Survivor Series 2013: Latest News and Rumors Surrounding WWE's Big PPV
Survivor Series is one of the most important pay-per-views on the WWE schedule each year, and the 2013 edition of the show is no exception.
Here is all the vital viewing information the WWE universe will need:
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Mass.
When: Sunday, Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Watch: Pay-per-view (local cable providers)
Live Stream: WWE.com
The WWE has built an excellent card for Survivor Series thus far. Randy Orton will defend the WWE Championship against Big Show in a match with plenty of personal animosity and long-term ramifications.
The World Championship will also be on the line as John Cena defends the belt against Alberto Del Rio. The WWE Universe may have seen this match before and may have fallen out of love with Del Rio as a legitimate main event heel, but this is still a bout that will drive casual fans to purchase the show.
Of all the matches announced already, the most intriguing is the tag team battle between the duo of CM Punk and Daniel Bryan squaring off against Luke Harper and Erick Rowan. Not only will the fans be exposed to how the Wyatt Family performs on the biggest stage thus far, but it will also be the first time fans get to see a true tag team of Punk and Bryan.
WWE will be looking to end 2013 on a high note, and Survivor Series is shaping up to be an exciting show.
Daniel Bryan Back in WWE Title Picture?
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Daniel Bryan was fighting for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam and in the subsequent months following, but he has since been relegated away from the title scene and stuck in a feud with the Wyatt Family.
With the hype around this year’s Survivor Series at an all-time low, the WWE has grown concerned with its decision to move Bryan away from the WWE Championship chase. According to a report from DailyWrestlingNews.com via WrestlingRumors.net, the company is regretting the decision to move Bryan into another storyline:
"The WWE now wishes they had left Bryan in the WWE title chase leading up to the Survivor Series. Other reports say this is due to initial projections for the event being lower than expected. With the expectations of the event being lower than the company had hoped, some WWE officials are blaming the low buzz around the event on Bryan being taken out of the title picture.
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There is still a strong belief that the WWE would shoehorn Bryan back into the title scene via a huge win at the Royal Rumble. If that is indeed the case, then moving Bryan away from the WWE Championship temporarily is a good idea that would throw the fans off the scent of the storyline plans.
If the company is looking to place blame for the lack of excitement surrounding Survivor Series, it must look at the awful booking leading into the event and the lackluster main event between Randy Orton and Big Show.
Bryan has continued to be the hottest commodity in the WWE and should be in or around the main event scene until the crowd falls out of love with the gifted in-ring athlete. Until then, Bryan should be billed as a top star.
The Wyatt Family Adding Another Superstar?
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There have been rumors running rampant for months that the WWE would be looking to add another member to the powerful Wyatt Family stable, but the rumors and speculation have really started to heat up heading into Survivor Series.
As first noted by Marc Middleton of Wrestling Inc., NXT wrestler Judas Devlin was in Nashville behind the scenes at Raw and also backstage for SmackDown. While the talented wrestler was not used on screen, he sent a cryptic tweet out on Tuesday.
"I feel the pain Sister Abigail...
— Judas Devlin WWE-NXT (@JudasDevlinWWE) November 20, 2013"
There is no hard evidence to prove that Devlin is the next member of the family, but he is one of the more promising talents in the company’s developmental system. His in-ring skills are good and he is solid on the mic, but his unique appearance would make him an ideal addition to the Wyatt Family.
" — Judas Devlin WWE-NXT (@JudasDevlinWWE) September 23, 2013"
There is still a serious hope that Sister Abigail will eventually be revealed—many hardcore wrestling fans consider this a great spot to debut Paige from NXT as well—but another brother that followed the buzzards would be a great addition.
If Devlin is going to join the group, possibly interfering in Sunday’s match between the Wyatt Family and the duo of CM Punk and Daniel Bryan would be the perfect way to keep that feud going another month.
The Royal Rumble is right around the corner, and adding a fourth member would add intrigue to this storyline heading into the most important portion of the calendar. Devlin has the look and the skill to be a Wyatt member, but whether the WWE adds him to the roster or not is uncertain.
Rey Mysterio Working Injured?
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The initial reports claim that WWE Superstar Rey Mysterio is still dealing with a nagging knee injury, and his return at Raw before Survivor Series came as a shock to many fans and members of the company.
According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter via Wrestling Inc., WWE officials may have asked the wrestler to come back early and work through his injury:
"Rey Mysterio was reportedly not ready to return on Monday's RAW but WWE officials asked him to come back since he wouldn't have to do much in the ten-man match at Survivor Series. Rey worked a six-man match at Tuesday's SmackDown tapings but only came in at the end.
