What Are the Top Five WWE WarGames Matches?
Throughout the years, Survivor Series has been the home for brand supremacy, with Five-on-Five elimination matches leading the charge to determine whether RAW or SmackDown was the best main roster brand. In the past few years, however, those elimination matches have been replaced with one of the most dangerous structures WCW ever produced: WarGames. The two rings surrounded by a steel cage have now claimed Survivor Series to be their home, and it is the stipulation where two teams look to end their feuds once and for all, and to leave all the carnage inside the rings. WWE has produced some amazing moments in WarGames, starting with its return in NXT and now applying the match on the main roster. From separate bloodlines colliding to geniuses of the sky flying with trash cans, which matches have stood out above the rest?
5. NXT vs. NXT 2.0, NXT WarGames 2021
The past and present of NXT collided inside WarGames as the talent of the black-and-gold era of NXT squared off against the newer generation of talent from NXT 2.0. Two different styles of wrestling clashed in a match for brand supremacy, with each team trying to prove why their era was better than the other. Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, L.A. Knight, and Pete Dunne represented black-and-gold NXT and did everything they could to show why their era of NXT reigned supreme. Unfortunately for them, the fresh batch of NXT talent consisting of Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes, Tony D’Angelo, and Grayson Waller was much too young and talented to overcome. Breakker led the way for NXT 2.0 as he would spear Ciampa through a table and perform his Military Press to win the match for NXT 2.0. The new era of NXT proved that they belonged in that ring and overcame the past to become the new leaders of NXT going forward.
4. Team Rhodes vs. The Judgement Day, WWE Survivor Series 2023
If we put aside CM Punk’s shocking return to WWE following the conclusion of the match, we would remember that the actual WarGames match had some pretty good moments. Judgement Day came into this match united as a team, ready to take down the competition, whereas Cody Rhodes’ team was filled with tension between one another. Rhodes’ team also had the situation of entering the match with one man down, unsure if Randy Orton was going to appear after being away from in-ring performance for over a year. Both teams were evenly matched until the numbers game was too much for Rhodes’ team. When it seemed that Orton failed to show up for the match, Damian Priest looked to take advantage and attempted to cash in his Money in the Bank contract on World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. Those plans would be thwarted once Orton’s music hit and the arena exploded with cheers. Orton was finally back and helped his team gain control of the match, including hitting an RKO on a JD McDonagh that was thrown off the top of the cage. Rhodes would pick up the victory and the faces stood tall in the middle of the ring.
3. Undisputed Era Vs. Keith Lee, Tommaso Ciampa, Dominik Dijakovic & Kevin Owens, NXT TakeOver WarGames 2019
While Orton’s shocking return to WarGames was announced ahead of time, Kevin Owen’s appearance at NXT Takeover WarGames was a complete surprise. Undisputed Era entered the match proving why they are one of the greatest teams to ever step inside WarGames, while Keith Lee’s team entered without knowing if their fourth member would even show up. The NXT crowd once again delivered in hyping up everyone in the match and didn’t miss a beat whenever a great spot was performed. The Undisputed Era had the advantage throughout the match until Owens made his presence known. The faces would take control of the match, with Ciampa claiming the victory for his team after sending himself and Adam Cole through two tables from the top of the cage. Everyone played their role in their match and gave the NXT fans an ending that they would remember for a very long time.
2. Undisputed Era vs. SAnitY vs. AOP & Roderick Strong NXT TakeOver WarGames 2017
NXT had the task of bringing back WarGames, this time in front of a WWE Universe that might not have been alive when WarGames matches existed in WCW. What the fans got was three teams who delivered the hard-hitting action that NXT promised WarGames would be. Two factions and a third team, bonded by their hate for their opponents, entered WarGames promising destruction and violence. From great spots to top storytelling, the first WarGames match in WWE history is still considered one of the best of all time. Everyone brought their A-game and intense personalities and delivered in front of an NXT crowd who were on their feet throughout the duration of the match.
1. Team Ripley vs. Team Baszler NXT TakeOver WarGames 2019
The women of NXT put up one of the best WarGames performances of all time, from storytelling to in-ring competition. Rhea Ripley’s team would lose two of her teammates during the match when Dakota Kai would turn on Tegan Nox, crushing her leg and removing her from the match. Now at a disadvantage, Ripley and Candice LeRae put up the performance of a lifetime by overcoming the disadvantage and winning the match. Even though they suffered a defeat, Shayna Baszler’s team looked strong throughout the entire match, and everyone who entered WarGames came out looking stronger than when they came in. NXT once again proved that their roster can produce some of the best matches in company history, no matter what the stipulation is.
