7 Match Star Ratings For WWE Survivor Series 2020

3. Asuka Vs. Sasha Banks

Roman Reigns Drew McIntyre
WWE

Isn't the very appeal of Survivor Series in the presentation of brand new matches you'd never see on the other 364 days of the year?

It is, after all, the one night of the year on which the stars of RAW and SmackDown engage in direct competition.

Asuka and Sasha Banks engaged in direct competition several times over the summer. The matches were great, but there were so many of them, and so many of them were f*cked by obnoxious finishes, that it was very difficult to invest in or get hyped for this fifth match of 2020. WWE contriving to normalise a fantastic match with fantastic workers is very WWE.

This wasn't fantastic, but it was very good. The tremendous chemistry of the frantic technical struggle felt relatively loose in the opening half. By their standards, it was a bit overcomplicated too. Not a great deal registered as moments of true dramatic peril because the pacing was all a bit muddled.

Far tighter and immersive by the closing stretch, the match peaked brilliantly towards a politicised and thus deflating finish. WWE didn't want to beat either woman. The flash pin, sold as a lapse in concentration more than anything else, felt like a get-out.

It's the pay-per-view that needs to get out.

F*ck Survivor Series.

Star Rating: ★★★½

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!