WWE Survivor Series 2016 Results: Top Takeaways from Latest PPV
WWE Survivor Series 2016 was a shocking night, as many stars rose and fell during the course of the six huge matches. What made the event so surprising was the way it bucked trends WWE had seemed to be following to the letter over the past few years with some wild ideas that were quite controversial.
A Beast was finally conquered. Several wrestlers went against their brands due to emotional outbursts. Rivalries between men and women were developed and jump-started. Raw stood tall over SmackDown even though SmackDown had the last laugh.
Whether you loved or hated the events of the night, WWE clarified where it is immediately heading as well as the potential for future long-term plans. With so many major stars choosing their sides and making statements, the roster showed a new perspective.
The following are the six most prominent takeaways from WWE Survivor Series 2016, focusing on how the results of the biggest matches of the night likely define the future plans for major stars going into 2017 and the WrestleMania season.
Charlotte vs. Bayley Will Define the Raw Women's Division for the Coming Months
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While many stories among the women were developed during the course of the women's Survivor Series elimination match, none was more central than the growing animosity between Charlotte and Bayley. After the two both survived in the elimination match, Charlotte assaulted Bayley for trying to steal her spotlight.
Given Bayley's importance in securing Raw a win and the established hatred between these two women, it is easy to predict Charlotte vs. Bayley for the Raw Women's Championship for WWE Roadblock on Dec. 18. This story seems destined to dominate screen time for the women much like Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks did the previous few months.
The two women are talented and favorites of WWE Creative, which seems smitten with the Four Horsewomen more so than any other female performers. This is not unwarranted given the four are arguably the best women on the roster by a solid margin in the ring and on the mic.
With Bayley's underdog persona making her one of the most endearing performers on the roster and Charlotte growing into a cocky heel role that has made her the most hated woman in the division, this is a perfect pairing of styles that should headline the women's division heading into WrestleMania.
Baron Corbin and Dean Ambrose Will Face Serious Consequences
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In the battle for brand supremacy, SmackDown Live won the final battle but lost the war with a 3-2 score. Part of that was due to dissension in the ranks that could lead to major consequences on SmackDown for two of the most prominent members of the roster.
In a fit of rage and perhaps calculated malice, Baron Corbin cost Kalisto the WWE Cruiserweight Championship and SmackDown the entire cruiserweight division. General manager Daniel Bryan told him he would face consequences, but Corbin seems unconcerned with punishment. The Lone Wolf should only become more dangerous as management no longer favors him.
While the men's Team SmackDown still managed to pull out a victory, they would have done so far more dominantly without Dean Ambrose, who was both the first man eliminated and helped directly to eliminate WWE world champion AJ Styles. Ambrose let his emotions get the best of him as he abandoned his duties as a member of the SmackDown brand.
Ambrose likely will not lose his shot at Styles' world title, but the consequences may be daunting, particularly with the looming warning of The Undertaker from last week's SmackDown. Ambrose defied the wishes of The Deadman by failing to support Team SmackDown, and that may mean Ambrose is headed for a showdown with WWE's most frightening legend.
The Wyatt Family's Reign of Terror May Be Just Beginning
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In a match that lasted nearly an hour, the men's showdown between Team Raw and Team SmackDown ended with only two men standing tall, Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton. The new Wyatt Family that includes Wyatt, Orton and Luke Harper has an air of authority that the previous incarnations have lacked.
This is primarily because the group's opening act actually ended in a clear and defining victory. Wyatt and Orton worked well together and overcame an impressive group of stars. Allowing them both to stand tall at the end of the night's biggest match could be a sign of things to come.
The Royal Rumble is only two months away on Jan. 29, and Orton has shown before the power of going into the Rumble with loyal teammates at his back with his win in 2009 thanks to the support of The Legacy. With few clear favorites this year for the Rumble, perhaps Wyatt should be considered as a potential winner.
Wyatt has always been a talent with more potential than credibility, and this was due to his lack of major victories. This may just be the biggest win of Wyatt's career to date, and it makes his future prospects more enticing than ever. The alliance between Wyatt and Orton could define SmackDown Live in 2017.
Brock Lesnar's Dominant Streak Has Ended
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Nothing was more shocking at WrestleMania XXX than the moment Brock Lesnar ended Undertaker's undefeated streak. Lesnar dominated Taker and became a force of nature in WWE, quickly rising to prominence. As a part of his new reign, Lesnar even captured the WWE Championship in a one-sided match against John Cena.
All of that buildup for Lesnar, including the birth of Suplex City, led to Survivor Series, where Lesnar finally ran into a wall he could not pass. His indomitable confidence was shattered by the force of passion and will that was Goldberg. In even more dominant form than Lesnar showed against Cena, Goldberg won in a mere one minute, 25 seconds.
Someone had to step up to Lesnar, and now he will have to change his style. He can no longer just be the overconfident suplex machine. Once more, Lesnar's character will go through a metamorphosis that could change the face of WWE.
Will Lesnar become an angry vengeful monster or a desperate fighter? Even if this just leads to a rematch down the road where Lesnar finally defeats Goldberg, there is no turning back from such a definitive loss.
Goldberg Is Here to Stay Even If We Have No Idea How Good He Still Is
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Lesnar's dominance has ended, and Goldberg seems to have taken up his mantle. While it would have been nice for WWE's future for a younger monster to get a win of this magnitude, there is no denying the impact of the moment.
Goldberg took down the most indomitable force in professional wrestling.
In a metaphorical sense, Goldberg killed a god to become a god himself. Now WWE must address Goldberg's status in the company going forward. He cannot end the most important current run of dominance in WWE with such authority and just walk away. He must stand as a new obstacle to be overcome.
The match at Survivor Series showed little of what Goldberg is actually capable of. He will need to wrestle more than two minutes next time to prove his worth, but WWE has taken an interest in him without needing to see him in a full match.
The Myth has returned to WWE and become a symbol of dominance anew in WWE. Assuming Lesnar's mantle may take some time for a man who has been out of the game for so long, but fans will have to accept that he has been made into a force to be reckoned with.
WWE Happy with the Status Quo on Raw and SmackDown
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On a night when it was teased that two championships and an entire division could change brands, Survivor Series ended with nothing different from the previous week. No championships changed hands or brands. There were no major twists within the brands; no one changed sides or was fired for their actions.
Even with some surprising results, this show had little impact on the brand divide, as it stayed within the status quo. For better or worse, this shows that WWE officials feel safe with what they have on Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live each week.
Hopefully, the company has the right mindset with the cruiserweights. The cruiserweight division has been floundering on Raw, and it is possible it would have fit better on SmackDown. There also might not be enough time in the two-hour format of SmackDown for the division. While 205 Live is close to debuting, the cruiserweights still need a shake-up in some form to become relevant.
WWE teased change but stayed the course, choosing to swerve within conventional means. If the Road to WrestleMania does not live up to its potential this year, this may be the point to look upon as the opportunity WWE squandered to shift around the championships and divisions between brands.
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