WWE Survivor Series WarGames 2022: Full Recap

The Bloodline reigns. Roman Reigns workforce gained a decisive victory at Survivor Series WarGames on Saturday thanks nearly completely to Sami Zayn, who was feeling very Ucey certainly. Zayn stopped longtime buddy Kevin Owens from pinning Reigns, then lowblowed Owens, resulting in The Bloodline’s victory. It was the second of two WarGames matches of the night time: The first, which opened the present, noticed a returning Becky Lynch win for Bianca Belair’s workforce. 

The match of the night time was the triple risk bout for the United States Championship, which noticed Austin Theory pin Seth Rollins to win the gold. Theory was the only real new champion of the night time, as Ronda Rousey efficiently defending her SmackDown Women’s Championship in opposition to Shotzi. 

Finn Balor versus AJ Styles was, as you’d count on, additionally a spotlight. AJ Styles gained an amazing conflict, pinning Balor after a Phenomenal Forearm. Hopefully it results in a rematch.

The Bloodline wins WarGames because of Sami Zayn

The focus going into WarGames’ important occasion is Sami Zayn’s loyalty to The Bloodline. On Friday’s SmackDown, Zayn’s longtime buddy Kevin Owens inspired Zayn to activate The Bloodline earlier than The Bloodline activates him. That posed the query: Was Sami Zayn a real Honorary Uce, or would he realign with previous buddy Owens?

The reply at Survivor Series: Sami Zayn is Bloodline by way of and thru. He hit Owens with a lowblow after which a Helluva Kick, securing the win for The Bloodline. 

The Zayn story picked up early within the WarGames match. Butch and Jey Uso have been the 2 who began WarGames for his or her respective groups. Ridge Holland was in second, which allowed The Brawling Brutes to double workforce Jey. When it was time for a Bloodline member to hitch, Jimmy Uso rushed out of the cage to assist his brother, however he was stopped by Reigns, who demanded Jimmy keep and Zayn go. To show his loyalty, Zayn had to enter WarGames and work with Jey, who has lengthy distrusted Zayn.

When Zayn headed to the ring, he bought a powerful “Sammy Uso” chant. Very healthful. He got here to the help of Jey Uso, preventing off the Brutes till the buzzer rang and it was Drew McIntyre’s flip to enter the ring. Jimmy Uso was in subsequent, and introduced a desk in with him. He’d ultimately crash by way of that very same desk when Kevin Owens entered the cage subsequent, as Owens barraged The Usos with chairshots earlier than Suplexing Jimmy by way of the desk.

Eventually all 10 males got here in, with Roman Reigns being the final to enter. WarGames formally started. The 10 males brawled, and we bought our first false end when Reigns ducked a Brogue Kick from Sheamus, then Speared him. Butch broke up the pin, main Zayn to assault Butch. Jey Uso tried to Superkick Butch, however Butch dodged it, making Jey “accidentally” kick Zayn. 

A sequence of massive spots adopted. The Usos hit a 1D on Butch from the turnbuckle. They double Superkicked Ridge Holland, then Reigns speared Holland by way of a desk. Owens took out Solo Sikoa with a Stunner, which led to an excellent change between Owens and Reigns. Owens planted Reigns with a Powerbomb after which a Stunner, however Zayn stopped the pin by holding down the referee.

Owens confronted Zayn — as the group chanted “Sammy Uso!”  — till Jimmy Uso tried a Superkick on Owens. Owens caught the foot, however Zayn hit Owens with a low blow. Zayn then clocked Owens with a Helluva Kick, and Jey Uso adopted it up with a top-rope splash on Owens for the win.

After WarGames, The Bloodline celebrated within the ring. Announcer Michael Cole put over the truth that Zayn cemented himself as extra than simply an “honorary” Uce. Reigns embraced Zayn with a hug, adopted by Jey Uso doing the identical — which bought an enormous response from the group. 

Rating: 4.25 stars. As famous with the ladies’s WarGames match, the primary 26 minutes of WarGames bouts are sometimes low stakes. This was aided rather a lot by the Sami Zayn story, which was informed all through the entire match. It wasn’t a blowaway match, but it surely was wonderful storytelling. That’s extra necessary. 

