WWE Survivor Series 2024: Women's WarGames - A Night of Thrills, Mistakes, and a Stunning Finish!

WWE’s Women’s WarGames match at Survivor Series 2024 was a spectacle of athleticism and intense storytelling, though not without its share of unexpected hiccups. The event underscored the ongoing evolution of women's wrestling within WWE, a revolution that has significantly impacted the wrestling industry over the past two decades. However, the rapid expansion of women's championships, with the introduction of the Women’s Intercontinental and Women’s United States titles, also highlights the ongoing challenge of achieving true equity within the organization.

The Survivor Series pay-per-view featured a last-minute addition of a Women’s WarGames match, mirroring the men's event. While the dual WarGames matches showcased both men's and women's divisions, the disparity in long-term booking and narrative depth became evident. The men's match benefited from a meticulously crafted storyline centered around the Bloodline saga and CM Punk's shocking return, a narrative element absent from the women's match.

Building the Tension: A Flawed Premise

The buildup to the Women's WarGames match displayed some underlying tensions. The increasingly antagonistic behavior of Bianca Belair contrasted with Rhea Ripley's heroic reception, while Jade Cargill's mysterious attack added an element of intrigue. Cargill's attack on Naomi, ironically on Naomi's birthday, further heightened anticipation. The match began with Bayley and Nia Jax, showcasing a contrast in WarGames experience; Team Rhea boasted 18 appearances, while Team Liv had just nine.

Early Domination and Unexpected Moments

The match started with enthusiastic chants for Bayley. Bayley and Nia Jax redeemed a previous awkward moment from their WWE Bad Blood match, with Bayley executing an impressive hurricanrana on Nia inside the cage. Despite the babyfaces seemingly holding an initial advantage, especially against the dominant Nia Jax, Jax quickly turned the tables with the help of a kendo stick. Naomi's surprising entrance added another layer to the drama; she even managed a stinkface on Jax while a toilet seat was around her neck. This chaotic energy was in stark contrast to the slow-burn build-up of the storyline.

The Match Unfolds: A Rollercoaster of Action and Mishaps

Candice LeRae's unexpected entry added another layer to the chaotic energy of the match. Struggles to find weapons, weak chairshots by Nia Jax, and the initial lack of audience engagement marked the early phase. However, LeRae's springboard moonsault on Bayley shifted the momentum, igniting a more intense engagement from the fans. The subsequent entrances of Bianca Belair and Tiffany Stratton further fueled the excitement, with Stratton showcasing her heel persona through impressive, aggressive maneuvers. Iyo Sky's creative use of a trash can as a weapon provided a visually exciting moment, despite a missed spot with LeRae.

Challenges and Triumphs: A Battle of Wits and Willpower

Raquel Rodriguez’s entrance, while met with anticipation, was marked by her struggles to locate and effectively utilize weapons, creating a comical contrast with the intense match. Despite these miscues, WWE successfully booked the match to maintain a perceived heel advantage, cleverly maintaining audience engagement. Liv Morgan's strategic entrance with a baseball bat marked a clear shift in momentum, punctuated by near misses and dramatic close-calls.

The Climax: A Memorable Finish to a Tumultuous Match

The match featured impressive high-flying maneuvers and creative weapon usage. Iyo Sky's moonsault while wearing a garbage can and Tiffany Stratton's Swanton Bomb were the highlights of the match, showcasing the athletes' skill and determination. The attempt by Tiffany Stratton to cash in her Money in the Bank briefcase added another unexpected twist, a daring move thwarted by the coordinated efforts of Raquel Rodriguez and Iyo Sky.

A Final Showdown: Victory for Team Rhea

The climactic moments of the match included a compelling “can they coexist” tease between Iyo Sky and Bayley, quickly interrupted by Nia Jax. A near-fall for the heels involved Jax laying Bianca Belair on a table and attempted Annihilator, countered by Belair and Naomi with a double power bomb. The victory for Team Rhea, secured by Rhea Ripley's Riptide from the top rope through a table, was the perfect culmination of a thrilling and unpredictable match, despite the unexpected stumbling blocks.

A Mixed Bag: Analyzing the Women's WarGames Match

Ultimately, the women's WarGames match, while exciting, showed some evident flaws in its execution. The near-40-minute duration was a challenge to manage smoothly, leading to some pacing inconsistencies and slow moments. This impacted the overall rating, scoring below the usually high standards set by WWE's WarGames matches. The match also suffered from giving the babyfaces the upper hand for extended portions, hindering its narrative impact. However, the match successfully culminated in a satisfying finish, highlighting the strategic booking choices that, despite the in-match missteps, successfully drew out strong audience engagement throughout. The decisive win for Ripley over Morgan sets the stage for exciting future storylines and World Title clashes.

The Rest of the Show: A Night of Title Changes and Unexpected Twists

The night also saw a US Title change, with Shinsuke Nakamura defeating LA Knight. This change brought fresh energy to the title scene, contrasting with Knight's less engaging reign. Nakamura’s win resulted from a strategically placed eye gouge and a subsequent reverse DDT, ultimately showcasing Nakamura’s cunning tactics. Another triple threat match for the Intercontinental Championship featured Bron Breakker defeating both Sheamus and Ludwig Kaiser in a high-energy match full of counters and dramatic near falls.

The main event showcased Gunther successfully defending his World Heavyweight Championship against Damian Priest, a match characterized by Priest selling a shoulder injury throughout. Gunther’s victory, aided by the unexpected interference of Finn Balor, further cemented his dominance and fueled the ongoing feud between Priest and Balor. The final match, the Men’s WarGames Match, involved a clash of Bloodline factions.

The show concluded with various promotions for future events and a reminder that WWE programming will be shifting platforms in 2025. The entire Survivor Series event was a night of exhilarating action, surprising moments, and unexpected twists, solidifying WWE’s position as a major player in the global entertainment landscape. The future of the wrestling world looks bright.