Kick-Off Show
Renee Young kicks-off the Survivor Series panel with Jerry Lawler, Peter Rosenberg and The Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels! The panel talk about the importance and legacy of Survivor Series, with Michaels talking about the times he was team captain, as well as his monumental match with Bret Hart.
This panel is ready to get things going…
Say hello to @ReneeYoungWWE @JerryLawler @rosenbergradio & @ShawnMichaels! #SurvivorSeries pic.twitter.com/R3APZpyidW
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) November 19, 2017
The panel plug the Network and do a quick rundown of tonight’s card. Shawn says that Survivor Series can take someone to the next level, which can also be bittersweet because it’s more than you ask for. Rosenberg talks about the heightened tension and aggression between Raw and SmackDown Live this year.
The first match up for discussion is The New Day Vs. The Shield. We see some video highlights of New Day costing The Shield their tag team titles. The panel talk about how successful The New Day has been as a team, but also how The Shield are an iconic trio who have been successful as a team and as singles competitors. They think it will be an incredible match but The Shield will prevail.
We go backstage to Charly Caruso in the Social Media Lounge, where later tonight she will be joined by The Miz. Sam Roberts is outside the arena in Houston, surrounded by fans, where he talks about the excitement for tonight’s. We see SmackDown’s Women’s Team backstage, with Becky Lynch giving them a pep talk. Back with the panel, Shawn says this match will come down to which team can coalesce better. Renee says that Raw has the stronger team on paper but SmackDown are no slouches. Peter Rosenberg gets very excited about seeing Natalya face Asuka for the first time ever, but thinks Raw will edge the match, as does Shawn. Jerry Lawler is the contrarian however, and believes SmackDown will come together as a team.
Alexa Bliss joins the panel and talks about her upcoming match with Charlotte, which she says she will win and prove her dominance. We get a side-by-side interview between Charlotte and Bliss, in which Charlotte says Alexa may have become the first woman to win both Raw and SmackDown titles but she did it too and tonight she will prove herself better. Charlotte also says that she is a real Champion, one who doesn’t run from fights. Alexa says she has already beaten three of the four Horsewomen and tonight she will complete the set. Charlotte dares her to take her to the stable.
Things are about to get heated…#SurvivorSeries @AlexaBliss_WWE @MsCharlotteWWE pic.twitter.com/3WF1H5CNqT
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) November 19, 2017
Elias is in the ring and he asks for silence as he prepares to sing a little ditty. Elias sings about Houston and how Texans are the worst thing about the USA. He gets rudely interrupted my Matt Hardy, who is ready to face him in some Kick-Off show action!
Elias Vs. Matt Hardy
The match begins with a tie-up and Elias gets a wristlock. Hardy reverses to a side headlock and the two exchange holds as Elias tries to ground Hardy. Matt gets Elias’ arm behind his back and The Drifter tries to back suplex himself out of it but Matt takes him right back to the mat with another takeover. Elias shoots Matt off but Hardy holds onto the ropes, kicks Elias in the face, then a side Russian legsweep. Matt takes to the second rope, elbow drop to the back of the neck gets two, and we take a break.
Back from commercial, Matt with a whip to a back elbow, elbow drop follows and gets two and he goes back to the headlock. Drifter gets him in the ropes and breaks dirty with a wrench of the arm and follows it up with punches and stomps as soon Hardy tries to make a comeback. To the apron, Elias snaps Matt’s arm over the apron, then a kick to the shoulder and then a standing armbar to really wrench it in.
Something tells us @MATTHARDYBRAND would actually rather @IAmEliasWWE be singing right now… #SurvivorSeries pic.twitter.com/vov6OJ2Y3g
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) November 19, 2017
A standing knee drop from Elias, again targeting the shoulder, into the corner, pulling the arm over the ropes, hammerlock shove into the next corner over and again in the one beyond that for a cover that gets two. Top wristlock, Hardy struggles and Elias makes him regret it with a double underhook shoulder-breaker! Hammerlock over the ropes follows, Matt legit screaming in agony, but he’s able to catch Samson with Side Effect on the apron!
