WWE Survivor Series 2011: Preview and Predictions from GSM, RiZE and C-CooL

This Sunday, WWE presents its historic 25th anniversary of Survivor Series, featuring the heavily-hyped return of The Rock in the main event. Being one of the biggest pay-per-views WWE has to offer, one can only hope they deliver with the high expectations from fans have going into the anticipated event.

With a variety of matches scheduled for the card, WWE has the potential to not only swerve us with shocking twists and turns, but produce one of the best PPVs in recent history. The Rock may be advertised for the show, but that doesn't mean Creative should try any less in making this an enjoyable show regardless of how many pay-per-view buys they may garner.

Almost every bout looks to feature solid action, as well as intriguing continuations of various story lines. The past few PPVs in recent months have failed to leave suspense in the minds of the fans, but with John Cena's heel turn possible now more than ever, could Vince McMahon finally pull the trigger and launch one of the most revolutionary eras WWE has ever seen?

While that particular question remains to be seen, writers of Bleacher Report past and present have gathered to preview and speculate as to what we believe will transpire next in one of the most insightful and analytical prediction pieces ever composed!

Join RiZE, C-CooL and myself as we break down each advertised matchup with our overall analysis and wishful thinking for tonight's Survivor Series event. Make sure to drop a comment after reading with your respective predictions as well, as the person to successfully predict the highest amount of matches correctly will win the contest! 

U.S. Championship Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. John Morrison

RiZE: Before I start, I’d like to discuss the general reaction of the IWC to Morrison’s placement in this matchup. Yes, I know the IWC loves Zack Ryder and his YouTube show, but I find the hatred for Morrison a little irrational considering this will eventually lead to Ryder winning the U.S. Championship. Personally, I’ve found Ryder less entertaining with each passing week but I can obviously see the WWE using this as a way to build support for Ryder.

Anyway, considering the string of matches these two have had on live events, I expect a great matchup here. The WWE should at least give these guys 10 minutes to put on an unforgettable show. I think Dolph will ascend to the top card soon while Ryder and Morrison will participate in a program that’ll end up with Morrison turning heel. So, John Morrison (he’s not leaving) is your new U.S. Champion.

Winner: John Morrison becomes the new U.S. Champion

C-CooL: I’m hopeful that they’ll include Zack Ryder into this and form a three-way, but I don’t think that will happen. Look for Ziggler to get the victory after a very well-worked match. Morrison will then head to exit WWE for the next two weeks after that whether it’s a heel-turn or a generic send-off.

Prediction: Dolph Ziggler retains the U.S. Championship

GSM: This anticipated bout has the potential to be Match of the Night following their 15-minute classic a few weeks ago on Monday Night Raw. Without a doubt, these two will certainly deliver given their chemistry inside the squared circle and past history.

With Ziggler being advertised for two matches on the card, it’s uncertain as to whether this match will occur before his tag team bout or after, but if Vengeance is any indication, look for this one to kick off the show instead.

As far as the victor goes, Ziggler desperately needs to drop the title so he can take his rightful place in the main event scene, but I feel that Ryder would have been a much better opponent for Ziggler rather than Morrison, seeing as the show emanates from his home state of New York.

It’s also been heavily rumored Morrison is on his way out of the company at the end of the month, so these recent victories could only be his final farewell before he leaves. Even if Morrison does win the title here, it will mean nothing, so Ziggler must go over here.

Prediction: Dolph Ziggler retains the U.S. Championship

Divas Championship: Beth Phoenix vs. Eve

GSM: They’ve hyped this match so terribly that I hardly even care to make a prediction. Their match at Vengeance was extremely well-wrestled, but the added LumberJill stipulation will only take away from the bout at hand due to its confusing chaos.

One can only hope these pointless rivalries that the Glamazon is engaging in are only filler in order to kill time for Khama’s anticipated return next year.

Prediction: Beth Phoenix retains the Divas Championship

RiZE: I don’t know if the other guys know this but I recently learned that this match will be a LumberJills matchup. Eve Torres is definitely the Diva deserving of this title shot. Yes, Kelly Kelly may be the face of the WWE Divas Division but Eve Torres is an all around better Diva than Kelly. Her match at Vengeance with Beth proves this.

Anyway, I expect a great Divas match here with Beth winning and little involvement by the Divas surrounding the ring (hopefully).