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There is no questioning the impact Mysterio makes for the company. Not only does his merchandise sell as well as anyone in the WWE, but he is also one of the most popular Hispanic wrestlers in history.
Those factors should make his appearance profitable for the company.
Mysterio won’t have to wrestle long in the traditional Survivor Series match, but his short time in the ring should be enough to whip the crowd into a frenzy and remind the casual fans why they support the high flyer.
As long as coming back isn’t a risk that could cost Mysterio more time if he re-injures his knee, this is a smart instant-pop that will only help boost the allure of Sunday’s PPV.
Big E Langston vs. Curtis Axel for IC Title Added to Card
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At the behest of WWE COO Triple H, Big E Langston will now defend his newly-won Intercontinental Championship Sunday night at Survivor Series against Curtis Axel in a rematch from this Monday’s Raw.
The announcement came during an interview between announcer Michael Cole and Triple H.
Langston was one of the brightest young stars the WWE had in its developmental ranks, and he has proven to be a viable addition to the main roster since his debut. After holding his own against Dolph Ziggler and standing up to the bullying tandem of Ryback and Axel, it is clear that the company has big plans for the champion.
For Axel, a likely loss at Survivor Series will be bad news.
Since re-debuting as a member of Paul Heyman’s stable, Axel has been given every opportunity to showcase his talent and charisma. While the third-generation Superstar is very talented in the ring, he hasn’t shown enough personality to get over with the fans as a face or a heel.
Of the two competitors, Langston is far more entertaining during his promos. Axel may be the better in-ring technician, but it takes much more than that to be a champion. The WWE Universe should expect Big E to retain and use the belt as a way to elevate himself to the next level.
WWE Teasing a Big Show Victory?
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The wrestling business is all about getting the fans to buy into storylines and convincing them to believe both men could conceivably walk away with a victory. The WWE was at its old tricks once again on Monday’s Raw.
According to PWInsider Elite via Wrestling Inc., WWE champion Randy Orton teased the possibility of a loss to give the impression that Big Show could walk out of Survivor Series with the belt:
"On Monday's RAW, WWE scripted Randy Orton to say he couldn't beat Big Show on his own at Survivor Series as a way to plant the idea in fans' heads that there could be a title change and that Big Show actually has a chance at winning the WWE Title.
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This shouldn’t come as a surprise to fans that have watched the product for the last several weeks. The WWE has been trying to build Bog Show as a serious threat to take Orton’s championship, and stacking the odds in his favor and making the titleholder look weak was another step in that process.
Orton is still the favorite to win this matchup. The company has put its faith in the heel Superstar and he’s lived up to the expectations. While Big Show has played the role of the face in this battle better than expected, the hope is that the WWE is trying to trick the fans into believing he could win because he isn’t going to take the title at the PPV.
There is still a chance Big Show does win the WWE title Sunday, though. Orton could lose at Survivor Series and his subsequent rematch, forcing Triple H to call on the only man he knows can be the face of the WWE; himself. That could lead to the rumored match between Triple H vs. Big Show for the title.
Whether Orton retains or Big Show wins, the creative team has done a great job planting the seed of doubt in the mind of the WWE Universe.
Will Mark Henry or Xavier Woods Appear at Survivor Series?
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Mark Henry has been on the shelf with an injury since August, but a recent tweet from the big man says he is close to a return.
"Almost back! Raw got me ready to do someone bad. Hall of pain ready for next inductee! pic.twitter.com/PfaS5aGyES
— TheMarkHenry (@TheMarkHenry) November 19, 2013"
How close? We don't know for sure, but if he could somehow return and make an impact at the Survivor Series, it would add some spice to the card. Henry's mic work was at an elite level in the months before his injury. Here's to hoping he returns and inducts more victims into the Hall of Pain.
Xavier Woods
The charismatic star from NXT made his debut on Monday Night Raw this week. He and R-Truth defeated...wait for it...3MB.
"“@realmickfoley: Good to see @XavierWoodsPhD debut on #RawCountry. Hard work and patience paying off.” Thanks man I appreciate it!
— Xavier Woods (@XavierWoodsPhD) November 19, 2013"
With several heels without a booked match, could Jones make his singles debut in an impromptu match at Survivor Series.
It would be a great way to establish some momentum for the young star. We'll have to wait and see,
Pre-SmackDown Survivor Series Card
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There is only one episode of SmackDown remaining before the Survivor Series PPV, and the most important matches for the event have already been booked.
