Preview & Predictions for Survivor Series, Where Cody Rhodes–And Not Seth Rollins Or Randy Orton–Takes Center Stage

Preview and predictions for Survivor Series

Cody Rhodes enters Survivor Series as WWE’s biggest star.

Courtesy WWE

Even though world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins is part of the men’s WarGames match, he is not the team’s leader. Neither is Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, or the returning Randy Orton. Rollins may have the gold, but Rhodes is the heart and soul of this team and the storyline surrounding it.

Even though Seth Rollins is world heavyweight champion, it is Cody Rhodes who is the central figure in the WarGames match / Courtesy WWE

Rhodes’ introduction of Orton does add another fascinating element into Raw. Orton has been away from WWE for a year-and-half due to legitimate injury, but the storyline centered around an attack from The Bloodline. Uso, of course, was a key part of The Bloodline when Orton was hurt. Is it possible that Rhodes’ team will win the match, and then Orton will RKO Uso? Could Orton turn heel against Rhodes? That seems unlikely right away, but there are plenty of options for Orton as he returns.

Courtesy WWE

Uso is a babyface, yet with a sordid past. That is an exceptional story, with people like Drew McIntyre unwilling to forgive and forget Uso. At the center of it all is Rhodes, who brought Uso to Raw while Kevin Owens was sent to SmackDown.

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Rhodes’ current trajectory still has him on path to main event WrestleMania 40. Is it possible that, at WrestleMania, Uso will turn on Rhodes and rejoin The Bloodline? That would extend Roman Reigns’ run as champion, as well as prevent what appears to be Rhodes’ inevitable run with the belt. It would also cause an uproar with those waiting to see Rhodes as champ.

The rest of the card is also solid. No world titles are on the line, and Reigns is not part of the card, but there is a women’s WarGames that will hopefully reconnect Becky Lynch in the title picture. Gunther will continue his historic reign as IC champ, with The Miz no real threat to his run. Rhea Ripley should also show her dominance against Zoey Stark (who would have benefited greatly from a singles win against Trish Stratus after their program), and we’ll see Carlito’s first WWE pay-per-view singles match since 2007 (against Triple H at Unforgiven) when he locks up with Santos Escobar.

But as Survivor Series begins to unfold, it remains Rhodes who is the center of attention.

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Survivor Series predictions

Men’s WarGames match: Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, and Randy Orton vs. Judgment Day’s Finn Balor, Drew McIntyre, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio, and JD McDonagh

Pick: Rhodes, Rollins, Uso, Zayn, and Orton

Women’s WarGames match: Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, and Shotzi vs. Damage CTRL’s Bayley, Iyo Sky, Asuka, and Kairi Sane

Pick: Lynch, Flair, Belair, and Shotzi

Intercontinental champion Gunther vs. The Miz

Pick: Gunther

Women’s world champion Rhea Ripley vs. Zoey Stark

Pick: Ripley

Santos Escobar vs. Carlito

Pick: Carlito