Prediction: Beth Phoenix retains

C-CooL: This is the perfect chance to make Phoenix and Natalya actually look like legitimate threats. Have them both take out all the LumberJills in the match, followed by Phoenix to get the victory.

I’m not so sure that it will happen, but Phoenix will retain nonetheless.

Prediction: Beth Phoenix retains

Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team Match: Team Orton vs. Team Barrett

RiZE: I must say, I’m actually looking forward to this match as it is the only traditional five-on-five Survivor Series matchup on this card. Personally, I admire the WWE for resurrecting Wade Barrett with wins over Sheamus and Randy Orton.

Honestly, I didn’t think the WWE possessed the testicular fortitude to have Orton put over someone not named Mark Henry but it’s surprising, nonetheless. We’ve got guys like Orton, Sheamus, Rhodes and Ziggler so it’s a guaranteed great matchup.

Like I stated above, I admire the WWE for building up Barrett but there’s no way his team is defeating three of Vince McMahon’s guilty pleasures in Orton, Sheamus and Mason Ryan.

Prediction: Orton, Sheamus and Ryan (likely) are the sole survivors with Team Orton picking up the win.

C-CooL: I don’t really know how to elaborate on this match, other than that Barrett’s team will win.

The order of elimination: Sin Cara (eliminated by Hunico), Hunico (eliminated by Sheamus), Kofi Kingston (eliminated by Dolph Ziggler), Mason Ryan (eliminated by Wade Barrett), Dolph Ziggler (eliminated by Sheamus), Sheamus (eliminated by Cody Rhodes—sparking a feud between them), Cody Rhodes (eliminated by Randy Orton) and Randy Orton (eliminated by Wade Barrett).

GSM: Another major candidate for Match of the Night. Much like in 2009, this Survivor Series tag team match features a handful of young, up-and-coming talent who have the chance to shine in this contest.

Wade Barrett’s renewed push gives me hope he will be allowed to go over here following the recent lack of momentum he received in the past week on television. Although he won’t be competing due to injury, he has since confirmed he will be in Team Barrett’s corner on Sunday.

With that being said, I predict for Barrett and Rhodes to be the final two standing to be declared the sole survivors.

Prediction: Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes lastly eliminate Orton to be named the sole survivors

World Heavyweight Championship: Mark Henry vs. Big Show

RiZE:  Honestly, I found this program rather intriguing when it first began. Normally, I didn’t expect a 5-star classic at WWE Vengeance but these competitors put on one of the best big man matches I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching.

However, the build to the rematch has been less than enthusiastic and I find it unnecessary to use Daniel Bryan to progress the feud between these two. I am prepared to observe another exceptional match between these goliaths with Mark Henry silencing Big Show once and for all.

Winner: Mark Henry

C-CooL: Well, this one is definitely hard for me to choose.

Mark Henry is definitely the favorite to walk out of the feud on top, but I have a feeling his title reign will be cut short tonight.

Big Show will win the title and go on to have a brief title reign.

Another scenario I could envision would be for Show to win the title and for Bryan to cash in his Money in the Bank early. He’ll go on to say “If Big Show was willing to let me do it on Henry, what should stop me from doing it on him?” I have a serviceable feeling that won’t happen, but I wouldn’t be surprised.

GSM: The match quality of course won’t be five stars, but the story behind the rivalry has been excellently built. I had my doubts when Show first returned last month, but they have since proved me wrong and have provided me with an incentive to care about their upcoming confrontation.

Show has been basically unstoppable since he came back, which will allow Henry to finally pin the World’s Largest Athlete to retain the World Championship. There’s always the possibility of Kane returning here as well, but I hope that is pushed back a bit further to allow Henry to go over clean here.

Another major possibility is Daniel Bryan cashing in his MITB briefcase after what has recently transpired, but I’d much rather save that for WrestleMania.

Prediction: Mark Henry retains the World Heavyweight Championship

WWE Championship: Alberto Del Rio vs. CM Punk

RiZE: Honestly, I’m severely disappointed in this program and the sooner it ends, the happier I’ll be. Despite my distaste for the WWE Champion, I expected this feud to be interesting at the very least.

This is apparently not the case as CM Punk has decimated Berto on the mic while he retaliates with his overdone and predictable attacks. Anyway, Alberto will retain the WWE Champion via interference or a dirty tactic that’ll set up a rematch at TLC with Punk regaining the WWE Championship.

