WWE Survivor Series 2018: 10 Things We Learned
9. Rollins Vs. Nakamura Was Literally Meaningless
Next-to-nobody will remember the first ever televised clash between workhorse Seth Rollins and Japanese star Shinsuke Nakamura a few weeks from now. Their match at Survivor Series, whilst solid in-ring, had all the excitement of a house show exhibition.
Without the Dean Ambrose interference that was expected by many beforehand, Rollins vs. Naka became just another example of why this whole Raw vs. SmackDown thing is akin to paint drying. When they're stripped of storyline purpose or any beef to speak of between the wrestlers involved, matches rarely work in WWE.
This isn't a more wrestling-centric product like New Japan, and so Wrestler A vs. Wrestler B doesn't cut it.
The only thing achieved here was making Nakamura look second-rate compared to Rollins. That takes the Royal Rumble 2018 winner further away from where he wants to be (on top of the card) and closer to where he doesn't (mid-card anonymity).