WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2024 There were ups and downs as audiences in Vancouver, Canada, were thrilled to watch their first major event live in years. The Women's WarGames match kicked things off, but the breaks in the match risked pulling spectators out of the game early on. Things got better with the individual games. There was a surprising title change, a blowout for the Intercontinental title and a methodical dismantling by Günther with an unwanted submission. The men's WarGames match rounded things out, with CM Punk and Roman Reigns making sure it was a night out.
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Here are your winners and losers for Survivor Series WarGames 2024:
Loser: Women's WarGames Match
Too many disjointed moments to call this a winner
There was good and bad in this game. By the time the actual WarGames portion of the bout began (all 10 women in the rings), it was a chaos of misses, weak throws and delays as the bout's participants tried to make up their minds and bring everything, including a toilet seat, into the Ring. It often seemed disorganized and as if the competitors were working at half speed and were unsure about every move.
Once everyone was in the ring, it started. Tiffany Stratton and Iyo Sky's double jump from the roof of the WarGames cage was a cool spot. Highlights included Raquel Rodriguez being handcuffed amid a cloud of fire extinguisher smoke and Rhea Ripley riptideing Liv Morgan through a table to win.
It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura wins the US Championship
The first big surprise of the evening
Shinsuke Nakamura's new appearance is great. Let's say that before we get to the actual game. His metamorphosis is magnificent. It would be a shame if WWE didn't implement this. Luckily for Nakamura fans, WWE paid off.
Nakamura won the US Championship on Saturday, defeating Knight in a pretty dominant win. He hit a reverse DDT onto the steel divider between the two rings and then hit Knight with a Kinshasa for the clean pin. The WWE announcing team said Knight didn't look like himself from the start and dropped the title when he first entered the ring.
There were a few close calls and difficult shots in this match, but it was still a solid fight. It will be fascinating to see where Knight goes from here. Interesting fact: This was Nakamura's first pin fall victory on WWE PPV since 2020.
Winner: Bron Breakker defends title in triple threat match
Big win for Breakker, unfortunate for Sheamus
Bron Breakker successfully defended his Intercontinental Championship in an exciting triple threat match against Sheamus and Ludwig Kaiser. This was by far the best match on the card up to that point. The game showcased physicality and all three participants were ready to put on a show. Everyone had a case for being declared the winner, but WWE chose Breakker, who arguably deserved a win that made it clear he's a viable champion.
Kaiser played the opportunist throughout the fight, preventing his opponent from winning, especially during a crucial pin attempt by Sheamus.
The last few minutes of the game were fantastic. These included near falls and entertaining sequences that earned chants of “This is great” from the audience. Ultimately, Breakker hit a spear on Sheamus and secured the victory.
Sheamus delivered another great performance, but one has to wonder what comes next. He has consistently lost when it comes to the title he never won.
Winner: Gunther vs. Damian Priest
Balor attacked an injured priest while Gunther held on
Since Damian Priest suffered an arm/shoulder injury early in the match, he was literally undermanned in his match with Gunther. The ring general targeted the arm throughout the fight, systematically attempting to remove it from the challenger's arsenal. It worked as Priest was unable to make several moves.
The finish came when Priest tried a top rope move, but it didn't work. He fell off the ropes and outside. The officer checked on him and Priest yelled, “Give me a minute!” As the officer did this and checked on Gunther, Finn Balor ran through the crowd and delivered a coup de gras to a prone Priest. Gunther kicked Balor and rolled Priest back into the ring. He hit a powerbomb, a few stiff elbow shots and then put Priest to sleep to get the win.
Balor watched, pleased with himself. Gunther didn't like the template, but he wasn't afraid to take advantage of it. It was a strong match in which the injury made all the difference and put the nail in Priest's coffin for Balor.
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Winner: Men's WarGames Match
Punk and Reigns make it
Tama Tonga and Jey Uso started the main event. Big Bronson Reed finished next thanks to the New Bloodline advantage. He searched the ring for something to bring with him and loaded the cages with chairs. Jey threw a few at Reed until the big man was able to bat them away. He ran over Uso and then he and Tama went to work. Jimmy Uso came in full of fire to help his brother. They worked well together and controlled most of their five minutes.
Tonga Loa wanted to come next, but Solo Sikoa stopped him and sent Jacob Fatu instead. Sikoa wanted to turn the tide and sent his enforcer to do so. Fatu rolled over everyone and performed more of his incredible moves. An innovative three-man team backdrop was a first. It was all New Bloodline when CM Punk was due to enter. Roman Reigns stopped him and sent in Sami Zayn. Punk wasn't happy that Reigns seemingly changed his plans on the fly.
Zayn did well when the OG bloodline turned things in their favor. WWE cameras show the cage with Reigns and Punk inside. They didn't say a word and obviously didn't agree. Tonga Loa came in next and brought a few tables. As the final timer came, Reigns came in but Punk shoved him out of the way with his shoulder, Punk charged in and Reigns wasn't happy.
Punk was met at the cage door by the new bloodline, so he went under the ring and grabbed a toolbox under the ring. He started hitting everyone with it. Punk pushed Fatu onto the toolbox he didn't sell and just stood up. To Sikoa's delight, he eliminated Punk. Sikoa was the last to join the New Bloodline. The New Bloodline crippled the OG Bloodline and Punk, then Sikoa padlocked the gate so Reigns couldn't enter the cages.
Reigns climbed the cage and entered the ring, setting the stage for a tense moment as he and Punk looked each other in the eye and appeared ready to clash. Before things could escalate, Paul Heyman stormed to the ring and urged the two to bring out the best in each other for the rest of the match.
As the competitors squared off, chaos erupted in the cage. Reed went to the top and prepared to deliver a devastating tsunami through a table to Reigns. However, Punk intervened at the last moment, bringing Reigns out of harm's way and preventing the risky maneuver.
In a surprising twist, Reigns, seemingly appreciative of Punk's actions, extended his hand in gratitude. But before the gesture could take hold, Reigns was surprised by a brutal attack from Fatu, reigniting the bitter battle. Sikoa hit Reigns with a Samoan Spike, but The Usos stopped the pin attempt. Fatu was hit with a double superkick and a 1D. They laid him on the table and Jimmy hit a splash off the top of the cage.
Solo Sikoa was surrounded and the OG bloodline took turns hitting him. Punk with a GST and Reigns hits a spear. Reigns got the pin and the OG Bloodline won the match. At the end of the match, Reigns extended his hand and Punk accepted. Heyman hugged Punk afterward and the cameras captured Punk saying that he would ask for his favor one day. Heyman replied, “It’s yours.”
“It’s yours.” – Paul Heyman to CM Punk after War Games
Heyman and Reigns shared the moment they ended the match and everyone left the arena hugging. Punk stood in the entrance area, came back out and stood next to her to pose.
“Loser: Survivor” series couldn’t offer many big surprises
Triple H's promise was empty
“Triple H” was an evening full of twists and turns that “Survivor Series” didn’t really offer. The only title change was Nakamura and Balor. The main event offered nothing other than leaving fans wondering what the favor was. As far as matches go, this year's Survivor Series was solid, but didn't live up to Triple H's promise.