Theory wins the United States Championship

Austin Theory is the longer term, once more! Theory gained the United States Championship for a second time at Survivor Series WarGames, pinning Seth Rollins to finish a incredible championship bout. Rollins landed a Suplerplex on Theory from the center turnbuckle and hoisted him up for a Falcon Arrow however, as he held Theory up, Lashley blitzed Rollins with a Spear. Theory fell on high of Rollins, getting the pin.

There was great motion right here, with all three attending to shine. Rollins’ athleticism was on present when, with Theory and Lashley on the ground on both facet of the ring, he ping ponged between the 2 with a sequence of Suicide Dives, concluding with a Senton excessive rope onto each males. 

Inside the ring, Lashley put the Hurt Lock on Rollins, however Theory jumped on Lashely’s again and placed on a Sleeper Hold, forcing Lashley to let go of his Hurt Lock on Rollins. Lashley then slapped the Hurt Lock onto Theory, who rolled up Lashley the identical means Brock Lesnar countered the Hurt Lock to beat him at Crown Jewel final month. But Theory did not get the pin, as a result of it was damaged up by an enormous Frog Splash from Rollins onto Theory. Awesome.

In one other enjoyable spot, Rollins jumped off Theory’s again to land an excellent Curbstomp on Lashley. Theory tried to toss Rollins out of the ring and steal the pin, however Rollins fought again. That led to his Superplex and Falcon Arrow try, which Lashley interrupted with a Spear, resulting in Theory’s victory when he fell on high of Rollins. 

Rating: 4.25 stars. This dominated.

Ronda Rousey retains SmackDown Women’s Championship

Surprising nobody, Ronda Rousey continues to be SmackDown Women’s Champion. She defeated Shotzi with a Judo throw from the highest rope, adopted by an Armbar submission that made Shotzi faucet out.

Coming into the match, Shotzi was constructed as an outclassed challenger in want of a fortunate break. But the bout was very a lot constructed round making Shotzi look good. She outwitted and outmanoeuvred Rousey for a lot of their showdown, and Rousey at quite a few factors had to make use of Shayna Baszler, who got here to the ring with Rousey, as a distraction.

Ronda Rousey lacks polish, however she’s nice. She has such a pure heel magnetism: The crowd hates her. Whenever she’d lock Shotzi in a submission, Rousey would get showered with boos. The challenge is that she was working with somebody the viewers is not invested in. They’d boo Rousey, however did not care sufficient about Shotzi to cheer her comebacks. 

The match wasn’t something particular. Rousey would lock Shotzi down with one submission or one other, just for Shotzi to make a plucky comeback — wash, rinse and repeat. There was a pleasant spot the place Shotzi tried a Cross Body from the highest rope, which Rousey managed to counter right into a Belly-to-Belly Suplex. But that was additionally a additionally very ugly botched DDT on the apron: I’m unsure whose fault it was, however the two simply type of fell down. Moments later, Shotzi took out Baszler and Rousey with a dive into the group, hitting a bunch of what I hope have been viewers vegetation within the course of.

Rating: 2 stars. Rousey continues to be a particular performer, however wants higher competitors to shine.

AJ Styles beats Finn Balor

AJ Styles bought his first pay-per-view win in without end by pinning Finn Balor at Survivor Series WarGames. 

AJ Styles is sliding up there in age, now a chipper 45, however he is nonetheless so extremely clean. Basic strikes like a sliding forearm strike simply look so unbelievable when carried out by The Phenomenal One. Much of the early match noticed Styles work over Balor’s leg, with the announcers highlighting the concept that Styles is weakening the leg to use his Calf Crusher finisher. 

After hitting a slick backbreaker, Styles setup for a Phenomenal Forearm. The Judgement Day ran interference, with Damian Priest distracting the referree whereas Dominik Mysterio pulled Styles off the apron. That sparked a brawl between the 2 factions, with the O.C. and the Judgement Day starting a brawl that spilled out into the group.

Balor is over as a heel. After he planted Styles with a Slingblade, Balor slowly assumed the place within the nook for a Shotgun Dropkick, and the group drowned him with boos. They’re not perfunctory jeers both: They actually do dislike Balor. It’s nice.

The match hit third gear after the gangs left ringside, with tight back-and-forth motion. Balor offered the leg that Styles had labored over earlier within the match, hitting an intense double footstomp earlier than grabbing his knee in agony. Styles barraged Balor with a Kenta Rush, however Balor ducked the Clothesline and tried a Styles Clash, which Styles countered right into a Calf Crusher that Balor managed to combat out of. They clocked one another with Pele Kicks — ’tis the season — laying each out, getting an ovation from the group. 

