Wrestling’s biggest traditional PPV week arrives with historic outdoor War Games at Petco Park and Tony Khan’s marathon show in Newark.
Wrestling Uncensored delivered comprehensive coverage of professional wrestling’s packed weekend slate, with hosts Dave Simon (@davesimonmma) and Johnny North (@northgenesis) breaking down WWE’s groundbreaking Survivor Series: War Games event in San Diego and AEW’s Full Gear pay-per-view in Newark. The November 21st episode confirmed both men’s and women’s War Games teams following Friday Night SmackDown, while providing detailed analysis of Saturday’s AEW card.
SURVIVOR SERIES WAR GAMES: HISTORIC OUTDOOR SPECTACLE
Men’s War Games: Roman Reigns’ Original Bloodline vs. Solo Sikoa’s Faction
The main event, War Games, features a family civil war that’s been building for over a year. Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Sami Zayn, and CM Punk will face Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Bronson Reed inside the dual-ring steel cage structure at Petco Park.
“This is going to be an absolute war,” Dave Simon emphasized during the show’s opening segment. “You’ve got the original Bloodline back together for one night, and CM Punk is the wildcard. That’s the thing – Punk being in this match adds a whole different dynamic because you know something’s going to go wrong with the Bloodline eventually.”
The SmackDown go-home show confirmed the teams through a dramatic segment that saw Paul Heyman make a surprise appearance to deliver the final roster spot announcement. While some expected The Rock to fill that position, WWE opted for CM Punk – a decision that creates intriguing storytelling possibilities.
“What do you expect? The Rock’s busy making movies, and Punk needs something big before he challenges for the world title,” Dave noted, highlighting WWE’s practical booking approach while setting up future storylines.
Women’s War Games: Rhea Ripley’s Team vs. Liv Morgan’s Faction
The women’s match features Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Naomi, Bayley, and IYO SKY taking on Liv Morgan, Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, Candice LeRae, and Raquel Rodriguez. The bout represents the culmination of multiple intertwining feuds across both brands.
Both hosts agreed this match could steal the show, particularly with Tiffany Stratton’s Money in the Bank briefcase adding an element of unpredictability. “Tiffany’s got the briefcase, Liv’s got the title, and they’re on the same team – that’s a recipe for disaster,” Johnny North observed.
The addition of Bayley as the fifth member of Ripley’s team came after weeks of speculation, with Bayley turning face to join forces against the heel coalition. Dave praised the booking: “It makes sense. Bayley’s been one of the best workers in WWE for years, and putting her with IYO again gives you that tag team chemistry inside the cage.”
Petco Park: WWE’s Outdoor Gamble
Survivor Series 2025 marks WWE’s first outdoor event and its first stadium presentation. The venue choice creates both opportunities and concerns.
“They’re doing War Games outside in November. In San Diego,” Dave said with notable skepticism. “I hope the weather cooperates because this could either be the coolest visual we’ve ever seen or a complete disaster if it rains.”
The hosts discussed WWE’s confidence in drawing a significant crowd to Petco Park, with Dave comparing it favorably to WrestleMania’s stadium presentations: “If they sell this out or come close, it sends a message that Survivor Series is back to being a true ‘Big Five’ event. The War Games gimmick has revitalized this show.”
Streaming Changes and John Cena’s Final Survivor Series
As detailed in Ringside Report’s recent coverage, John Cena is in the midst of his retirement tour. Survivor Series represents his final appearance at both the event and any WWE premium live event as an in-ring competitor.
“Come on – it’s John Cena’s last Survivor Series,” Dave said emotionally. “We grew up watching this guy. Whether you loved him or hated him, he’s been the face of WWE for two decades. This is history.”
The event will also mark WWE’s first Survivor Series to stream internationally on Netflix and domestically on ESPN’s direct-to-consumer platform, reflecting the company’s evolving distribution strategy.
SMACKDOWN RESULTS: FINAL WAR GAMES BUILD
New Women’s Intercontinental Champion Crowned
In a surprise title change, Maxine Dupree defeated Chelsea Green to become the new WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion. The finish came when Maxine caught Green mid-attack and delivered her finishing sequence for the victory.
