Written by Tyler Yasembousky
I was very excited about this PLE, I love the concept of WarGames. I have loved it since I was a kid and it was a stipulation in WCW (for those that aren’t familiar, it’s not a WWE invented concept)
I was especially excited about the Women’s WarGames match because of the talent in it. Yet much like the entire PLE it just felt “meh” and played it safe.
This is my biggest issue with WWE events especially since the more to ESPN, every show feels like, “yup that was exactly predictable”
For example I went three out of four on my predictions.
For the record just because something is predictable doesn’t mean it’s the wrong decision. Sometimes you have to be predictable because that’s what the storylines need.
But EVERY PLE is easy to read, that’s an issue.
Let’s go over the matches and the show
Women’s WarGames Match: Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, AJ Lee Vs. Nia Jax, Lash Legend, Becky Lynch, Asuka, Kairi Sane
I was very hyped as I previously stated, but this match was completely average. It was clunky at times as well. It was predictable and was very color in the lines…
Including the same old Iyo trash can spot. I used to pop big for it, but it happens in EVERY WarGames match every year with Iyo. It’s getting a little old.
The one talent who looked the best in my opinion was Lash Legend. They made her look like a star.
In the end, the baby face team won when they all hit their finishers on Becky and she tapped out to AJ Lee.
Intercontinental Title Match: John Cena © vs. “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio
This was the most entertaining match of the night, the crowd popped massively for Cena, this being his final PLE ever. It was a homecoming for Dom who didn’t get as big of a reaction as I thought he would. I expected a big pop for Dom, basically a baby face reaction. But it was a mixed reaction and the crowd was FIRMLY behind Cena.
Let’s talk about the “injury spot”
I bought it for the first couple of seconds, it looked like a serious botch and dirty Dom did look like he took a bad landing on his shoulder. The thing that gave it away to me might not be as obvious to everyone else..
It was the facial reactions from Raquel and Roxanne, they weren’t acting concerned or worried about Dom. They came over and checked on him but you can tell they were both in “work mode” because obviously they both had their own spots with Cena ahead.
But with that said everyone played it beautifully.
Mysterio faked the injury to give time for the girls to attack Cena. Dom would hit his frog slash but it wouldn’t be enough.
We had more Judgement Day interference this time from JD and Balor who ended up eating a double Attitude Adjustment, most likely the final one of Cena’s career.
Then the big moment happened, Liv Morgan made her return, she slapped Dom which made some of the crowd and cena think she was done with him, but this was an OBVIOUS ruse. She would hug John with a smile but that would turn into a crazy look and a kick in the balls. She hit him with the title, Dom hit another frog splash and became the new intercontinental champion.
The biggest win of Dom’s career and a great moment.
WWE Women’s World Title Match: Stephanie Vaquer © vs. Nikki Bella
There’s not much to say about this match, it went exactly how you thought it would go.
I predicted that Nikki would be in control most of the match and Stephanie would have a baby face come back and win. That’s what happened.
Stephanie won and Nikki looked incredibly hot.
That’s how I would describe it, it was fine. Not a bad match, not a great match. It was average.
Men’s WarGames Match: “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Roman Reigns, “Main Event” Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso Vs. “The Beast Incarnate” Brock Lesnar, “Big” Bronson Reed, Bron Breakker, Drew McIntyre, “The Maverick” Logan Paul
Time for the most star-studded WarGames match ever and I think it was clearly the better WarGames match between the two of the night.
It still had its paint by numbers moments, but it had some “OMG” moments as well.
First off, thank goodness that Bron Breakker is okay after taking a NASTY FALL on a doomsday device from Cody Rhodes and CM Punk. He landed DIRECTLY on his neck. Thankfully having a thick neck seemed to save him from an injury.
There was a DUMB spot between Cody Rhodes and CM Punk that felt so unnecessary and forced, Cody had just taken down Breakker and Drew McIntyre, the only two people from the heels team that was in the match, yet Cody felt someone behind him and decided to throw an elbow hitting CM Punk. This spot was so stupid because you’re in a double cage dude, you know it’s just the four of you in the match. It was just another moment of the writers trying to force some drama between the baby face squad. The frustration was that spot could have worked later in the match when there was more people in it.
We also had a spot happen that made me legitimately want to turn the PLE off.
Jey Uso comes out for WARGAMES, one of the not dangerous matches of the year, and he’s dancing and YEETING on the top of the cage, while Jimmy Uso and CM Punk are also dancing.
When I tell you if I wasn’t covering the show, I would have shut it off. That’s how annoyed it made me.
Thankfully Brock Lesnar came out and whooped everyone’s ass — including Roman coming out and having a great face off with Brock. Brock then sent him through a table with a F5.
The only real “shocking moment” came when someone dressed in black climbed over the cage and hit CM Punk with a curb stomp. Clearly trying to make people believe it was Seth Rollins.
It was pretty obvious to me that it was Austin Theory under the mask, you can tell by his build and the way he moved.
Bron Breakker would take advantage and beat CM Punk.
The heels won which is the second time that the men’s heel team ever won WarGames on the main roster.
The heel women’s team has still never won on the main.
Overall the show was a C. It was average at best, mediocre at worst.
Oh and we had a Hint that Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes will be having a third match at WM…
Who asked for that? Especially when Roman and Punk one on one was right there.
Sigh, let’s hope HHH and Creative can pick it up a little bit, because these PLE’s are starting to feel copy and pasted every month
