Handicapping Eliminations for Team Cena vs. Team Authority Main Event

Much of the novelty in the traditional Survivor Series match, like anything else in professional wrestling, is to scrutinize its every aspect.

To meta fans, every elimination means something, even if it really doesn't. The first star to be eliminated is subject to claims of being buried. The star with the most eliminations, a la Roman Reigns, may or may not be getting the proverbial rocket. The same can be said about the sole survivor. 

This Sunday, in what is once again being hailed as the biggest Survivor Series match in WWE history, fans will be paying especially close attention to how each WWE Superstar is booked in a field where many of the stars are relatively new.

WWE is in a transition period where an influx of the new guard is slowly supplanting that of the old. In reality, it's actually a quiet subplot of this main event. Throughout the Team Cena vs. Team Authority main event, WWE may drop a hint or two as to which past and present stars it has the most faith in. That's where the fun begins.

The following scenarios will handicap the likelihood of some of the more intriguing elimination and survival scenarios for the Survivor Series main event.

Proposition: Rusev is eliminated by pinfall or submission

Odds: +375 (A $100 bet wins $375)

Explanation: There's a reason Rusev was booked to be a top prospect who was aggressively sought after by The Authority. Rusev's nearly unblemished record, where the Russian sympathizer has yet to be pinned or submitted, is a matter of public record in WWE. At this point, it is a major part of his character. 

Fans continue to remain emotionally invested in most of Rusev's feuds as they anxiously wait for the one patriot (or American sympathizer) who will finally slay the foreign heel.

If Rusev's pseudo-undefeated run came to an end as an unceremonious elimination, this would be a huge mistake. Suddenly, that reinvigorated United States Championship would once again seem like just another belt as the value of beating Rusev will have declined.

It would behoove WWE to protect Rusev, either as a sole survivor or by getting eliminated by disqualification. The odds of any other elimination are considerably unlikely.

Proposition: John Cena is either a sole survivor or the final member of Team Cena to be eliminated

Odds: -130

Explanation: With a name like Team Cena, the odds of Cena being one of the last man standing on his team are very strong. WWE has never been subtle as to which members of a Survivor Series team are the most important. In this case, it's all in the name.

For Cena to be eliminated prematurely on a team named after him would be rare. And while Team Cena may not prevail, it's almost a lock that Cena will be involved in the final, decisive pinfall.

WWE could always swerve its audience with a shockingly early elimination, but keep in mind Cena is technically the No. 1 contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. If rumors of Brock Lesnar returning as early as WWE TLC are true, according to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestlingInc.com), Cena's rematch is just around the corner, and he'll have to be booked strongly as a result.

Proposition: Seth Rollins eliminates more than two more WWE Superstars

Odds: +110

Explanation: If John Cena were to eliminate three or more superstars, enough eyes would roll on social media to trend on Twitter.

If Seth Rollins did this, however, it would be viewed by smark fans as a career-defining accomplishment that helped to launch that up-and-coming WWE Superstar.

Rollins' Curb Stomp has been built up over the past few months as the most dangerous finisher in pro wrestling. Based on storyline alone, it's at least the most dangerous since Randy Orton's punt.

Rollins' Curb Stomp led to an extended absence for Dean Ambrose and the current storyline of injuries to Jack Swagger and Randy Orton.

Expect Rollins to lean on his finisher en route to stomping his way into the Survivor Series almanac.

Proposition: Erick Rowan is the first member of Team Cena to be eliminated

Odds: +150

Explanation: In a recent Bleacher Report poll of who should be eliminated first from Team Cena, Erick Rowan received the second-most votes. With 21.9 percent of the vote, Rowan ranked behind The Big Show and just ahead of John Cena.

Rowan didn't join Team Cena until the go-home show of Raw, and unlike Ryback, who also joined Team Cena on that show, there was no buildup to him becoming an anti-authoritarian. Before showing up as a surprise addition to Team Cena, Rowan was quickly becoming a dimwitted goof with a ceiling no higher than this generation's George "The Animal" Steele.

It's fair to be skeptical of Rowan's staying power in WWE's main event scene. Until he's eliminated, every pinfall that he isn't laying down for should be considered a modest moral victory.

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