comes through the curtain is British Strong Style, Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate.
They have been heels working Dark Ride following Nigel's leaving the promotion, all they can rely on is each other; they have feuded, been aligned on again/off again for years with JD McDonagh. That history gets folded in here with McDonagh siding with Devitt which will allow a personal component to the program. Primarily though, Devitt is a workrate guy and with Roman on top, this is the workrate belt.
Defiance is now Priest and Solo after they punted Randy Orton into what might be a retirement; Austin Theory is enhancement with a big mouth and that match sets up to look like a massacre.
4 matches on a 10 match card are women's matches, probably the highest % in WWF history; the opening tag is less about those specific wrestlers and more about the expansion of the women's tag division - all last year, Flair/Lynch just poured through the promotion beating everyone in sight, including men when their were no more women left. After Mania, each show has had a women's tag match, that's demonstrated here at Survivor Series -- Flair has been gone since Mania, that leaves Ripley/Baszler to run roughshod; they stomped out a handful of tag acts - Lynch made a babyface save and now we're here.
Also after Mania came a revamped Io Sky, with a new name, and a a fairly Americanized gimmick, new costume, new theme - she's a babyface who happens to be Asian as opposed to a Japanese wrestler. Asuka, once the ace of the division, returns after a long injury recovery, she asks her former stablemate Sky to aid her in getting to 100%, within the process of their working together, Asuka grows increasingly grumpy about Sky's current persona. An all babyface match is set up here, with that tension in place.
And that's the show.
WWF Title: Reigns v. Styles
-Roman's assault on "those non WWF guys" - continues as he looks to defend against Styles, can AJ win his record tying third WWF Title?
IC: Devitt v. Dunne
-Possible show stealing match here; the IC belt positioned as the workrate belt, for the Dark Ride fans the long Dunne/Bate/McDonagh program gets a bigger stage
Tags: Usos v. McIntyre/Lashley
-Super personal, Usos lost the tag titles to Roman's group, then regained them - tensions are increasing between the twins, each perhaps blaming the other for Roman's passing them by when he out his stable together. Lot of pressure on McIntyre/Lashley - you do not want to let the boss down.
Women: Rousey v. Belair
-All babyface match, Rousey's health is an issue, she was concussed by a Roman spear barely a week prior, will she be 100% against a white hot Belair?
Zayn v. Black
-Former WWF champs at a crossroads, each is a former Steen partner, Kevin unable to align the 3 of them into a cohesive unit, they will go at it here.
Lynch v. Ripley
-Another match between former WWF champs; you have to assume Baszler will be a factor as the women's tag division continues its expansion
Asuka v. Sky
-Partners, former stablemates square off in a babyface matchup, Asuka, perhaps the greatest WWF Womens Champion, returning after injury to face Sky, whom she barely recognizes in her very fan friendly, westernized new persona
Steen v. Sheamus
-Hard shots will be taken in this one; both men looking to work out frustrations and establish their place in this world now run by Reigns.
Sikoa v. Theory
-Looks like a long (or perhaps short) night for Theory
Bliss/Cross v. Kai/Shotzi
-And an opening tag.
No comments
Post a Comment