Home News 7 Takeaways From WWE Survivor Series 2017

7 Takeaways From WWE Survivor Series 2017

Robert Lentini
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7 Takeaways From WWE Survivor Series 2017

WWE Survivor Series 2017 aired live on the WWE Network from the Toyota Center in Houston, TX on November 19th.

Kickoff Show results:

  • Elias defeated Matt Hardy
  • Enzo Amore defeated Kalisto 
  • Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens defeated Breezango

Owens and Zayn cut a promo before their match and claimed that it was insulting that they were relegated to the Kickoff Show. Owens and Zayn also questioned why Shane McMahon was still the SmackDown Commissioner.

Here are 7 takeaways from WWE Survivor Series 2017:

The Shield Put Team RAW Up 1-0

New Day versus The Shield started off WWE Survivor Series 2017. Dean Ambrose and Kofi Kingston started off the match. Ambrose got the upper-hand and smacked Kingston in the face. Kofi laughed and tagged in Xavier Woods. Seth Rollins got in the match and leveled Woods with a Clothesline.

Big E was tagged in and Rollins tagged in Roman Reigns. Big E knocked Reigns to the mat and mocked him. Reigns got back up and planted Big E with a Samoan Drop. The Shield then Clotheslined Kofi and Big E out of the ring and Woods was left all alone in the ring. The Shield spent the next few minutes taking turns beating the hell out of Woods.

New Day battled back and isolated Dean Ambrose in the corner of the ring and took turns stomping on him. Ambrose was still able to power out of the corner and connected with a Clothesline to Big E. Woods tagged himself in and beatdown Ambrose again in the corner. New Day once again took turns stomping on Ambrose in the corner.

Rollins and Reigns dragged Kofi and Woods off the ring apron. Ambrose connected with a Suicide Dive onto Woods. Ambrose went to get back into the ring but Big E Speared him off the ring apron and to the floor outside the ring. The action returned to the ring and Woods continued the beatdown on Ambrose. Ambrose finally escaped and tagged in Rollins.

Seth connected with a Slingblade onto Kingston for a two count. Rollins Powerbombed Woods into the turnbuckle as Roman Reigns tagged himself in. Reigns hit a Clothesline and then geared up for the Superman Punch. Woods dodged Roman’s first attempt but Reigns connected with his second attempt. Reigns went for a Spear but Woods got his knee up. Big E and Ambrose were then tagged in.

Big E hit a Belly to Belly to Reigns and then everything broke down. Ambrose and Rollins teamed up on Kofi Kingston. Rollins hit the knee and then Ambrose planted Kingston with the Dirty Deeds but Woods broke up the pinfall. Woods then tagged himself in but Rollins connected with a Superkick.

Reigns and Ambrose slammed Big E into the barricade outside the ring. They then walked to the other side of the ring and slammed Kofi Kingston into the barricade. The Shield were going for the Triple Powerbomb but Big E dragged Reigns out of the ring and launched him into the steel steps.

New Day teamed up and beatdown Reigns outside the ring. Back in the ring, Woods connected with a right hand onto Ambrose and then tagged in Big E. Big E lifted Ambrose up onto his shoulders and Kofi and Woods booted Ambrose in the face. Big E lifted Rollins and Ambrose onto his shoulders and Woods and Kofi connected with a double Midnight Hour. Reigns speared Big E.

Both teams slowly stood up and stared at each other from across the ring. The Shield and New Day charged at each other and battled out of the ring. Ambrose planted Big E with the Dirty Deeds and Rollins hit Woods with a knee. Reigns connected with a Spear onto Kofi Kingston outside the ring. Reigns set up on the second rope and The Shield Triple Powerbombed Kofi Kingston off the second rope for the victory.

The Shield and New Day put on an excellent opening match. The crowd was split during this match. At one point they were very behind New Day, but they booed them out of the building when they would not stop stomping on Dean Ambrose during the beginning of the match. Reigns still managed to get a “you still suck!” chant from the Houston crowd.

No One Was Ready For Asuka

Team SmackDown (Becky Lynch, Carmella, Tamina, Naomi and Natalya) faced Team RAW (Alicia Fox, Bayley, Sasha Banks, Nia Jax and Asuka) in a traditional 5-on-5 Elimination match. Stephanie McMahon gave Team RAW a pep-talk before the match and went over why she believed in each Superstar.

