Ryan Dilbert's 10-Count: WWE Must Break Pattern with Brock Lesnar vs. AJ Styles

1. Let The Beast Tell a Longer Story

A Brock Lesnar match in 2017 relies on the same blueprint. WWE hypes the bout hard. A short, physical contest ensues. An F-5 ends the contest to end it all abruptly.

When The Beast Incarnate faces AJ Styles at Sunday's Survivor Series pay-per-view, a longer, more compelling narrative needs to unfold.

Styles is too good a performer to waste on a match that's over too soon. And Lesnar can be more enjoyable to watch if WWE lets him off the leash.

Lesnar's last four one-on-one PPV bouts went 9:01, 6:25, 4:45 and 1:25, per CageMatch.net.

Lesnar vs. Goldberg at last year's Survivor Series saw The Conqueror fall after just a handful of moves. At Great Balls of Fire, Lesnar vs. Samoa Joe didn't reach its full potential when a single F-5 delivered the climax too early. And the monster-against-monster battle he had with Braun Strowman at No Mercy felt unfinished.

Voices of Wrestling writer Sean Sedor was among those underwhelmed by the match:

It will be hugely frustrating if Lesnar vs. Styles is another short match that leaves a wealth of narrative possibilities unexplored. The Phenomenal One is famous for bringing out his foe's best. And WWE should let him have every opportunity to do that against the goliath he's set to run into.

This match can be special, helping to make Survivor Series 2017 a classic event.

So many of Lesnar's matches in the past two years haven't delivered. The anticipation has been greater than the action. The hype can't match the fight. That's no knock on Lesnar but on the decision to only let his wars go on briefly.

Lesnar vs. Styles can and should be a compelling drama where an underdog survives a destroyer's onslaught longer than anyone could have predicted.

It can be a showcase of both Lesnar's and Styles' vastly different skill sets. It can overflow with moments that forces fans to slide forward in their chairs. It can grab the audience by the throat from bell to bell.

But that will be harder to create if WWE decides to make the battle between the universal champion and the WWE titleholder more haiku than epic.

2. The Game at Survivor Series

Triple H shoved Jason Jordan aside on Monday's Raw and made himself the fifth member of Team Raw.

And while this would have been Jordan's first traditional elimination match, The Game has been through that kind of war several times over. He's been successful in those showdowns, as well.

Credit: WWE.com

Per the Internet Wrestling Database, Triple H is 3-1 in Survivor Series elimination matches, including one on SmackDown in 1999. That is unless you count his record from his days as Hunter Hearst Helmsley. In that case, he has a less impressive 3-3 mark.

The Cerebral Assassin has won his last two Survivor Series elimination matches. And he's beaten both Shane McMahon and Randy Orton in those bouts before. Each Superstar is poised to face him as part of Team SmackDown on Sunday.

3. Throwback Video of the Week: WarGames

For the first time since 2000, warriors will clash in a WarGames match. The double-caged contest is set for NXT TakeOver: WarGames in Houston on Saturday when The Undisputed Era, Sanity and The Authors of Pain all collide.

The bout debuted at the 1987 Great American Bash, and WCW sold it as an otherworldly battle reminiscent of something out of Mad Max:

Both the promos and the action itself promises to look a lot different this year. And even though The Four Horsemen won't be part of the fun this time around, it's fantastic to have the WarGames back.

4. A Monster's Coming-Out Party

Much of the talk leading into NXT TakeOver: WarGames has been about the return of The Match Beyond and Drew McIntyre's defending the NXT crown against Andrade "Cien" Almas. But Lars Sullivan is sure to make himself a big part of the post-event chatter.

The monstrous powerhouse is set to have the match of his life.

Sullivan will go up against Kassius Ohno at the latest TakeOver special. Ohno is an excellent opponent for him, the kind of wrestler who makes everyone he faces look better.

This will be Sullivan's first major chance to show he can be a predator WWE can count on. He's shown big-time promise in tag team bouts. A bigger stage and a quality foil who can slug it out with him will clear the way for the big man to make an emphatic statement.

5. Superman at SmackDown

Charlotte Hornets center Dwight Howard took in the latest SmackDown from the front row. And he certainly looked to be enjoying himself.

Whenever the camera pointed his way, Howard went into pro wrestling mode, hamming it up for the camera.

