Comparing WWE Survivor Series 2016 To NXT TakeOver: Toronto

7. Show Openers

Both shows opened with the usual elaborate hype videos for their respective events, which were flawlessly produced and presented, as is par for the course for WWE’s top-line production department.

However, a difference that was immediately apparent when the shows went to the live crowd was the energy of those assembled in the Air Canada Centre. While the Survivor Series crowd was excited and cheering for the opening, the NXT assembly, which was actually smaller, were incredibly amped up for the start of the show, and were reacting much more loudly.

A possible contributing factor was the contrasting soundtracks; NXT went with a hard-rock song blasting throughout the arena, the type that would have fitted in perfectly to WWE events around 2000-2001, while SS chose to use a more modern, electronic-sounding track. The former was ideal for pumping up the crowd, while the latter seemed intended to give the opposite effect, as it wasn’t the most energetic song choice for the show.

Winner: NXT