Tag: bianca belair

WWE SmackDown results 01/05/24: Roman Reigns earns himself a Fatal 4-Way

The Bloodline got some licks in but paid for it by the very end of WWE SmackDown in Vancouver.

We know that Roman Reigns is going to defend his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Royal Rumble later this month. What we don’t know yet is who will be the challenger when that match takes place, but that’s something that tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown New Year’s Revolution in Vancouver is supposed to answer.

The candidates are all popular names. AJ Styles recently returned on a mission after The Bloodline put him (in storyline) out of action. Randy Orton was away much longer and has beef with Reigns’ group as well. And LA Knight has been fighting the good fight for some time, coming close to unseating the Head of the Table a few months ago.

All three of them will do battle in a Triple Threat match to determine who will stand across the ring from Reigns at Royal Rumble. Could there be hijinks? Well, considering that Reigns and The Bloodline are also slated for tonight’s show, there’s a decent chance, yes.

Guess who else needs a No. contender? Logan Paul, that’s who. He’ll also be in the house in Vancouver, and assuming he has swapped back with Patrick Mahomes, he’ll be defending his United States Championship against either Kevin Owens or Santos Escobar. We’ll see which one of them emerges with a chance to win some gold in Florida later this month, and Paul will almost certainly not pass up the chance to egg on whoever is the victor.

There’s other intriguing stuff on tap as well, including IYO SKY defending her title and the chance for some returns/debuts as well. Let’s get into it.

WWE SmackDown New Year’s Revolution results from Vancouver:

(please scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • The broadcast begins with highlights of The Rock appearing on this week’s Raw Day 1 episode, followed by Roman Reigns getting out of his ride and laughing, followed by Paul Heyman
  • Kevin Owens def. Santos Escobar by pinfall in the United States Championship Tournament Final, them smashes a mouthy Logan Paul with a right hand
  • A hype video shows why Randy Orton is in the position he is in going into tonight’s Triple Threat match
  • Paul is carrying an ice bag on his forehead when he’s stopped backstage, and while a concerned Austin Theory and Grayson Waller check on him, Cameron Grimes can only laugh at his fate
  • Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits are set to make 2024 their year, but they’ve got a new problem: Karrion Kross is back and has the Authors of Pain with him
  • Now it’s time for AJ styles to get his hype video
  • IYO SKY def. Michin by pinfall to retain the WWE Women’s Championship
  • Heyman says The Rock namedropped Roman Reigns because he wants to sit at the Head of the Table … but he hasn’t been nor will he be invited to a Dinner of Relevancy; Heyman also says he upgraded from the time he was CM Punk’s friend before he promises whoever wins tonight will be smashed by Reigns
  • Bayley and the rest of Damage CTRL celebrate SKY’s victory and says Kabuki Warriors will win the tag team titles, but Bianca Belair stops by to congratulate SKY and announce that she’s entering the Royal Rumble and can’t wait to KOD Bayley over the top rope
  • Butch and Tyler Bate def. Pretty Deadly by pinfall
  • Yes, LA Knight gets a hype video for tonight too
  • Ashante Thee Adonis tells Nick Aldis he is starving for an opportunity, and the GM says he has some ideas he thinks will be very interesting to him
  • AJ Styles vs. LA Knight vs. Randy Orton

Kevin Owens wins a shot at the U.S. title, gets in a shot on Logan Paul

Lest you think Logan Paul wasn’t going to watch this closely, he comes down to join the announcers. Escobar also sees his new running buddies Humberto and Angel attacked by Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde, so he has no help when KO nearly pins him just seconds after the opening bell.

Owens is still in command after commercials, but Escobar turns things around by concentrating on KO’s damaged right hand. Paul, as usual, is unimpressed with both combatants.

There’s a tope suicida by Escobar to knock Owens back into the barricade. The obviously pro-Owens crowd starts a “Logan sucks” chant.

The battle goes to the top rope, where Escobar leaps right into an inverted atomic drop of sorts, followed by a DDT. Now it’s Owens trying to fly, but Escobar joins him up top. KO reverses a superplex attempt and slams his foe to the mat but holds his right hand as another ad break arrives.

Owens shows no fear of coming off the apron to smash Escobar on the floor, then tries a Swanton Bomb back into the ring only to catch nothing but knees. Escobar hits a Frankensteiner off the top rope and ascends again for a frog splash. It’s not enough to get the three.

Egged on by the crowd, Paul expressed some grudging respect for Owens’ wrestling ability, and he proves why with a rolling senton off the second rope. Escobar kicks out at two as the U.S. champ laughs.

A superkick by Owens leads to a Popup Powerbomb attempt, and while the first one is countered, his second try is not. There’s a Stunner with Escobar rushing out of the corner, and that’s sufficient to win it.

After the bell, Paul grabs the mic to mock the idea of a Canadian holding the United States Championship. Owens hits him with a right hand, however, laying him out with one shot.

Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits have a problem called Karrion Kross … and the Authors of Pain

Lashley calls 2023 the toughest year of his career from a professional standpoint but says his highlight was linking up with the Street Profits. They plan on taking “everything that we deserve” in 2024.

Montez Ford says they’re going to hop on the trend but fast forward the part where they think the grass is greener on the other side. Angelo Dawkins puts The Judgment Day on notice in terms of the tag team titles, while Lashley says his goal it to get back to being the All Mighty.

To that end, he declares himself an entrant in the 2024 Royal Rumble match. That announcement brings a new video to the big screen and brings out Karrion Kross, Scarlett … and Paul Ellering.

The Authors of Pain are back, and they absolutely destroy the Profits before Kross takes out Lashley.

IYO SKY pushed but triumphs over Michin

The announcers say Michin claims she’s been so focused on “helping the boys” that she hasn’t had much time to focus on herself. SKY is tackling this title defense alone, smiling as Michin is able to match her move for move early on.

A double stomp has the champ feeling some swagger, but Michin lures her into flying to the floor and then connects on a tope suicida. After commercials, Michin lands a wicked knee shot and a cannonball in the corner, but the champ kicks out at two.

Double knees in the corner have SKY looking rocked, but she’s able to kick out at two again. Michin cinches in a half crab, though SKY is close to the ropes and can force a break.

SKY wants to springboard in from the apron but is met by a right hand. But it’s IYO who is able to deliver a German suplex on the apron, bringing cheers from the fans.

