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