WWE Survivor Series returns to the Allstate Arena in Chicago on Saturday, November 25, 2023. The event marks the second time the event will feature the WarGames concept, which was introduced to WWE’s main roster in 2022. The event will also see the highly anticipated return of Randy Orton, who has been sidelined with an injury since May 2022.
Since June, Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, and Sami Zayn had all been involved in various rivalries with The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor, Damian Priest, and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio) and their associate, JD McDonagh. At the conclusion of the November 6 episode of Raw, a brawl happened between all eight men. Fed up with the constant chaos caused by The Judgment Day, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce announced that Rollins, Rhodes, Uso, and Zayn would face Judgment Day and McDonagh in a WarGames match at Survivor Series: WarGames.
The following week, Rhodes and Priest were revealed as the leaders of their respective teams while McDonagh was made an official member of Judgment Day. At the end of the night, Drew McIntyre, who had been talking with Rhea Ripley and had his own past issues with Uso due to Uso’s involvement in The Bloodline, helped Bálor and Priest retain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship in a rematch against Rhodes and Uso. On the next episode, McIntyre was added to Judgment Day’s WarGames team and later that night, he defeated Uso to earn the WarGames advantage. The fifth member of Rhodes’ team was then revealed to be a returning Randy Orton, who had been out with an injury since May 2022.
Among the other matches confirmed for Survivor Series 2023, Zoey Stark will challenge Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship, and The Miz will face Gunther for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
The Women’s WarGames clash is set to feature Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Shotzi, and Becky Lynch facing off against Damage CTRL, composed of Asuka, Bayley, IYO SKY, and Kairi Sane. At SummerSlam, Bianca Belair emerged victorious in a triple threat match against Asuka and Charlotte Flair, securing the WWE Women’s Championship. However, her triumph was short-lived as Iyo Sky promptly cashed in her Money in the Bank contract to snatch the title away. Following the event, Damage CTRL (consisting of Bayley, Sky, and Dakota Kai) initiated a feud with Asuka and Flair, who aligned themselves against the common adversary. Moreover, Damage CTRL sidelined Belair by inflicting a knee injury.
Sky went on to defend her championship against Asuka and Flair with the help of interference from Bayley and Kai. Upon Belair’s return in late October, Sky once again retained her title at Crown Jewel, aided by the interference of Kairi Sane, marking her first appearance since July 2020. On the subsequent SmackDown, Sky and Kai justified their decision to bring Sane into their faction, emphasizing the goal of strengthening their group. Sane, in turn, praised Bayley’s leadership and expressed forgiveness for Bayley’s past attack in July 2020. The trio’s explanation was abruptly interrupted by Belair, Flair, and Asuka, leading to a tumultuous six-woman tag team match that concluded in a no contest. Asuka betrayed her team, reuniting with Sane and aligning with Damage CTRL, while Shotzi’s attempt to intervene resulted in her being incapacitated.
In the following week, Damage CTRL, represented by Bayley, Sky, Asuka, and Sane, challenged Belair, Flair, Shotzi, and a yet-to-be-named partner to a WarGames match, a challenge that was promptly accepted. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis granted Belair’s team until the end of the night to select their fourth member, and they ultimately chose Raw’s Becky Lynch.
Simultaneously, WWE announced a Ruffles-sponsored fan vote to determine which team would receive the WarGames advantage.
WWE Survivor Series 2023 card
- Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn and Randy Orton vs. The Judgment Day (Damian Priest, Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh) and Drew McIntyre – WarGames match
- Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Shotzi and Becky Lynch vs. Damage CTRL (Asuka, Bayley, IYO SKY and Kairi Sane) – WarGames match
- Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Zoey Stark – Women’s World Championship match
- Gunther (c) vs. The Miz – WWE Intercontinental Championship match
- Santos Escobar vs. Carlito