WWE Survivor Series 2015: Projecting Teams for Traditional Elimination Match

There was a big fear at one point that WWE would head into one of its flagship shows, Survivor Series, without a Traditional Elimination match.

But the news emerged on Tuesday that there will be a Traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series Elimination bout, giving some of the card's more underused talent a chance to shine.

It's difficult to try to piece some of the teams together, owing to the fact that in some areas there is plenty to choose from, but in others, things are a bit thin on the ground.

The Captains

We always get a theme with these Survivor Series matches, usually based on the men who are captaining the sides. Last year was Team Cena vs. Team Authority, and there are a few choices to pick from this year.

For example, could Dolph Ziggler get a promotion up to a captain's role after his impressive performance at last year's show? He was the man left standing at the end to help guide Team Cena to victory and put The Authority out of power, albeit temporarily. 

He would be a good leader of the babyface team, and Tyler Breeze would be good as the heel captain. But you get the feeling that perhaps they're better off starting their rivalry on their own this Sunday rather than as captains of teams.

Ziggler needs a strong feud right now after a disappointing few months with the likes of Rusev and Lana. So WWE should let those guys slug it out individually. They need their own limelight, and with too many distractions, Dolph could get lost in the shuffle once again.

Doing that obviously means that there's a need to find some leaders, though.

It would make little sense to book a match this crowded without some background flavor, and of the feuds remaining that don't have any plans for Survivor Series, The New Day vs. The Usos seems the best fit.

Team New Day vs. Team Usos would at least generate some interest for the rivalry they're likely to have for the WWE Tag Team Championship over the coming months. It would also allow WWE to limit its search for other talent, with only five guys left to find. So if we're set on the captains, who makes up the rest of the teams?

Team New Day

Teaming with The New Day must feel like a pretty cool gig to get at the moment. In wrestling speak, the trio is hugely over with WWE fans. It's electric in pretty much everything it does both in and out of the ring.

So where should WWE look to cast its net to get new recruits onto its team? Rather worryingly, there has been no build backstage with The New Day (or any team captain, irrespective of whether it's The New Day or not) recruiting potential team members. It would have been hugely entertaining to see the trio try to convince fellow heels to join, for example. However, that hasn't been the case.

There are some obvious places to look if The New Day captains a heel team, however. The Ascension are in real need of a lift, and this could be the place to do it, and it could also help to set up a secondary feud in the tag division if the babyface team is chosen correctly.

Stardust is also another perfectly suitable candidate, and it could also be the opportunity to push someone into the fray who's been off TV awhile, someone like Michael McGillicutty, perhaps.

However, the most likely option lies with another heel duo that has only just gotten together. Sheamus needs as much TV exposure as possible, given how he's likely going to be world champion in the next few months, and King Barrett is another who should be seen more on Raw, SmackDown and on pay-per-view. Giving them a chance to develop their fledgling friendship on screen would give this match an extra dynamic.

The best bet for a heel team this Sunday seems like Big E, Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, Sheamus and King Barrett.

Team The New Day: Big E, Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, Sheamus and King Barrett.

Team Usos

Picking the babyface team is a much tougher task. There are plenty of options with the babyfaces.

The Usos being captains would mean there are three more spaces available. Can we safely assume one of them goes to Cesaro? He remains one of the most popular stars on the entire roster, and the calls to push The Swiss Superman will get louder and louder the less he is pushed.

Putting him in this match is hardly similar to a main event push, but it at least gives him another chance to impress on TV. If he's afforded the chance to perform in a long match like this, chances are he won't disappoint.

Then it's on to the final two men involved. There are a few choices, with Neville being one to consider. He has teamed up with men from the tag division in the past, as has Ryback, as recently as this Monday on Raw.

But for a different feel and to add to the flavor coming from the tag division, may WWE opt for The Dudley Boyz? They've been demoted somewhat since The Usos returned, and their rivalry with The New Day never quite felt finished.

D-Von and Bubba Ray are no strangers to Survivor Series, and their experience could give this match a real boost.

But as mentioned, opting for the babyface team is a trickier ask than the heel team. In this instance, maybe the experience and tag background of The Dudley Boyz is a stronger fit.

Team Usos: Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Cesaro, The Dudley Boyz