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ATLANTA — Thunderbolts and lightning are very, very frightening, but all the pilfered powers and sinister incantations in the world couldn’t save Bray Wyatt from his own personal reapers, The Brothers of Destruction, in a Survivor Series confrontation that’s been brewing and brewing since WrestleMania 31. There, a solo Wyatt had called out the then-MIA Undertaker and expected to win in a walk, paying the price when The Phenom showed up and reclaimed his honor at The Show of Shows.
Photos: Wyatts battle The Brothers of Destruction | Rewatch Survivor Series on WWE Network
The New Face of Fear only waited to strike back once his Family had been both reunited and expanded, but was his mistake targeting Kane as well, replenishing the devil’s ranks to their full strength as well? Was it a strategic error for Wyatt, who had his pick of family members to pit against The Brothers, to pair himself alongside his most battle-tested lieutenant Luke Harper instead of newfound colossus Braun Strowman? Or did The Eater of Worlds simply bite off more than he can chew from the outset in his attempt to depose the devil?
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It was apparent, given the pomp and circumstance with which The Phenom was introduced, that The Wyatts were eager — perhaps too eager — to ruin The Deadman’s anniversary. Erick Rowan rushed the ring after The Phenom’s legendary entrance, was immediately met with a double-chokeslam from The Deadman and The Demon, and was not seen again. Harper stepped up in his partner’s place, and Wyatt, looking to finish his war himself, called Strowman off and stepped onto the apron to team with Harper.
Apart from a few moments in which The Eater of Worlds tried his hand against the storied Superstars, Wyatt largely left The New Face of Desolation to shoulder the battle against The Brothers. That, unfortunately, led to an Old School and apron legdrop to Luke Harper that The Phenom delivered with the agility of a Superstar celebrating his 25th day in the ring, not 25th year.
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Given the momentum of The Undertaker, It didn’t take long for Strowman to turn from spectator to participant. After Kane tagged in and found himself forced to the outside, The New Face of Destruction hurled The Devil’s Favorite Demon over the commentary table, instigating an ominous face-to-face with big brother that indicated payback would be served for the assault against Kane.With Kane weakened, Wyatt made like his buzzards and went to pick the bones, setting The Demon up for Sister Abigail. The Big Red Monster had some fire left burning in him; he Chokeslammed his way out of The Eater of Worlds’ signature maneuver, leading both spent Superstars to summon their partners for relief. Unfortunately for Wyatt, Harper didn’t fare better against The Phenom.
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The New Face of Desolation found himself put so hard on his heels that Wyatt had to come to the rescue. That landed both men’s throats in The Phenom’s hands, at which point Strowman interfered again, breaking up the double chokeslam in a moment of vindication that was short-lived. The Wyatts sent Undertaker tumbling over the ropes but he landed on his feet and immediately turned his attention to Strowman. After dispatching Wyatt & Harper, Kane joined his sibling for a double-chokeslam to The New Face of Destruction through the commentary table. Payback had been served.
The aftermath of that earth-shaking attack was as impressive a performance as any four of the Superstars involved had put together, and for a moment, it really was either team’s match . While the referee attempted to restore order, Wyatt pounced with a Sister Abigail to The Deadman and Harper, the legal man, went for the pin. Kane broke the count up, but found himself cut down by the former Intercontinental Champion’s discus clothesline as a result.
The end result was The Brothers of Destruction laid out side-by-side, immobile and spent, as The Wyatts circled their victims. Harper slithered towards The Devil’s Favorite Demon and The Eater of Worlds contorted himself into an ominous spider-walk toward The Phenom. In a ghastly echo of WrestleMania, both Brothers sat up in sync and dispatched the stunned Wyatts with a pair of simultaneous chokeslams. Only one thing remained, and as Harper reeled with one foot in his grave, The Phenom took hold of The New Face of Desolation and put him all the way in with a Tombstone.
One, two, three. The Deadman lives. The Brothers of Destruction roll on. What’s next for The Wyatt Family?