WWE Survivor Series 2016: Matches, Rumors, and More

Now that the WWE Brand Split has had time to fester a bit, it’s time to bring the two worlds back together (at least in a way that doesn’t involve Brock Lesnar cutting Randy Orton’s skull in half) as we reach WWE Survivor Series 2016. For the first time in a long, long time, the mainstay in WWE’s “Big Four” will be treated as an important tentpole.

Survivor Series started in 1987 with a main event of Andre the Giant’s team of five defeating Hulk Hogan’s team. For years, the show was based on elimination tag matches from start to finish, but they started to ease up on that, starting with Hulk Hogan vs. Undertaker in 1991. As time went on, the elimination tag gimmick lost its importance and usually became something thrown in for the sake of going through the motions. It lacked stakes.

This time, things look a little different.

WHEN IS WWE SURVIVOR SERIES 2016?

The show will take place on Sunday, November 20 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

CONFIRMED MATCHES

BROCK LESNAR VS. BILL GOLDBERG

Once upon a time, WWE spent months building up towards a showdown between the two for WrestleMania XX. Lots of backstage complications happened and it ultimately led to the two of them putting on a bad match out of protest of the Madison Square Garden fans jeering them for both leaving the company. Goldberg won the match and was never seen again.

Twelve years later, the two have become the cover boys for WWE 2K17, hyping up how cool it would be to see the two butt heads one more time. This has led to Goldberg musing in an ESPN interview that he’d like another shot against Brock. Paul Heyman took exception to that and offered a challenge for a rematch. Goldberg appeared on Rawthe following week to accept, insisting to Brock that, “You’re last!"

Since then, it's been a back-and-forth thing where each guy would show up on Raw and cut a promo. With such missteps as failing to get Brock booed in Minesota and Goldberg falling over when beating up Rusev, it hasn't been the best build.

BRAUN STROWMAN, SETH ROLLINS, CHRIS JERICHO, ROMAN REIGNS, AND KEVIN OWENS VS. AJ STYLES, DEAN AMBROSE, BRAY WYATT, RANDY ORTON, and BARON CORBIN

Tag-Team Elimination Match

At the end of the summer, Rawand SmackDownsplit into two shows with two rosters and a pair of General Managers and Commissioners. Rawhas Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley while SmackDownhas Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan. Steph and Foley turn Raw into "The Steph and Foley Show" while Shane and Daniel mostly stand back and let the wrestlers take center stage, mainly appearing during the post-show. Crazy, right?

The SmackDowncrew offered a challenge to their Rawcounterparts. Three different tag-team elimination matches. It’s very reminiscent of the defunct WWE PPV Bragging Rights, which also had big tag matches based on the two shows clashing.

On the Rawside, Steph and Foley figured that Owens, Jericho, and Reigns made sense as their earliest choices. Braun won his spot via a battle royal. Rollins was chosen as the final member, much to the chagrin of Owens and Jericho.

Similarly, all of the SmackDownteam members have been hand-picked by Shane and Bryan. They have yet to really react to this, but it will be far from a solidified front. Styles and Ambrose are currently feuding for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and Corbin hates everyone. At least Orton and Wyatt appear to be on the same page.

NIA JAX, SASHA BANKS, CHARLOTTE, BAYLEY, AND ALICIA FOX VS. CARMELLA, BECKY LYNCH, NIKKI BELLA, ALEXA BLISS, AND NAOMI

Tag-Team Elimination Match

On Raw, Charlotte was given the role of team captain, though her team was picked for her. This was much to her chagrin, as she wanted Dana Brooke on the team instead of Sasha and Bayley. Regardless, this is the team she's forced to lead.

Nikki Bella defeated Natalya for the rignt to not only be on the SmackDownteam, but to captain it. Afterwards, the other four members were announced. Natalya has been given the role of team coach.

SHINING STARS, SHEAMUS, CESARO, THE CLUB, BIG CASS, ENZO, AND THE NEW DAY VS. ???, AMERICAN ALPHA, THE USO, BEAUTY AND THE MANBEAST, AND THE HYPE BROS

Tag-Team Elimination Match

Different rules for this one. If one wrestler is eliminated, so is their regular partner.

Raw's team was once again chosen by the bosses. Originally, the team was going to have Golden Truth, but R-Truth sold their spot to the Shining Stars for a sketchy Puerto Rican timeshare. They tried to win the spot back via a match, but the Shining Stars won.

With SmackDown, while Rhyno and Slater are given the captain spot automatically for being the champs, the others have had to compete to earn it. The Hype Bros defeated the Ascension, American Alpha defeated the Spirit Squad, and the Usos defeated the Headbangers. No word quite yet on who the final team will be.

Coincidentally, Slater has a beef with the Rawteam considering the Shining Stars sold him faulty stock in Puerto Rico.

DOLPH ZIGGLER VS. SAMI ZAYN

Intercontinental Championship

After months of failure, Dolph Ziggler finally attained the Intercontinental Championship from the Miz. He offered him a rematch, but Miz refused, wanting it on his own terms. That annoyed Daniel Bryan, who chose not to put Miz in the big male tag match due to his cowardice. Looking past Miz, Ziggler then went and made an open challenge for Survivor Series: anyone from Rawcould come and challenge for his title.

Foley chose Sami Zayn, although Stephanie wanted it to be Rusev. The two potential challengers were put in a singles match and Zayn came out the winner.

RUMORED AND UNANNOUNCED MATCHES

With TJ Perkins off the table for the moment, we're likely to get Brian Kendrick vs. Rich Swann. Swann has had some non-title success over Kendrick and considering his charisma has been helping him stand out among the cruiserweights, this one is very, very likely.

Check back for more information on WWE Survivor Series 2016!

Gavin Jasper should probably go watch Goldberg’s performance in Santa’s Slay in preparation. Follow Gavin on Twitter!