Back in the ring, Hardy throwing rights and smashing Elias into each turnbuckle over and over face-first. Delete corner lariat, running bulldog, a second Side Effect… NO GOOD! Jockeying for position in the corner, Matt gets a boot off, diving elbow drop, only a near-fall. Calling for it, arm hanging limp at his side, kick to the gut, but Elias counters the Twist of Fate and rams him shoulder-first into the post and catches Matt with Drift Away for the win!
Winner: Elias
After the match the panel talk about how big of a win that was for Elias. Michaels says that a win over Matt Hardy puts your name on the map.
We return to Charly Caruso in the Social Media Lounge for the Q&A. Miz says the time for talk is done and he’s gonna let his actions speak in the ring, where he is an elite-level talent, and Corbin will see exactly why. Baron talking about his wife and unborn child has given him a newfound focus and he’ll unleash everything he has tonight. First question is about how Team Raw would react to a loss tonight, and the A-Lister says his whole goal as champion is to make the Intercontinental Championship the most prestigious title in the world, so losing isn’t in his vocabulary. The second question is about if he feels any pressure, and Miz talks about his trials and tribulations and how he’s gotten to a point where he thinks he’s the main event of any show he’s on. Third question is about if Raw is good enough to beat SmackDown, and Miz says any show he’s on succeeds. When he was on SmackDown, it was #1, now that he’s on Raw, it’s #1, and he elevates everyone by his mere presence. That’s all the questions for The Miz and he makes fun of Charly for the crappy questions, to which she is clearly awkward.
“#RAW will be superior over #SDLive tonight because of one person, and his name is not @RealKurtAngle…” – @mikethemiz #SurvivorSeries pic.twitter.com/9xmUqGfyXy
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) November 19, 2017
The panel quickly discusses Miz Vs. Baron Corbin and Peter Rosenberg hilariously says he and the WWE Universe would love to see both men lose. We cut to the announce table with Nigel McGuinness and Vic Josephs, who’re ready for some cruiserweight action!
Cruiserweight Championship Match
(C) Enzo Amore Vs. Kalisto
Amore starts the match hot with punches, backing Kalisto into the corner for shoulder thrusts, kicks to the gut, referee Darrick Moore warning him to back off but the Dragon Gate alumnus fires leg kicks off to get some separation and goes right for Salida Del Sol but the champion bails. Off the ropes, thinking about a dive but his target moves, he heads outside, Enzo goes right back in, shoulder block from the apron into a slingshot sunset flip pin but Enzo escapes. Kalisto tries to draw Amore up from the apron but the Champion thinks fast and snaps Kalisto’s neck over the ropes to send us to another break.
Back from our commercial, Enzo is in control and gets a nearfall off a short-arm lariat and puts boots to Kalisto in the corner before hitting that double leg side slam of his and locking the challenger down with a reverse chinlock. Keeping it moving, hanging him in the Tree of Woe, stomp connects, backing off and clobbering him with a sliding forearm for a nearfall!
Sometimes, it’s all about the basics for #Cruiserweight Champion @real1! #SurvivorSeries pic.twitter.com/cG003ZWqgG
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) November 19, 2017
Back to the reverse chinlock, Kalisto struggles and nearly turns it into Salida Del Sol only for the champion to slam him to the mat! Into the Tree of Woe again, a stomp in passing, three-point stance, charging in again but the Dragon Gate man pops up and avoids it! Diving moonsault, but Kalisto can’t capitalize! Duck a lariat, tilt-a-whirl headscissors sends the champion loopy!
Corner knee, California Roll, kick to the face, off the ropes and a headscissors driver! Kalisto hooks Enzo for Salida Del Sol but Amore holds onto the top rope and escapes. Both men on the apron slugging it out, big right hand from Enzo and he hits JordanZo on the apron! Enzo yanks Kalisto through the corner to wrench the arm. Back in the middle of the ring, wristlock from Enzo and another JordanZo for the win!
