WWE Survivor Series 2011: 7 Things To Look for Heading Towards Sunday

The Thanksgiving spectacle that is Survivor Series is this Sunday.  Apparently, nobody thought to promote something other than The Rock's return for this event. 

Honestly, before yesterday's Raw, I completely forgot that Survivor Series was this Sunday.  I almost made plans to play poker that night, and I never play poker.  That's how uninterested I was in the show. 

Last night on Raw, The Rock and Mick Foley both returned, which was destined to spark interest in the show.  Unfortunately, that was not the case, as there was little build to the big matches that didn't include Rock and John Cena. 

We now know for sure, unless WWE decides to throw in a surprise match for the fans at Madison Square Garden, that there will be three championship matches.  The WWE, world heavyweight and diva's championships will be defended, but it doesn't seem like WWE wants you to care about them.  All their attention has been focused on Cena and Rock's tag team slobber knocker against Awesome Truth. 

While that may be the headline match of the show, so much so I even saw it being prominently promoted in various commercial spots on ESPN, there are other matches that should have us interested and hopefully they don't disappoint. 

Diva's Title Match: Where Does Kelly Kelly Fit In?

Eve will be challenging champion Beth Phoenix for the Diva's Championship. 

While this match is warranted, considering that their last contest at Vengeance was top notch for the current diva's division lineup, it has gotten lost in the shuffle with Kelly Kelly's Maxim cover coming out and the sudden love for Alicia Fox.

If you've watched Raw the last two weeks, you, like myself, would have completely forgotten who was fighting for the title this Sunday. 

Two weeks ago, Kelly's cover reveal was squashed by Beth and Natalya, but she was joined by her friends Eve and Alicia to salvage the occasion. 

This past Monday, Kelly beat Natalya in a very, very quick match.

There hasn't been a build involving Eve, or even Beth for that matter.  It's been hard to figure out where exactly this whole thing is going.

Which brings to question, is Kelly going to become a big player in this match Sunday night?

Last time Kelly was in Maxim magazine, she was holding the diva's title.  Now, she's the cover girl for Maxim.  Could this mean that she will soon be holding the title again?

Nothing can be said for sure at this point. 

Who Exactly Is the No.1 Contender for the U.S. Championship?

This title picture has gotten attention recently, but it hasn't been the right kind of attention. 

Right now, there is no clear-cut favorite for the United States Championship that Dolph Ziggler currently holds.

Zack Ryder has a claim, because both of his title matches have ended in defeat thanks to the help of massive interference, costing him the match.  Now, he is getting Twitter nation to sign a petition for him to get another title shot.  Woo Woo Woo.

John Morrison has a claim to the title shot as well.  Morrison ended his huge losing streak against Ziggler and has been in Dolph's grill the past number of weeks.

It was uncertain what exactly Dolph would be doing at Survivor Series this past Sunday, which made most people think he would defend his title against either one of those two.  Except by Monday night we found out that Ziggler would take the place of the injured Christian on Wade Barrett's elimination team. 

It is still possible that Ziggler would have to fight in two matches that night, seeing as how he did it about a month ago.  But since he did it just a month ago, it seems highly unlikely for him to do it again. 

Maybe we'll have to wait until TLC for Dolph to defend again.  Possibly, in a triple-threat ladder match against Morrison and Ryder. 

Call that my early prediction. 

Wade Barrett Stealing Cody Rhode's Thunder

The Barrett Barrage is in full swing, and he is now leading his team of misfits into Survivor Series to take on Team Orton.

It was somewhat of a surprise at first to see that Barrett, not Cody Rhodes, would be fronting the team to combat Orton's team. 

Now it is apparent that it might possibly be Barrett who is the next man in line for a shot at the world title once the strap is on a face again.  Many of us were led to believe that Rhodes would be that next person in line, but nothing has truly transpired from that thought just yet.

It may seem a little premature to cut down Rhodes so quickly, but let's remember that he still holds the Intercontinental Championship, which means his time will come, just not until he finally loses that strap.

In the mean time, there is no better person than Wade Barrett to take over as the top, up-and-coming heel to challenge for main event supremacy.  He's got the look, mic skills and wrestling ability, something we've all known since the day he came into the company. 

Now he finally gets another chance to prove it to everyone. 

Only 5 Matches Announced

For the 25th Anniversary of Survivor Series, the second-longest running pay-per-view in WWE history, there isn't a whole lot of emphasis on it being a special occasion. 

In fact, there isn't much emphasis on the show at all. 

There are five matches announced.  Three title matches, the traditional five-on-five elimination match and of course Rock and Cena's tag match against Awesome Truth. 

Sadly, there aren't too many superstars being left off of the card.  Actually, there are a shortage of superstars for these matches. 

All current feuds are being covered, most of them being done in the five-on-five match, so really, there isn't much else in the booking department that can be done. 

Expect for most of these matches to each take their time in finishing up.

Ring of Implosion Part 2

Mark Henry will defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Big Show in a rematch from their ring collapsing extraordinaire at Vengeance. 

While I wasn't the biggest fan of their first contest, the possibilities of this time around excite me. 

What else can these two possibly do?

I don't fully expect this match to have a decision, much like the first time around.  This one has the makings for either some sort of double disqualification or even a double count out. 

Both of those finishes would be considered cop outs, but it's all for the best as these two have the chance to make some good magic in the ring, and even out of the ring. 

Alberto Del Rio Is as Serious as Ever

CM Punk has made a name for himself over his career as a man who can push anybody's buttons. 

Add Alberto Del Rio to that list. 

Punk not only forced Berto to agree to a singles championship match for the WWE title, but he did so in humiliating fashion, applying the anaconda vice until he agreed. 

Not only that, he also called Del Rio boring, he also said he has nothing interesting to say and people like to mute him every time he opens his mouth. 

Punk done made Del Rio upset. 

Unfortunately for Punk, Del Rio isn't just sicking his ring announcer on him to fight his battles.  Berto is fighting like a man this time around.  All I have to say about that is, it's about time. 

It has taken Del Rio forever to find a spine.  All it took was for Punk to say a few things that he didn't like for him to become the full-fledged heel we've all been waiting for him to become. 

Their match on Sunday could easily steal the show, as two of the better wrestlers in the company get set to duke it out over the WWE Championship. 

Expect Del Rio to continue his reign of anger over Punk and possibly retain his title in relatively clean fashion. 

Never Before, Never Again.... Until Wrestle Mania

The Rock and John Cena are teaming up in what is the most anticipated, non-title tag team match at a pay-per-view in WWE history.

So much history on one team it's incredible.  Attitude Era teams with PG Era. 

The Great One teaming with Barney's turd. 

Hustle, loyalty and respect meets the founding member of the Poon-tang Clan.

Oh yeah, and they're going against the hottest heels the WWE has to offer, but that doesn't really matter anymore. 

So much hype has been built around the Rock and Cena connection that their opponents almost don't even matter. 

There's almost a complete zero percent chance that Rock and Cena lose this contest.  That is, of course, unless one of them turns on the other during the match. 

However interesting that does sound, it doesn't seem likely to happen.  There has been far too much hype built around this match for it to end in that fashion. 

Rock and Cena will come out on top, the only question is, what will the fallout be as soon as the bell rings?