Survivor Series: WarGames (2024)
Survivor Series: WarGames | |||
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Promotion | WWE | ||
Brand(s) | Raw SmackDown | ||
Date | November 30, 2024 | ||
City | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | ||
Venue | Rogers Arena | ||
WWE Network event chronology | |||
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Survivor Series chronology | |||
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The 2024 Survivor Series: WarGames is an upcoming professional wrestling event produced by the American promotion WWE. It will be the 38th annual Survivor Series, the third featuring War Games matches, and will take place on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The event will air via pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming and will feature wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. The event will be based around the WarGames match, a team-based steel cage match where the roofless cage surrounds two rings placed side by side.
This will be the first Survivor Series to take place in Vancouver and WWE's first PPV and livestreaming event held in the city and venue since Rock Bottom: In Your House in 1998. It will subsequently be the third Survivor Series event held in Canada, after 1997 in Montreal and 2016 in Toronto. This will also be WWE's final main roster PPV and livestreaming event to air on the WWE Network in international markets and Binge in Australia, with future livestreaming events airing on Netflix from January 2025.
Production
Background
Survivor Series is an annual professional wrestling event produced every November by the American promotion WWE since 1987, generally held the week of Thanksgiving. The second longest running pay-per-view (PPV) event in history (behind WWE's WrestleMania), it is one of the promotion's five biggest events of the year, along with WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and Money in the Bank, referred to as the "Big Five".[1][2] The event was previously characterized by having Survivor Series matches, which were tag team elimination matches that typically featured teams of four or five wrestlers against each other.[3] In 2022, the event was rebranded as "Survivor Series: WarGames" and instead of Survivor Series matches, the annual event became based around the WarGames match, a type of steel cage match where teams face each other in a roofless cage that surrounds two rings placed side by side. WWE's developmental brand NXT previously held an annual WarGames event from 2017 to 2021 before the match became a part of Survivor Series.[4]
On August 1, 2024, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque announced that the 38th annual Survivor Series, and third annual as WarGames, would be held on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and feature wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. This will be the third Survivor Series to take place in Canada, after 1997 and 2016, but the first to be held in Vancouver.[5] It will thus be the first WWE PPV event in the city since Rock Bottom: In Your House in 1998, which was held at the same venue when it was still known as General Motors Place.[6]
Broadcast outlets
Survivor Series: WarGames will be broadcast live on traditional pay-per-view worldwide and was also available to livestream on Peacock in the United States, Disney+ Hotstar in Indonesia, Disney+ in the Philippines, Binge in Australia, Abema in Japan, SonyLIV in India, and the WWE Network in most international markets—including the Canadian version which is distributed by venue sponsor Rogers Communications.[7][8] This will therefore be the final Survivor Series, and WWE's final main roster PPV and livestreaming event, to air on the WWE Network alongside with Binge as its content will move to Netflix in international markets in January 2025.[9]
Storylines
The event will include matches that result from scripted storylines. Results are predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands,[10][11] while storylines are produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.[12]
From 2021 until 2023, Roman Reigns and his cousins The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) led The Bloodline stable, managed by Paul Heyman, holding both the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship and Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships, respectively, until their losses at WrestleMania 39 and XL, respectively. Also during this time, Sami Zayn joined as an honorary member until January 2023, with The Usos's younger brother Solo Sikoa also joining. After an internal strife, The Usos left the group and emerged victorious during the Bloodline Civil War tag team match at the 2023 Money in the Bank,[13] however, The Usos split up, which led to a match at WrestleMania XL with Jey defeating Jimmy. Reigns also lost the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania XL.[14] In the months after Reigns' defeat, Sikoa assumed leadership of The Bloodline while exiling Jimmy, Heyman, and Reigns, and adding Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu. Reigns returned at SummerSlam, beginning a rivalry with Sikoa, while Jimmy returned at Bad Blood, which led to a reunion of Reigns and The Usos. At Crown Jewel, Reigns and The Usos lost to Sikoa, Fatu, and Tonga after an interference from Loa, with Sikoa pinning Reigns. Following the match, Sikoa's Bloodline outnumbered Reigns and The Usos until Zayn came out for assist Reigns, however, Zayn accidentally performed a Helluva Kick on Reigns intended for Sikoa.[15] On the following Raw, Zayn was confronted by The Usos, with Jimmy claiming Zayn attacked Reigns on purpose. Jey then urged Zayn to appear on that week's SmackDown to make amends with Reigns.[16] On SmackDown, Zayn stated to Reigns that the kick was an accident and stated it felt good to team with Reigns and The Usos again, however, he would only reunite with them against Sikoa's Bloodline if Reigns apologized to Jey for his past mistreatment of him. Reigns refused to apologize to Jey. Later that night, Reigns confronted Sikoa and his Bloodline with Sikoa challenging Reigns and a team of his choice to a WarGames match at Survivor Series: WarGames. Sikoa then introduced Zayn as the fifth member of their team, however, Zayn attacked Sikoa with Reigns acknowledging Zayn, officially reuniting the original iteration of The Bloodline (Reigns, The Usos, and Zayn). It was then announced that the original Bloodline would face the new Bloodline in a WarGames match at the event, but with a fifth member of each team to be determined.[17] On the November 15 episode of SmackDown, Sikoa's Bloodline subsequently recruited Bronson Reed.[18]
At SummerSlam, Gunther defeated Damian Priest to win the World Heavyweight Championship.[19] Three months later on the November 4 episode of Raw, Priest won a fatal four-way match to earn a rematch for the title,[16] which was confirmed for Survivor Series: WarGames.[20]
Matches
No. | Matches* | Stipulations | ||||
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1 | Roman Reigns, The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso), Sami Zayn, and TBA vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, and Tonga Loa) and Bronson Reed | Men's WarGames match[21][22] | ||||
2 | Gunther (c) vs. Damian Priest | Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship[23] | ||||
3 | Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, Iyo Sky, and Naomi vs. The Judgment Day (Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez), Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, and Candice LeRae | Women's WarGames match[24] | ||||
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See also
References
- ^ Hamilton, Ian. Wrestling's Sinking Ship: What Happens to an Industry Without Competition. p. 160.
