Live Survivor Series WAR GAMES Discussion Thread - Saturday November 25th 2023

[Marty McFourth]

Got to say, I much prefer Survivor Series not having the 'brand warfare' RAW vs SD stuff the past couple of years. You did get some good matches out of it, but I always felt this show felt quite heatless over the years. This is much better in my opinion. Both WarGames matches actually felt like they had a fair amount of heat and story behind them which I really appreciated.

 

[Bad News Booty]

Brand warfare was always bad to me

But I do miss having at least one traditional survivor series match

 

[Cwalker]

The brand warfare just felt so forced. All the sudden after Hell in The Cell or whatever October PPV they had, all the sudden Raw and Smackdown had “loyalty” even though these mfers get traded every year.

Then after Survivor Series, everybody went back to not caring about that shit.

 

[Sabretooth]

Yeah I hated how there was never actually a reason for brand warfare.

 

[Cwalker]

Could’ve at least made it mean something. Winning brand gets the #30 spot in the Rumble or whatever

 

[Hidden Blaze]

Brand warfare would have worked better when they didn’t change shows as much tbh, then I kinda understand the loyalty. But yeah when you could fight for Raw one year and Smackdown the next, I don’t see the point

 

[Bobby Barrows]

I remember that SvR 2007 had a thing where the main event of Survivor Series was a Hell in a Cell between a RAW and SmackDown superstar or something similar,

 

[Bad News Booty]

I just miss the randomness of the teams like this

 

[Cwalker]

The Undertaker being on the All American team in what, 93 and having the flag on the inside of his jacket always makes me laugh

 

[Kross Rhodes]

I liked brand warfare when the rosters were concrete and didn’t change super often.

The first 3-5 years of the brand split you had guys who never left Raw and Vice versa and no talent appeared on both shows. Ever.

The two shows also had different booking, philosophies, divisions and presentation.

Brand warfare when the two brands actually feel separate makes sense. Where as today? I don’t think of anyone as a Raw or SmackDown superstar.

 

[Sabretooth]

That first Raw vs SD match in like 2016 was fucking awesome. They were kinda shit after that.

 

[Hoss]

I think Survivor Series 2005 is still the best brand warfare storyline to this day.

 

[Cwalker]

I think Survivor Series 2005 is still the best brand warfare storyline to this day.

That’s the one where Taker came back at the end right? Cause I’d agree with you

 

[Cwalker]

Although the 2014 one was pretty fun

 

[Hoss]

That’s the one where Taker came back at the end right? Cause I’d agree with you

Yes