Alicia Fox and Becky Lynch started off the match. Becky dominated early and hit a Leg Drop off the top rope for a two count. Becky went for the Dis-Arm-Her but Fox grabbed the ropes. Bayley tagged herself in and Becky Lynch didn’t notice. Bayley rolled up Lynch and Becky became the first Superstar eliminated.

Team RAW isolated Tamina in the corner for a bit but that didn’t last too long. Tamina powered out of the corner and drove Bayley to Team SmackDown’s corner. Carmella hit Bayley with a Superkick and then Tamina followed it up with a Splash to eliminate Bayley.

Tamina and Nia Jax then got into the ring as the crowd cheered. Nia drove Tamina into the corner and then hit her with a Splash. Nia then connected with a Cannonball for a two count. Nia went for a Samoan Drop but Lana got up on the ring apron. Nia slammed into her but turned around and was greeted by back-to-back Superkick from Tamina. Tamina then hit another Superkick onto Nia outside the ring and followed it up with a Splash off the steel steps. Nia Jax was then counted out.

Alicia Fox was quickly eliminated by Naomi. Sasha Banks immediately got into the ring and applied the Bank Statement to Naomi and Naomi tapped out. It is now down to Carmella, Natalya and Tamina versus Sasha Banks and Asuka.

Asuka eliminated Carmella after she foolishly slapped Asuka in the face. Asuka got pissed and booted Carmella in the face to eliminate her. Sasha Banks and Natalya were then tagged in. Banks hit Double Knees and then locked in the Bank Statement in the middle of the ring. Tamina got into the ring and broke up the hold.

Natalya slammed Banks into the second turnbuckle and then locked in the Sharpshooter in the middle of the ring. Sasha tried to make her way to Asuka in the corner but Tamina sprinted across the ring and knocked Asuka off the ring apron. Banks then tapped out and it was down to Natalya and Tamina for Team SmackDown and Asuka for Team RAW.

Tamina beatdown Asuka and went for a Splash but Asuka got out of the way. Asuka locked in the Asuka Lock and Tamina quickly submitted. Natalya sprinted into the ring and tried to lock in the Sharpshooter. Asuka reversed it into a Knee Bar but Natalya broke free. Asuka connected with a spin kick and then once again applied the Asuka Lock for the victory. Team RAW is up 2-0.

I thought this match was decent. There was barely a build for the Women’s 5-on-5 match and it didn’t feel as special as it should have. It was also completely predictable that Asuka would be the only Superstar remaining. Tamina looked dominant in this match and I wouldn’t mind seeing her finally become relevant on SmackDown.

Baron Corbin Picked Up SmackDown’s First Victory

Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas accompanied The Miz to the ring. Axel and Dallas kept getting involved in the match. Corbin was on the ring apron and Dallas chop-blocked Corbin’s knee The Miz took advantage and stomped on Corbin’s injured knee.

The Miz applied the Figure Four in the middle of the ring. Corbin slowly made his way to the bottom rope and broke the hold. The Miz charged at Corbin but Baron was ready and planted The Miz with Deep Six for a two count.

Corbin punched Axel outside the ring and then leveled The Miz with a Clothesline. Corbin planted Dallas with the End of Days but The Miz took advantage and once again targeted his attack on Corbin’s knee. The Miz planted Corbin with a DDT for a two count. The Miz hit a Dropkick and went for another one but Corbin caught him and planted him with the End of Days for the pinfall victory.

I wasn’t looking forward to this match at all, but it would up being decent. Ultimately, this match won’t help Baron Corbin at all. Corbin said after the match that he shut everyone up that criticizes him. I don’t think a victory over The Miz is going to stop fans from poking fun at Corbin.

The Usos Are The Class Of The Tag Team Division

The Usos versus The Bar were up next. Sheamus’ mohawk looked especially ridiculous tonight. The Usos controlled the match early and isolated Sheamus in the corner. Jimmy and Jey took turns stomping on Sheamus in the corner.

Cesaro was tagged in but once again The Usos isolated him in the corner. Cesaro powered out of the corner with a series of uppercuts and tagged in Sheamus. Cesaro connected with an uppercut to Jey Uso. Jimmy Uso hit a Suicide Dive onto Cesaro outside the ring. Sheamus then planted Jimmy with a rolling Senton outside the ring and then brought him back into the ring. Sheamus connected with a Clothesline off the top rope for a two count.