Here are the announced bouts:
- WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. Big Show
- World Heavyweight Champion John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio
- CM Punk and Daniel Bryan vs. Erick Rowan and Luke Harper
- Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Match: Rey Mysterio, WWE Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes and Goldust, and The Usos vs. The Shield & The Real Americans
- Intercontinental Champion Big E Langston vs. Curtis Axel
- Natalya, The Bellas, The Funkadactyls, JoJo and Eva Marie vs. Divas Champion AJ Lee, Tamina Snuka, Kaitlyn, Rosa, Summer Rae, Aksana and Alicia Fox
- Survivor Series Kickoff Match: Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz
These are three of the biggest possible matches the company could have booked. Fans continue to complain that there is no marquee Survivor Series tag team match despite the WWE teasing one to close last Monday’s Raw, but the current card is intriguing.
WWE champion Randy Orton will take on the Big Show in a bout that hasn’t been met with enough fanfare. Big Show has excelled in his role as the face in this feud, and Orton hasn’t been this interesting in over two years. Add in the WWE Championship, and this match is worthy of the main event stage.
The biggest complaint was Daniel Bryan being relegated away from the title scene, but the intrigue about what could happen next has fans interested in the tag team match between the Wyatt Family and the newly formed duo of Bryan and CM Punk.
Those two matches are interesting enough on their own, but the addition of John Cena against Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship makes this a nice core of matches for this important PPV.
The WWE will undoubtedly add a few more bouts, and wrestling fans should keep an eye out for the announcements this week.
Final Raw Before Survivor Series
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What may have been the most stunning development from this past week's edition of Monday Night Raw was the long-awaited return of Rey Mysterio. The former WWE and two-time World Heavyweight Champion emerged at the end of the show and hit the 619 on Jack Swagger and Luke Harper.
It's since been announced that Mysterio will team with WWE Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes and Goldust, and The Usos, in a traditional Survivor Series elimination match against The Shield and The Real Americans.
All of these men have had their issues with The Shield, and The Real Americans appear to pop up in every big match. One can't help but imagine that Antonio Cesaro will have a lengthy Cesaro Swing in store for Mysterio.
If not Mysterio's return, then the biggest news from Raw was Big E Langston successfully challenging Curtis Axel and thus winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
Langston's rapid rise up the ranks of WWE reached a new height on Raw, and he could be in line for a Pay-Per-View match because of it. If that proves to be the case, Axel will likely exercise his right to a rematch.
In other noteworthy news, The Miz completed a heel turn when he walked out on tag team partner Kofi Kingston. He will face Kingston in the Survivor Series kickoff match.
Rey Mysterio Banged Up at Raw?
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Rey Mysterio made his return on the final Raw before Survivor Series after an extended absence due to a knee injury. After appearing in the final segment of the show, he was added to the pay-per-view card in the traditional elimination tag team match.
Alas, Marc Middleton of WrestlingInc.com passes along word that Mysterio was seen limping in the ring and as he made his way backstage following the show. No update was provided about it possibly impacting his PPV status, though.
"We heard from more than one fan at last night's RAW Country in Nashville who reported that Rey Mysterio was seen limping around the ring and up the ramp after last night's RAW went off the air.
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Mysterio is a valuable member of the roster when healthy, but he's struggled to remain active for extended periods of time in recent years. Hopefully the limp everybody witnessed after Raw went off the air was just general return soreness.
His return helped bolster the Survivor Series card, which took awhile to develop. It's unclear who would step in if he suffered a setback, but there's no indication that's the case at this point. Perhaps the SmackDown taping will shed more light on the situation.
John Cena Still Hurting?
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John Cena underwent triceps surgery after SummerSlam and returned early to claim the World Heavyweight Championship from Alberto Del Rio. The superhuman athlete hasn’t shown the effects of the injury and subsequent surgery, but all that glitters is not gold.
According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter via Wrestling Inc., the European tour is taking its toll on Cena’s health:
"Internal reports from the current WWE European tour note that John Cena was really hurting after having to wrestle every night, just a short time after returning to the ring before his body could fully heal.
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There is no question that Cena coming back early was an educated risk by the WWE. On one hand, Cena is the biggest star in the company and will drive up PPV sales, TV ratings and live show attendance. On the other, the risk of re-injury to the most important wrestler in the industry should be a serious concern.
The European tours are incredibly important to the WWE as an international brand, but the WWE should be easing Cena’s workload. As one of the best mic workers, Cena should be coming out on non-televised shows and cutting promos. Instead of getting involved in matches, Cena should speak to the crowd and get them excited for the rest of the action.
The WWE needs Cena for the next 10 years or more. That means he needs to be resting and recovering when the company can afford to make that happen. Just as the Detroit Lions give wide receiver Calvin Johnson time off during the week to recover for Sunday, the same should be happening for Cena until he is 100 percent.
