Fun fact: while this isn't the first WWE PPV I saw, it's the first one I ever saw live, so that's neat. Anyway, on to the review.
What an event. I've always been a bit iffy on checking out recent PPVs since I've never heard many great things, but since Triple H has taken over and proven himself to do a damn good job at creative, I wanted to tune in on the next one I could: which was this one. And damn. Am I glad I did. The entire concept of the War Games match is brilliant, as the idea of a 5 vs. 5 match with 2 rings locked into a cannot-escape cage until someone submits or is pinned is one that I hope the WWE sticks with for good. Both of the matches, Bianca's team vs. Damage Ctrl and company, as well as the Brawling Brutes and company vs. The Bloodline, were incredible, and a couple of the most engaging matches I've seen in recent memory. Each in ring performer did an outstanding job at displaying heart, passion, pain, courage, and treachery, and they all made it seem all the more legit and heart pounding.
Of course, that last comment doesn't just go for the ones who competed in the war games, as the rest of the card was relatively awesome as well. The angle they went with by having 2 former best friends: AJ Styles and Finn Balor, was awesome, and the match itself was, as well, as the 2 men (and their respective managers/tag team mates at ringside) did a phenomenal job-see what I did there? Same can be said for the other 2 non-War Games matches, as the triple threat match between Austin Theory, Bobby Lashley, and Seth Rollins for the US championship was one of the most entertaining and back and forth affairs I've seen in a while. The match between Ronda Rousey and Shotzi for the Smackdown Women's championship was the only match that felt a bit lacking, but it was helped immensely thanks to the backstory given to it, as it was also a revenge story. I just wish it went on longer and ended differently. Though, again, the talent of each woman involved cannot be understated, as they were awesome and showed the grit necessary to make the viewer invested.
Mix all of that with the just awesome inclusion of Ozzy Osbourne not only announcing the show briefly, but also recreating himself singing along to "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath (which could not have been a more perfect theme, nice job guys. Seriously),and what you've got here is a damn good time from start to finish. My only issues with this event are the length and the circumstances. While the War Games were undoubtedly amazing and lasted long, I feel like the event could've benefited greatly with more non-War Games matches, as 3 seemed a bit low. I know the event was already more than 3 hours long, but I would've maybe thrown in 1 or 2 more, because with 5 matches total, it left me wanting a bit more. Also, the circumstances make this event one that may not age the best, because, as we all know, the storylines within the WWE change pretty fast. While that's not an issue in and of itself, of course, some big things that did happen here (which I won't say just in case anyone hasn't seen it yet) may or may not take away from these great matches in time. This isn't to take away from the incredible performances put on here from start to finish, but it's still something worth noting.
Aside from that, this was a damn good show, and if this is the new standard of WWE PPVs, you bet I will most definitely tune into the next one. If you haven't seen this, I highly recommend it. It's not only filled with memorable moments, but it's also filled with plenty of carnage, and the talent who made it all happen deserve all of the kudos in the world. I can only dream of doing the things they are able to do.
WWE Survivor Series WarGames
2022
Action / Sport
WWE Survivor Series WarGames
2022
Action / Sport
Plot summary
The Bloodline have run roughshod all over WWE for the past two years, but they have arguably their toughest challenge as they take on The Brawling Brutes, Drew McIntyre and Kevin Owens at Survivor Series WarGames.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
Let the War Games begin!
More Awful Triple H Booking
I never wanted War Games matches in NXT, but I could at least understand it because up and coming stars needed a gimmick match under their belt before getting to the main roster.
But it makes no sense for WWE. You have to wait a half hour until the actual match starts, and it just drags and drags. And then once it starts it is just a sloppy cage match.
Having Austin Theory win the US Title due to an "accident" is just more bad booking that makes all three guys in the bout look bad.
AJ Styles and Finn Balor was okay, but it was an odd place on the card. This is also not a battle for "best Bullet Club Leader" no matter how many times Michael Cole says it.
Well, that was very Ucey
A company that started off with perhaps the worst it has ever looked in years, Triple H turned the tides on its head, ending a very pivotal year for the company under hopes that it will only grow better from here, while I may enjoy AEW for the wrestlers' indie-rific in-ring match quality and the long-term storytelling of NJPW, Triple H has a goal to perfectly mesh the two in perhaps what has in the last few months probably been the Promotion of the Year by a long shot. Picturesque Premium-Live-Event, proving War-Games a stipulation to be the forefront of Survivor Series henceforth and even without, has enough to develop storylines elsewise. Fulfilled during its very compact runtime and a handful of matches that remained solid throughout.
- Team Bianca Belair def. Team Damage CTRL:
- AJ Styles def. Finn Balor:
- Ronda Rousey def. Shotzi:
- Austin Theory def. Seth Rollins and Bobby Lashley:
- Bloodline def. Brawling Brutes, Drew McIntyre and Kevin Owens:
⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (9.0/10)