Styles did handle to lock within the Calf Crusher, after avoiding a Coup De Grace that shocked Balor because of his harm knee. Balor did a superb job promoting the maintain, however fought out by smashing Styles head into the mat over and over — the identical means Brock Lesnar fought out of the Calf Crusher means again at Survivor Series 2017.

They change strikes, which will get the dueling “yeah!” “boo” chants from the group. Styles skips excessive rope to the apron, decked Balor with a standing forearm after which landed a Phenomenal Forearm for the win.

Rating: 4 stars. Great stuff, although inferior to their 2017 match at TLC. However, I query Styles getting the win. Styles has been underutilized for the previous couple of years, its true, however Balor and The Judgement Day have been sizzling since Balor’s I Quit match win over Edge. That momentum ought to have been continued — although if Styles’ win means we get a rematch, I’m all for that. 

Becky Lynch wins WarGames for Team Bianca

Survivor Series 2022 kicked off with the ladies’s WarGames match. It pit the five-woman workforce of Bianca Belair, Becky Lynch, Asuka, Alexa Bliss and Mia Yim in opposition to Bayley, Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky, Rhea Ripley and Nikki Cross. Lynch, the returning hero, gained WarGames for her workforce, pinning Kai after a spectacular Senton from the highest of the cage by way of a desk. 

The guidelines of WarGames are as follows. WarGames has two rings surrounded by one large cage. The match see one contender from every workforce start. After 5 minutes, a second lady from Team Bayley would be part of. (Team Bayley gained the benefit after Ripley beat Asuka on Raw.) After that, ladies from the alternating groups be part of the rings each three minutes, till all 10 ladies have been within the rings. At that time, the bell would ring and the primary workforce to safe a pinfall or a submission wins. 

It’s a tough match to work. Structurally, it is like an Iron (Wo)Man match, the place it is typically solely the final 10% that actually issues. WarGames solely truly “starts” when all 10 contributors are within the rings, however that takes 26 minutes to occur. It feels low stakes till then.

There have been some notable spots within the meantime, like Nikki Cross’ Cross Body dive from the highest of the cage on the 5 ladies ready beneath. But the primary 26 minutes are largely spent ready. 

Becky Lynch was the final lady to enter the cage, kicking off WarGames correct. By that point, Team Bayley was firmy in management. All 4 ladies of Team Bianca have been down and out, whereas Lynch entered.

Lynch ran wild, obliterating Kai and Cross with a trash can, earlier than operating into Rhea Ripley. Thanks to a shot from behind by Bayley, Ripley was capable of land a Riptide powerslam on Lynch for a nearfall, but it surely was damaged up by Asuka. Moments later, Bayley hit a gnarly Rose Plant on the metal connecting the 2 rings for a false end, damaged up once more by Asuka.

All the ladies fought on the turnbuckle, resulting in Iyo Sky scaling the highest of the cage and touchdown a Moonsault on Yim and Belair. That bought a light-weight “holy shit!” chant, adopted by a extra resolute “this is awesome!” Moments later, Yim locked a Sleeper Hold on Ripley, who fell right into a ladder setup in a ringside nook, snapping the ladder in two and getting one other faint “holy shit!” chant. 

With a lot of the sphere down, Lynch and Belair had a facedown with Kai, Bayley and Sky. Lynch bought a Manhandle Slam on Kai, and Belair took out Sky with a KOD. Lynch stacked Kai and Sky on the desk — getting an enormous pop from the Boston crowd — then landed a brutal senton from the highest of the cage, pinning Kai for the win.

Rating: 3.5 stars. This was a flawed match. It was everywhere, with there typically being three or 4 brawls happening on the identical time. That made it arduous to focus consideration on anybody factor, which led to a largely quiet crowd. But the match constructed to some notable and memorable spots, together with a contented ending for the returning Becky Lynch.

While having Lynch safe the victory is smart, it additionally deprives Bianca Belair of a brand new challenger for her Raw Women’s Championship. Team Bianca’s win additionally makes Bayley’s Damage CTRL faction really feel extra toothless than ever, having not gained any important matches in opposition to Bianca since returning in August. Where they go subsequent, and who challenges Bianca subsequent, is unclear.