“I didn’t expect a title change on the go-home show,” Dave admitted. “But Maxine’s been consistently good, and this gives her momentum heading into the Survivor Series weekend. Sometimes you need that shock value on the final show before a major event.”
The title change adds intrigue to the women’s division hierarchy, with Maxine now holding championship gold while established names like Naomi and IYO SKY chase the World Title.
War Games Teams Finalized
SmackDown’s main narrative thread focused on confirming both War Games lineups. The show featured backstage segments with Paul Heyman orchestrating the original Bloodline’s reunion, while Solo Sikoa’s faction grew increasingly unhinged.
“Solo’s lost control of his group, and that’s the story,” Johnny North observed. “Jacob Fatu’s doing his own thing, the Tongans are just following along, and Bronson Reed is the enforcer. There’s no real leadership on that side, which makes them dangerous but beatable.”
The episode also featured a brawl segment that gave fans a preview of the chaos to come at War Games, with all 10 participants involved in a massive melee to close the show.
Randy Orton and Kevin Owens Confrontation
In a segment building SmackDown’s other major storyline, Randy Orton confronted Kevin Owens about Owens’ recent actions and his obsession with Cody Rhodes’ championship reign. The tense exchange set up their eventual collision while keeping both men off the War Games card.
“They’re saving Orton-Owens for later, probably the Royal Rumble,” Dave predicted. “You don’t put Orton in War Games unless you’re going to do something major with him, and right now the Bloodline story doesn’t need him.”
AEW FULL GEAR: TONY KHAN’S MARATHON CHALLENGE
Main Event: Jon Moxley vs. Orange Cassidy for AEW World Championship
The main event features the unhinged AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defending against the fan-favorite Orange Cassidy in what’s being billed as Cassidy’s most significant opportunity.
“Orange Cassidy’s a star, but he’s not winning this match,” Dave stated definitively. “Moxley’s in the middle of this Death Riders angle, and you don’t take the belt off him now. The story isn’t finished yet. What are we doing?”
Johnny North agreed, noting Moxley’s reign has been building toward something bigger: “They’re going somewhere with this Death Riders thing. Maybe it’s Cassidy who eventually beats Moxley, but not this Saturday. Not yet.”
Both hosts predicted Moxley would retain via interference from his Death Riders stable, potentially setting up a larger grudge match down the line.
Mercedes Moné Defends TBS Championship
Mercedes Moné puts her TBS Championship on the line against Kris Statlander in a rematch from their previous encounter. Moné recently unified the interim and full ROH Women’s Television Championships on Collision, continuing her quest to hold multiple titles simultaneously.
“She’s now the undisputed Ring of Honor Women’s Television Champion,” Dave explained. “Beat Red Velvet in the main event of Collision. That was Collision because they did a whole three-hour special, right? Collision ended the night, and that was the main event.”
The hosts predicted Moné would retain, with Dave noting, “Mercedes is on a roll. They’re building her as the dominant women’s champion, and Statlander’s great, but I don’t see the title changing here.”
MJF vs. Roderick Strong: $200,000 Dynamite Diamond Ring
MJF defends the Dynamite Diamond Ring in what both hosts described as a “lock” for the champion to retain.
“It’s MJF’s thing,” Dave said simply. “He wins the Dynamite Diamond Ring match every year. That’s his gimmick. You’re not taking that away from him now.”
Johnny North concurred: “MJF retains, probably with some shenanigans involving the ring itself. That’s how these matches always go.”
Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher: Escalating Rivalry
The former tag team partners collide in what promises to be one of the night’s most technically impressive matches. Fletcher turned on Ospreay months ago, and their feud has grown increasingly personal.
“This is going to be match of the night quality,” Dave predicted. “Both these guys can go, and when you have real heat behind a match between two incredible workers, you usually get something special. I’m going with Ospreay to get revenge on Fletcher, but it’s going to be a war.”
The hosts discussed how this match represents AEW’s commitment to long-term storytelling, with their partnership breakup being teased and executed over months rather than rushed.
The Hurt Syndicate in Action
Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and MVP – collectively known as The Hurt Syndicate – face Swerve Strickland in a three-on-one handicap match.
“This is a squash match to make The Hurt Syndicate look strong,” Dave analyzed. “Swerve’s great, but he’s fighting three guys. They’re going to beat him down, establish their dominance, and move on to their next target. It’s classic heel stable booking.”