Wyatt Family vs. the Shield?
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The Wyatt Family and The Shield had a brief encounter during Raw last week, leading some fans to believe the three-man factions may soon feud. Despite both sides being heel teams, it's been a feud bantered about ever since the Wyatts debuted.
Don't expect the feud to heat up at Survivor Series or in the immediate aftermath, however. Daniel Pena of WrestlingInc.com passes along word that the WWE isn't likely to go down that road until next year at the earliest, perhaps in the build up toward WrestleMania.
"During tonight's episode of SmackDown (which has already aired overseas), a video package airs highlighting the heated conclusion of Raw and the brawl is not shown. According to F4WOnline.com today, people within the organization feel it was a tease that will be touched again early next year. Meanwhile, Dave Meltzer stated in this week's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that creative had suggested they duel at WrestleMania XXX.
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It makes sense to wait. Right now, both sides are involved in other storylines.
The Shield is working with the new corporation, which has helped elevate the team back to an elite level after a brief lull. The trio have been working together for a year now and the impact they have been able to make is quite remarkable.
As for the Wyatt Family, they are currently feuding with CM Punk and Daniel Bryan with Bray Wyatt often discussing how the "devil" made him attack the fan favorites. That storyline needs to play out before a potential feud with The Shield.
Eventually, a clash between the sides could work well, especially if it's on a big stage like WrestleMania. But both groups are enjoying success as heels in different angles at this point and there's no reason to alter that right now.
Ryback Turning Face?
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After an unsuccessful run with Paul Heyman as his manager, muscle-bound WWE Superstar Ryback has been dumped by his former associate and is now losing on a regular basis. As if the losses weren’t bad enough, the fact that he has basically become a jobber for mediocre stars like R-Truth is a strong indication that a major character change could be coming.
According to F4WOnline via Wrestling Inc., Ryback is on the fast track to a face turn and several possible marquee feuds:
"Ryback appears to be turning babyface after Paul Heyman dismissed Ryback as a potential "Paul Heyman Guy" on Raw on Monday. According to F4WOnline.com, current plans call for Ryback to feud with Brock Lesnar, with a match likely taking place at Royal Rumble—Heyman sends Lesnar to destroy Ryback, since he blames him for CM Punk putting him in a wheelchair.
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On the surface, wrestling fans will hate the monster push possibly coming Ryback’s way because of how weak his character has been portrayed since turning heel. It will not be easy rebuilding him as a top star, but Ryback was getting over with the fans as a crowd favorite early in his career, and he should be able to pull that off once again.
Ryback is the perfect size and build for WWE officials, and a face turn looks to be inevitable. The only question left now is why the company decided to turn him heel in the first place instead of riding his face wave of momentum initially.
Turning him heel was the wrong move despite how funny his bullying gimmick was at times. Expect Ryback’s face turn to officially begin with a match at Survivor Series, possibly against Curtis Axel.
Who May Ryback Be Facing?
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Speaking to James Stewart of Boston's CBS affiliate, Ryback made it clear that he'd be willing to fight somebody at Survivor Series:
"Ryback is not yet on the official Survivor Series fight card, that’s because he doesn’t have an opponent. He’s issuing an open challenge to any wrestler who has the guts to step inside the squared circle with him.
“The open challenge is for anyone out there,” said Ryback. “I’m kind of a bully. I like a good fight and I like picking on people. If it’s someone bigger than me so be it.”
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There are six matches on the main card at the time of writing. Although that's how many last year's Survivor Series featured, you could see how there could be some time in between any of the tag team matches for Ryback to come to the ring, challenge somebody and start up a new feud.
The question is, with whom would Ryback feud?
It could be Brock Lesnar. One rumor regarding Ryback is a possible match with Lesnar at Royal Rumble, F4WOnline via Wrestling Inc..
However, that's still a couple of months away. Given Lesnar's limited dates, he wouldn't likely be at every Raw up until the Rumble.
That would leave Paul Heyman, acting as Lesnar's proxy, feuding with Ryback, much as he did with CM Punk before Punk's match with Lesnar at SummerSlam. Since Ryback's nowhere near the talker that Punk is, that would be almost impossible for such a long period of time.
Another possibility is Mark Henry. Henry teased on Twitter earlier in the week that he's "ready to do someone bad." Perhaps the World's Strongest Man could be the stopgap before Ryback goes after Lesnar. Beating Henry at Tables, Ladders & Chairs would give Ryback a ton of momentum going into the Royal Rumble.
For more wrestling talk, listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics or catch the latest episode in the player below (some language NSFW.)
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