The champ wants the Over the Moonsault but hits knees and is thrown backward by a dragon suplex that earns Michin another near fall. SKY squirts free from trouble and hits double knees to the face for her own near fall.

They both head toward the corner, where SKY is knocked down … but only for a second. Michin catches her, however, and executes a Styles Clash from the middle rope that would win it if SKY wasn’t able to grab the ropes.

Alas, the champ is able to bounce back quickly, as that’s why she’s the champ — and it doesn’t hurt that Michin splats on the floor trying for a dive to the outside. An Over the Moonsault wins it for SKY, but props to Michin for that battle.

AJ Styles, LA Knight and Randy Orton all win thanks to The Bloodline’s main event invasion

The announce team reminds us that all three men have their own issues with The Bloodline, and thus will all be equally motivated. Styles has the aerial advantage, Orton the experience edge, but Knight is probably the hottest of the trio right this second. The crowd certainly loves it when he’s bouncing the heads of his foes off the announce table, though Orton suplexes him onto it before doing the same to Styles.

Styles is eventually able to give the Viper a taste of his own medicine, briefly leaving everyone down. Orton is the first to emerge with a big move, hitting his hanging DDT on Styles. Knight drags Orton out of the ring and sends him into the steps, but Styles wipes him out with an aerial assault right after that, sending us to commercials.

Styles is still in command on the other side, burying his knee in Knight’s midsection. A belly to back suplex is next and leads to a near fall for AJ.

Orton is treated to a taste of the steps, and Styles returns to the ring only to find Knight counter his sunset flip attempt for a two count. Knight and Orton both get their shots in on Styles, who eventually is beaten down into the corner.

The same thing looks like it’ll happen to Orton, but he takes a Russian leg sweep instead. A hip attack smashes Styles, as well as a big back body drop. Orton has rallied for several clotheslines, though, and his snap powerslam has him feeling good, especially after he dishes out one to Styles too.

Suddenly, Knight hits Orton with Blunt Force Trauma, and Styles has to physically stop the ref from counting to three. Knight and Styles trade right hands, with AJ finally pulling out a Pele Kick to end the stalemate.

Styles casually hits a springboard 450 on Knight, but LA manages to kick out at two. Orton is repulsed by Styles as well, but he’s able to counter the Phenomenal Forearm with an RKO. That looks like the end … until Knight pulls the referee out of the ring.

And just like that, here comes The Bloodline: Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa. Reigns motions for Solo to hit the ring, and all three of them are beating the hell out of the actual competitors.

The steel steps are used as a weapon, and Uso clears off the announce table. Reigns hits a hellacious powerbomb on Styles, then a Superman punch on a now bloodied Knight, followed by a spear.

Orton is rolled into the ring next to receive a Samoan Spike/spear combo. Nick Aldis wants to talk to Paul Heyman, and he tells the Wise Man he can congratulate Reigns — because he earned himself a Fatal 4-Way at Royal Rumble.

WWE SmackDown results 12/22/23: Heroes can’t unite against The Bloodline

AJ Styles, LA Knight and Randy Orton found themselves at odds despite a common cause on WWE SmackDown.

We’ve arrived at the final WWE SmackDown of 2023, as next week is set to be a “Best of 2023” recap show. So even though this edition was taped last Friday, it’s still promising to be of some interest before we turn the page into 2024.

For starters, the semifinals of the United States Championship Tournament are both tonight. Kevin Owens probably thought when he started this thing that he’d get the chance to punch both Austin Theory and Grayson Waller in the face, something we already know he enjoys doing. But Carmelo Hayes upset those plans by defeating Waller, and now something has to give when he goes up against KO tonight.

The other side of the bracket sees Bobby Lashley collide with Santos Escobar, and of the two of them, Escobar probably has the better story going with this particular title. We’ll see if that plays into the thinking behind the outcome.

Also in store for us tonight are a Holiday Havoc eight-woman tag team match pitting a collection of faces led by Bianca Belair against Damage CTRL, and what we presume will be the main event between AJ Styles and Solo Sikoa. Styles, in particular, might also have some explaining to do after his dramatic and perplexing return last week.

So we might be going out with a bang. Let’s find out, shall we?

WWE SmackDown results:

(scroll down for full details on any match or segment in bold)

  • A lengthy replay of everything from last week involving Randy Orton, The Bloodline, LA Knight and the returning AJ Styles is shown to open the show (which of course happened right before this episode was taped, heh)
  • Will AJ Styles, LA Knight or Randy Orton get to face Roman Reigns first?
  • Bianca Belair, Michin, Shotzi and Zelina Vega def. Damage CTRL by pinfall in a Holiday Havoc match, with an unexpected assist when Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn attack the Kabuki Warriors during the match
  • Roman Reigns looks annoyed by Jimmy Uso’s continued football analogies and asks Paul Heyman to bring Aldis to him
  • Dragon Lee def. Butch by pinfall to retain the NXT North American Championship
  • Aldis arrives to speak with Reigns, who tells Heyman to leave before telling the GM that everything goes through him; Aldis says he’s an executive, not a “middle management” type like Adam Pearce, and he’s definitely not backing down from the matches he’s booked
  • Kevin Owens def. Carmelo Hayes by pinfall in a United States Championship Tournament semifinal
  • Michin is happy to see Styles back, but he doesn’t seem as pleased to see her or The O.C., answering Karl Anderson’s question about whether they’re good by saying, “I don’t know, are we?”
  • A spooky Karrion Kross and Scarlett video suggests WWE still isn’t giving up on them, and hints that he’s getting some reinforcements soon
  • Santos Escobar def. Bobby Lashley by pinfall in aUnited States Championship Tournament semifinal, getting some help from two masked men who then reveal themselves to be Humberto Carrillo and Angel Garza (the former Los Lotharios)
  • Butch is in no mood for Pretty Deadly’s carols, so Aldis tells him to find a tag team partner to battle the duo (presumably in two weeks)
  • Logan Paul cuts a short promo video mocking both Escobar and Owens
  • AJ Styles def. Solo Sikoa by DQ, as an attack by Roman Reigns leads to a huge brawl involving Jimmy Uso, Orton and Knight; the show ends with Styles, Knight and Orton brawling among each other as the Bloodline watches from the ramp

AJ Styles wants Roman Reigns, but so do LA Knight and Randy Orton … and they’ll all have a chance for a shot at the Tribal Chief

Still clad in black, Styles notes how Randy Orton and LA Knight want a piece of Roman Reigns. And while he doesn’t blame either of them, he also doesn’t give a damn about either one of them. He should be first in line, he reckons, to go up against Reigns at Royal Rumble.