By the way, isn’t it sad that the U.S. Championship currently has more contenders than the WWE Championship has all year?

Winner: Alberto Del Rio

C-CooL: This match has surprisingly been booked superbly.

I’m not a fan of Alberto Del Rio at all, but I do think that Del Rio needs to retain this one time. For history’s sake, we don’t want to have Del Rio have two sub-par title runs in a row.

But Del Rio should go on to lose at TLC.

I’m definitely skeptical on who will win; but I’ll go with my gut and say that Del Rio obtains the victory here.

GSM: Since winning the WWE Championship the first time back at SummerSlam, Alberto Del Rio has been booked to look like a complete weakling against both John Cena and CM Punk. After Punk stated Del Rio is nothing more than a paper champion,

I fully expect Del Rio to prove many wrong by defeating Punk here, even if it was via dirty tactics. If they want him to mean anything, they must have Del Rio retain the strap here and let him drop it to Punk later down the line.

Prediction: Alberto Del Rio retains the WWE Championship

John Cena and the Rock vs. Awesome Truth

RiZE: The only purpose for this match is to have Rock wrestle before WrestleMania and it is also the only reason I’m giving it a second look. Let’s be honest, Cena has taken on Awesome Truth every week since Vengeance.

The Rock’s participation is the only thing we’re looking forward to as fans. I predict this to be an okay match with obvious signs of friction between Rock and Cena but they’ll prevail nonetheless.

On the other hand, I know some fans are speculating if Cena will finally turn heel. Honestly, that ship sailed for me a long time ago.

Winner: The Rock and John Cena

C-CooL: This match has been terribly built up considering one of the opposing teams aren’t at all the focus whatsoever. First, let me say what should happen:

Cena should turn heel and leave Rock alone with Miz and Truth—causing Cena and Rock a loss. I generally have a dissented opinion from the rest of the Internet Wrestling Community, but they have it right with a Cena heel turn. It’s a refresher; things haven’t been original since the whole anti-establishment CM Punk angle.

Cena needs to beat Rock down to finalize his heel turn that same night. Mick Foley should also be involved, commanding Cena to terminate his attack, but Cena goes on to demolish Foley as well.

As awesome as that would be, here’s what will happen:

Look for Cena and Rock’s dissension to cause Miz and Truth—the outcasts in all of this—the victory. It would be completely generic, but it works out on a long-term standpoint—so I’m fine with it.

GSM: Without question, the build-up for this match has been absolutely horrendous given how many times John Cena has proven that he doesn’t need Rock to take on Awesome Truth.

Additionally, Cena has worked with Truth and Miz in the ring numerous times over the past few weeks, so the action in this contest will be nothing to be excited over, especially with Rock working limited fights.

People have been speculating like crazy as to who will be turning on whom, and whenever the Creative gets rare opportunities such as these, they usually screw it up in an attempt to swerve us.

With that being said, I will go with my wishful thinking to this and say Awesome Truth go over here, with Cena turning on Rock (not necessarily turning heel) and costing them the match. If Rock turns here, I will be legitimately angry.

Prediction: Awesome Truth emerges victorious

Conclusion

The hype for this show has been decent, which is not what it should be at with this being one of WWE's biggest PPVs of the year. Most of the matches on the card have the potential to be solid, while others have an intriguing aspect to them that gives many fans an incentive to see what goes down.

Looking back on my predictions, I fully expect for Creative to swerve us in one way or another seeing how I've predicted for most heels to go over. With Rock being on the bill, PPV buys should be quite impressive, but that's no excuse for WWE to produce a lousy show just because they can.

As long as it sends the crowd home happy and ends on a suspenseful note for viewers to tune in Monday night, that's the the main key.

As stated at the start of the slideshow, make sure to drop a comment with your thoughts and prediction as to what you believe will transpire at tonight's Survivor Series event, with the person correctly predicting the most amount of matches winning the contest.

GSM out.

Visit my website at Next Era Wrestling as well as my WrestleRant and Spoilers podcasts for more of GSM's thoughts and writings, along with WWE/TNA news, recaps and more. Follow me on Twitter @SAVE_US_GSM.  

Follow C-CooL on Twitter @HeelCCooL. Visit his website at Wrestle Cool for more.

Follow RiZe on Twitter @HEELRiZE. Visit his website at RiZE Revolution for more.