Survivor Series Thread: 11/22/20 BRAND WARFARE... again

I know people are tired of it but I love the brand warfare stuff. It always results in some brilliant matches and mostly (I'm looking at you 2018) an exciting Survivor Series... even if it means nothing at the end of the day.

I wish we got Orton/Reigns instead, those 2 have been incredible to watch the last few months.

Lana gets Samoan Dropped through a table 9 times and is still able to wrestle at Survivor Series while Dana Brooke gets assaulted backstage and Mandy Rose gets her elbow stomped and they need to be replaced.

Bryan/Lesnar was heel vs. heel. I was just annoyed they rehashed the whole last minute swerve to the match they did with AJ Styles beating Jinder Mahal to face Brock Lesnar in 2017. I’ve always wanted Orton to have a lengthy run with the title until Edge returns and screws him out of it to set up their WrestleMania 37 match too.

I heard someone compare Survivor Series to the NBA All Star game. Think that's the best way to look at it. The best vs the best. Simple as that.

Personally I'm looking forward to the show.

Honestly; I loved the storyline and the magic it could generate.

Part of likes a more genuine story; like Survivor Series 2005 was beautiful. I love how that angle progressed. And I think it's so unique. And that angle could be repeated in new way. More unorthodox and taken more seriously. Or like Raw/SD crusade at ECW One Night Stand. I love that dynamic. But, I kinda like that pro sports feel. Like the best of the best from both brands coming together in matches we typically don't see. Survivor Series 2016 clearly did it to a T. Bragging Rights events would interesting and I felt never got truly to what they could of been. But they pretty much payed the way for Survivor Series concept we have. As well as Bragging Rights really was around when the brand extension started to die off. Unified Tag Titles, by 2010 the womens titles were unified. And on a side note, the brand extension died such a weird half death in 2011. And never fully died till 2013. Anyways. And I like the concept as mentioned. However; it feels devalued. Like we have to much crossover between brands.

And I don't wanna hear; well we need brand exclusive PPVS. Because yes; they are nice at times. We see more brand related angles. And more screen time for everyone. But; you can get some really thin cards because of it. You can still have every PPV feature each brand. That's fine. But don't have every other week SD feature Raw superstar. And I feel we get so many cross promotional feuds all the damn time. And back in the 00's it met something. To have Angle Vs. HBK or any cross brand feud. They were treated like such big deal. And the angle's looked so big, because they defied brand rules. Now I don't mind having crossover special episodes, angles, but it can't be once a month thing.

That's why you can't have these brand warefare things; because they don't really create distinction. Let alone; if both shows had distinct vibe set up and feeling it would be helpful. And I know Covid hurts that. But; two sets that look vastly different then eachother. Raw can do the LED stuff, make SmackDown more gritty or something.

And at the end of the day if you think even in Kayfabe sense. I am The Miz, since 2016 I pretty much almost have flipped brands each year. Why would I have loyalty. But thinking say guy like The Undertaker or HBK who have been distinct to one brand. They have loyalty.

But I think this does produce some really cool matches, angle's and promos. I think it could be done more special. Or maybe try to do this Brand warefare angle once every 2 years? I don't know. I think the original Survivor Series format died out while ago. But I wouldn't mind a stab out at having like main event 5 on 5 that ties in Heels/faces of both brands coming together on a team. Or just a big promotional storyline like Survivor Series 2004 Raw Elimination did. And I think winning brand warefare matches should have some clout or pay off for the winning team. Like title shots or something?

I need to watch the Last Ride on USA tonight at 10PM before Undertaker's retirement ceremony on Sunday.

But why would a competitive athlete with a big ego care about winning and proving that the show that has them is the dominant one??? It makes no sense! Look at The Miz, or AJ Styles. They’d never do something just to showboat and brag about it. The only way they’d care about their brand is if there were RoYaL RuMbLe spots on the line, because the one thing Miz loves is having more people from his brand in the Royal Rumble. His whole character for fifteen years has been “I want my brand to have 20 Royal Rumble slots so that my favourite jobber can be in the match” and now WWE has the perfect opportunity to build a Survivor Series around that gimmick... but that would make too much sense, so obviously Vince and Bucky Beaver won’t do it. Smh this company...

AJ was face coming fresh off that match with Balor at TLC. Jinder was heel when he beat him.