Knight isn’t going to let that go without a word of his own, or most likely, more than one word. He says he doesn’t want to argue with Styles, because AJ can have Roman after he gets him first. But after last week, maybe AJ can get some first.

Styles says Knight “stepped over my dead body” to get a match with John Cena and then face Reigns at Crown Jewel. It looks like they may come to blows, but they pause as Orton also makes his way down the ramp.

The Viper appreciates the issues the other two men have, but Knight says both Orton and Styles have been taken out by The Bloodline while he never has. General manager Nick Aldis makes his way out to interject, admitting that each of the three men have a claim to face Reigns, so he’ll give them all a shot. In two weeks at SmackDown New Year’s Revolution, Styles, Knight and Orton will have a Triple Threat match, with the winner getting Roman at Royal Rumble.

Styles says it’s fine, because he’s willing to do whatever it takes. But if either of them gets close to the ring when he fights Solo Sikoa, he’ll take them out.

Bianca Belair, Michin, Shotzi and Zelina Vega get the better of Damage CTRL in Holiday Havoc

Both teams go right after each other as soon as the bell rings, and while it’s just one pinfall or submission to win, other than that, anything goes. IYO SKY and Bianca Belair have a chance to go one-on-one early on, but Bayley soon puts an end to that.

Shotzi looks happy to unwrap a steel chair from a big present, but neither she nor Bayley are able to use it on each other right away. Shotzi finally is able to launch herself off the chair onto Bayley’s back, and she dives between Michin’s legs to land on SKY and Bayley on the floor.

The Kabuki Warriors bring kendo sticks decorated like candy canes into play, but Belair and Shotzi find some of their own. They also have their eyes on a table, yet it’s Bayley and SKY who are able to utilize it as a weapon.

The broadcast breaks for commercials and returns to find people getting suplexed onto presents. Michin powerbombs Asuka but gets dropkicked by SKY, requiring a save by Belair.

That sets off a series of pinfall attempts and offense, with a pumpkin pie and Asuka’s mist all entering the fray. Bayley directs traffic for her side, helping Asuka and Kairi Sane stomp on Belair outside the ring.

To make things even crazier Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre emerge from two of the large present boxes by the end of the ramp, attacking the Kabuki Warriors. That leaves Bayley and SKY in trouble, and Michin nails a top rope legdrop on IYO that sends the champ through a table and keeps her down for three.

Carmelo Hayes brings his ‘A’ game, still falls a bit short against KO

The announcers ponder early on whether Carmelo will target KO’s injured hand. Some nice mat wrestling kicks things off, with Hayes more than willing to trade holds.

Both men evade each other’s offense until Hayes can connect on a dropkick. Owens rallies with strikes as he is wont to do. A big chop gets Melo’s attention, but Owens grabs his right hand after delivering it.

A springboard clothesline from Hayes swings the momentum quickly, but only until KO can drive him into the steel steps. Commercials are next.

Hayes is in control when we return, scoring a near fall with a nice axe kick. A tilt-a-whirl facebuster earns him another two count in short order.

KO responds by spiking Hayes with a DDT out of the corner, surprising the announcers when Carmelo kicks out. They trade superkicks before Owens lays in more strikes, but the popup powerbomb is countered by a Codebreaker. Hayes wants Nothing But Net but gets caught by a popup powerbomb, yet he’s (barely) able to kick out.

An undeterred Owens his a Swanton Bomb, then the Stunner to win it, sending himself to the tournament final.

Santos Escobar gets help to advance to tourney final past Bobby Lashley

Lashley looks like he wants to end this early if he can, taking it right to his opponent and hurling Escobar across the ring several times. He also catches Santos coming off the top rope and sends him directly out to the floor.

Escobar flies to the floor right after a commercial break, and the Street Profits are urging Lashley to get back into it. He’s at least able to kick out at two and pull himself back to his feet, but he takes double knees to the face in the corner.

Santos hits the double knees again, sending Bobby to his knees. A third knee strike allows Escobar to open up with punches and kicks, and he grins until the All Mighty frees himself from trouble and hits a flatliner.

Lashley stalks his prey but is distracted by security dealing with two masked men attacking the Profits. Escobar capitalizes on the chaos, rolling up Lashley with a handful of tights to get the three count.

The men unmask to reveal themselves as Humberto Carrillo and Angel Garza, showing that Santos has a new familia.

AJ Styles vs. Solo Sikoa devolves into six-man chaos

This should be fun, especially since Styles is going right at Sikoa as soon as the bell rings. Can he simply chop Solo down to size? Well, no, at least not this quickly since the first return shot from Sikoa sends him to the mat.

Styles finally puts a stop to Sikoa’s offense, driving his foe to the floor with an enzuigiri and following with a sliding knee. A springboard forearm is on target as well before commercials.

As is often the case, things have changed during the break, with Sikoa whipping Styles into the corner and hammering him as the fans boo. A big headbutt is next, leading to a cover that never looks close to winning it.

Styles hammers some chops but is Irish whipped into the turnbuckles even harder this time. Sikoa adds more misery with a hip attack, reveling in this slower pace.

AJ rallies to at least roll away from a top rope headbutt, then hits a sliding forearm and springboard moonsault for a near fall. Styles’ strikes are answers by a popup Samoan Drop, forcing him to kick out at two to continue.

Wriggling out of a fireman’s carry, Styles hits a Pele kick. The fans come to life as they see him hit another forearm, then dodge a Samoan Spike to roll Sikoa up for two.

Can AJ really hit the Styles Clash on Solo? Not now, though he does deliver the Phenomenal Forearm … only to see Sikoa roll out of the ring. Roman Reigns picks that opportunity to attack Styles, causing a DQ and lots of thumbs down from the fans.

Styles fights off Reigns but gets ambushed from behind by Sikoa. Randy Orton’s music hits to bring the Viper to the ring … then Jimmy Uso, and finally LA Knight. Working together, Knight and Orton are able to clear the Bloodline from the ring, though an angry Styles ends up starting a fight with both of them.

