WWE Survivor Series 2018: Brock Lesnar survives, Ronda Rousey roughed up, Team "RAW" dominates

Brian Fritz

WWE Survivor Series 2018: Brock Lesnar survives, Ronda Rousey roughed up, Team "RAW" dominates image

Survivor Series has long been considering one of the "big four" events of the WWE calendar. This year's version delivered one of the biggest and best events of the year on a show filled with exciting matches and hard-hitting action.

The main event saw Brock Lesnar narrowly beat Daniel Bryan in a matchup between the Universal Champion and the WWE Champion. The much bigger Lesnar mauled Bryan for the first half of the match and looked to be on his way to an easy victory. The tide turned when Bryan connected with a low blow and he had the big man in trouble for the rest of the match with his relentless attack. It looked like he was about to make "The Beast" tap out in the middle of the ring but, instead, Lesnar used his brute strength to escape and get the win.

Also on the show, Charlotte Flair gave Ronda Rousey the worst beating of her young WWE career in a physical war. The action was stiff during the match between the women before Flair hit Rousey with a Kendo stick to cause a disqualification. Flair snapped at that point, smashing Rousey over and over with the stick and later wrapping a steel chair around Rousey's neck and stomping on it.

The theme of the night was brand supremacy between "RAW" and "SmackDown" but in the end, it was the red brand dominating the night in what turned out to be a fun, action-packed card.

Sporting News had all the WWE Survivor Series coverage with a live blog that you can check out below.

(All times Eastern.)

WWE Survivor Series 2018 live updates

WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar (RAW) defeats WWE Champion Daniel Bryan (SmackDown)

10:32 p.m. FINISH: Lesnar goes for an F5 but his leg gives up and Bryan puts on the Yes! Lock. He's about to tap but gets out. Bryan hits him with several crossface smashes and another Yes! Lock. Lesnar nearly taps again but powers out and hits an F5 for the win. Wow. That was one heck of a contest and Bryan made everyone believe he could win. Let's do that again sometime.

Also, that marks a clean 6-0 sweep for Team "RAW" over Team "SmackDown" on the main card. Yep, the kickoff show match didn't count because WWE doesn't like tag teams. Still, that was one heck of a show.

10:30 p.m.: Back in the ring, Bryan hits another running knee and makes the cover with Lesnar kicking out at the last second. Now, a chop block onto the back of Lesnar's knee and then he smashes his knee into the post. Bryan with a missile dropkick off the top rope and he's on fire.

10:29 p.m.: Do not count this man out.

10:28 p.m.: Lesnar is in trouble with Bryan stomping on his face. He goes for another knee to the face but misses. Lesnar misses a clothesline and goes flying out of the ring. Bryan with a dive but Lesnar catches him but the WWE Championship gets out of it and hits a running knee off the apron. This is a fight! Suicide dive but Lesnar catches him and drives him spine first into the ringside post.

10:26 p.m.: Lesnar connects with an F5 and goes for the cover but before the ref gets to three, Lesnar pulls him up. He wants to dish out more. Bryan gets in a few kicks and then goes for an F5 they hit the referee. Bryan with a low blow and a running knee! He makes the cover and Lesnar just kicks out. The crowd goes nuts.

10:23 p.m.: To say this has been a mauling would be an understatement. Lesnar is suffocating Bryan with bear hugs between suplexes. 

10:21 p.m.: This has been all Lesnar. Lesson: do not mock "The Beast". 

10:19 p.m.: Two more huge Germans and Bryan is officially taking a long trip to Suplex City.

10:17 p.m.: Bryan goes for a kick and Lesnar catches him and hits a clothesline to the side of the face. A huge release German suplex follows and Bryan isn't laughing any longer. 

10:15 p.m.: The bell rings, Bryan charges at Lesnar and connects with a dropkick to the knee. He quickly gets away from Lesnar and runs around the ring with a smirk on his face. Yes, Bryan is acting cocky against The Beast.

10:10 p.m.: This looks like David vs. Goliath but Bryan is taunting Lesnar outside the ring. Bryan gets in the ring and gleefully holds up his title as Lesnar circles the ring a few times before finally entering the ring.

10:05 p.m.: Time for the main event. This should be an interesting dynamic between two heels following Bryan's recent turn. 