Winner: Enzo Amore
Back to the panel, they discuss what we just saw before talking about what wins and losses tonight might mean for each brand. They toss back to Sam Roberts in the crowd for a moment before moving onto a video package and discussion for the men’s Survivor Series Elimination Match. Michaels thinks Raw will reign supreme because Triple H, Kurt Angle and Braun Strowman will be impossible to overcome. Lawler agrees but Rosenberg sides with SmackDown live.
Which brand will reign supreme when this legendary showdown happens TONIGHT at #SurvivorSeries: #RAW or #SDLive? pic.twitter.com/a0r5rd2jk9
— WWE (@WWE) November 19, 2017
Back to ringside for our last pre-show match! Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn make their way to the ring and grab microphones. Owens says that tonight is a joke because they shouldn’t be facing two clowns like Breezango, they should be leading Team SmackDown, but Shane McMahon has a vendetta against them. Zayn agrees and says that if Breezango were real cops they would investigate this conspiracy. Eventually Breezango come to the ring and accuse Owens and Zayn of harassing the WWE Universe and violating fashion crimes. Zayn jokes, “oh look, it’s the police”. Dango says tonight’s headline will read “local sexy cops save Survivor Series”. Breeze and Dango try to hand them tickets but they aren’t taken and it’s time for the match.
Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens Vs. Breezango
Owens and Fandango to start, Kev in hot but Dango is able to fight him off and then Zayn when he runs in after his pal. The Canadians on the floor, they get the proverbial book thrown at them in the form of a stack of tickets, and we take another break for a break.
Dango suplexes Sami over the top rope and tags Tyler in, boot and a nearfall, and Zayn heads outside for a breather. Flying forearm from Breeze, back inside and Sami capitalizes with a little help from KO, raining grounded punches down on him and following with a short-arm lariat. Tag made, Owens in with punches and stomps in the corner, clubbing blow and a tag right back to Zayn.
After all these years, @FightOwensFight is STILL the #ChinlockMaster! #SurvivorSeries pic.twitter.com/bBjpiYrKKu
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) November 19, 2017
Tyler creates an opening but Sami is able to drag him right back over for a tag and a leglock-assisted senton for a nearfall. Following it up with a reverse chinlock after, Breeze eventually fighting to his feet only to get mat slammed and covered for two after, and then right back to the reverse chinlock. To his feet again, body blows, and Owens kicks his leg hard!
Owens looks for a leaping senton but Breeze got his knees up and tags are made! Dango in hot, throwing strikes like the wind, missile dropkick, hip swivel, tornado DDT connects but Owens breaks it up! Breeze in to run KO off, Fandango climbs up top but Kev cuts him off and then pulls Sami out of the way of the Last Dance! Tag made to Owens, who shoves Fandango off the ropes and lands the Pop-Up Powerbomb for the win!
Winners: Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens
We go backstage with AJ Styles for an interview. He says he’s not telling his strategy, but if you want to talk about Heyman calling him an underdog, well, who isn’t an underdog against Brock Lesnar? He doesn’t fear Lesnar, sure he might be afraid of what might happen in the ring, but that fear’s a good thing, because he moves a little faster, jumps a little higher, and hits a lot harder. Tonight he’s gonna have to be better than great, he’s going to have to be phenomenal. Jinder Mahal rolls up for a tense moment before leaving.
We get a video package for the huge match between AJ Styles and Lesnar and then the panel discuss the showdown. Rosenberg says that he isn’t sure if Styles can out-manoeuvre Brock. Lawler says AJ is phenomenal but Lesnar has been the phenom for a lot longer! Michaels says he loves an underdog because he was one and so he is going to side with AJ!
Panel predictions for @BrockLesnar vs. @AJStylesOrg:@ShawnMichaels – P1️⃣@JerryLawler – F5️⃣@rosenbergradio – F5️⃣#SurvivorSeries pic.twitter.com/5DIyX0p7hM
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) November 19, 2017
We get a final rundown of the Survivor Series card. We see The Sheild and The New Day walking around backstage, that match will open the show and be a hard act to follow. The panel talk about how stacked tonight’s card is and that’s it for the kick-off show.