With the faces throwing hands at each other, Reigns holds his men back and just watches things continue to devolve as the show goes off the air.

WWE SmackDown preview 12/22/23: ‘Twas 3 nights before Christmas

Who’s ready for AJ Styles vs. Solo Sikoa and some Holiday Havoc tonight on WWE SmackDown?

Hello WWE fans. You know what? WWE SmackDown is not live tonight, as the wrestlers and employees of the company are getting a well deserved holiday break. But you know something else? WWE is going to act like the show isn’t pre-taped, so in the holiday spirit, we are too.

Here’s what to watch for tonight on FOX.

What’s going on with AJ Styles?

It’s fun that AJ Styles is back. He looks like he spent all his time off TV lifting weights.

But while he still seems to have no love for The Bloodline, that doesn’t mean he’s cool with the likes of LA Knight either. Is Styles a ‘tweener now? Or will we get more insight into his current state of mind before the year ends?

One thing we do know is that he’ll have to be on top of his game as he faces Solo Sikoa on SmackDown.

Who will advance in the United States Championship Tournament?

We’re getting closer to the end of the tournament to decide who will be the No. 1 contender for Logan Paul. Two more matches on tonight’s show may go a long way toward hinting at where WWE is taking this.

Kevin Owens has to deal with upstart Carmelo Hayes in one match, while Bobby Lashley battles Santos Escobar in the other. It feels like KO vs. Logan is the endgame of all of this, but there could still be some surprises on SmackDown to call that into question.

What kind of madness will Holiday Havoc bring?

OK, WWE has already given us one match this week with holiday-themed weapons, so maybe we shouldn’t get greedy. Nevertheless, with this name, there come a few expectations, and it’s always fun to see Damage CTRL in action, even if it’s against a fairly thrown together opposing team of Bianca Belair, Michin, Shotzi and Zelina Vega.

The final SmackDown before the holidays will head our way at 8 p.m. ET, and we’ll be recapping it as if it were live right here tonight on Wrestling Junkie.

WWE Royal Rumble 2024: What the card might look like for St. Petersburg

The 2024 WWE Royal Rumble is bound to have some title matches, and here are four we think we’ll see.

The space between Survivor Series and Royal Rumble on the WWE premium live event calendar is a welcome one, because with the holidays in-between those two shows, there’s less pressure for the company to race toward the next event. As a result, while the 2024 Royal Rumble in St. Petersburg is just seven weeks away, that’s actually a long time in WWE terms.

It should come as little surprise, then, that except for the two traditional Royal Rumble matches, nothing else has yet to be announced. WWE also has the luxury of not needing to do so to sell tickets given the hot streak it’s on with live attendances.

But you know what? That’s fine with us because it means a little more time for speculation and debate over which matches might end up on the card in St. Petersburg. It won’t be a lot, numerically speaking: the 2023 Rumble card had just five matches, and the 2022 edition six.

So with the help of the most recent Wrestling Observer newsletter (subscription required) as a guide, let’s take a look at what might end up on that show.

Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton – Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match

This is one of those “makes too much sense not to happen” deals. Roman Reigns will be back for the Rumble after sitting out Survivor Series, and he needs a new challenger to hold him over until WrestleMania. Randy Orton is hot on the heels of his return, and was supposed to face Reigns in the second half of 2022 before he got injured.

The pieces are already falling into place. Orton has signed with SmackDown and has his sights set on The Bloodline. Reigns will be back on the show on Dec. 15. A Royal Rumble meeting feels very likely.

IYO SKY vs. Bianca Belair – WWE Women’s Championship match

The last two Royal Rumble shows have seen one of the top women’s titles defended, and this feels like the more likely one this time out. Bianca Belair has made it known she wants to be champion again, and has spearheaded the efforts to fight against Damage CTRL even as the group has grown larger.

The question is whether IYO SKY will be the leader of the faction as well as champ by the time January rolls around. And if she decides to give Bayley the boot, will that make her seem vulnerable and ripe for a title change?

Logan Paul vs. Kevin Owens (maybe) – WWE United States Championship match

Though Logan Paul defeated a legend in Rey Mysterio to claim his first singles gold in WWE, he could use a defense over a real threat to solidify his status as a worthy champion. That’s why the No. 1 contenders tourney, while somewhat silly in most cases when you can often get a title shot just by asking or beating up the champ, makes sense for him.

There’s no guarantee that Kevin Owens will win it, but that does feel like the direction WWE is hinting. It would be a good program, as beating KO at Royal Rumble would feel like a big deal for Paul, and Owens is so over that a loss really doesn’t hurt him at all.

Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre – World Heavyweight Championship match

This matchup feels the least certain, and could definitely be the difference between five or six matches ending up on the card. Drew McIntyre is in the midst of some of his most interesting character work so far, unable to let go of the way The Bloodline hosed him out of a world title at Clash at the Castle (which was last year — huzzah for longform storytelling!) and blaming everyone but himself for the ripple effect it’s had on him.

Heck, Drew is even bitter he’s not on the Royal Rumble poster!

He’s already had one shot at Seth Rollins, but it’s also clear the Scottish Warrior isn’t done with him. Rollins could be headed toward a WrestleMania program with CM Punk, but a rematch with McIntyre at Royal Rumble would make sense with the way things are currently set up. If neither man announces for the Rumble match, this gets even more likely.

[lawrence-related id=42364]

WWE SmackDown live report 12/1/23: Randy Orton strikes

Wrestling Junkie was in the house for the Friday, Dec. 1 episode of WWE SmackDown, where Randy Orton was the center of attention.

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BROOKLYN, NY — WWE atmospheres exude a special feeling these days. The content is hot, the fans are eagerly consuming it and venues are consistently drawing near sellouts. Friday, Dec. 1 at the Barclays Center proved no different.

WWE filled most seats for the first episode of SmackDown since Survivor Series: WarGames, when, you know, that CM Punk guy returned. Everyone came to see the fallout and if WWE had another surprise planned, which they did not since the Straight Edge Superstar wasn’t advertised. Yet that sense of hope for something helped spark a crowd that stayed active through the night.

But have no fear, because WWE advertised Randy Orton, the other returning top star, mid-week for SmackDown. While it wasn’t made clear what he would do until the show went live Friday, this marked his third WWE TV appearance in a week after missing 18 months. It was an early Christmas present for his fans and a jolt entering Royal Rumble season.