Cesaro got back in the match and applied a Chin Lock. Sheamus got back in the match and continued beatdown by dropping a knee onto Jimmy Uso. Sheamus once again applied a Chin Lock in the middle of the ring. Jimmy escaped the hold but was planted with an Irish Curse Backbreaker for a two count.

Sheamus and Cesaro controlled the next few minutes of the match. Cesaro got the Sharpshooter locked in on Jey Uso but Jey was able to get to the ropes. Jey knocked Cesaro out of the ring and Sheamus charged at Jey and missed and slammed into the ring post. Jey tried to leap onto Sheamus but Sheamus caught him and planted him with the White Noise. Sheamus went for the cover but Jimmy Uso leaped into the ring and broke it up.

Jimmy Uso got launched into the middle rope and then tumbled out of the ring. Cesaro lifted Jey Uso up onto his shoulders as Sheamus was on the turnbuckle. Jey punched Sheamus in the face and planted Sheamus with a Samoan Drop from on top of Cesaro’s shoulders. Jimmy then hit Cesaro with a Superkick as Jey went for the cover on Sheamus but Sheamus kicked out at two.

Jimmy and Jey tried to double Superkick Sheamus but Cesaro got in the way. The Usos then Superkicked Sheamus several times and then connected with a Splash off the top rope for the pinfall victory. Team RAW and Team SmackDown were now tied 2-2.

I was looking forward to this match but feared that WWE wouldn’t give it enough time on the card or that it would be bumped to the Kickoff Show. That didn’t turn out to be the case at all and these two teams put on a very entertaining match. The Usos have simply been awesome on SmackDown recently and they always put on a great match.

The Queen Put SmackDown In The Lead

Alexa Bliss faced off against Charlotte tonight at Survivor Series. Alexa spent the first minute trying to avoid Charlotte. Alexa and Charlotte battled on the ring apron. Bliss grabbed Charlotte’s arm and leaped down to the floor and Charlotte slammed hard on the floor outside the ring.

Back in the ring, Bliss remained in control of the match and focused her attack on Charlotte’s ribs. Charlotte fought back for a moment but Alexa knocked her back down with a Dropkick. Bliss climbed up to the top rope but Charlotte started moving. Bliss dropped down to the second rope and connected with Double Knees for a two count.

Bliss locked in a Guillotine choke in the middle of the ring but Charlotte was able to power to her feet. Charlotte planted Bliss with a Powerbomb for a two count. Charlotte climbed up to the top rope and went for a Moonsault but Alexa rolled out of the way and Charlotte landed on her injured ribs.

Alexa connected with a big punch and then a DDT. Bliss went for the cover but Charlotte got her foot on the bottom rope to break up the pinfall. Alexa threw a tantrum and shouted at Charlotte to give up. Charlotte connected with a Spear but couldn’t capitilize. Bliss knocked Charlotte to the canvas and climbed to the top rope. Bliss went for Twisted Bliss but Charlotte got her knees up. Charlotte followed it up with a big boot and then locked in the Figure Eight for the submission victory. SmackDown now leads RAW 3-2.

Alexa Bliss dominated most of this match but wound up losing anyway. I thought this was another very good match. This match was originally supposed to be Alexa Bliss versus Natalya but Charlotte won the SmackDown Women’s Championship on this past Tuesday’s episode of SmackDown and replaced Natalya in this match. WWE made the right call because the crowd was definitely into this match.

The Beast Conquered The Phenomenal One 

Heyman took the microphone from JoJo before the match to introduce Brock Lesnar. Dueling “AJ Styles!” and “Suplex City!” echoed throughout the Toyota Center as Lesnar and Styles circled each other. Lesnar trapped Styles in the corner and then launched AJ across the ring.

Brock once again launched AJ across the ring and casually walked over to him with a grin on his face. Brock connected with a ridiculous Suplex that launched Styles across the ring. Lesnar followed it up with a German Suplex and then threw Styles out of the ring.

Lesnar threw Styles into the announce table and then brought him back in the ring. Lesnar connected with another German Suplex. Lesnar connected with a knee to the face and AJ fell to the canvas.