10:00 p.m.: Rousey is slowing limping to the back and she has some battle scars including chop marks on her chest, a cut on her leg, a big bruise on her right arm, and a cut in her mouth. That was one hellacious beating.

9:57 p.m.: That was a huge beatdown and feels like the start of a major storyline between the two. Even though Rousey and Flair are on separate brands, don't be surprised if they meet again at WWE TLC. This has been a fantastic show.

Ronda Rousey beats Charlotte Flair by disqualification

9:50 p.m. FINISH: Flair is selling her arm and barely gets back in the ring before the ten count. She slides back outside and Rousey comes after he but get hits with a Kendo stick for the DQ finish. Flair snaps and hits Rousey with the stick over and over again. She grabs a steel chair and goes back in the ring but the referee takes the chair.

Flair looks like a crazed woman as is about to leave but gets back in the ring and connects with Natural Selection on the chair. She picks up the chair but a bunch of refs comes to break it up. She pushes them all away and puts the chair over Rousey head and STOMPS ON IT!

People come to help Rousey and other officials convince Flair to leave. Quite the finish and brual beating. 

9:48 p.m.: Nice sequence as Rousey hits three Judo throws but Flair fire back with a series of hard chops. This is physical.

9:46 p.m.: Flair goes for a moonsault off the top rope but Rousey gets her feet up. She starts screaming to the crowd but Flair connects with a spear that Rousey barely kicks out of.

9:43 p.m.: Rousey is bleeding from the mouth but gets back in this with an arm breaker over the ropes. She goes to the top rope but Flair kicks her off. A minute later, she connects with a rolling armbar off the ropes but Flair reverses it into a Boston Crab. 

9:40 p.m.: It's been mostly Flair so far as she tosses Rousey face-first into the bottom turnbuckle and then hits a big suplex.

9:38 p.m.: Charlotte is not intimidated by the former UFC women's champion.

9:36 p.m.: Game face.

9:30 p.m.: This was originally supposed to be Becky Lynch taking on Ronda Rousey but the match was changed after Lynch suffered a concussion this past Monday night at the hands of "Facebreaker" Nia Jax. The irony is that following WrestleMania this past April, there was talk of Rousey vs. Flair at next year's Mania. Instead, that match is happening here and it's looking like Lynch and Rousey will square off at WrestleMania 35 next April. We shall see.

9:28 p.m.: Seth Rollins just found out that in four weeks, he will put his Intercontinental Championship on the line against Dean Ambrose at WWE TLC.

Team Raw (Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, Braun Strowman, Finn Balor, and Bobby Lashley) defeats Team SmackDown (The Miz, Shane McMahon, Rey Mysterio, Jeff Hardy, and Samoa Joe) in a 5-on-5 Survivor Series elimination match

9:24 p.m. FINISH: That didn't take long as Strowman beat the hell out of McMahon and finished him off with a powerslam to give "RAW" yet another win. Another really fun match. Afterward, Corbin hits Strowman from behind and quickly escapes the ring. Shots fired!

9:22 p.m.: That didn't last long as Strowman eliminates The Miz and now it's down to Strowman, McIntrye, and Lashley against the BEST IN THE WORLD! Team "RAW" doesn't stand a chance.

9:20 p.m.: Shane is hurting but The Miz believes in him and wants another Coast to Coast. Shane tries but is met mid-air with a clothesline by Braun Strowman. A minute later, Strowman with a big powerslam on Hardy who is out of the match. Then a powerslam on Mysterio and he's eliminated. All that is left on "SmackDown" are The Miz and Shane McMahon against Drew McIntrye, Bobby Lashley, and Braun Strowman. Uh oh.

9:18 p.m.: Shane McMahon with the Coast to Coast on Ziggler and gets the pin. "SmackDown" has a 4-to-3 advantage.

9:15 p.m.: Jeff Hardy is in and goes for the Swanton but Ziggler gets his knees up. That looks painful.

9:12 p.m.: Balor goes for the Coup de Grace on Mysterio but misses and the luchador takes advantage and throws Balor into the ropes, 619 and Dropping a Dime for the win. McIntyre comes back in and steamrolls Mysterio before slapping Balor. 