Orton’s WWE future became the focus of the night, as a question of choice arose. Would he sign with Raw or SmackDown? In pro wrestling, the either-or angle is always effective in keeping fans on their feet. With WWE having a ton of time to spare due no premium live event, in December, it was a smart move to have something like this to keep fans engaged, especially among a group in Brooklyn who were prepared to cheer.

WWE always draws great in New York City, and they consistently elicit strong reactions, resulting in high-quality shows. This was no exception.

WWE SmackDown results from Brooklyn:

  • Bianca Belair cuts a promo about wanting “her” title back from IYO SKY. Without Bayley, Damage CTRL emerge and they dsay that Belair must defeat every member of the group in order to earn a title shot. As a result, a brawl erupts between Belair and the heels, with Charlotte Flair and Shotzi joining in to level the playing field.
  • Damage CTRL question Bayley backstage about not accompanying them in the first segment.
  • Bobby Lashley def. Butch via pinfall in a fun, hard-hitting match where the Brooklyn crowd went wild for everything the All Mighty did.
  • Nick Aldis tells Paul Heyman he wants to sign Randy Orton, who’s a free agent, as soon as tonight. The Wise Man questions this, and Aldis says he’ll offer the entire Bloodline to make it happen.
  • Promos play for New Day and the Undertaker’s Netflix choose-your-own-adventure show and WWE’s partnership with the Big 12.
  • Butch tells Kayla Braxton he does not know why Ridge Holland has been walking out of matches. Then, Pretty Deadly interrupts and mocks one half of the Brawling Brutes, which causes a fight between the three men.
  • Santos Escobar says he wants to finish what Rey Mysterio started since Rey chose Carlito over him.
  • Santos Escobar def. Joaquin Wilde via pinfall with a Phantom Driver. Dragon Lee makes the save for Wilde in the post-match brawl. With everything he does, Lee is gaining more popularity as makes his way toward stardom.
  • Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce argue backstage about whether to sign Randy Orton for their respective brand.
  • Amazingly, Logan Paul came out for just his first WWE TV appearance since winning the United States Championship at Crown Jewel. As he bragged about defeating Rey Mysterio, he received one of the largest reactions of the night. He then announced that the No. 1 contender’s tournament to determine his next challenger will begin next week …
  • … and out came one of the competitors, Kevin Owens, to tell Paul WWE isn’t like his world. Not sure how much shelf life this angle possesses since Paul has been with WWE for over a year, but the crowd responds well to the “us vs. them” story.
  • Grayson Waller and Austin Theory interrupted Owens, who punched Theory in the face as he ran his mouth.
  • Kevin Owens def. Grayson Waller in a long, uneventful match that consumed a chunk of the second hour.
  • WWE touted the social media reactions to CM Punk’s return, but then announced Punk will return to SmackDown on Friday, Dec. 9 for Tribute to the Troops to overwhelming boos. Fans had thought he might make a surprise appearance at the Barclays Center, but alas.
  • Bianca Belair def. Kairi Sane by pinfall. After the referee sent everyone else away, Bayley attempted to help her Damage CTRL teammate at ringside. However, despite her efforts, Sane still lost. That’s probably concerning for Bayley’s future with the group.
  • Randy Orton signed with SmackDown over Raw in a Royal Rumble season-building segment. Paul Heyman attempted to influence Orton against joining the blue brand by sending Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso after him, but the Viper put pen to paper anyway. LA Knight also made the save mid-brawl to even the odds.
  • Seth Rollins def. Shinsuke Nakamura by pinfall to retain the World Heavyweight Championship in a post-show dark match. It went maybe 10 minutes and had little to no reaction from the crowd.
  • Cody Rhodes def. Dominik Mysterio by pinfall in the final dark match of the night. Their entrances lasted longer than the match.

WWE SmackDown live notes:

  • As he did at Survivor Series and Raw, Randy Orton soaked in the atmosphere, seeming moved by it while he posed for the crowd. Having him back when his career once looked over is just wonderful. Let’s appreciate every moment, since we can’t be sure how much longer WWE will have the Apex Predator.
  • On a scale of 1-10, LA Knight’s pop was a 12.
  • WWE announcing CM Punk for next week garnered the biggest heel reaction of anything.
  • Most of the arena had cleared out after the show, but Cody Rhodes was still taking pictures with fans. He might become a great heel one day, but that won’t happen while he’s still beloved by the fans.

WWE SmackDown results 12/1/23: Friday Night Viper, plus a Logan Paul invitational

Also revealed on WWE SmackDown was a tourney to determine a challenger for Logan Paul.

Logan Paul accomplished his goal of becoming WWE United States Champion, but we’ll find out starting tonight on SmackDown in Brooklyn if perhaps the hard part of his pro wrestling journey really starts now.

So far, Paul has been the hunter, pursuing big fights like his Crown Jewel 2022 main event with Roman Reigns, and his ultimately successful title pursuit of Rey Mysterio. It’s just that now he has the gold and other wrestlers are going to want to take it from him.

The question now is who will be first. WWE has hinted that we’ll get that answer tonight, and one would expect that may lead to a title clash at Royal Rumble if not before.

Another big emphasis tonight will be an appearance by Randy Orton. The Viper seems to be enjoying his WWE return so far, as he was on the winning side in WarGames and emerged with a victory this week on Raw in his first singles match in more than 20 months.

But is Orton here for the duration or just for a visit? In storyline terms, he’s appearing because he was invited by SmackDown GM Nick Aldis. The suspicion is that in real life terms, he may be heading to Friday nights because he’s the next in line for a feud with Roman Reigns. The Tribal Chief won’t be at Barclays Center tonight, but it’s possible we’ll get a hint toward a program between the two of them anyway.

Plus we’ll see Kevin Owens take on Grayson Waller, and WWE has pushed the idea that we’ll learn what’s next for Damage CTRL after a losing effort at WarGames.

We’re set to recap everything that goes down from Barclays Center and even have two of our team members in the house tonight. Let’s get into it.

WWE SmackDown results from Brooklyn:

As Kevin Patrick notes, Bianca Belair has every reason to smile after she captained her team to WarGames victory. She gives a shoutout to all of her teammates before making it clear she still has business with IYO SKY since she wants “her” title back.

