"Mean" Gene Okerlund makes his Survivor Series picks
Nov. 23, 2005

"Mean" Gene Okerlund has been a part of several Suvivor Series, including some of the huge pay-per-view's most memorable moments. Who will ever forget Okerlund dancing with the Gobbledy Gooker? WWE.com caught up with Okerlund to get his take on this year's Survivor Series matches:

Team RAW vs. Team SmackDown, 5-on-5 Classic Survivor Series Match
Okerlund's prediction: Team SmackDown
"I'll tell you who I like in this one, I like the team from SmackDown. Let me tell you why: No doubt, you take a look a RAW's top line with Big Show, Kane, Shawn Michaels, Carlito and Chris Masters, all in their own right individual stars, but on the other end you've got a couple of seasoned veterans. JBL has been around this game for a long time; even though he's rather young in the business, Rey Mysterio is a veteran of this kind of action. Of course, Randy Orton, Batista, Lashley rounding out that SmackDown crowd. I'm going to go with the gang from SmackDown. I'm sure they're going to win this Sunday."

John Cena vs. Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship
Okerlund's prediction: Kurt Angle
"Daivari as referee is certainly going to give the slight edge to Kurt Angle, but I'm picking Angle regardless. And I've loved this WWE Champion John Cena since the first time I saw him, but I'll tell you what: It seems like the champion has everything to lose and nothing to gain, whereas the challenger has everything to gain and nothing to lose. I'm picking Kurt Angle."

Ric Flair vs. Triple H in a Last Man Standing Match
Okerlund's prediction: Triple H
"Well, that sounds to me like barroom brawl — including the whisky. No, just kidding. Ric Flair is of course a longtime champion in both WCW and WWE, but of course, one of the big names over the past six or eight years has been "The Game," Triple H. In a Last Man Standing Match, well, Ric Flair, whom I talked to this morning, has been in Europe. He's been touring internationally; he's a little longer in the tooth, if you will, and for this Sunday night — I hate to go against my old friend, Ric Flair — but I'm going to pick Triple H."

Eric Bischoff vs. Theodore Long
Okerlund's prediction: Theodore Long
"Well, I think you've got a pretty good idea of my relationship in the past with Eric Bischoff. We weren't exactly very dear, close, personal, longtime friends. And, of course, I worked with Teddy Long way, way, way, way back in the old days of WCW. And Teddy Long has certainly had a lot more experience in the ring than Eric Bischoff. I'm sure that Teddy Long would be the crowd favorite in Detroit this Sunday night — and I'm going to go along with the crowd. I'm going to go along with Teddy Long."

Trish Stratus vs. Melina for the Women's Championship
Okerlund's prediction: Trish Stratus
"Well, if nothing else, the fans are going to be the winners in this one. Women's Champion Trish Stratus I think brings just too much experience in-ring and out against the challenger Melina. And unlike the match between Cena and Kurt Angle, I think the advantage here is going to be with the current champion. Trish Stratus has wrestled many, many times in front of capacity crowds at Joe Louis Arena, and I've talked to her in recent weeks. She knows what she has to do. She's going to have — excuse the expression — a 'leg up' on Melina at Survivor Series."