WWE 101: Analyzing the Card of Survivor Series 2011

A couple of months ago, I began an unconventional way of predicting a match. And while I could not have been more wrong, I decided to revive my WWE 101 with the twist of a slideshow format, which allows me to predict every match on the card.

What I will do is go week-by-week through WWE television since Vengeance and analyze what that means for the match on Sunday night in Madison Square Garden.

Before we go any further, here is what the card for the Thanksgiving Classic looks like;

The Rock & John Cena vs. The Awesome Truth

World Heavyweight Championship

Mark Henry (c) vs. Big Show

WWE Championship

five-on-five Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Tag Match
Team Orton (Randy Orton, Sheamus, Mason Ryan, Kofi Kingston and Sin Cara) vs. Team Barrett (Cody Rhodes, Jack Swagger, Hunico and Dolph Ziggler)

WWE U.S. Championship
Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. John Morrison

WWE Divas Championship
Beth Phoenix (c) vs. Eve Torres

Divas Championship: Beth Phoenix (c) vs. Eve Torres (Lumberjill Match)

October 24 (Week 1)

Beth continues to trash Eve

The night after Vengeance, WWE made it clear to us that this feud was not over.

Beth Phoenix was on commentary for Natalya versus Alicia Fox, and said that the Divas of Doom wanted to eliminate every barbie doll from the Divas division.

Knowing how the WWE is, there are only three other (relevant) divas, each of which Beth or Natalya have beaten.

October 31 (Week 2)

"Nobody holds a candle to me."

When you have two heels such as Beth Phoenix and Natalya, they will eventually be broken up.

While this is unlikely to happen at Survivor Series, Beth saying nobody holds a candle to her is perhaps a glimpse into the future.

How about face Natalya taking on Beth Phoenix at WrestleMania 28?

Sounds good to me.

November 7 (Week 3) AND

November 14 (Week 4)

Dominant Faces

As the Divas of Doom were mocking Kelly Kelly, and about to  'make her cry,' Eve and Alicia Fox came to her aid once again. Meanwhile, Beth and Natalya left the ring.

The next week, Kelly Kelly reversed the sharpshooter into a roll up pin for the win over Natalya.

With WWE logic, this normally bodes well for Beth on Sunday.

Conclusion

All evidence points to Beth Phoenix retaining her championship and finally starting another feud leading up to her program with Natalya at WrestleMania.

That is exactly what I expect to happen, possibly with Eve turning on Kelly Kelly sooner than later to start a feud with those two.

United States Championship: Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. John Morrison

October 31 (Week 2)

Ryder's title shot, right?

Zack Ryder and Dolph Ziggler had been feuding ever since Ryder was chosen by Hugh Jackman to face Ziggler in a one-on-one match.

Both on Raw and Z! True Long Island Story, the heel and the broski went back and fourth in what has been pretty compelling television.

On Halloween, WWE put these two together once again, with Ryder coming out on top.

At that point, it looked as if Zack Ryder was headed towards his first singles championship run of his career. And while he still may get it, the belt may just hang in the palace of wisdom first.

November 7 (Week 3)

JoMo finds his mojo.

After numerous reports that Dolph Ziggler and John Morrison had stolen the show at house shows, they were put in a match on Raw.

Despite Ziggler controlling the majority of the match, John Morrison won his first match since the spring.

All of the sudden, this guy who was supposedly headed out the door, pinned the United States Champion.

November 14 (Week 4)

No where to run.

After a short match with Mason Ryan, Dolph Ziggler headed up the ramp only to be slide back in by John Morrison, who defeated him the week prior.

This led to Ryan hitting the Full Nelson on Ziggler, and clinching a United States Championship shot for John Morrison and not Zack Ryder.

#ManhattanScrewjob?

Conclusion

Dolph Ziggler has proven everything he needs to prove; he is easily a main event caliber WWE Superstar.

With that in mind, and many challengers in line, I believe Dolph will finally drop the title to move onto bigger and better things.

John Morrison will win at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, then Zack Ryder will snatch the belt away the next night. .

Of course, Morrison turns heel to tremendous heat and sets up a nice United States Title feud.

Five-on-Five Survivor Series Elimination Match

Team Orton (Kofi Kingston, Sin Cara, Randy Orton, Sheamus & Mason Ryan) vs. Team Barrett (Jack Swagger, Dolph Ziggler, Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes & Hunico.)