That brings out Damage CTRL, minus Bayley, with Dakota Kai speaking for SKY. The champ (apparently) says Brooklyn smells and that since she’s already beaten Belair twice, Bianca will have to go through all of Damage CTRL to get another shot.

She’s willing to fight them all solo, but Charlotte Flair and Shotzi soon arrive to declare they’re down for a fight as well, and pretty soon we’ve got a six-woman brawl that is quickly won by the fan favorites.

Damage CTRL wants to know why Bayley wasn’t out there, but it sort of doesn’t matter now as Kairi Sane has a match with Belair, and Kai says she would really appreciate Bayley’s help.

Butch battles Bobby Lashley alone, can’t beat the All Mighty

This match was apparently made on the SmackDown Lowdown last Saturday. Didn’t know stories actually advanced there. In any case, the focus of the announcers is on Ridge Holland walking out on Butch last week, making him a solo act for now. Lashley gets on the mic before the match and says that while he did advise Butch to make a name for himself, he didn’t mean against the All Mighty.

An unimpressed Butch simply goes right at Lashley, but that only works temporarily. The crowd is chanting for Bobby, which may not be what WWE intended. Bitch doesn’t care, taking flight from the apron to the floor a few times with success before commercials arrive.

It’s apparently all Lashley while we’re away, and while Butch is able to wriggle free of a vertical suplex, Bobby catches and simply slams him straight down with one hand.

As the Street Profits cheer him on, Lashley looks for a Spear and hits nothing but post. Butch peppers him with head kicks in the corner, then double stomps Lashley’s left arm from behind. Next comes some small joint manipulation and a stomp on the left hand, followed by a two count.

Lashley shakes it off to deliver a powerslam, but Butch kicks out at two. The Brawling Brute still has some fight left in him, but a Spear takes care of that, and the All Mighty has this one wrapped up.

Highlights are shown of the Men’s WarGames match from Survivor Series, though not including the return of CM Punk afterward.

Paul Heyman seems upset that Nick Aldis invited Randy Orton to SmackDown tonight, and is especially irritated that Aldis wants to sign Orton to an exclusive contract. He tells Heyman he can tell Roman Reigns it’s happening, and that he’ll offer up the entire Bloodline if needed to get the deal done.

Butch says he doesn’t know why Ridge Holland walked out on him, but while he’s not about to take any taunting about it from Pretty Deadly, he soon learns, painfully, that he can’t do much about it.

After a replay of the beginning of Santos Escobar’s heel turn, he says he’s going to put Joaquin Wilde on the shelf right now if he can’t see the “truth” about Rey Mysterio.

Santos Escobar takes down Joaquin Wilde but Dragon Lee is still hunting him

Not sure if the LWO is still alive, but Wilde is trying his best to keep it that way, not just by sporting a shirt but by controlling the early action and getting the first near fall.

Escobar fights back effectively, scoring several two counts and ripping Wilde’s LWO shirt off. Santos mocks the group to the hard cam but gets his legs taken out by a low dropkick. A big DDT follows, but Escobar is able to kick out at two.

After stunning his former teammate, Escobar scream that this is what happens when you cross him, and he finishes the match with a Phantom Driver. Santos wants to continue the beating after the bell, bringing Dragon Lee to the rescue.

Escobar fakes leaving and tries attacking from behind, but Dragon Lee is ready, battering Santos into the corner and nailing a low dropkick.

Adam Pearce is also in the house, and he tells Aldis he intends to join him in the ring to offer Orton a Raw contract.

Logan Paul explains who will challenge him next … if Kevin Owens doesn’t get to him first

To everyone who prayed for his downfall, Logan Paul wants to know where they are now. He says the more anyone hopes he fails, the harder he works and the more he wins.

Paul says wrestlers are jealous and want his U.S. title, which has been on his junk just like everyone has since he’s been there. His words, not ours.

Since Rey Mysterio can’t face him in a rematch due to injury, he and Aldis have come up with an eight-man tournament to determine his next challenger: Escobar, Lee, Karrion Kross, Lashley, Grayson Waller, Austin Theory, Kevin Owens and a mystery NXT wrestler.

Someone is going to answer him, and that someone is Owens. Clearly no fan, KO calls Paul’s time in WWE a nightmare and also takes a shot at Prime. Paul says he’s been in the ring with the greatest boxer ever and would only need five seconds to KO Kevin.

Owens says that’s another world and the WWE is his world, but he’s interrupted by the arrival of Waller and Theory. Waller says the three of them are “forward-thinking disruptor” types with a lot of common, and Theory runs his mouth until Owens smacks him down with a right hand. That leaves Owens and Paul exchanging words that we can’t hear to end the segment.

Kevin Owens just keeps fighting to defeat Grayson Waller

Paul sticks around on guest commentary, calling Owens the “Humpty Dumpty of WWE” and bragging about how he’s already beaten the best luchador of all time. He also plays dumb about the brass knuckles he used to beat Rey.

Oh right, the match. Owens is beating down Waller in one corner only to see Theory grab his buddy to avoid the Cannonball. That allows Waller to gain the upper hand on the outside, but that changes quickly when a clothesline puts him down on the floor and KO hits a frog splash from the apron.

Theory stomps on Owens’ hand as the referee is dealing with Waller, then tells his friend where to concentrate his offense. The announcers report that KO’s hand continued to be targeted all through the break, with Michael Cole putting the idea out there that it could be broken.

Even with one hand, Owens is able to give Waller an atomic drop and a DDT. The Cannonball pulverizes Waller in the corner, and a Swanton Bomb follows, though Grayson is able to kick out.

Waller gives a submission a try, but Owens makes the ropes. To all the heels’ dismay, he’s able to reverse a pinfall attempt and keep Waller’s shoulders down for three.

A replay of CM Punk’s Survivor Series return is shown, as well as a graphic showing he’ll be at SmackDown next week in Providence, which ticks off the Brooklyn crowd.

Kai thinks Bayley doesn’t seem like herself, and SKY tells the nominal leader of Damage CTRL to stay in the back for Kairi’s match.

Bayley tries to assist Kairi Sane, but it’s not enough against Bianca Belair

Everyone but Bayley from Damage CTRL is out to support Sane, while Flair and Shotzi are on hand to back up Belair if need be. Early on it doesn’t appear she’ll need it, as her power is too much for Sane.

