Roman Reigns to beat Alberto del Rio in their WWE World Heavyweight title tournament semi-final
This is arguably the biggest certainty on the card. Reigns will be in the final for sure. Del Rio’s role here, like Cesaro on Monday, is to help him look as good as he can. Reigns is good, do not get me wrong, but he is not great yet. But he raises him game when facing quality opposition - just ask Daniel Bryan and Brock Lesnar - and expect Del Rio to give him a major rub here before being beaten.
Dean Ambrose to beat Kevin Owens in their WWE World Heavyweight title tournament semi-final
From the easiest match to the hardest match to call. A Reigns v Ambrose final produces great intrigue and I think this will be where the WWE go. Owens has had a sensational first six months on the main roster and I think he is made to look strong here again, but there is more suspense to be had here in the two former members of the Shield going up against each other for the belt.
Roman Reigns to beat Dean Ambrose to win the WWE World Heavyweight title
Now, there are a lot of scenarios here, and one of the guys is expected to have a character turn to the dark side. I think that will happen, but post-match. WWE are committed to Reigns as their top guy for now, and I do not see that changing, though I do, long-term see a heel turn for him later on down the line, potentially at WrestleMania 32. But, getting back to this night, I see him beating Ambrose cleanly to win his first world title, but, Ambrose I think, finally snaps, as he again misses out on the top prize, and attacks his friend post-match. This is important because ….
Sheamus cashes in his Money in the Bank briefcase to win the WWE World Heavyweight title
If ever there is a scenario for cashing in the briefcase, this is it. Whoever wins the title will have had two long matches, and if my prediction holds true, Reigns will have been through two brutal matches and then been beaten up further post-match by Ambrose. This is ideal for Sheamus to cash in. It gives Survivor Series a shock ending, it will garner more sympathy for Reigns, who continues to be denied a proper run with the belt. I would expect to win it back either at TLC or Royal Rumble, and it creates feuds for him with Sheamus and Ambrose before I believe a re-match with Lesnar at WrestleMania 32 in Houston.
Undertaker and Kane to defeat the Wyatt family in a tag team match
Logic would dictate, normally on WWE programming, that if you dominate the feud on TV then you lose at the PPV. Well, Undertaker and Kane, the Brothers of Destruction, have stood tall the past two weeks over the Wyatts, so you would think it would be they who would be the favourites to lose. But, and this is a big but, this is the 25th anniversary of the debut of the Undertaker in the WWE, and that is the main reason I cannot see him and Kane losing. It will be interesting to see which two members of the Wyatts go up against the brothers, but I see the Undertaker getting the pinfall to mark his anniversary in style.
Charlotte to retain her WWE Divas title against Paige
Hopefully the Divas can put on an excellent match to allow people to forget about the horrendous, and offensive, comment Paige made, under direction from WWE’s creative division, about Charlotte’s brother Reid on Raw this week. There is no way the WWE are taking the belt off Charlotte just yet, and this is only just the start of the programme with Paige, so I expect to see Charlotte get a measure of revenge for Monday.
The Usos to survive in the traditional Survivor Series match
Now this is hard to predict, considering we do not know who is going to be in the match yet, as the WWE have bizarrely not announced it yet. Firstly, I’d guess on one side you have The New Day, Sheamus, ahead of a possible MITB cash in later in the night, and King Barrett, on the other side, The Usos, the Dudleys and Ryback. All 10 guys can work well, and given time this could be a good match. Other candidates are Dolph Ziggler and Tyler Breeze but I would not be surprised if they faced each other in a separate match. Usually in a match like this it is the faces who come out on top and I would go with one of the Usos, or both of them, standing tall, to set up a future tag team programme with the New Day.
WWE’s Survivor Series event will be televised on the WWE Network, which is available through OSN, on Monday morning in the UAE from 4am.
gcaygill@thenational.ae