Survivor Series is supposed to be a Big Four pay-per-view for WWE, but boy this doesn’t feel like one.

There are a number of factors at play. First, this is the third straight year we get “Monday Night Raw” versus “SmackDown Live” with absolutely nothing at stake — other than meaningless McMahon bragging rights.

Secondly, WWE is about to put on its third pay-per-view in less than a month after Evolution and Crown Jewel. WWE doesn’t always deliver completing storylines once a month. Three times in less than that is realistically hard to expect. It’s a shame one of its tent-pole event has to suffer because of it.

Lastly, losing Becky Lynch to injury is just bad luck and unfortunate. WWE recovered as best it could on SmackDown and we will see how it translates Sunday at Staples Center.

Here are five things to watch:

Daniel Bryan finally gets to face Brock Lesnar — something he had hoped to do before his retirement stint. This just wasn’t the way we expected it to happen.

Instead of being a humongous baby face against the Universal champion Lesnar, Bryan is a newly turned heel. His low blow to A.J. Styles (I thought that was Shinsuke Nakamura’s thing) allowed him to win the WWE championship Tuesday. It will be interesting to see the crowd reaction, the contrast in styles and if the match is allowed a clean winner.

Lynch’s injury takes the best original feud off the card, but having Bryan face off against Lesnar, at least in the short term, provides us with a fresh matchup.

Nia Jax’s right hand kept us from getting Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey and that’s a shame because of how bright both of their stars are right now — especially the Irish Lass Kickers. But we may get some interesting ripple effects.

Now we get Charlotte Flair facing Rousey, a match many believed could headline WrestleMania 35. Flair is still the best performer the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion has stepped in the ring with.

The most interesting thing that happened on SmackDown was the hug between Lynch and Flair. They are real-life best friends, but their characters just went through an emotional feud. Is this the thawing of their relationship? In this the start of the Four Horsewomen feud with Lynch and Flair fighting side-by-side again?

Bayley and Sasha Banks surprisingly aren’t on the card at Survivor Series, but Rousey’s friends Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir will be in town for NXT TakeOver.

The fate of the men’s Survivor Series match hangs on a number of complicated relationships. On the Raw side, you have Stephanie McMahon forming a loose alliance with Braun Strowman, who earns a Universal championship match against Lesnar if Raw wins.

Strowman is the most important and most volatile asset on a combustible team. He’s on the bad side of Ziggler and Drew McIntyre, wants to destroy Baron Corbin and has feuded with Finn Balor. The Irishman isn’t exactly peachy with Ziggler and McIntyre right now, either.

Team SmackDown lost some of its conflict when Bryan was taken off, but The Miz has a little heat with Rey Mysterio now and Randy Orton is lurking with RKOs. Shane McMahon is the best in the world, so Ziggler is likely still upset.

Seth Rollins is more concerned with Dean Ambrose than Shinsuke Nakamura as he said on Raw this week and that could come back to burn him. That doesn’t mean these two can’t put on a heck of match despite the lack of build. Let’s hope WWE gives them a chance. With the way Nakamura has been booked lately and his lack of storylines, this match will probably be used to advance the Rollins-Ambrose feud.

In another match that could steal the show, Buddy Murphy has become must-watch in big spots. He and Mustafa Ali had an incredible No Disqualification match in July. Expect these two to push the envelope again.

Less than a month after WWE’s all-women’s pay-per-view, the women’s Survivor Series match is a reminder of just how little story there is for the bottom of the division. Ruby Riott’s latest promo around the breaking of Natalya’s glasses from her dad, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, was a step in the right direction and the only real story carried into the match.

Basically what you have is a mostly heel Raw team vs. a baby face SmackDown squad. It may make it easier for the fans to pick a side, but there are little storylines between the participants. SmackDown still needs a fifth team member. Making it an NXT call-up would be a fun twist.

Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, Finn Balor & Bobby Lashley (Raw) over The Miz, Shane McMahon, Samoa Joe, Rey Mysterio & Jeff Hardy (SmackDown):

Strowman’s deal with Stephanie is the best angle in this match and she told him, “My word is my bond.” Strowman helps Raw win and then she goes back on their deal.

Ronda Rousey (Raw) over Charlotte Flair (SmackDown)

WWE needs to keep Rousey looking strong if it is serious about her facing Lynch at WrestleMania. Don’t rule out the chance Rousey’s Four Horsewomen friends interfere to influence the outcome.

Brock Lesnar (Raw, Universal champion) over Daniel Bryan (SmackDown, WWE champion)

These two will have a decent match, but it will end with an angry Styles interfering and costing Bryan the win. Shane McMahon won’t be happy next week, but it will show the level of Styles’ frustration over losing his title.

Shinsuke Nakamura (SmackDown US champion) over Seth Rollins (Raw, Intercontinental champion)

Ambrose distracts Rollins, Nakamura hits a low blow with the referee not looking. Sounds about right.

Carmella, Naomi, Asuka, Sonya Deville and TBA (SmackDown) over Natalya, Mickie James, Nia Jax, Tamina Snuka & Ruby Riott (Raw) (Women’s Survivor Series match)

Natalya and Riott can’t get along, costing Raw the match with the final SmackDown competitor playing a role in the finish. SmackDown may also need this win to keep the team score close.

Authors of Pain (Raw tag champions) over The Bar (SmackDown tag champions)

WWE is trying to build something with the Authors of Pain. A win here is big for them and loss does nothing to diminish The Bar.

The Usos, New Day, Good Brothers, Sanity & The Colons (SmackDown) over Bobby Roode & Chad Gable, The Ascension, Lucha House Party, B-Team & The Revival (Raw) (Tag team Survivor Series match)

The New Day and The Usos will combine to finish the job late, put SmackDown up early give the fans something to cheer.

Buddy Murphy (c) over Mustafa Ali (Cruiserweight championship)

Murphy is a rising star and this will be a further chance to establish him as they after what should be a fun match with talented Ali.