Asuka gets involved by tripping Belair near the ropes, giving her teammate a chance to take control until Flair repays Kairi in kind. The difference is that the ref sees Charlotte and ejects her and Shotzi. The ref turns and sees Asuka in the ring, ejecting Damage CTRL as well.

After a commercial break, Belair treats Sane to several body slams before raining down right hands from the middle turnbuckle. A spinebuster sets up her somersault splash, but Kairi barely kicks out before the ref’s count hits three.

Another two count follows, but Sane finally responds with a spinning back fist. A sliding knee and a forearm off the top allow Kairi to cover for her own two.

Sane manages to send Belair to the floor, but she misses a move off the apron and gets dropped hard on the barricade. While the ref is occupied, Bayley comes out and gets a shot in on Bianca. She high fives Bayley before going up top, but Bianca catches her there and lifts her back into the middle of the ring for a KoD to end it.

Both SmackDown and Raw make their pitches to Randy Orton, but the Bloodline helps sway his choice

Nick Aldis is happy to welcome the Viper back to SmackDown, and the fans seem very enthusiastic that he’s there. Pearce and Aldis squabble right away before making their offers. Pearce says if he signs with Raw, he’ll get the winner of Seth Rollins and Jey Uso for the World Heavyweight Championship. In return, Aldis says he can have the guys that took him out if he signs with SmackDown.

That declaration brings out an animated Heyman, who says there will be no RKOs this evening and no decision made by Orton … because the Bloodline is going to make the decision for him.

On cue, here come Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso, and even though Orton gamely stands in as they hit the ring, he’s fighting an uphill battle until LA Knight’s music hits.

The Megastar helps even the odds in a hurry, as he pairs off with Sikoa and leaves Uso in the ring with Orton. Jimmy takes the elevated DDT and looks like he’s a sitting duck for an RKO … which he is.

Orton calls for both contracts from the GMs as Heyman yells “go to Raw, you’re safe on Raw.” Of course, Randy chucks the Raw contract out of the ring and signs for SmackDown.

Grabbing a mic, Orton tells Heyman he can call Roman Reigns and tell him “Daddy’s back.” A happy Aldis celebrates with his new signee, but Orton gives him an RKO. Heyman is shown calling Reigns, probably.

WWE Survivor Series 2023 results: Randy Orton is back … as is CM Punk

Randy Orton returned to spark a WarGames victory at WWE Survivor Series, and Chicago’s favorite son showed up as well.

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Survivor Series as we’ve long known it is dead. Long live Survivor Series: WarGames.

WWE’s November premium live event had long been synonymous with 5v5 elimination-style matches, and even though they had started to lose some of their luster over time, it is a little strange for longtime fans to see that they are completely gone.

In their place, WWE has gone all in on WarGames matches for both men and women, and for this year’s event, has skillfully woven in various plot threads involving the wrestlers united to take on two of the company’s most powerful heel factions.

On the men’s side, Jey Uso has proven himself to the fans and some of his teammates since his change of heart and arrival on Raw. But Drew McIntyre, who is fighting alongside The Judgment Day, certainly hasn’t forgiven him for his past misdeeds, and it’s possible the returning Randy Orton might not either — a potentially big problem since he and Uso are supposed to be on the same side.

Trust issues are a big narrative for the Women’s WarGames match as well, where it’s been made clear that Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair are having a tough time learning to set aside their issues for the greater good. The difference is even the heel team has a running subplot, as it’s hard to shake the feeling that Damage CTRL might mutiny against Bayley.

Only three other matches are on tonight’s card, but two are title bouts. Zoey Stark will take a big step up to try to defeat Rhea Ripley, while The Miz will attempt to prove he’s still a top of the card talent by battling Gunther.

We’ll be updating this post all night long with the latest, so let’s get into it.

WWE Survivor Series 2023 results from Chicago:

(click on any match with a link for full details)

  • Women’s WarGames match: Bianca Belair, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Shotzi def. Damage CTRL (Bayley, Asuka, Charlotte Flair and IYO SKY) by pinfall
  • Ruffles get some product placement with Alpha Academy, the women’s tag team champs and Pretty Deadly, who argue with Otis about chips vs. crisps; R-Truth calms everyone down and Akira Tozawa does his dance
  • Sami Zayn tells Jey Uso that Randy Orton is still not at the arena, and Jey says it’s his fault; Sami tries to reassure him that everything will be alright if they go to war together, Randy or no Randy
  • Gunther def. The Miz by submission to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship
  • The Judgment Day laughs about the buzz around Orton not being at the arena, and Damian Priest goes to tell Drew McIntyre the news and about “that thing”
  • Santos Escobar def. Dragon Lee by pinfall
  • The New Day pulls up in a Slim Jim car, because why not?
  • Rhea Ripley def. Zoey Stark by pinfall to retain the Women’s World Championship
  • Seth Rollins and Uso remain worried that Orton hasn’t arrived, but Cody Rhodes says he’ll be there
  • Men’s WarGames match: Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, Seth Rollins and Randy Orton def. The Judgment Day (Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor and JD McDonagh) and Drew McIntyre by pinfall
  • After the end of show credits are up on the screen, “Cult of Personality” hits, and yes it’s true, CM Punk has returned to WWE programming

The best WarGames matches of all time, ranked from worst to best

WarGames matches are about as memorable as they come. We rank every one from WWE and WCW history.

“Mad Max” is among the most memorable action franchises in film history, but it is the third installment of the franchise, “Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome,” that was particularly notable, as it starred the late great Tina Turner and featured a dome-like structure where two people entered and only one left after a fight to the death.

Although “Beyond Thunderdome” isn’t necessarily seen as the peak of the “Mad Max” franchise, its look at a gritty, post-apocalyptic dystopian future undoubtedly left an impression on its viewers. 

One of the viewers that were particularly inspired by what they saw was a man by the name of Virgil Runnels, better known to professional wrestling fans as the “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes.

There have been a number of pieces written over the years about the verbal prowess of Rhodes. But as much as he was a force in front of the camera, Rhodes was arguably even more influential behind the scenes. 

He was the primary booker for multiple territories during his career and while he could map out a week-to-week story, Rhodes’ true creative genius shined when it came to creating spectacles.

When Rhodes laid eyes on the Thunderdome, he saw his next project.

Rhodes added a few wrinkles to make the concept pro wrestling-friendly, but the violence and excitement remained. The result is one of the most anticipated matches in professional wrestling, one that has provided countless fond memories during its near 40 years of existence. 