These little moments were reminders of how perfect a fit he would be for WWE. He's a huge man for starters. He's got plenty of star power. And he boasts the kind of vibrant personality that's required for sports entertainment.

The door is open if he wants to follow in the footsteps of Dennis Rodman and Shaquille O'Neal by being the next NBA star to step into the squared circle.

6. NWA Doing it Right

The National Wrestling Alliance has taken to powerful, simplified storytelling by way of shareable media.

Ahead of last Sunday's NWA world title bout between Tim Storm and Nick Aldis, the promotion aired a series of videos promoting the bout. The 10 Pounds of Gold YouTube series clicked at every stage. These clips showcased both wrestlers' personalities and journeys. They played up how important that title and the fight for it is.

The build boiled down this match to a tale of man vs. man, champion vs. challenger, old lion vs. young lion.

Billy Corgan's quest to revive the NWA promotion is heading in the right direction. More stories like these will continue to increase the buzz around the company and around Storm's quest to remain on the mountaintop.

7. The Queen vs. The Goddess

When Alexa Bliss takes on Charlotte Flair in a champion vs. champion match at Survivor Series, she will be looking for her first victory over The Queen.

The PPV bout will mark only the second meeting between these two on the main roster. Last year, Team Raw beat Team SmackDown at the November PPV, and Flair was on the winning side. They have since switched brands and will now face off in one-on-one action.

To this point, Flair has had Bliss' number.

Per CageMatch.net, the new SmackDown women's champ is undefeated in singles matches against The Goddess of WWE. Flair is 2-0 against her on NXT TV. And she twice knocked off Bliss in Triple Threat matches at NXT live events.

Bliss can now end that string of losses under the bright spotlight of Survivor Series.

8. The New Day's Best (So Far)

The New Day vs. The Shield at Survivor Series has show-stealer written all over it. And for Kofi Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods, that bout has the makings of the best of their careers.

The over-the-top trio against the swarming Shield will be a high-octane bout.

Before The New Day enters that fray, though, let's take a moment to reflect on their highlights to this point. The following matches have seen Woods and his crew thrive:

• The New Day vs. Cesaro and Tyson Kidd: Extreme Rules 2015
• The New Day vs. The Lucha Dragons vs. The Usos: TLC 2015
• The New Day vs. AJ Styles and Chris Jericho: Raw, March 7, 2016
• The New Day vs. The Usos: SummerSlam 2017
• The New Day vs. The Usos: Hell in a Cell 2017

History says that when The New Day has top-notch competition, be it Y2AJ or The Usos, it comes through in a big way. The Shield will be the most talented group of foes it has ever had. It's a safe bet, then, that something special is on its way.

9. A Dominant Asuka and Nothing Less

Like Roman Reigns back in 2013, Asuka needs to wreak havoc at Survivor Series.

She entered the main roster in the midst of a historic undefeated streak. WWE has presented her as a destroyer, an overwhelming force, a special talent. She has a great shot to build on that and to further amplify her aura as part of Team Raw on Sunday.

Credit: WWE.com

If Asuka wipes out three-fifths of Team SmackDown, she will leave the PPV with a major boost in momentum.

The Empress of Tomorrow could help Raw come back from a four-on-two disadvantage or take out Tamina in mere seconds. She could be the sole survivor after eliminating two former champions in Becky Lynch and Naomi. WWE's options are plentiful.

However the company plays it, it has to realize how key this opportunity is. Asuka won't be in the ring with Lynch, Carmella and Naomi all at once very often. And it won't happen on a stage this big.

There should be no half-assing about it. Asuka needs to tear up Team SmackDown.

10. Snow on Wrestling

A writer starts with a blank page. A painter starts with a bare canvas. Wrestlers craft their art in a simple square surrounded by ropes.

And in each case, one's ability and imagination determine what they create in that space.

Former WWE hardcore champion Al Snow provided a reminder of that when he spoke about the industry in a recent appearance on Pat Buck WrestlePro Show. He talked about how he incorporated a mannequin head into his act and made it work, as odd as that was. Snow also talked up what's possible when wrestlers collide.

"The magic in wrestling is once we step into that ring, you and I can absolutely do anything," he said.

That's an inspiring thought. The art of wrestling begs to be innovated, challenged, played with.