Styles finally connected with a flurry of punches but Lesnar kneed him in the midsection and AJ once again fell to the mat. Lesnar went for the F5 but Styles escaped. Brock charged at AJ in the corner and missed and hit his knee into the turnbuckle. Styles then connected with a DDT and a Dropkick to Lesnar’s knee.

AJ went for a Moonsault but Lesnar caught him and then stumbled backwards and bounced off the ropes while still carrying AJ. Styles went for a Tornado DDT but Lesnar blocked it and Styles crashed to the mat. Styles hit the Pele Kick and then went for the Phenomenal Forearm but Lesnar avoided it. Lesnar then hit a German Suplex and Styles flipped in the air and landed face-first.

Styles knocked Lesnar out of the ring and then connected with a Phenomenal Forearm. Styles then shoved Lesnar into the steel steps and then connected with another forearm. The action returned to the ring and Lesnar connected with a punch. Styles battled back and hit an Enziguri and followed it up with a Moonsault off the second rope. AJ then hit the 450 Splash for a two count.

AJ went for the Styles Clash but Lesnar reversed it and set up for the F5. Styles then countered that into the Calf Crusher in the middle of the ring. Lesnar broke the hold by bouncing AJ’s head off the mat several times. Lesnar went for another F5 but AJ connected with a forearm. AJ then hit the Phenomenal Forearm on Lesnar for a two count. Styles removed his elbow pad and went for another Phenomenal Forearm but Lesnar caught him and hit the F5 for the victory.

Styles and Lesnar put on an excellent match tonight at Survivor Series. I was worried that it was going to be another easy victory for Lesnar as he dominated the first few minutes of the match. The best sequence of the match was when Lesnar went for the F5 and Styles reversed it into the Calf Crusher and then Lesnar escaped the hold by brutally slamming AJ’s head into the canvas. The entire match was great and I’m glad we got to see this instead of Lesnar versus Mahal.

Triple H Went Into Business For Himself

Team RAW (Kurt Angle, Triple H, Braun Strowman, Finn Balor & Samoa Joe) faced Team SmackDown (Shane McMahon, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Roode, Randy Orton & John Cena) in the main event of Survivor Series.

Braun Strowman and Shane McMahon started off the match. Strowman launched Shane across the ring and Shane quickly tagged Randy Orton. Samoa Joe was then tagged in and locked up with Orton. Joe connected with a shoulder tackle that knocked Orton to the canvas. Orton responded by hitting an elbow and a few upper-cuts to Joe in the corner. Orton went for the RKO but Joe blocked it. Joe went for the Coquina Clutch but Orton was able to avoid it.

Finn Balor and Shinsuke Nakamura were tagged in and the crowd went crazy. The crowd chanted “NXT” as the two Superstars locked up. Balor and Nakamura traded shots and poses for a couple of minutes before Triple H demanded to be tagged in.

Triple H drove Shinsuke into the corner as the crowd chanted “Nakamura”. Triple H connected with a flurry of right hands. Nakamura battled out of the corner and connected with a kick. Triple H connected with a Facebuster and Bobby Roode tagged himself in and had a stare down with Triple H.

Bobby Roode tried to pose in front of Triple H and Triple H punched Roode in the face. Roode battled back and connected with a few punches in the corner. Roode connected with a Clothesline for a one count. Triple H hit a Spinebuster on Roode and then mocked Roode’s pose and transitioned into a “suck it! pose. Roode hit a Spinebuster of his own and then posed in the ring. Triple H went for the Pedigree but Roode blocked it.

Angle was then tagged in and he hit three German Suplexes on Roode in a row. Angle went for the Angle Slam but Roode countered it into an Arm Drag. Both Angle and Roode connected with a Clothesline at the same time and both Superstars fell to the canvas.

Nakamura was tagged back in and he booted Angle in the face and then punched Strowman off the ring apron. Joe and Balor tried to attack Nakamura but Shinsuke connected with a series of kicks. Nakamura then hit the Kinshasa on Triple H as Kurt Angle tagged in Strowman. Braun planted Strowman with the Running Powerslam and Nakamura was the first Superstar eliminated.

Roode hit Strowman with a Blockbuster off the second rope for a one count. Roode went for another Blockbuster but Strowman blocked it and hit another Running Powerslam and Bobby Roode was eliminated. Joe tagged himself in and started shoving Braun Strowman. Triple H and Kurt Angle started shoving each other and Orton knocked them both down from behind. All hell broke loose and Orton planted Joe with a Powerslam.