- ^ News 3 Staff (August 22, 2021). "Las Vegas to host WWE's Money in the Bank in 2022". KSNV. Archived from the original on August 23, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Brookhouse, Brent (November 21, 2021). "2021 WWE Survivor Series card, matches, date, rumors, predictions, match card, start time, location". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (September 19, 2022). "WWE Survivor Series 2022 Will Feature Two WarGames Matches". Fightful. Archived from the original on September 19, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
- ^ Russell, Skylar (August 1, 2024). "WWE Survivor Series: War Games 2024 To Emanate From Vancouver, BC On Saturday, November 30". Fightful. Archived from the original on August 1, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ Cawthon, Graham (2013). The History of Professional Wrestling. Vol. 2: WWF 1990–1999. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ASIN B00RWUNSRS.
- ^ "Canucks sign agreement to change name of their building to Rogers Arena". The Hockey News. The Canadian Press. July 6, 2010. Archived from the original on August 2, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ Nowak, Peter (August 1, 2014). "Working from NHL playbook, Rogers locks down 10-year cable deal with WWE wrestling". Canadian Business Captured by: Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014.
- ^ Lowson, Thomas (January 25, 2024). "End of the WWE Network: Streaming Service to Be Absorbed By Netflix Next Year (Report)". SE Scoops. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- ^ Grabianowski, Ed (January 13, 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- ^ "Live & Televised Entertainment". WWE. Archived from the original on February 18, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
- ^ Steinberg, Brian (May 25, 2016). "WWE's 'Smackdown' Will Move To Live Broadcast On USA (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on May 26, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
- ^ Powell, Jason (July 1, 2023). "WWE Money in the Bank results: Powell's review of Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa vs. The Usos, two MITB ladder matches, Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor for the World Heavyweight Championship, Cody Rhodes vs. Dominik Mysterio". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
- ^ Powell, Jason (April 7, 2024). "WrestleMania XL results: Powell's live review of night two with Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes for the WWE Universal Championship with Bloodline Rules, Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
- ^ Powell, Jason (November 2, 2024). "WWE Crown Jewel results: Powell's review of Gunther vs. Cody Rhodes for the Crown Jewel Championship, Nia Jax vs. Liv Morgan for the Women's Crown Jewel Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Powell, Jason (November 4, 2024). "WWE Raw results (11/4): Powell's live review of Seth Rollins vs. Damian Priest vs. Sheamus vs. Dominik Mysterio for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship, Battle Royal for a shot at the Women's World Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- ^ Barnett, Jake (November 8, 2024). "WWE Smackdown results (11/8): Barnett's review of Solo Sikoa's Undisputed Tribal Chief Acknowledgement Ceremony, Motor City Machine Guns vs. Grayson Waller and Austin Theory". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on November 9, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- ^ Barnett, Jake (November 15, 2024). "WWE Smackdown results (11/15): Barnett's review of Motor City Machine Guns vs. The Street Profits for the WWE Tag Team Titles, Nia Jax vs. Naomi for the WWE Women's Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
- ^ Powell, Jason (August 3, 2024). "WWE SummerSlam results: Powell's review of Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa in a Bloodline Rules match for the WWE Championship, Damian Priest vs. Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on August 3, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ Powell, Jason (November 11, 2024). "WWE Raw results (11/11): Powell's live review of Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill vs. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez for the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles, Gunther addressing Damian Priest". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- ^ WWE.com Staff (November 12, 2024). "Roman Reigns, Sami Zayn, The Usos & a fifth member vs. Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa & a fifth member (WarGames Match)". WWE. Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (November 16, 2024). "Bronson Reed Confirmed As Bloodline Fifth Man For WarGames, 'I Acknowledge Solo'". Fightful. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
- ^ WWE.com Staff (November 11, 2024). "World Heavyweight Champion Gunther vs. Damian Priest". WWE. Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- ^ WWE.com Staff (November 18, 2024). "Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, IYO SKY & Kairi Sane vs. Liv Morgan, Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton & Candice LeRae (WarGames Match)". WWE. Retrieved November 18, 2024.