The following contains SPOILERS for WWE Survivor Series: WAR GAMES 2023!
Going into Survivor Series Sunday at the All State Arena right here in Chicago, many many questions were on the minds of professional wrestling fans everywhere. Would Randy Orton show up to aid former Legacy partner Cody Rhodes in War Games? Would the Miz cement himself as the ultimate Intercontinental Champion by taking out Gunther? Can Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch co-exist in their War Games match. Well sit back and crack a beer or light a sweet sweat scented candle and dive right into WWE Survivor Series: WAR GAMES 2023!
WOMEN’S WAR GAMES MATCH – WWE Women’s Champion Iyo Sky, Auska, Kairi Sane and Bayley (with Dakota Kai) vs. Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair and Shotzi Blackheart
Starting off war games the women of the WWE put on a phenomenal contest. Becky Lynch and Bayley started off the match with great back and forth action befitting of the two horsewomen. As the rest of our combatants entered the match a variety of weapons came into play. Shotzi Blackheart added some hardcore flair to the match introducing weapons early. Every women got their time to shine in the match with WWE Women’s Champion Iyo Sky diving onto all participants not only from the top of the cage but inside a garbage can! Bayley is really one of the best wrestlers the women’s division of WWE has at the moment as she shined throughout this match. Unmistakably Damage Control’s MVP, Bayley was a true Iron Woman taking every single finisher of her opponents before taking a final Manhandle Slam from Becky Lynch before being pinned and handing our heroines a win in WAR GAMES. This match was a incredible. I think these ladies knocked it out of the park, and this particular WAR GAMES match will go down as one of the best. 5/5.
WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAPIONSHIP MATCH – Gunther (C) vs. The Miz
On paper the Miz is the biggest threat to Gunther’s reign. A viable candidate for greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time, the Miz gave Gunther a hell of a challenge for his Intercontinental Title. After the leader of Imperium beat down the Miz over the last few weeks, no one was shocked as Gunther eventually took full control after kicking out of Skull Crushing Finale and power bombing the Miz to Kingdom Come. After synching in a Boston Crab and transitioning to the Lion Tamer, Gunther picked up the win. The question remains, what’s next for Gunther as he seems absolutely UNBEATABLE after this match. 3/5.
SANTOS ESCOBAR VS. DRAGON LEE
As the sun sets on Rey Mysterio’s career who will be the next big Latino face of WWE? It seemed for many weeks to Santos Escobar. After reviving the LWO and putting on some of the best matches in the lucha style I was as shocked as anyone when Escobar turned his back on the LWO and struck out for himself. Defending Mysterio’s pride was Dragon Lee another up and coming lucha babyface who ahs recently put on some phenomenal matches in NXT and AEW. As great as this hard hitting lucha libre match was it left more questions than answers when Santos picked up the win. Escobar and Lee are undoubtably your future top babyface and heel Latino superstars but why have Dragon Lee lose this early in their careers? who another LWO member stepping up to Escobar make more sense to cement this monster turn and protect Dragon Lee for a future match when there’s more at stake? Guess we will have to wait. 2/5.
WWE WOMEN’S WOLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH – Rhea Ripley (C) vs. Zoey Starks
Rhea Ripley is the hottest thing in WWE at the moment. Her rise to the top of WWE’s women’s division has been accompanied by many great matches and this was no exception. Zoey Starks is a natural and a favorite of the call ups from NXT. Starks really showed she could hand with the Women’s World Champion and the future seems bright for someone this early in their career. However Starks was no match for Ripley who secured another successful title defense. As the Judgement Day shows crack on the surface I think Rhea will be the one to hold onto her gold the longest before finally someone steps up to vanquish Mami once and for all. 3/5.
MEN’S WAR GAMES MATCH – WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn and Randy Orton vs. Damien Priest, Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh, and Drew McIntrye (with Rhea Ripley)
The main event kicked off with our heroes not being able to get a hold of Randy Orton. Orton hadn’t been on WWE TV since May 2022 following back surgery and it was hard tot ell who was more anxious for his arrival, Team Rhodes of the thousands in attendance at the sold out All State Arena. In another mtach that let everyone shine, no one sems to be shining brighter than Jey Uso. I cannot wait to see Jey go after a singles title as he is ready for that accolade to be bestowed upon him. On the Judgement Day side of the match JD McDonagh got his ass handed to him throughout the match. I haven’t seen someone take a beating like that in recent memory. After a feverous exchange including weapons and after a fall from the cage resulting in another unique RKO in Orton’s history, Cody Rhodes secured the win with a Crossrhodes to Damien Priest. After the match the babyfaces reveled in their victory and the WWE Logo flashed in the corner signaling the end of the most tuned in and profitable Survivor Series in WWE history and the highest grossing WWE PLE at the All State Arena second only (but closely) to Wrestlemania 13. 4/5.
BUT THATS NOT ALL – CM PUNK RETURNS TO WWE
In a shocking scene CM Punk retuned to WWE in the final moments of Survivor Series. 3 months after being fired from the second largest professional wrestling promotion in North America and nearly decade since his last appearance CM Punk retuned to a thunderous reception from his hometown crowd in Chicago. While the rumors swirled about a potential WWE return over the past 90 days all eyes were on this event as the final minutes wound down. Punk’s arrival garnered quite a reaction from everyone involved especially WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. Whether or love him or hate him Punk buts asses in seats and his here in the WWE. I for one, cannot wait to see what is next!!
