With Survivor Series drawing near, speculation over the teams for the two WarGames matches appear to be set. It’s a sure thing on the women’s side after a shockingly quick return from injury for Rhea Ripley.
Ripley will join Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, Iyo Sky and Naomi to take on the team of Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, Candice LeRae, Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan.
One slot remains unofficial on the men’s side, though it appears Bronson Reed and Solo Sikoa may have finally driven Seth Rollins to the point where he has no choice but to join Roman Reigns and the “Original Bloodline.”
CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Rhea Ripley returns and Survivor Series: WarGames teams solidify
The show opened with Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez coming to the ring. Morgan said she knew Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair were in the building but she brought backup, which led to Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton and Candice LeRae joining them. Jax said she doesn’t think about Morgan or Rodriguez at all but does think about Belair, Cargill and Naomi, which brought that trio to the entrance ramp. They said they had their own backup before being joined by Iyo Sky. The group then got in the ring where Morgan pointed out they were still outnumbered. This led to the surprise return of Rhea Ripley, wearing a protective face mask. Ripley screamed, “WarGames” before headbutting Morgan and the faces quickly ran off the heels.
Bronson Reed def. Seth Rollins via pinfall after a Tsunami. At the start of the match, Tanga Loa, Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu came out and circled the ring. The Usos and Sami Zayn ran out to run them off, following up on earlier in the show when Rollins again refused the group’s pleas to join them inside WarGames against Solo Sikoa’s new Bloodline, saying he can’t stand next to Roman Reigns knowing what will happen if Reigns ends up on top again. At the conclusion of the match, Sikoa showed up to distract Rollins, allowing Reed to pick up the win and likely cementing that Rollins will join Reigns, the Usos and Zayn.
If you managed to avoid being spoiled on the results of the pre-taped show, Ripley’s return was likely shocking. WWE went on to confirm that the women’s WarGames match is now officially set. On the men’s side, Rollins’ objections to joining Reigns’ team make sense since Reigns hasn’t really proven to be a changed man, just a man who is upset his seat at the head of his family’s table has been taken from him. Still, the chance for Rollins to get his hands on Reed — and now Sikoa — will drive him to make a choice he knows he doesn’t want to make. Grade: B
What else happened on WWE Raw?
- Rey Mysterio & Zelina Vega def. Chad Gable & Ivy Nile via pinfall when Mysterio hit Gable with a 619.
- Gunther spoke with Ludwig Kaiser backstage telling Kaiser that he doesn’t speak for the champion and to start speaking for himself and making his own name. Gunther then saw Damian Priest sitting backstage and tried to put him in a sleeper but Priest escaped, slammed Gunther into equipment crates and kicked him in the stomach before saying Gunther may be a general in the ring, but he is a king in the streets.
- Intercontinental Championship — Bron Breakker (c) def. Sheamus via disqualification after Ludwig Kaiser interfered. Kaiser first attacked Breakker as the champion was running around the ring for a spear. Kaiser then ran around the ring himself, driving a kick that sent Sheamus into the ring steps.
- War Raiders def. Dominik Mysterio Carlito via pinfall after hitting War Machine. After the match, Finn Balor and JD McDonagh attacked War Raiders, laying both men out.
- A Bo Dallas video aired with Dallas saying that Miz betraying the Wyatt Sicks last week meant Miz had damned himself.