Survivor Series 2020 wrapped late Sunday and we learned some things, didn’t we?
Let’s go through our takeaways from the 34th edition of the American Thanksgiving classic.
1) #ThankYouTaker
The Undertaker has called it a career, finally. Probably. At least for now.
When it comes to The Undertaker, there is always a chance that a retirement doesn’t last. It’s happened before, after all. But for now, we’re here to show our appreciation for The Undertaker.
Championship win statistics don't begin to measure the career that The Undertaker had. The Deadman left an indelible mark on WWE and on the professional wrestling industry as whole. From 1990 through 2020, fans both young and old will have a story for you surrounding The Undertaker. He, quite simply, had one of the most memorable and remarkable careers in not only wrestling, but in all of entertainment.
The Undertaker and a hologram of Paul Bearer at WWE Survivor Series 2020. (WWE)
If you're going to construct a Mount Rushmore for wrestling, I don't think you're going to find very many fans or wrestlers who are going to debate The Undertaker's inclusion on the mountain.
His career may never be matched, his effect may never be quantified, but the memory of The Deadman will always live on.
2) Reigns vs. McIntyre was the match of the night
It was billed as a heavyweight fight, and that’s exactly what we got.
It was a slow, methodical and hard-hitting match. It didn’t feel like either man held a distinct advantage throughout the match, which is a credit to both wrestlers. They are the top champions on both Raw and SmackDown, and they wrestled like it.
The match played brilliantly to a fever pitch, slowly amping up with the significance of each strike landed. The loss from McIntyre won’t harm him, as he was well protected in the loss thanks to a low blow from Reigns and a super kick from an interfering Jey Uso.
Reigns, meanwhile, continues his run as the most dangerous man in WWE.
As former WWE referee Jimmy Korderas often says on Aftermath, one wrestler may go over, but it’s important for both wrestlers to get over.
Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre at WWE Survivor Series 2020. (WWE)
3) The Raw Women’s division is a mess
Asuka lost to Sasha Banks and the Raw Women’s Survivor Series Team won, essentially by default, with no one on the team looking strong in the process.
Asuka is the top champ on Raw yet hasn’t looked like it for months. Instead of engaging in hard-hitting match dominance like she once did, she has instead spent her time dancing around backstage and yelling on commentary. Don’t get me wrong, it’s enjoyable, but it doesn’t seem feel like Asuka is the same wrestler she once was.
The fact Asuka seems vulnerable should be good news for other members of the Raw roster, but instead it seems as though no one is ready to step up as a credible challenger. Shayna Baszler may be the best choice, but she seems engaged in continuing her role as a tag team champion. Nia Jax? Nope, no one wants that. Other Team Raw members Lacey Evans and Peyton Royce? Not a chance they’ll be taken seriously.
So, who steps up? No one, right now. Survivor Series should have been a spot to elevate a mid-card member of the division to challenge Asuka. Instead, we’re left with more questions than answers.
Sasha Banks at WWE Survivor Series 2020. (WWE)
4) There are plenty of contenders for the WWE Championship
There is messy chaos, like the women’s division on Raw, and then there is frenzied chaos like we have on the men’s side on Raw. The storyline of “testosterone-fuelled dudes who just can’t get along” played out for weeks in the lead-up to Survivor Series, but it was all smoke in mirrors as Team Raw used that pent-up aggression to absolutely squash Team SmackDown. The final score at the end of the Match was Team Raw 5, Team SmackDown 0. That is, no one was eliminated on Team Raw.
So, everyone looks strong, then. The Fiend seems to be the next obvious choice for McIntyre in terms of a championship challenger, but Survivor Series proved there are actually plenty of suitors. Out of the five team members, there are three who have a legitimate shot to challenge for the title in the near future: Sheamus, Braun Strowman and AJ Styles. Other team members Keith Lee and Matt Riddle are still marinating as rising stars, but their time will come.
5) Despite the loss, Sami Zayn remains a Canadian treasure
Sami Zayn played the role of smarmy heel perfectly in his match with Bobby Lashley, even if it was difficult to do so while wrestling another heel in Lashley. The Hurt Business accompanied Lashley to ringside, which Sami was understandably furious about. Zayn tried his hardest to get someone on The Hurt Business to hit him, thereby earning him a victory by DQ, but alas, it was not to be.
Instead, Lashley made Zayn tap out. But good news: the Champion of All Countries Sami Zayn will not be hurt by this loss. Instead, he will carry on as a proud Intercontinental Champion.
And on a serious note, Sami Zayn started “Sami For Syria,” a charity aimed at raising money to supply medical care for vulnerable populations in northwest Syria in July and is close to his fundraising goal. On top of playing a champion of all countries on television, the Montreal native continues to work out of the ring to better the lives of those in other countries.
For his work in and out of the ring, Sami Zayn remains a Canadian treasure.
