The Bloodline’s untouchable status needs to come to an end and Survivor Series is the perfect opportunity to widen the cracks WWE already has put in the group.
Sami Zayn, the honorary Uce, guaranteed a Bloodline victory. That was before Kevin Owens was revealed as the fifth member of the Brawling Brutes’ team for the men’s WarGames match at Survivor Series at TD Garden on Saturday (8 p.m., Peacock). Adding WarGames, a match that put teams inside two rings surrounded by a cage created by Dusty Rhodes for Jim Crockett Promotion in 1987, the Survivor Series is a much-needed refresh from the previous Raw vs. SmackDown format. It would have been even better if the two matches had clear stakes.
Owens being included in the match gives WWE ways to kick off a number of storylines by handing a loss to The Bloodline. He already delivered a warning to Zayn about The Bloodline potentially turning on him and helps his team gain the advantage by getting friend kicked out from ringside on Friday.
The Bloodline has been dealing with internal tension for months and Survivor Series can be the catalyst to it all finally coming to a head. Owens needs to be the next challenger for Roman Reigns, the Undisputed WWE Universal champion, and the Brawling Brutes need to continue as the No. 1 contenders for The Usos’ Undisputed tag team championships. The Bloodline can’t even cheat to win in WarGames.
Where this story needs to go doesn’t feel like it can get there if The Bloodline just went over again. It would be Reigns’ first televised defeat since his DQ loss to Seth Rollins at the Royal Rumble and first clean match loss on TV since falling to Baron Corbin the 2019 TLC pay-per-view. That is unless WWE wants to make WarGames a signature match for The Bloodline like Triple H did with Undisputed Era in NXT and have them win.
Even so, there is an easy way for The Bloodline to lose and advance the story that is too good not to explore. Jey Uso and Zayn’s bickering needs to finally cost the group in a major way. Whether it is Zayn being insistent on being the one to win the match or Jey getting in Zayn’s way because he doesn’t trust him and it costs their team the match. The end needs to revolve around them. Another route would be an Owens stunner to Reigns that takes him out of the picture, allowing Sheamus, Holland or Butch to get a pin Zayn or one of the Usos.
The next Bloodline chapter starts now.
Prediction: Kevin Owens, Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Ridge Holland, Butch over Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa and Sammy Zayn (Men’s WarGames Match)
Predictions
Bianca Belair, Asuka, Mia Yim, Alexa Bliss and Becky Lynch, over Bayley, Iyo Sky, Dakota Kai, Nikki Cross and Rhea Ripley (Women’s WarGames match)
This match includes four competitors who took part in WarGames matches in NXT. Those clashes was fantastic, so there is no reason not to expect that to carry over here. This should be the blow off to a feud that dates back to SummerSlam and the babyfaces finally need to go over clean. Becky Lynch’s return from the separated shoulder she suffered at SummerSlam, where she was attacked by Damage CTL, feels like it cements that.
It’s too early to launch Rhea Ripley versus Bianca Beliar since The Judgment Day’s muscle still hasn’t faced Mia Yim yet. Other than maybe a triple threat with Lynch, Bayley and Belair. Maybe Belair, who team starts at a disadvantage, moves on and WWE finally gives us a proper Lynch vs. Bayley feud as their only main-roster singles match came on SmackDown in 2019, You also could have Bliss or Asuka pin Sky or Kai to set up a women’s tag to championship rematch. This really needs to be the final chapter involving Belair and Bayley no matter what happens.
Ronda Rousey over Shotzi to retain the SmackDown women’s championship
At this point, WWE is likely just filling time until they can get to Rousey versus Becky Lynch at WrestleMania. Even so, this is a huge opportunity for Shotzi against one of the biggest stars in the company to prove she belongs. WWE really needs to establish Rousey and Baszler as a heel team and did so by having them take out Raquel Rodriguez backstage and injure her arm in storyline. Baszler will find a way to help Rousey win even if Rodriguez comes out. Because of the attack on her, these four’s feud feels like it’s only getting started. Rodriguez should be next for Rousey after some tag matches.
Seth Rollins over Bobby Lashley over Austin Theory to retain the United States championship
It’s logical and possible for either Theory or Lashley to win, absolutely. Why it is unlikely is it seems like WWE wants to use Seth Rollins to raise the profile of the United States title and the last thing you want to do is start to play hot potato with it too early. Also, having to change hands on Raw eventually will raise its importance on TV even more. If WWE wants to continue the story here, it will have Theory cost Lashley the title this time and Rollins takes advantage of the opening again to retain.
A.J. Styles over Finn Balor
The Judgement Day has been kept pretty strong when working as a team and The OC recently added Mia Yim to their group so this storyline is here to stay for a bit. This is the second-ever singles match between Balor and Styles, with The Prince winning their meeting at TLC 2017. Styles, who amazingly hasn’t won a singles match since defeating The Miz on the Aug. 8 Raw, needs this win more than Balor. It gives the babyfaces boost to keep this going and gives WWE a chance for a trilogy match between the two with the proper build down the road.