WWE Survivor Series 2016: Power Ranking Bouts Most Likely to Steal the Show

Before Brock Lesnar and Goldberg collide in the main event, the house is likely to have already been torn down at WWE Survivor Series 2016.

A number of compelling matches comprise Sunday's pay-per-view card—from championship bouts with major brand implications to traditional elimination matches pitting Raw against SmackDown. WWE has a litany of subplots to play with. The ring will be filled with top-notch performers.

That all makes it easy to imagine an undercard bout outshining the main event of Lesnar vs. Goldberg.

Who has the best chance to blow that bout out of the water and be the talk of the event? Talent will have a say in that, as will the stakes and stories of Survivor Series' other contests.

5. 10-on-10 Survivor Series Elimination Match

It's refreshing that Survivor Series is returning to its roots. This will mark the first 10-on-10 match in the PPV's history since 1988.

There will be a good number of entertaining acts on display. The New Day has been one of WWE's hottest groups over the past two years. American Alpha is a team on the rise. And Enzo Amore's charisma is sure to better this bout.

A lack of depth, though, will hurt the action. Filler squads like The Shining Stars and the poorly used Breezango cut down the stature of the match. 

There's also the potential for this to be messy with so many moving parts at play. It may be rushed and underwhelming, much like the 16-man tag bout on Tuesday's SmackDown.

4. The Brian Kendrick vs. Kalisto (Cruiserweight Championship)

The Brian Kendrick will be fighting for more than keeping the Cruiserweight Championship in his grasp. If he loses to Kalisto, the entire cruiserweight division will move to SmackDown.

Those stakes alone make this an intriguing contest. 

This meeting of a crafty mat master and The King of Flight has potential. Kendrick has a number of strong matches on his resume of late. Kalisto, however, hasn't looked like himself since returning from injury.

A lack of history between these men downgrades the match some, too.

And how the Toronto fans respond to this title bout will determine its ceiling. For the most part, Raw crowds have not been into the cruiserweights. If the audience doesn't provide much energy this time around, then the Survivor Series elimination matches are sure to outdo it. 

3. Women's Raw vs. SmackDown Elimination Match

The difference in how much talent this match boasts compared to the Total Divas vs. True Divas 2014 disaster is startling. The women's division has grown massively since then, and it now features a bevy of strong performers.

Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, Bayley, Charlotte Flair and Nikki Bella will assure that this match will be good.

Talent won't be an issue. The story promises to be a quality one as well. The infighting between Bella and Carmella could get interesting. The same goes for rivals-turned-partners Banks and Flair.

This should be a showcase for the powerful Nia Jax.  

Booking may be what holds this bout back, though.

WWE has paid more attention to the men's elimination match in the build to Survivor Series. That may mean that the women get less ring time and that WWE will save the more creative, big moments for Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens, etc.

2. The Miz vs. Sami Zayn (Intercontinental Championship)

Credit: WWE.com

The Miz's career year will continue with a show-stealer against Sami Zayn. The Intercontinental Championship match promises to be a red-hot bout despite it only being announced days before Survivor Series. 

The stakes are compelling.

The Miz is fresh off reclaiming the IC title from Dolph Ziggler. He won't want to lose it again so suddenly. And if he does fall to Zayn, the championship will move to Raw. 

Zayn has not been given a lot of chances in 2016, but he has nailed every one he's had. His match against Shinsuke Nakamura at NXT TakeOver: Dallas and his clash with Kevin Owens at Battleground are among the year's best efforts.

He knows he's clutch. Zayn tweeted, "Big match, high stakes, major PPV. This is where I'm at my best."

The underdog and master in-ring storyteller will step into the squared circle with The Miz, who is in the midst of his best stretch of mat work to date. 

Unlike Kalisto and Kendrick, these two have a history. Zayn tried to dethrone The Miz earlier this year. Expect them to build on that and shine together.

Only the added hype and narrative possibilities give the male Raw vs. SmackDown battle a better shot of being the talk of Survivor Series.

1. Men's Raw vs. SmackDown Elimination Match

WWE Creative will have a plethora of toys to play with when Raw collides with SmackDown at Survivor Series.

The men's elimination bout is stacked. AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens will all be in the same match. 

There are a number of subplots to explore as well. Owens and Chris Jericho's friendship could splinter. Rollins and Reigns may flash back to their days as two-thirds of The Shield. And will Shane McMahon entering the match cost the brand he runs as commissioner?

The stakes are vague but could still be effective.

Raw head honcho Stephanie McMahon has warned her Superstars that a loss will affect their careers. Undertaker threatened SmackDown's squad.

If WWE can effectively play up the power of brand loyalty and get out of the way enough for these Superstars to do their thing, Toronto is in store for one of the best Survivor Series elimination matches in a long time.