WWE

• Title: Survivor Series 2021
• wiki: link

One of WWE’s longest running PPV events, the 2021 edition of the Survivor Series included only a two traditional Survivor Series elimination matches, both won by Team Raw for “brand supremacy.” One of the challenges with the concept, is you end up with series of standalone matches that didn’t fit into existing storylines on either show for a one-night brand vs. brand event. While the structure of the elimination tag forcing enemies to work together for one night allows for some different stories, if you don’t have those kind of matches the night falls mostly flat.

The entire event was overshadowed by a celebration of The Rock, who doesn’t even show up despite the glut of video packages and mentions, and a bizarre tie-in to the former Superstar’s new movie on Netflix involving the theft of a golden egg backstage. There’s also a soul-crushingly long Battle Royale putting over the least athletic Superstar on the roster while honoring The Rock… and was also promoted by Pizza Hut? God help us. 

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• Title: WWE Crown Jewel 2021
• wiki: link

WWE returned to Saudi Arabia for the sixth straight year for its Crown Jewel PPV. A King and Queen of the Ring were crowed as Zelina Vega defeated Doudrop, in what might have been the worst woman’s PPV match of all time, and Xavier Woods defeated Finn Bálor. Since the finales were disconnected from the tournament (unlike classic King in the Ring tournaments which took place in a single night) both finales lacked the feel of a real payoff. At least the Woods/Balor match-up wasn’t an embarrassment (and should have been given more time given the “quality” of the rest of the card).

Speaking of embarrassments, a 54 year-old Goldberg defeated Bobby Lashley in a match no one outside of Stanford, Connecticut thought was a good idea. Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander (who WWE regularly forgets are under contract, let alone a tag team) lost to The Usos in a random tag-team match without any stakes.  RK-Bro successfully defended the Raw Tag Team Championship AJ Styles and Omos (a pairing that has gone about as far as it can given Omos’ limited in-ring ability).

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