War Games was the feature attraction, but it was a story within the cage that stole the show.
After years of traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series matches main eventing the annual November PPV, the introduction of War Games was a welcome break from an increasingly tired concept.
While the first War Games matches on a WWE event were far from perfect, they were an excellent way to help further some meaningful long term feuds, most notably of which came in the main event.
Below is a breakdown of each match on the card, along with a star rating.
Men’s War Games match
The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Solo Sikoa, Sami Zayn) def. Sheamus, Butch, Ridge Holland, Drew McIntyre & Sheamus
What a build and what a crescendo.
And it’s all thanks to Sami Zayn.
The first ever men’s War Games match on a WWE Premium Live Event hit a perfect crescendo with Zayn and Jey Uso teaming to pin Kevin Owens for the victory. It was brilliant.
This is now on a solid path toward a scenario where the storyline involving Zayn and The Bloodline culminates at WrestleMania. Whether Zayn will have a shot at Reigns and the WWE Universal Championship remains to be seen. But they should absolutely go that route because this match cemented the fact that this has been one of the best pieces of storytelling in WWE in years.
Roman Reigns and the rest of his family within The Bloodline made sure that if (and when) they finally turn on Zayn, it will be that much more heartbreaking. Zayn’s commitment to The Bloodline was punctuated when he hit Owens with a low blow. After a Helluva Kick and a splash from Jey, The Bloodline scored the win with Jey pinning Owens. Zayn was embraced by each member of the faction and everyone watching responded with a thunderous ovation.
Zayn also entered the match to a thunderous ovation. Throughout his time in the ring he was treated to wave after wave of crowd chants. And he did all this while living up to his billing of being a top-tier pro wrestler.
On a weekend of thanks in the U.S., this match had plenty of good stuffing within it, but the best part was the meat on the outside. Wrestling and turkey… together at last. Just like Zayn and The Bloodline.
Match Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Women’s War Games match
Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Mia Yim, & Becky Lynch def. Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky), Nikki Cross, & Rhea Ripley
Becky Lynch is back and it seems like that’s going lead us to the third match in what will be a trilogy of matches between Lynch and Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair.
There were several presences felt very strongly throughout the match, but with respect to the others involved, Lynch, Belair and Rhea Ripley were the featured players.
Ripley was positioned as an absolute force of an enforcer, entering the match last and dishing out chaos until getting removed from the equation by Asuka’s “poisonous” mist. I was of the mindset that Ripley should have scored the victory in the match, pinning Belair to make a statement before going after the title on the road to the Royal Rumble.
Having already provided one memorable War Games moment while in NXT (when she jumped off the top of the cage in a trash can), Iyo Sky came through once again by backflipping off the cage. There was an awkward moment where it took, seemingly, forever for a handcuff angle between Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross to develop. Bliss would eventually, accidentally, slam herself through a trash can on the mat.
But the biggest development out of this match, other than going down in history as the first War Games match to ever take place on a WWE PPV, is that we are likely getting a third singles bout between Belair and Lynch. The first two matches were outstanding, so I don’t blame WWE for wanting to showcase a third.
Match Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
AJ Styles def. Finn Balor
Two of the best on the planet, no doubt.
But this match felt like it would have mattered more if Balor and Styles weren’t fighting on behalf of their respective stables. The Judgement Day has never quite been able to get off the ground, while The OC feels like it’s peaked in terms of how popular they’ll ever be.
The crowd wasn’t as up for the match as the name on the marquee would suggest they should be. A Styles vs. Balor matchup would sell out any pro wrestling event on the planet, but it felt like the interest wasn’t there at this particular meeting.
Also, this loss should cement that Balor isn’t, and never has been, the leader of his little The Judgement Day stable and that it’s actually Rhea Ripley.
Match Rating: 3/5 Stars
SmackDown Women’s Championship
Ronda Rousey (C) def. Shotzi
The program between Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler needs to get here, sooner rather than later if possible. Kudos to Shotzi for working hard during her time as the No. 1 contender, but she was never a serious threat to Rousey. Baszler is.
When Rousey and Baszler, finally, enter into a rivalry I imagine there would be nothing off limits in terms of legitimate criticisms in promos. And the two could hopefully piece together a strong MMA-style match.
Match Rating: 2/5 Stars
U.S. Championship match
Austin Theory def. Seth Rollins (C) and Bobby Lashley
Austin Theory is your new United States champion.
It was mentioned on commentary, and in the weeks leading up to the match, that the U.S. title is now the most coveted prize on Raw, meaning Austin Theory is arguably in the top position on Raw. There’s nothing wrong with that, although I think Rollins is the top star on Raw. Meanwhile, Lashley will seemingly forever be over with fans, with or without a title.
Theory’s path to re-acquiring the U.S. Championship was a wild one, which included a multi-month losing skid. Theory is being presented as a reclamation project, or just someone fighting through adversity, but it doesn’t feel as though Theory’s grabbed enough of the interest of the WWE Universe.
Rollins hit a few pretty jaw-dropping moves through the course of the match, none bigger than the curb stomp off the back of Theory and on top of Lashley.
If there were still a second world championship in WWE, Rollins would undoubtedly be holding that title on Raw. For now, though, Rollins will steer in a different direction.
Match Rating: 3.5/5 Stars