10 Big Mistakes WWE Can't Afford To Make With Survivor Series 2016
How to avoid PPV meltdown in 10 easy steps.
WWE Survivor Series 2016 comes live from Toronto this Sunday evening. Traditionally one of the biggest shows of the year, the 2016 incarnation not only sees the top dogs from WWE’s men’s, women’s, and tag division going head-to-head in traditional elimination matches, but Goldberg’s first match in over 12 years.
The former WCW Champion’s showdown with Brock Lesnar was the first match announced, and will likely act as Survivor Series’ main event. For all the questions surrounding Goldberg’s ring rust, it’ll go down as one of the year’s most talked-about matches, and a fitting way to close the show.
Raw and SmackDown’s inter-brand rivalry has been building steadily for weeks. The story has largely revolved around each team’s inability to get on the same page, and there’ll surely be plenty to talk about in each of the night’s three elimination matches. The Raw vs. SD Cruiserweight and Intercontinental Title matches, meanwhile, don’t just come with huge implications for the performers, but the brands themselves.
Survivor Series is a vital PPV on a number of levels. WWE’s last dual-show PPV, SummerSlam, ended in mediocrity, and they can’t let the same thing happen here. WWE have passed the first test by providing an excellent lineup: the ball’s in their court to make the right booking decisions, and ensure the fans are sent home happy.
But as we already know, WWE PPVs are only a few poor decisions away from disaster. Here are 10 mistakes WWE can’t afford to make with Survivor Series 2016.
10. Trim The Early Matches
Like SummerSlam, Survivor Series looks set to be a 4-hour show. You’re looking at dedicating an entire Sunday evening in order to get through it, and that puts extra pressure on WWE to deliver. SummerSlam wasn’t without its highlights, but the extra length made its lesser matches a chore to get through, especially with a whopping 12 matches on the card.
The three elimination matches will likely take up at least half the show on their own, and if you take theatrics and video packages into account, Goldberg vs. Lesnar will occupy a big chunk itself. Despite the extra length, there’s every possibility that WWE may need to make some trimmings elsewhere to make four hours, and given their apparent resentment for midcard titles, the Cruiserweight and IC Title contenders have every right to be worried.
In Brian Kendrick vs. Kalisto and The Miz vs. Sami Zayn, WWE have a couple of excellent singles matches on their hands. The other contests will likely be full of shenanigans, controversy, and misdirection, and while there's always the risk of this happening with Maryse and the Spirit Squad around, these two matches have the potential to produce some simple, uncomplicated singles action away from the chaos. Cutting their allotted time wouldn’t just undermine the performers, but completely disrupt the show’s balance.