Survivor Series 2014 Matches: Predictions for Event's Biggest Bouts

While its name value may have diminished in recent years, the Survivor Series pay-per-view still remains one of the most notable events of the WWE year. As such, the results of the November 23 card—and what they mean for the company’s future—should be of great interest to fans and critics alike.

Some of the bouts are easy enough to predict.

Nikki Bella has been on a role as a controlling, catty heel lately. She’s a great personality, and her wrestling skills have improved somewhat too. It makes sense that she should win the Divas Championship from A.J. Lee in St Louis, possibly with the reluctant help of her sister Brie. (Of course, if WWE felt like truly giving Nikki credibility, it could give her a clean victory.)

Credit: WWE.com

Besides, Lee has held that belt—sans giving it up to Paige for a couple of brief spells—for ages now. It’s time for a fresh name in the main event mix.

Reports from F4Wonline (via WrestleZone) that Lee could be due to leave after Survivor Series serve to bolster this prediction. So not only may she lose her belt, but she may be the recipient of a brutal post-match beatdown that takes her out of action indefinitely.

Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt should also likely end with Ambrose picking up the win. Ambrose’s credibility has floundered over the past month—losing to Seth Rollins so many times really did him no favors—and desperately needs the win. It’s hard to see how Ambrose’s stock has fallen so far with members of management that they subject him to yet another high-profile loss.

A clean and solid win—after overcoming some of Wyatt’s supernatural antics and distractions—should be in store for the former Shield member, unless the company has truly soured on him.

The ending of the 10-man main event, however, is a little more difficult to guess.

It feels like WWE is potentially attempting to speedily wrap up The Authority angle and send Stephanie McMahon and Tripe H packing. Certainly Vince McMahon just showing up on the November 3 Raw to spring the stipulation on them feels that way.

However, common sense tells us that WWE has worked too hard and invested too much into this angle to just drop it with little fanfare. This storyline really should turn into a family power struggle and be drawn out until WrestleMania—potentially with Triple H facing off against an opponent of his father-in-law’s choosing for control of the corporation.

Credit: WWE.com

Unless there’s some reason to rush the angle to its conclusion, it makes no real sense for Team Authority to lose at the event later this month.

The most likely outcome is one of Cena’s team members turning on him and costing him the bout. Ryback appears to be the most likely candidate—Cena doesn’t appear to fully trust him and probably shouldn’t.

Of course, it’s possible a Ryback turn is a bit too obvious. If WWE really wants to shock people, it might be better going with Erick Rowan or Dolph Ziggler for the turncoat role instead. Certainly Ziggler may have a valid problem with Cena—the 12 Rounds star was nowhere to found when he was the victim of a brutal beatdown on Monday’s Raw.

It does make a certain amount of sense. As some fans on Twitter noted following the show:

"

So, John Cena can watch matches with people not on his team. But when Dolph Ziggler needed some help, he couldn't turn a TV on? #RAW #WWE

— Mr. K™ (@RatedK13) November 18, 2014"

Well, they have a point.

Survivor Series is shaping up to be an intriguing pay-per-view—if for no other reason than to see how the company handles The Authority storyline. But it’s also worth checking out to see how the bookers attempt to rehabilitate Ambrose after the Hell in a Cell debacle, as well as dealing with Lee’s possible exit.