November 11 SmackDown

The Barrett Barrage.

The SmackDown after it was announced that Randy Orton and Wade Barrett would be the captains of the traditional five-on-five Survivor Series match, Orton and Barrett were put in a rematch of last year's Survivor Series main event (sans John Cena as the referee, and without the WWE Championship on the line.)

The two put on a pretty good match, with Barrett poking Orton's eye to prevail victorious.

This let us know the WWE is indeed serious about once again pushing Wade Barrett to the top.

November 18 SmackDown

Team Barrett ends the losing skid.

Due to Christian suffering from a high ankle sprain, Dolph Ziggler was placed in his second match this past week for Survivor Series.

On SmackDown, Dolph beat Sin Cara, ending Team Barrett's losing streak.

You see, this slide highlights the only two matches won by Wade Barrett's team, as Sheamus and Randy Orton beat Cody Rhodes and Wade Barrett, Sheamus beat Jack Swagger, Kofi Kingston beat Hunico and Mason Ryan defeated Dolph Ziggler.

Not to mention how the faces cleaned house this past Monday Night, concluding with Mason Ryan tossing Hunico out of the ring.

Conclusion

This match has been so tilted in Team Orton's favor, you would think that Team Barrett would win in Madison Square Garden.

The only issue with that logic is Team Orton is home to not one, but two superfaces in Randy Orton and Sheamus.

With that in mind, Team Orton picks up the victory and Barrett may get a dirty win over Orton at TLC, to continue the Barrett Barrage.

WWE Championship: Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. CM Punk

October 24 (Week One)

Zzzzzzz...

Alberto Del Rio claimed he was the best in the WWE today, which set off CM Punk enough to come out and remind Berto who beat who just four weeks before.

Punk then challenged Del Rio for the WWE Championship, yet Alberto says Punk just isn't worthy enough for a shot, he's a loser!

Punk responded that he'll just put him to sleep anyway, which brought out John Laurinaitis.

This segment quickly became Punk bashing Johnny Ace with one verbal jab after another, ending with a GTS to Ricardo Rodriguez.

October 31  (Week Two)

Twisted Like A Pretzel.

CM Punk was angry that Alberto Del Rio ruined his title shot, so he went to the Funkman, who said that all Punk had to do is get Del Rio to agree to give him his match at Survivor Series.

After Berto was knocked out at the hands of The Big Show, Punk came out, grabbing a microphone and a bottle of water.

Punk spent a couple minutes mocking the Spanish-speaking aristocrat, then used the Anaconda Vise for the first time in months, forcing Del Rio to answer 'Si!'

Despite the odds being against Punk these first two weeks after Vegeance, he came away with what he wanted and even weakened his competitor in the process.

November 7 (Week 3)

"Don't make me take my jacket off!"

-The Funkman himself.

Alberto Del Rio got permission from the interim Raw general manager to ask Punk to give up his title  shot.

Through the same method as Punk a week earlier, Del Rio was on the receiving end of many pipebombs (many the truth) and ended up in the Anaconda Vise.

Backstage, David Otunga said he didn't want the WWE Champion to look like he works at a gas station, leading to a beatdown.

However, Alberto Del Rio seized the opportunity and threw Punk through the catering table.

Despite not being a Del Rio fan, this was needed to make Alberto look like a credible threat to retain his own belt. It may have been just enough to sway some fans to thinking Del Rio will win at Survivor Series, and not CM Punk.

November 14 (Week 4) 

This past Monday night was a busy one for CM Punk, as he first appeared to tell Michael Cole his fifteen minutes were up, eventually setting up the Anaconda Vise on the loudmouth.

Then as Punk was walking to the ring, Alberto Del Rio attacked him, and would pin him in the center of the ring just minutes later in a tag team match involving Mark Henry and The Big Show.

This was another show that built up Del Rio, making WWE Logic suggest our winner.

Conclusion

This match has had some pretty nice build up and made both Punk and Del Rio look like worthy competitors.

The WWE Logic I was speaking to does suggest that CM Punk will walk out of MSG champion, as does the already advertised return match reportedly set for the TLC pay-per-view.

To win it, Punk makes Del Rio tap to the Anaconda Vise, potentially setting up a submission match in the future.

World Heavyweight Championship: Mark Henry (c) vs. the Big Show

October 28 (Week 1)

Backing down from a fight.

