WWE Survivor Series 2016: Full Card Predictions After Hell in a Cell

Enemies who looked to rip each other's throats out at Sunday's Hell in a Cell pay-per-view will have to join forces at WWE Survivor Series 2016.

For the first time in years, Survivor Series is set to return to its roots. The Nov. 20 PPV will feature a trio of traditional elimination matches, a feature the event has moved on from since its early days.

That transition to Survivor Series' beginnings will pair Kevin Owens with Seth Rollins just weeks after the two collided inside Hell in a Cell. It will mean that Sasha Banks and Charlotte will have to go from beating each other into the mat to fighting alongside each other.

So far, Raw's and SmackDown's teams have plenty of empty slots. Who will occupy those? And who will get left out?

The following is a look at how WWE will fill out its Survivor Series teams and what else will be on the card other than the confirmed showdown between Brock Lesnar and Goldberg.

Brian Kendrick vs. Rich Swann (Cruiserweight Championship)

Brian Kendrick outsmarted T.J. Perkins to claim the Cruiserweight Championship at Sunday's Hell in a Cell PPV.

Kendrick feigned an injury to get Perkins to lower his guard. The snake then struck. 

That finish looks to be a reset for the cruiserweight division. Perkins had not clicked as champ. He struggled in promos; his presence didn't resonate.

So while WWE often has the dethroned champion get the first crack at the new titleholder, a lack of faith in Perkins is liable to lead to the company going in a fresh direction. The division needs a fiery, compelling babyface with more charisma than Perkins.

Enter Rich Swann.

He has a stronger connection with the audience already. Plus, he owns a win over the current champion. Swann beat Kendrick on the final Raw before Hell in a Cell.

Suddenly, that victory looks to be a means to push Kendrick toward a new Perkins-less feud.

Raw vs. SmackDown Tag Team Elimination Match

The New Day, Cesaro and Sheamus, Enzo Amore and Big Cass, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson and The Shining Stars vs. Heath Slater and Rhyno, The Hype Bros, The Usos, American Alpha and The Spirit Squad

Raw has already accepted SmackDown's challenge to pit its five best tag teams against the blue brand's, but Mick Foley and Stephanie McMahon haven't yet selected anyone for the squad.

SmackDown's Daniel Bryan, however, has announced that Slater and Rhyno will get an automatic berth. The Hype Bros knocked off The Ascension to claim a Survivor Series spot of their own. Team Blue has showcased The Spirit Squad far more than either Breezango or The Vaudevillains, so as counter-productive as that would be, expect the company to choose the guests over the full-time roster members.

As for Raw, there's only one spot in question. The amount of spotlight on Cesaro and Sheamus, Amore and Cass, Gallows and Anderson and The New Day points to all those squads heading to the PPV. Those four teams appeared on Hell in a Cell while the rest of the division remained backstage.

That leaves comedy acts left for Raw to choose from. The Shining Stars will sneak in, likely taking down their rivals, The Golden Truth, to earn their place on the team.

Braun Strowman vs. Sami Zayn

Braun Strowman will break Sami Zayn at Survivor Series.

The underdog has stood up to Strowman of late, hinting at an official collision down the road between these two. Strowman has demanded better competition. He doesn't believe that Zayn fits that bill. The babyface is the David to Strowman's Goliath in this scenario.

Their story is in place, even if WWE chose not to book its next chapter for Hell in a Cell.

Count on WWE breaking up all the elimination bouts with this clash. And in an effort to catapult the monster to stardom, the company will sacrifice Zayn to this beast. 

Raw vs. SmackDown Women's Elimination Match

Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Bayley, Nia Jax and Dana Brooke vs. Nikki Bella, Carmella, Alexa Bliss, Becky Lynch and Eva Marie

Bella is the only woman confirmed for this match. She toppled Natalya on last week's SmackDown to earn the right to be called captain for Team Blue. The loss also meant that Natalya will not make the team.

SmackDown's women's division has only five other women to select from for the final four spots. The one surprise will be Eva Marie's return.

After a recent suspension, she's been busy filming Inconceivable with Nicolas Cage. Eva Marie noted on Instagram that she has wrapped up shooting. Survivor Series is a good chance to bring her in and give her a new story to work with.

Naomi is poised to be the odd woman out as a result.

Raw's team will be comprised of the female Superstars who get TV time. Fans have seen little of Alicia Fox and even less of Summer Rae. Those women will get passed over for the hotter names in the division.

Curt Hawkins vs. Apollo Crews

Survivor Series is going to need a pre-show bout. And Curt Hawkins needs an actual PPV bout to reintroduce himself.

Hawkins returned to WWE after a two-year absence at No Mercy on Oct. 9, but the former tag team champion only teased his debut. He has since inched closer to competing, only to pull out at the last second.

Crews was supposed to be one of his opponents. The babyface will get frustrated with Hawkins and demand to fight him. 

Fans of Superstars such as Neville and The Miz, who are in danger of missing Survivor Series, will be frustrated to see Hawkins get this PPV time. WWE, though, has been treating Hawkins' return like a bigger deal than it is.

Raw vs. SmackDown Men's Elimination Match

Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns, Chris Jericho, Seth Rollins and Rusev vs. AJ Styles, Dolph Ziggler, Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt and Baron Corbin

Lesnar's and Goldberg's names on the top of the card mean that WWE won't have to lean on its champions. Survivor Series will already have a main event.

That will free up Owens and Styles to collide on opposite sides. The Raw-SmackDown battle will be powered by subplots—from Reigns and Rusev having to team together fresh off beating each other up at Hell in a Cell to Corbin proving that he belongs among the elite.

SmackDown promises to be without two of its biggest stars. 

Steven Fernandes noted for PWInsider.com that neither Randy Orton nor John Cena is advertised for Survivor Series. Cena has been out filming the reality show American Grit. As WWE.com noted, Orton and his wife are expecting a baby girl in November.

That's great news for Corbin. He will get a chance to make his mark on a grand stage, helping Team SmackDown take down WWE's marquee brand.