9:09 p.m.: Back in the ring, McIntyre gets to the corner and is about to tag in Finn Balor but he refuses to do it so Balor tags himself in. They argue and Balor drops McIntrye with a kick to the head. Team "RAW" is imploding.

9:06 p.m.: Team Blue is ganging up on Strowman outside the ring including vintage daredevil Shane McMahon.

9:03 p.m.: Now it's Dolph vs. the BEST IN THE WORLD Shane McMahon. Shane-o-Mac didn't fare that well and was nearly pinned off a Zig Zag. Now, The Miz tags in and Drew tags himself in as he and Braun begin exchanging words again. Braun punches Drew and it's on like Donkey Kong! Everyone is brawling with Rey Mysterio taking advantage with a 619 on Strowman to a huge pop.

8:58 p.m.: Braun and Drew are arguing over who is starting the match. Braun screams until he gets his way and the bell rings and Drew tags himself in. More yelling by Braun and Samoa Joe sneaks up behind Drew and puts him in the Coquina Clutch. Drew somehow gets out of it and hits the Claymore Kick and scores the pin. Yep, Samoa Joe is already out.

8:52 p.m.: Men's elimination match coming up next. Remember, Braun Strowman has promised to not put his hands on "RAW" General Manager Baron Corbin until after this match or else he may not get his rematch against Brock Lesnar for the WWE UniversalChampionshipp. I have a feeling that's going to be tough for Strowman.

Buddy Murphy beats Mustafa Ali to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship

8:45 p.m. FINISH: Ali went for a dive off the middle turnbuckle but got caught with a knee and Murphy immediately followed that up with Murphy's Law for the win. Awesome match between these two as they made the most of their opportunity. 

8:42 p.m.: This match is officially crazy with Ali hitting a reverse hurricanrana. Now they're fighting at ringside and Ali lands a Spanish Fly off the announcer's table!

8:40 p.m.: Fast-paced action by Ali who hits a big dropkick then tries a rolling X-factor but Murphy picks him and chucks him over the top rope to the floor and then hits a massive dive.

8:37 p.m.: Big move this time by Murphy who shoves Ali off the turnbuckles into the ringside barricade.

8:34 p.m.: Flying hurricanrana by Ali and then a huge somersault dive off the top rope to the floor.

8:30 p.m.: Believe it or not, the cruiserweight championship match is on the main card. That's something different.

8:27 p.m.: Backstage, Shane McMahon is pumping on Team "SmackDown" and The Miz is his side kick/hype man when, again, R-Truth is there and says he wants a spot on on the blue brand. He's relieved when told that he's already a part of the blue brand. More high comedy.

"RAW" Tag Team Champions AOP (Akam and Rezar) beats "SmackDown" Tag Team Champions The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro)

8:24 p.m. FINISH: I promise - I'm not making this up but Cesaro chased Drake around ringside where he ran into Big Show. The giant held up Drake who then was standing on the apron where he wet himself. Both Sheamus and Cesaro couldn't believe it and AOP took advantage, attacking Sheamus from behing and then hitting him with a suplex into a powerbomb for the pin. That was, um, different.

8:21 p.m.: Some big boys in the ring hitting big shots in this one. Cesaro interferes behind the referee's back and Rezar gets his with a Brogue Kick but Drake Maverick puts his foot on the rope before the three count. 

8:20 p.m.: Yep, Enzo was ringside being a goof and got ejected.

8:17 p.m.: Meanwhile in the ring...

8:15 p.m.: Side note: former WWE superstar Enzo Amore spotted an ringside.

And just like that, he's gone.

8:13 p.m.: Yep, "RAW" is up 2-0 (sans kickoff show) and now it's time for a clash between tag champions.

8:09 p.m.: Back in the locker room, Braun Strowman is giving a talking to the rest of Team "RAW" and Drew McIntrye isn't impressed and gets in his face. Things calm down with R-Truth shows up and raises his voice only to find out that he's actually a "SmackDown" guy. High comedy.

Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins (RAW) beats United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura (SmackDown)

8:05 p.m. FINISH: Rollins misses with a frog splash and Nakamura follows up with a Kinshasa to the back of the head but someone Rollins survives. A minute later, Rollins with a big superkick and goes for the Stomp but Nakamura gets out of the way and hit a kick to the head. He goes for the Kinshasa but Rollins moves and hits the Stomp for the win. Wild finish to cap off a really good, fun match between these two. Hopefully, there plenty more matches between them in the future.

8:00 p.m.: Rollins runs up the ropes to superplex and rolls through into a Falcon Arrow but Nakamura kick outs just in time.

7:57 p.m.: Rollins and Nakamura are exchange big shots. Nakamura with a roundhouse kick to the jaw followed later by Rollins with a vicious looking superkick. 

7:53 p.m.: Rollins is a little excited and hits three straight dives.

7:48 p.m.: Rollins connects with a leg drop on the apron and then looks to hit a dive but instead it's Nakamura hitting a big kick to the face. Ouch.

7:45 p.m.: Good back and forth going on including Rollins mocking Nakamura with his "come on" gesture.

7:41 p.m.: For whatever reason, the announcer's say it's 1-0 for Team "RAW" so far tonight. Um, what about the tag team elimination match? Did that not count since it was on the kickoff show? 

And here's something different — Nakamura sporting blue.

7:39 p.m.: Burn it down!

Women's Team "RAW" (Mickie James, Nia Jax, Tamina, Bayley, and Sasha Banks) defeats Women's Team "SmackDown" (Carmella, Naomi, Sonya Deville, Asuka, and Mandy Rose) in a traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series elimination match

7:34 p.m. FINISH: That didn't take long as Nia hit a series of leg drops followed by a Samoan drop for the win. Nia gets hit with massive boos from the crowd again and she soaks it up. Apparently, WWE is playing off Nia "breaking Becky's face" and pushing her as a massive heel.

7:33 p.m.: Sasha was about to come off the top rope but her own teammate pushes her off and Asuka makes her tap out to the Asuka Lock. We're down to Nia vs. Asuka.

7:32 p.m.: Some great action between Asuka and Sasha including this massive German suplex.

7:29 p.m.: A doube elimantion with both Bayley and Sonya being counted out so we;re down to Sasha and Nia vs. Asuka.

7:27 p.m.: Nia Jax breaks up a tag and gets hit with a chorus of boos by the crowd. She misses a shoulder in the corner and falls out of the ring and Asuka gives her a kick for good measure.

7:24 p.m.: The eliminations are coming fast now as Sasha gets Mandy in the Banks Statement and she taps out. So much for Mandy's big night. "RAW" holds a 3-on-2 advantage.

7:22 p.m.: Bayley to Bayley and Carmella is out of this match and it's down to three on each side.

7:20 p.m.: Sonya Deville drills Mickie James with a knee but just before then, Mandy Rose made the blind tag. So when Sonya goes for the pin, Mandy pushes her over and scores the 1-2-3. Of course, she's very proud of herself.

7:15 p.m.: Apparently, Nia Jax is now being called the "facebreaker." Sure.

7:13 p.m.: Well, that was quick as Tamina hits a superkick on Naomi and she's pinned. But then Carmella rolled her up and it's not 4-on-4.

7:11 p.m.: Someone is playing up her big punch on Becky Lynch.

7:05 p.m.: And we'll start it off with the women's traditional elimination match. Earlier today, Mandy Rose was named as the last member of Team "SmackDown" and Lana was not thrilled.

7:00 p.m.: All of the talking is finally over and it's time for the main card of WWE Survivor Series. Check out my predictions below (yeah, I'm 1-0 so far) and follow along all night long.

6:53 p.m.: Looks like we're getting an NXT call-up — Lars Sullivan.

6:46 p.m.: Alexa Bliss is shaking things up on the women's "RAW" team. After kicking off both Ruby Riott and Natalya, she has decided to replace them with Bayley and Sasha Banks. They aren't too thrilled about originally not being a part of the team but after "SmackDown" invaded "RAW" earlier in the week, they decided to be in the match. IT'S ALL ABOUT BRAND SUPREMECY!

Team "SmackDown" (The Usos, The New Day, Sanity, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, and The Colóns) defeats Team "RAW" (Bobby Roode and Chad Gable, The Revival, The B-Team, Lucha House Party, and The Ascension vs. in a traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series tag team elimination match

6:44 p.m. FINISH: Good double team work by The Revival with a superplex and a splash off the top rope. But then The Usos have a superkick party and a big splash off the top rope for the win. Chalk one up for the blue team.

