Survivor Series saw Sasha Banks getting the best of Asuka and Lana being the sole survivor for Team RAW.
Banks and Asuka were first on the card out of the two women’s matches. This is a match that we have seen on a number of occasions before, however, these two always put on a great performance. Their interactions are always so effortless and fluid and this time was no different.
Sasha Banks defeated Asuka
Whenever you have a Champion vs. Champion match you are also guaranteed a quality match with both competitors coming out strong despite the result. Although this did not have a championship at stake, Banks has sought out to prove that she can win the big ones while holding the title. She defeated Bayley in a rematch (with the title on the line) a couple of weeks ago and she takes down Asuka tonight.
With Banks spending so many years putting over other talent, it was great to see her get this win. Personally I was surprised they didn’t give it to Asuka.
There was no interference or post-match attack for either woman. We know that Carmella has been eyeing up Banks for weeks. As for Asuka, she hasn’t had a feud since before the draft in early October. This was a missed opportunity for whoever is Asuka’s next opponent. Someone could have jumped her from behind after the match.
We then had the traditional five-on-five Survivor Series match. It saw Team RAW – Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler, Peyton Royce, Lacey Evans, and Lana vs. Team SmackDown – Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Ruby Riott, Natalya, and Bayley.
Team RAW defeats Team SmackDown – Lana was sole survivor
I will say that I was really entertained by this match. It had a bit of everything which I really appreciated. It had pinfalls, a submission, count outs, and a disqualification. Furthermore, it allowed the newer women to the event shine.
First, let’s talk about how Peyton Royce picked up a huge first elimination. Royce has been floundering a bit since The IIconics unnecessarily broke up. Slapping her together with Lacey Evans hasn’t made any sense either.
They allowed her to shine some tonight which was much needed. Picking up the first elimination and it being Bayley was huge. Hopefully, they can capitalize off of this and maybe propel her towards Asuka claiming that she has beaten a champion and deserves to be one.
The order of eliminations were as follows:
- Bayley by Peyton Royce (pinfall)
- Peyton Royce by Natalya (submission)
- Natalya by Lacey Evans (pinfall)
- Ruby Riott by Shayna Baszler (pinfall)
- Lacey Evans by Liv Morgan (pinfall)
- Liv Morgan by Nia Jax (pinfall)
- Shayna Baszler (disqualification)
- Nia Jax (count out)
- Bianca Belair (count out)
- Lana – Sole Survivor
Lana had a good showing against Natalya prior to being bullied by essentially her entire team. Jax and Baszler yelled at her repeatedly to stand on the steel steps and not involve herself in the match. This was only after she tagged herself in and went for a bit against Natalya early on.
And stand on the steps she did.
She stood there throughout the whole match and didn’t move a muscle.
Much like Royce getting a great spot earlier in the match, Belair showed out and had her time to shine also. Her athleticism is beyond impressive and she is destined to be a mega star.
As the match came winding down, Baszler was disqualified when there was only Belair left for Team SmackDown. Belair passed out from the Kirifuda Clutch but landed on the ropes. Baszler wouldn’t break the hold and because Belair was on the ropes, the referee disqualified her.
Jax then pounced on Belair and the two went at it on the outside. Jax was launched over the barricade as the referee counted to 10, the EST couldn’t make it back in the ring fast enough.
This caused both Belair and Jax to be counted out which means that Lana wont he match and was the sole survivor. She also did NOT get put through a table for a tenth time, although Jax was fuming.
And although she wasn’t a part of Team SmackDown we can’t forget Billie Kay who was trying to impress King Corbin with her resume and the blue team with her head shot.
Let’s get into the Winners & Losers of the event:
WINNER: Lana
Lana did it! Albeit I would have liked her to actually have won by actually pinning someone at the end but I will take it. When I think more about it, this was the right move. Bianca was rightfully the last woman standing for the blue brand and Lana pinning her would have felt weird. I hope that she somehow gets some sort of revenge on Nia & Shanya come RAW though.
WINNER: Bianca Belair
She may have been counted out but that only protects her as well. The pure potential on future singles matches with her in it gives me goosebumps. Her and Sasha Banks (via Royal Rumble) at WrestleMania, Book it!
WINNERS: Asuka & Sasha Banks
Need I say more? No surprise these two put on a great match. They both are great sellers as well and they compliment each other. I wasn’t predicting Sasha to pick up this win, so I was happy with that. It is time for Asuka to have a well-rounded story with someone. I am ready for it to be Peyton. I sort of wish that the women’s Survivor Series match came first and then Peyton attacked Asuka later on in the night after she lost.
They could do so much with Asuka vs. Peyton. They have so much history from even NXT that they could build from that. A trip down memory lane is always a great way to build a good feud.
WINNER: Peyton Royce
She pinned Bayley, which was super unexpected. I figured Peyton would be first out, she was second, but she got her moment. Too bad they aren’t on the same brand because now I want to see Peyton vs. Bayley.
LOSER: Ruby Riott
If I had to pick a loser from all the women it would be Ruby. Purely because they keep booking her in the role of being destroyed by Nia and Shayna. Granted, I am glad they aren’t throwing it at Liv, but these two need to be built up to take the tag titles.
Besides her good tag team work with Liv to take down Nia, she wasn’t really rememberable in the match.
With all the tag teams and potentials in NXT, I still don’t understand why they don’t let those belts circle around there for a while.
LOSER: Bayley
She went out first. It was a great way to put over Peyton though and I applaud that. I am just not sure what is next for Bayley and although this didn’t really hurt her, they could have had a glimpse of who her next feud may be. Maybe I just wanted to see an IIconics reunion of sorts and had Billie come out and help Peyton at that moment. This could have sparked Bayley vs. Billie.
What did you think of this year’s Survivor Series? Who were your Winners & Losers? Let us know in the comment section below!!
