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**JY57** · 11-07-2012, 04:54 PM

http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/wwe/...day_s_Raw.html

Quote:

As seen Monday on Raw, WWE overhauled its plans for Survivor Series on November 18, 2012.

On the show, Vince McMahon mandated that CM Punk will defend his WWE Championship in a Triple Threat Match against Ryback and John Cena at the pay-per-view event. With this turn of events, Team Punk is now known as Team Ziggler, while Team Foley has an empty fifth slot. Prior to the change, The Miz quit the group in protest of Punk's leadership, and was replaced by Wade Barrett after Paul Heyman aggressively sought him.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE changed their plans for a number of reasons. Among them was the belief that the originally scheduled main event, Team Punk vs. Team Foley in Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team Match, would draw dismal pay-per-view buy numbers.With rare exceptions, tag team matches as main events are generally mediocre earners on pay-per-view. The entire Bragging Rights concept was dropped for that very reason.

It was said that pay-per-view buy numbers for Hell in a Cell on DirecTV were "surprisingly strong." Privately, McMahon credited Ryback for the result and felt placing him in a ten-man tag team, even though he'd likely be left standing, would did nothing for him. McMahon feels they need to capitalize on Ryback's momentum, which would require the muscle-bound grappler challenging for the WWE Championship in the main event.

(Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

**Nostalgia** · 11-07-2012, 05:23 PM

They made the right decision, but this should of been the plan in the first place. Punk/Ryback is a hot feud and Cena being thrown in the mix makes sense considering he was originally going to face Punk at HIAC but Ryback had to take his place due to injury, so I find it weird they didn't go with this in the first place. I'm more excited to see a Punk/Ryback/Cena triple threat, and I'm sure most are, plus it's now Team Ziggler in the traditional Survivor Series match and that's good because he has much more chance of winning this match than if it was Cena/Ziggler at Survivor Series.

DogSaget · 11-07-2012, 05:29 PM

It might be better but it left massive plot holes.

Without punk, what reason does Foley have being there?

Without Punk/Ryback...Theres nobody "important" to win, it may as well just be one of the random "throw a couple feuds in one place" tags they announce every raw/smackdown (Ziggler/Punk v Cena/Ryback etc)

Roncaglione · 11-07-2012, 05:29 PM

Something Dave said on a radio show on Tuesday is a REPORT. Ok then.

**Old_Skool** · 11-07-2012, 06:18 PM

Called it on the night, Vince over reacting (AGAIN) and hot shotting something that requires a slow, steady build (Rybacks push).

tyciol · 11-07-2012, 06:54 PM

If the people they're naming the teams after don't have to actually be competing in them, I say name the heel team 'Team Vicky' (since her showstealer is now essentially leading it, plus she had some earlier almost-chemistry with Del Rio) and have Edge return to manage the face team ('Team Edge') since he could help point out her hypocrisy about criticizing people for fraternizing, himself and Ziggler being examples of her own toe-dipping.

Not to push out Foley or anything but having him there doesn't make sense anymore. Instead, perhaps in the future, Team Hell No could have a title defense in a hell in the cell match (like maybe if they hold onto it until mania?) and get Foley involved somehow due to his history with both the cell and Kane's bro.

Heck, what if Taker chooses to 'unretire' Michaels (he'd be the only one with the power to do that, presumably, since it was a promise made to him, the Undertaker owns his career and can choose to end or start it) and they make some kinda 'cowboys' team.

Considering that Daniel Bryan was Michaels' pupil (not forgetting Regal of course, but he's a Sheamus guy, and I don't like that) and the 'brothers of destruction' history, this match would have some interesting plot to it, I think. A real torch-passing sorta thing which could help solidify D-bri as an even more serious contender. The whole goatface/vegan thing will eventually get old, and much like Punk he'll need reboots. Mania would be a good time for it, and a mixup to Taker's streak of singles victories.

This begs the question though: if Taker's team loses by Bryan pinning Michaels or something like that, does that count as ending the streak?

Think of how much heat Bryan would get for 'ending the streak' without actually pinning the Undertaker at all, too.

**YoungGun_UK** · 11-07-2012, 07:36 PM

The actual card now is definitely more appealing and makes sense, shame they didn't realize this in the first place because logically the card makes no fucking sense, Why is Ziggler in a team against Foley's team? when he's feuding with Cena etc.

**Skyfall** · 11-07-2012, 08:24 PM

I'm glad they did. They need to separate him from the pack, the lower mid-card; not just some few month filler.

**Apex Rattlesnake** · 11-08-2012, 03:11 AM

Punk and Foley killing dem ratings.

Ph3n0m · 11-08-2012, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nostalgia

They made the right decision, but this should of been the plan in the first place. Punk/Ryback is a hot feud and Cena being thrown in the mix makes sense considering he was originally going to face Punk at HIAC but Ryback had to take his place due to injury, so I find it weird they didn't go with this in the first place.

Whilst I fundamentally agree, I can only assume the reason they came up with the Foley vs Punk thing was to get CM Punk through another PPV without hanging onto his title by the skin of his teeth. Now the odds are stacked against him MASSIVELY even more and if they really want him to go to the Rumble with the belt it's going to take some really hokey booking to get him through this PPV.

The fans have already seen Cena come so close against him and then Ryback got screwed last PPV against him - is this really going to be another example of both Cena and Ryback leaving town unlucky yet again?

If Vince really does credit Ryback with the buyrate then I doubt it's beyond the crazy old bastard to scrap his plans and give Ryback the belt whilst he's hot. Who knows though.