7 Biggest Missed Opportunities From WWE Survivor Series 2018
2. What Could Have Been
With the brand split back in action since 2016, Survivor Series once again has a much-needed purpose as both Raw and SmackDown compete for supremacy in a series of matches. However, this also gives way to lazy writing and, unfortunately, can leave the company in a rather uncertain state.
While the idea of two respective competitors who have never interacted with each other facing off for little more than brand supremacy can come off as rather forced, it can work under the right circumstances. Unfortunately for WWE, last-minute changes left the entire WWE Universe feeling well, short-changed.
After senselessly putting the Universal Championship back around Brock Lesnar's waist at Crown Jewel, WWE was seemingly building towards a Survivor Series 2017 rematch by having 'The Beast' face off against SmackDown's WWE Champion, AJ Styles. Despite the build, the creative team then put the latter title on Daniel Bryan less than a week before the event, changing the main event match altogether.
Similarly, SmackDown Women's Champion, Becky Lynch, was due to take on Raw's Women's Champion Ronda Rousey, but also less than a week before the event, she was injured and ultimately had to be replaced by Charlotte Flair.
Not all of this is WWE's fault, as the injuries can happen anytime, but the fact that the two most-anticipated matches were changed last-minute left both of them with absolutely no build whatsoever, effectively cheapening both of them.