6:41 p.m.: Just like that, both Gable and Roode along with The New Day are pinned so we're down to The Revival against The Usos.

6:38 p.m.: Down to The Revival and Gable and Roode for Team "RAW" with The Usos and The New Day left for Team "SmackDown". And it's getting crazy.

6:35 p.m.: Roode and Gable getting the big man up for a German suplex.

6:28 p.m.: The answer comes quick as Xavier Woods hoists up Big E to splash The Ascension into elimination. Lucha House Party -- who are competing under the Freebird rule -- go right to work on Karl Anderson as Gran Metallik picks up the elimination. But The Usos waste little time spiking Lince Dorado with a strange looking finish to put an end to the house party. The New Day and Usos are left for Team Smackdown while The Revival and Gable & Roode are left for Team Raw. 

6:24 p.m.: The B-Team are sent packing by Gallows and Anderson. Roode and Gable take out Sanity next. Team "RAW" has the advantage, but for how long? 

6:22 p.m.: The Revival pick up the first elimination by taking out The Colons with the Shatter Machine. Is anybody surprised that Primo and Epico were the first to be eliminated?

6:05 p.m.: We're underway with our first match of the night as we go traditional Survivor Series with Team "RAW" (Bobby Roode and Chad Gable, The Revival, The B-Team, Lucha House Party, and The Ascension taking on Team "SmackDown" (The Usos, The New Day, Sanity, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, and The Colóns) in a traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series tag team elimination match. The New Day are first out to introduce their squad and the fans are supporting Team "Smackdown." 

5:40 p.m.: Welcome to Sporting News’ live coverage of WWE Survivor Series. The kickoff show is underway and the main show starts at 7 p.m. We’ll be here all night so follow along.

 

WWE Survivor Series 2018 lineup

— Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair

— WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar (RAW) vs. WWE Champion Daniel Bryan (SmackDown)

— Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins (RAW) vs. United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura (SmackDown)

— "RAW" Tag Team Champions AOP (Akam and Rezar) vs. "SmackDown" Tag Team Champions The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro)

— Team Raw (Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, Braun Strowman, Finn Balor, and Bobby Lashley) vs. Team SmackDown (The Miz, Shane McMahon, Rey Mysterio, Jeff Hardy, and Samoa Joe) in a 5-on-5 Survivor Series elimination match

— Women's Team "RAW" (Mickie James, Nia Jax, Tamina, Natalya, and Ruby Riott) vs. Women's Team "SmackDown" (Carmella, Naomi, Sonya Deville, Asuka, and TBA) in a traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series elimination match

— Team "RAW" (Bobby Roode and Chad Gable, The Revival, The B-Team, Lucha House Party, and The Ascension vs. Team "SmackDown" (The Usos, The New Day, Sanity, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, and The Colóns) in a traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series tag team elimination match

— Buddy Murphy vs. Mustafa Ali for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship

 

WWE Survivor Series 2018 predictions

— Ronda Rousey defeats Charlotte Flair with “The Man” Becky Lynch getting in her face afterward.

— Daniel Bryan scores a DQ win against Brock Lesnar when Braun Strowman interferes.

— Shinsuke Nakamura gets the win over Seth Rollins after Dean Ambrose gets involved.

— AOP gets a win for “RAW” with a victory against The Bar.

— Team “RAW” defeats Team “SmackDown” in the traditional men’s elimination match with Braun Strowman and Drew McIntyre as the survivors for their team.

— Women’s Team “RAW” scores the win against the blue brand with Nia Jax and Tamina surviving.

— The blue brand gets a win in the tag-team elimination match.

— Buddy Murphy successfully defends the WWE Cruiserweight Championship against Mustafa Ali.

Brian Fritz

Brian Fritz Photo

Brian Fritz is a contributor with The Sporting News covering the NBA and NFL who previously worked at BasketballNews. He is a 20-year veteran of sports talk radio in Orlando, Florida, after graduating from the University of Central Florida. He now resides in Durham, North Carolina.