But which WarGames match is the best of all time? Conversely, which one is the worst? I am here to answer that question once and for all. Well, in my opinion, at least. 

Before we dig into the rankings, some ground rules: First, this ranking will only feature WarGames matches from the National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling and NXT/WWE. Yes, I know, AEW has its own version of WarGames called Blood and Guts, but for the sake of this list, I’m only including matches that actually carries the match’s namesake.

Secondly, this list does not include WarGames matches that were not televised. Televised WarGames matches only!

Lastly, remember that this is merely my opinion, so don’t kill me too much if you disagree. Please feel free to disagree and give your thoughts. But again, these are just my thoughts after recently watching all of the matches that qualified for this list.

With that said, let the WarGames ranking begin!

WWE SmackDown results 11/24/23: Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch fail to put the past behind them

Also, find out who stepped up during WWE SmackDown to replace Carlito at Survivor Series.

With only five matches on the Survivor Series: WarGames card this weekend, there isn’t room for every title to be defended. That works out well for us tonight, as the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship is on the line at WWE SmackDown in Chicago (well, the greater Chicago area, anyway).

It seems wild to think about, but it’s been some time since the Street Profits wore tag team titles of any kind — more than two years, actually. They’ve had opportunities over that time and always been right around the periphery of the top of the division, but they never broke through.

Teaming with Bobby Lashley and making a bit of a heel turn was supposed to unlock the Profits. It’s not inconceivable to think that they might dethrone Damian Priest and Finn Balor tonight, especially if the overall drama surrounding The Judgment Day spills over somehow. A night before the WarGames match at Survivor Series, you can’t rule that out.

A victory for the Profits might tilt the tag team division back toward ongoing teams instead of high profile singles stars teaming up. But if they don’t seal the deal, what then? It’s fair to wonder if Lashley might be tired of the Profits and their partnership explode.

Could there be more wrinkles for Survivor Series during tonight’s show as well? You certainly can’t rule it out. That’s why we’ll be watching.

WWE SmackDown results from Chicago:

(please scroll down for full details on any match or segment in bold)

  • The broadcast begins with an extended replay of Becky Lynch joining the team opposing Damage CTRL in the Women’s WarGames match at Survivor Series
  • The all-star team of faces from the Women’s WarGames match is in the house, but Bayley sees an opportunity to sow distrust between Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair in what looks like it will be tonight’s main event
  • A replay is shown of the reveal of Randy Orton returning Saturday night for WarGames
  • The rest of Damage CTRL is backstage and looks pretty unexcited about Bayley booking them for a match, so they decide their leader should team with Asuka for the main event
  • The Judgment Day (Damian Priest and Finn Balor) def. Street Profits by pinfall to retain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship, getting an assist from Rhea Ripley to do so
  • Flair says she got approval for the tag team match, but her bickering with Lynch has their teammates looking concerned
  • A recorded Dragon Lee promo explains his journey through pro wrestling and the importance of family to his story
  • Kevin Owens is on The Grayson Waller Effect, as is Austin Theory impersonating Owens, and pretty soon, Waller and Theory have angered LA Knight enough that he’s involved as well
  • Kevin Owens and LA Knight def. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller by pinfall
  • Belair tells Lynch that Flair was right and tells The Man that she really needs to set aside her issues with Charlotte for the greater good, and Lynch tries to tell herself she can keep it cool
  • A video package takes us back through Santos Escobar’s attack on Rey Mysterio and his other former LWO teammates
  • Carlito is the last man standing in the LWO … but not for long thanks to Santos Escobar
  • Escobar attacks Carlito again backstage, but Dragon Lee arrives to save the day
  • Pretty Deadly def. Brawling Brutes by pinfall after Ridge Holland walks out on Butch during the match
  • Shotzi talks to Flair about helping her at her lowest point and suggests that a few words from Charlotte could change things between her and Becky, just like it did for Shotzi
  • Nick Aldis says Carlito is hurt badly and in no shape to compete tomorrow at Survivor Series, but when he goes to cancel the match, Dragon Lee makes an impassioned plea to take Carlito’s place, and Aldis says he’s in
  • The Judgment Day cuts a promo about WarGames, taunting Randy Orton and reminding him that teammate Jey Uso put him on the shelf
  • Lynch and Flair have a quick work backstage and agree that they’re good
  • Damage CTRL (Asuka and Bayley) def. Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair by pinfall, taking advantage of some misfires between Becky and Charlotte, and Bianca and Shotzi have to hustle to the ring to prevent further catastrophe

How to watch WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 — Live stream US, international

A quick holiday week reminder on how to watch WWE Survivor Series: WarGames this weekend.

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It’s nearly Thanksgiving, so it’s that time of the year again where WWE presents Survivor Series, the long-running premium live event that usually pits teams and brands against each other, although the latter isn’t happening this year.

Instead, two WarGames matches will headline Survivor Series, as it’ll take two babyface groups trying to take down heel stables that are running rampant across Raw and SmackDown.

Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair and Shotzi will compete against IYO SKY, Kairi Sane, Bayley, and Asuka in WarGames. Over the last few weeks, Damage CTRL has increased in membership to five, but Bayley has been noticeably marginalized within the group. If tensions arise during the match, it could potentially end her involvement with the stable she once formed.

The other WarGames match pits Jey Uso, Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn and probably Randy Orton against Damian Priest, Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh and Drew McIntyre.

On the go-home episode of Raw, Rhodes clearly hinted at the Viper, who has not wrestled in over 18 months, being their mystery partner. It’s hard to believe it could be anyone else, even with the internet buzzing about CM Punk’s theme music playing at the Allstate Arena. When Orton emerges from behind the curtain, it will undoubtedly be a special moment for one of WWE’s iconic figures.

Survivor Series features a small match card otherwise since WarGames will dominate the night. Gunther vs. The Miz, Rhea Ripley vs. Zoey Stark, and Carlito vs. Santos Escobar all have the chance to potentially shine with more time, though, to make the undercard intriguing and entertaining.

These matches will grace Survivor Series. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the action this weekend.

WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2023

  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023
  • Location: Allstate Arena, Chicago, Illinois
  • Start time: 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT
  • How to watch: On Peacock in the U.S., and on WWE Network in the rest of the world