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The WWE Survivor series takes place in the ThunderDome at Amway Center in Orlando on Sunday as the company’s second-oldest pay-per-view returns to the WWE Network. The show revolves around a series of matches between the Superstars of Raw and SmackDown, culminating in a fight between Universal Champion Roman Reigns and WWE Champion Drew McIntyre in the anticipated Main Event.
The show, which features a “Best of the Best” theme, will also feature The Undertaker’s “Final Farewell”. The Deadman made his Survivor Series 1990 debut, and after several hints of retirement, he’ll finally leave at sunset after a month that celebrated his 30th in WWE.
The Survivor series will begin at 7 p.m. ET and the show is expected to run for about three hours, not including the launch show, which begins an hour before the main card at 6 p.m. CBS Sports will be with you throughout Sunday with live scores, highlights and analysis.
Let’s take a closer look at who our CBS Sports experts think will be the best in the WWE Survivor series.
WWE Survivor 2020 Series Predictions
Midcard Champions: Bobby Lashley (US, Raw) vs. Sami Zayn (Intercontinental, SD)
A Lashley win makes a lot of sense, but Zayn has been portrayed as an opportunist since returning to the ring. There are some outside factors (retribution) that could easily be involved and set Zayn to steal another cheap victory. There are just more benefits to Zayn getting a win and it becoming the heinous heel that Lashley just gets the seemingly obvious victory. Pick: Sami Zayn wins – Brent Brookhouse
Since winning the American title, Lashley has done absolutely nothing with it. Although Zayn was booked as a smart heel who outshone his opponents, I guess his luck has run out against Lashley, especially since one would expect to be a ringside MVP for the game. There is nothing wrong with Zayn losing net against Lashley as he can easily get away with it. In fact, losing Zayn would be a lot more entertaining than his victory, and that would help Lashley look strong as he hopefully starts defending his title on a regular basis. Pick: Bobby Lashley wins – Adam Silverstein
Tag Team Champions: New Day (Raw) vs Street Profits (SD)
Either team winning here wouldn’t be surprising, and it’s a game that likely doesn’t impact either team in the long run. There is simply no other element in play beyond Big E’s possible involvement after weeks of Profits joking about their next match with Big E’s teammates. Big E costing the Profits victory after a little distraction could set up something in SmackDown. Choice: victory of the new day – Brookhouse
There are cases to be made for both teams to win this match. Profits talked a lot more shit than New Day, so they are on the heel side and are probably due to comeuppance. However, I can’t imagine a scenario where New Day is put in this game and doesn’t insist on putting on young champions. The idea that Profits are winning and keep harassing Big E about it behind the scenes is too alluring. Pick: Street Profits wins – Silverstein
Women’s Champion: Asuka (Raw) vs. Sasha Banks (SD)
I feel like I’m leaning very heavily on the outside factors that determine the outcome of this event, but that’s the only way to move the stories forward when you have a brand versus brand showdown. Banks has struggled with Carmella’s return over the past few weeks, and the continuation of the Carmella attacks that cost Banks the win keeps the two female champions strong as they continue the program being built. Pick: Asuka wins – Brookhouse
I agree that, if any shenanigans were to come into play, it would make all sense for Asuka to win the game. After all, Carmella has had Banks’ number for the past two weeks and is poised to be the top contender. However, Banks just won the title of SmackDown at the culmination of a huge feud and is riding high in this game. To give him a loss – even aided by distraction – would be unfortunate given the circumstances. A clear win over Asuka would be huge for Banks’ profile. Pick: Sasha Banks wins – Silverstein
Women’s Survivor Series Elimination Match: Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler, Lacey Evans, Peyton Royce & Lana (Raw) vs. Bayley, Natalya, Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan & Ruby Riott (SD)
There is the obvious scenario that WWE could reserve of Lana, unable to earn the respect of her Team Raw peers, miraculously finding herself as the sole survivor of this match. While it could potentially work, it’s not the best booking, which is to hand the one wrestler on either team who can get the most out of this match to Belair. You can still get Lana to have a few wins in surprising ways while ensuring that Belair impresses throughout with plenty of eliminations and is potentially the only survivor at the end. Plus I’m extremely confident in the equivalent men’s playoff game so I think they’re going the other way here. Pick: Team SmackDown wins – Silverstein (also Brookhouse)
Men’s Survivor Series Elimination Match: Team Raw (AJ Styles, Keith Lee, Braun Strowman, Riddle and Sheamus) vs. Team SmackDown (Kevin Owens, Jey Uso, King Corbin, Seth Rollins and Otis)
With so much attention paid to the broken dynamic within the Raw team, it seems fair to them to end up coming together in the big moment and pulling off a victory – especially if the last man on the team is. Styles, who desperately tried to unify his team. The SmackDown team is more like a collection of guys than a group involved in a mix of storylines. Pick: Team Raw wins – Brookhouse (also Silverstein)
World Champions – Drew McIntyre (WWE, Raw) vs. Roman Reigns (Universal, SD)
With two solid champions, neither of whom profit from a loss, you come back looking for outs that give a finish without hurting either of them. McIntyre has to be worried about the potential involvement of Randy Orton, The Miz, and maybe even The Fiend, which places him with a lot of those outs. However, I think the ultimate deciding factor here will be a misguided attempt to help Reigns by Uso, continuing the story of Uso doing things without the approval of the man he now serves. Pick: Drew McIntyre wins – Brookhouse
It’s a difficult game to book and therefore to predict. Reigns shouldn’t lose that in any way given the strength he’s been reserved since returning to WWE as a heel. McIntyre shouldn’t lose that in any way given he just won the title after dropping it to Randy Orton for less than 30 days. This is a WrestleMania or SummerSlam caliber main event with 10 days of construction at Survivor Series. There are simply a lot more options for creating avenues for McIntyre to lose than Reigns. Pick: Roman Reigns wins – Silverstein
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