Since NXT is no longer part of the Survivor Series lineup, that presented an option to discuss the “what if” scenario of putting the black and gold brand back into the mix.
Last year, when NXT was involved, we saw some talent from NXT UK incorporated onto the teams. WALTER, for instance, was on Team NXT, as NXT UK is an offshoot.
However, this year, with travel restrictions, that wouldn’t be possible even in the fantasy booking scenario presented in that previous post. Thus, another avenue was created: What if NXT UK had its own representation? What if instead of Raw vs. SmackDown, or even Raw vs. NXT vs. SmackDown, it was Raw vs. NXT vs. NXT UK vs. SmackDown?
In a combination of Worlds Collide with Survivor Series, let’s examine some hypothetical scenarios of what NXT UK would bring to the table.
Team for Men’s Elimination Match
Ilja Dragunov came up short against WALTER, but put up one hell of a fight. You’ve got to put him on your team. I don’t know if I’d make him the leader, though, as he doesn’t strike me as the commander type.
Instead, I’d give that spot to Tyler Bate. He’s been missing in action during this relaunch of NXT UK, for whatever reason. But I assume that he’s still on the brand just as strong as ever and they have nothing for him to do at the moment.
Depending on who would get the NXT UK Heritage Cup and fight in the midcard champions showcase, if it’s Noam Dar or Dave Mastiff, I think the other one stands a good chance of being on this team. I’d pick them over Alexander Wolfe, for instance, who I don’t think could coexist alongside Dragunov.
That leaves two spots. This isn’t the strongest roster, and it would have no chance of winning this Fatal 4-Way elimination match. So while there are a dozen or so guys to pick from, I can’t justify putting Ashton Smith or Primate on this team.
Jordan Devlin and Joe Coffey would probably be the final two. Coffey is a tough bastard and Devlin is a cruiserweight champion, at the very least.
Team NXT UK (men) = Tyler Bate, Ilja Dragunov, Joe Coffey, Jordan Devlin and Dave Mastiff or Noam Dar
Team for Women’s Elimination Match
This is one of the easiest groups to pick. There are only 11 women to pick from and one of them is the champion. I could go so fast as to say the 5 who don’t make the cut are Aleah James (who we haven’t seen yet), Amale (who mostly loses), Dani Luna (who mostly loses), Candy Floss (who mostly loses) and one other person. But that other person is the key.
So we know the guaranteed people on the team would be Piper Niven, Jinny and Aoife Valkyrie. They’re the ones with the best records and the most tenure. You put the biggest stars on there that you can.
The remaining two spots and the one that gets nixed are made up of Isla Dawn, Nina Samuels and Xia Brookside.
I’d say Brookside probably makes it onto the team as the spunky underdog who wants a shot to prove herself. Dawn and Samuels…different story. They’ve had their opportunities and continue to fail.
To be honest, flip a coin. I don’t think it matters. Dawn and Samuels will bring as much to the team, which is basically just having a fifth member. They wouldn’t score a single elimination and wouldn’t last too long against Raw, SmackDown and NXT.
Likely options —– KLR ruled out; Piper Niven, Jinny, Aoife Valkyrie, Isla Dawn, Nina Samuels or Xia Brookside
Team NXT UK (women) = Aoife Valkyrie, Jinny, Piper Niven, Xia Brookside and either Isla Dawn or Nina Samuels
The Midcard Belts: Raw’s United States Champion Bobby Lashley vs. NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano vs. SmackDown Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn vs. [No NXT UK Midcard Champion]
At the moment, we don’t have a midcard title-holder to face these three guys. Eventually, when the NXT UK Heritage Cup tournament is finished, that would be the equivalency of a midcard title, but the semifinals aren’t even over. There’s no means of telling who will win that and how they’d fair with any certainty.
Based on who remains in the tournament, though, we know the possible options would be Noam Dar, A-Kid, Dave Mastiff and Trent Seven.
A-Kid has no shot. He’s even smaller than Gargano and Zayn. Seven is a comedic character and I can’t imagine him successfully besting someone like Lashley. Mastiff has size, but Lashley is more dominant. Dar has a cunning side to him where he could steal a victory here and there, but he’s already in the ring with Zayn and Gargano, who have a better track record with that.
NXT UK stands no chance in this fight whatsoever.
Winner = Johnny Gargano
The Tag Team Belts: Raw’s New Day vs. NXT’s Brit-Am Brawlers vs. SmackDown’s Street Profits vs. NXT UK’s Gallus
Gallus boys on top? Sorry, not today.
They’d have a much better chance of winning this match if it were just two teams they were facing, rather than three, assuming one of those teams is Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan. those two are the weakest links if you don’t weigh in how they’re still bigger deals than Wolfgang and Mark Coffey. The combination of The New Day and The Street Profits would be far too much to overcome, though.
I could see a scenario where Gallus could steal a victory if NXT UK needed to get a win, as this would be the only match they could and it wouldn’t ruin someone’s mystique. Spoiler for the other picks, I guess!
Winner = The New Day
The Women’s Belts: Raw’s Asuka vs. NXT’s Io Shirai vs. SmackDown’s Sasha Banks vs. NXT UK’s Kay Lee Ray
In the previous post, I leaned toward Io Shirai, as she has the most to gain. Technically, with the inclusion of Kay Lee Ray, that’s no longer the circumstance. Ray becomes the one who needs to establish herself more.
You wouldn’t think that would be the case as she’s the longest-reigning champion of this quartet, but she’s holding the title that means the least, overall. Plus, she spent a good amount of time as champion sitting on the shelf due to the pandemic. That’s not the same as actually holding and defending the title on a regular basis like Pete Dunne did when he had the UK title.
Ray would become the sacrificial lamb, almost, more so than the potential winner. The only way WWE would give the win to her is if they were afraid of making the whole women’s division in NXT UK look totally inferior since no one can beat her, but she would be a clear subordinate to the other rosters.
Winner = Io Shirai
The Men’s World Title Belts: Raw’s Randy Orton vs. NXT’s Finn Balor vs. SmackDown’s Roman Reigns vs. NXT UK’s WALTER
With the NXT side of things, I established that Roman Reigns is the clear favorite here. Even with the inclusion of WALTER, I feel like this is a guarantee he’d still win this.
In fact, I’d go so far as to say I think I know how WWE would book it, too. Orton and WALTER would be fighting on the outside of the ring or take each other out. Then, Reigns would pin Balor, as he’s the most sympathetic one for The Tribal Chief to take out. He’s also the smallest guy in the match and would look out of place against these more powerful juggernauts.
Winner = Roman Reigns
What do you think would happen in this hypothetical scenario? Keep the discussion going in the comments below!