A sore Big Show walked out to cut a short promo, stating he would get a rematch after the ring collapsing on him and Mark Henry at Vengeance.

Mark Henry then interrupted, and told Big Show that he would not be defending his championship against a man he has already retained against. This angered Show, who took off his jacket to prepare for a fight, but Mark Henry wasn't interested.

This was a nice way to extend the rivalry. It let us know that Big Show was still intent on a world title match, and Mark Henry was not.

Usually, I would be against a monster heel acting cowardly, yet I think the WWE executed it well enough to not make Henry look weak.

November 3 (Week 2)

Bankrupt.

Despite a short spurt of dominance by Daniel Bryan, Mark Henry had annihilated the American Dragon for the majority of the match, until Big Show stood up for his friend and hit WMD on the WSM (World's Strongest Man.)

Big Show attempted to revive a knocked out Bryan to cash in his briefcase, but Henry seemingly awoke faster and hit the World's Strongest Slam on both men.

Although a win for Bryan would have been nice, this allowed all Superstars involved to look strong at a point.

The match for Survivor Series was also made official by Theodore Long. 

November 11 (Week 3)

Goliath squashes David.

Mark Henry once again beat a feisty Daniel Bryan, who kept egging on Henry for more.

Just as Henry was about to induct D-Bryan into the Hall of Pain, Big Show interrupted and eventually beat three local competitors.

I liked that this showed Daniel Bryan has courage, although a heel turn is the way to go with him.

Having Big Show say defeating three guys off the street (to the crowd) is impressive made Bryan look weak in a way, which is the last thing he needs just months before his WrestleMania main event.

November 18 (Week 4)

The acts of a coward.

SmackDown opened with Mark Henry laying another beatdown on Daniel Bryan, which was really uncalled for after two weeks of the exact same thing. The WWE, in my opinion, could have had the same effect without having Bryan suffer from an attack once more.

Big Show arrived later on in the night (Yes, they cheer a man who comes to work late!), with Zack Ryder telling him about the status of Daniel Bryan.

Show went to check on Bryan, then went to the ring to warn Mark Henry of what is to come at Survivor Series in New York City.

Conclusion

It seemed like Big Show was going to win at Vengeance, but now that he did not, it makes more sense to make a star from beating Mark Henry.

If Henry is still champion come WrestleMania, I would say Daniel Bryan appears likely. If not, Sheamus will probably be the guy to do it at TLC then hold the belt until the Elimination Chamber.

Never Before, Never Again: John Cena & The Rock vs. The Miz & R-Truth

October 24 (Week 1)

Plastic Kills.

John Cena demanded that he get a match with Miz and R-Truth, because they cost him his match at Vengeance.

So Miz and R-Truth ended the match with a beatdown and a deadly water bottle shot to the skull of John Cena (sense my sarcasm?)

Johnny Ace came down to announce that John Cena could choose a tag team partner to face Awesome Truth at Survivor Series. Cena chose The Rock in the most predictable move the company will make, until Cena and Rocky squash Awesome Truth.

October 31 (Week 2) AND November 7 (Week 3)

Rocky brings it.

The Rock opened Raw bringing it via satellite, and reluctantly accepting John Cena's request to team up at Survivor Series.

Later on, Cena looked to be on the receiving end of another beating after a masked R-Truth choked him from behind, but Cena came back in Superman fashion.

The following week, Cena and Zack Ryder lost to Awesome Truth with Truth holding Cena's leg down while Miz got the three-count.

November 14 (Week Four)

The smackdown has been layethed.

The Rock greeted his returning friend Mick Foley, after the intentional trainwreck and comedy that was the This Is Your Life segment with John Cena.

Rock would re-appear on his own special to explain his actions, his day, and then trash Cena, Truth and Miz.

Following the trend of Cena's lady parts on Twitter among with many other things, Cena and Rock layed the smackdown on Awesome Truth, once again rendering the Survivor Series match pointless.

Conclusion

I am fairly confident when I say I gave this prediction away long ago, as it's sadly the most predictable match on the card.

John Cena and The Rock, barring the apocalypse, will defeated The Miz and R-Truth, and take this momentum all the way up to WrestleMania 28.

For more of my work, please visit the Enigmatic Generation of Wrestling. You can also follow me on Twitter @RYANFRYENIGMA.