WWE Survivor Series: 10 Wrestlers Who Could Up Their Cred at This Year’s Event

We are now within three weeks of WWE Survivor Series, one of the four major pay-per-views of the promotion. Many men have made names for themselves at this event.

In 1996, a man named Rocky Maivia, who would one day become The Rock, was the sole survivor in his WWE debut match at Survivor Series. Six years prior to that, The Undertaker made his on-screen debut with the company in a traditional Survivor Series match.

While wrestlers don't usually make debuts in the same capacity anymore, household names are created from events like Survivor Series.

As we look at the young WWE roster, there are faces of men who, with a good showing at the event, will be on their way up. Here are the 10 that, not only need it more, but will likely get it on Nov. 21.

Keep in mind, though, at the time of this article being written, only one of these 10 men is confirmed being on the card. The rest are all speculation and simple hoping that they'll be included.

Wade Barrett

The situation for Wade Barrett at Survivor Series all but points to him becoming the next WWE Champion. However, the championship by itself does not give you automatic credibility. Just ask Sheamus about that.

Barrett has put together some great matches in recent weeks and comes in looking rather strong. However, if his job on RAW last night had any merit to it, John Cena will be a very fair referee at Survivor Series.

This means that Wade will need to hold his own and get himself to the crucial part of the match on his own.

By the way, what is to stop Randy Orton from doing anything he wants at Survivor Series? What's the worst that happens if he touches Cena? Cena won't disqualify him and get himself fired.

So with Orton possibly having free reign to do whatever he wants, how much will Barrett have to step it up on his own?

Michael McGillicutty

It isn't even official yet that him or any other member of Nexus outside of Cena and Barrett will be on the card. However, the now seven members of Nexus, minus the two that will be in the main event, leave five men. The numbers are perfect for a traditional Survivor Series match.

If this occurs, it will be McGillicutty's first match ever on pay-per-view. The runner-up from NXT's second season will need to show the world what he truly brings to the table.

As yet another second generation superstar, he needs to set the bar for where he will be viewed by the fans. Will he be yet another next generation superstar or will he be another son of a legend that doesn't pan out? (I'm looking at you, David Flair.)

Husky Harris

See previous slide for exactly the same reasoning for Harris.

Heath Slater

He may be the fourth Nexus member to be stated on this slideshow, but Slater, in my mind, is the weakest of any Nexus member, including Harris and McGillicutty.

Now that Slater is one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions, Slater is in need of some legitimacy. While the rest of his Nexus teammates get to show off their skills and impress, Slater needs to do the same.

A great showing at Survivor Series will go a long way to doing that.

Ezekiel Jackson

Now that he is back and held his own at Bragging Rights, Ezekiel Jackson seems to be in the middle of the push as a monster that he is six months overdue for.

He squashed Zack Ryder last night in Ryder's hometown. Who gets squashed in his hometown, short of the Brooklyn Brawler?

This guy is getting a big rise right now and being a survivor will help him out immensely.

Sheamus

This time last year, Sheamus was seldom known by WWE fans. He then was one of three sole survivors in his match at the pay-per-view. The other two: Drew McIntyre and The Miz.

While all three went on to win championship gold shortly after, Sheamus was the one to shock the world with a WWE Championship win the very next month at TLC. Now where is he?

He's getting rolled up by Santino and John Morrison is having his way with him. I said it before in a previous article about him: Sheamus has hit rock bottom and he needs a total revamp in his credibility. With Triple H returning on the horizon, we know what Sheamus will be doing for the next few months.

However, you can't keep him off the card here and a trip back to where it all began for him is a good move. If HHH wishes to interfere or be a last-second addition, then that will work also.

Alberto Del Rio

Del Rio has been given a very significant push so far. The man who many refer to as the Mexican version of JBL was just involved in a triple threat match to be the No. 1 contender for Kane's World Heavyweight Championship.

He was kept away from getting the losing fall in the match and a showdown with Edge on Smackdown this week will be interesting.

Del Rio is on a major rise and to believe that he won't pop up somewhere on the card is loco. But for all of the triumphs he has had on Friday nights, a significant pay-per-view moment is missing from his constantly growing resume.

Tyler Reks

You really want this guy to try and get a push, WWE? Fine.

You want me to forget that he existed in ECW and that we never saw him before a few weeks ago? Sure.

I now refer to Reks as the new Mike Knox of the company. No matter how much nobody enjoyed or admired him, Knox was given all of these opportunities that nobody felt he was entitled to. I remember watching Royal Rumbles and saying every five minutes, "Why is Mike Knox still in this?"

Reks will be that guy unless he can take the opportunity, own it, and prove me wrong. Going back to FCW really did him some good. He's certainly better now than he was originally with the surfer gimmick.

Oh, whoops. We don't remember that.

Kaval

Have they buried him because he's small or because he was in TNA? Hard to say.

Once Rey Mysterio is gone, there will be a void in the "small guy with a big heart that will overcome the odds" department. Kaval was uber-popular in NXT and they are stripping down his credibility down to its core.

I think Kaval would be good to have his pay-per-view debut at Survivor Series. He can build up to the championship match, but he just needs to get reintroduced to fans. Not everyone watches him lose on Smackdown to Chavo Guererro.

MVP

I feel like I have written this for MVP since he debuted in the company. The closest that MVP has gotten to a world championship opportunity is in Smackdown vs RAW 2011.

However, with new music and some momentum from Superstars matches, MVP may actually crack the pay-per-view card again.

Not since WrestleMania has MVP been on the card until Bragging Rights, when he won during the dark match. It may not be much, but it's something.

MVP has had his name attached to the problem with older superstars getting held back from younger ones. Perhaps it's just an act created by WWE, playing off of similar things done by Matt Hardy shortly before his release?