Braun Strowman then approached Cena and Orton in the corner of the ring. Cena and Orton teamed up and attacked Strowman but Braun shoved them away. Cena and Orton shoved Strowman out of the ring. Strowman connected with a big right hand to Cena and started clearing off an announce table.

Orton and Cena once again attacked Strowman. Roode, Nakamura and Shane then helped Cena and Orton Suplex Strowman through the announce table. Shane then climbed to the top rope but Samoa Joe grabbed him and Suplexed him back in the ring. Shane tagged in John Cena. Cena hit a Dropkick but Joe knocked him to the canvas with a big boot. Joe hit a running Senton for a two count.

Joe and Balor started arguing and Cena took advantage and planted Joe with two Attitude Adjustments to eliminate Joe. John Cena and Kurt Angle then squared off in the ring. Angle wrestled Cena to the mat. Cena went for the Five Knuckle Shuffle but Angle reversed it into the Ankle Lock. Angle then hit the Angle Slam and went for the cover but Shane broke it up. Finn Balor hit the Coupe de Grace on Cena and Angle hit another Angle Slam and Cena was eliminated.

It was down to Angle, Strowman, Triple H and Finn Balor for Team RAW and Randy Orton and Shane McMahon for Team SmackDown. Balor was tagged in and he connected with a stomp onto Randy Orton. Balor then exited the ring and Dropkicked Shane into the barricade. Back in the ring, Balor hit the Slingblade and then Dropkicked Orton into the corner. Balor went for the Coupe de Grace but Orton got out of the way and hit Balor with the RKO to eliminate him.

Triple H then got into the ring and punched Orton in the face. Triple H trapped Orton in the corner of the ring and connected with several punches. Angle was then tagged in and he made his way up to the top rope. Orton shoved Triple H into the ropes and Angle crashed to the canvas.

Orton made his way towards Shane McMahon on the ring apron but Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn attacked Shane McMahon and threw him over the announce table. Shane grabbed a chair and hit Owens and Zayn with it. Owens got into the ring and Orton planted him with an RKO.

Sami Zayn retreated up the entrance ramp as Shane was swinging the chair wildly. Braun Strowman then tagged himself back in and leveled Orton with a Clothesline. Strowman planted Strowman with a Running Powerslam and Orton was eliminated. Shane McMahon was then the only member left of Team SmackDown.

Shane paced around the ring for a minute as Strowman, Angle and Triple H waited for him. Triple H tagged himself in and Braun Strowman stared at Triple H before exiting to the ring apron. Kurt Angle then tagged himself in and started arguing with Triple H. Shane went for a roll-up on Angle but Angle kicked out. Shane connected with an elbow for a two count.

Shane went for another roll-up but Angle kicked out again. Shane hit a DDT on Angle for another two count. Kurt Angle hit the Angle Slam and then locked in the Ankle Lock in the middle of the ring. Triple H then got into the ring and Pedigreed Kurt Angle. Triple H then dragged Shane McMahon on top of Kurt Angle and Angle was eliminated.

Triple H and Braun Strowman then stared at each other. Triple H moved over towards Shane McMahon and made it seem like he was on his side. Triple H then Pedigreed Shane McMahon and pinned him for the victory for Team RAW.

Braun Strowman got into the ring and Triple H raised Strowman’s hand. Braun still was confused and continued to stare at Triple H. Triple H posed around the ring as Strowman stared at him. Braun then grabbed Triple H by the throat and shouted at Triple H to never cross him again. Triple H went for the Pedigree but Braun avoided it and planted Triple H with a Running Powerslam. Strowman then delivered a second Running Powerslam to Triple H and ripped off his Team RAW shirt. Strowman then marched towards the back as Survivor Series went off the air.

I thought that Jason Jordan would somehow get himself involved in this match but he was only shown during Survivor Series in a brief backstage interview. Triple H humiliated RAW GM Kurt Angle tonight and then made sure that he was the one that led Team RAW to victory. It will be interesting to see how this plays out tomorrow night on RAW. Overall, the main event was solid and had some memorable moments with Shinsuke Nakamura and Bobby Roode squaring off against Triple H. In the end, it was Braun Strowman who stood tall and closed out Survivor Series.

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