Tag Team Division Showcase
The card features multiple tag team matches, including the $200,000 Fatal Four-Way (The Bang Bang Gang vs. Big Bill and Bryan Keith vs. The Outrunners vs. The Acclaimed) and Big Boom AJ and QT Marshall against Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta.
“I’m going with The Acclaimed in the Fatal Four-Way just because it feels like they’re building them up to be a team again,” Johnny North predicted.
Dave took the less serious route on the other tag match: “Big Boom and QT get the win because it’s stupid. As long as the Rizzler’s there, I know he’s your favorite, so you’ll be happy if he’s there.”
International and Continental Championships
Konosuke Takeshita defends the International Championship against Ricochet, while Kazuchika Okada puts the Continental Championship on the line against Powerhouse Hobbs.
Both hosts favored the champions retaining, with Dave noting, “Takeshita just won the belt, and Ricochet just got there. You don’t switch it back this quickly.”
For Okada-Hobbs, Johnny observed: “Okada’s undefeated in AEW. You don’t end that streak against Powerhouse Hobbs. You save that for Kenny Omega or somebody huge.”
Show Length Concerns
A recurring theme throughout the preview was concern about AEW’s show length, with twelve matches scheduled.
“Tony Khan just cannot help himself,” Dave complained. “He just wants to give you as much wrestling as humanly possible. What are we doing? Don’t do more than four hours – they can’t do more than that. That would be nuts. I know they have a lot of matches and they got a lot planned, but jeez, it’s unnecessary.”
The hosts noted this has become a pattern with AEW pay-per-views, with recent events regularly exceeding four hours. Dave mentioned his children’s anticipation for the show while acknowledging he’ll likely have to wait until the next day to watch the entire event due to its expected runtime.
Canadian Broadcasting Quirk
Dave shared an amusing anecdote about how the recent three-hour Dynamite/Collision special aired in Canada, with Dynamite on TSN and the Collision portion on USA Network Canada the following night.
“I watch TV because I’m an old-time guy who likes TV, right?” Dave explained. “Dynamite was on Wednesday night. They aired the Dynamite portion on TSN, but then, I think, the Collision part aired the next night on the USA Network Canada, because that’s where Collision airs here in Canada. So they didn’t air it all together. It was separate, which I thought was odd.”
The discussion highlighted the complexities of international wrestling distribution and how different markets handle special programming.
WRESTLING UNCENSORED’S VERDICT
WWE Survivor Series Predictions
Men’s War Games Winner: Both hosts struggled with this prediction, given the unpredictable nature of the match and the Bloodline’s internal tensions. However, they leaned toward the original Bloodline (Roman’s team), picking up the victory to continue building toward Roman’s eventual championship pursuit.
Women’s War Games Winner: Slight edge to Rhea Ripley’s team, with Tiffany Stratton’s cash-in attempt potentially backfiring and costing Liv Morgan’s team the match.
“You’ve got to give Rhea and her team the win to set up the Royal Rumble,” Dave reasoned. “But I expect chaos with Tiffany and that briefcase. That’s the wildcard.”
AEW Full Gear Predictions
Jon Moxley retains over Orange Cassidy
Mercedes Moné retains over Kris Statlander
MJF wins the Dynamite Diamond Ring
Will Ospreay defeats Kyle Fletcher
The Hurt Syndicate beats Swerve Strickland
Konosuke Takeshita retains against Ricochet
Kazuchika Okada retains against Powerhouse Hobbs
The Acclaimed win the Fatal Four-Way
The Broader Picture: WWE vs. AEW
The episode’s coverage highlighted the stark contrast in booking philosophy between WWE and AEW. WWE’s Survivor Series features two massive matches with weeks of meticulous build, creating must-see television in an outdoor stadium environment. AEW’s Full Gear counters with volume – twelve matches designed to showcase roster depth and give fans maximum action.
“WWE’s doing War Games outside in a baseball stadium. That’s a statement,” Dave observed. “Meanwhile, AEW’s going to do a marathon show again. Both companies are trying to give their fans something special, just in completely different ways.”
The weekend represents a fascinating study in contrast: WWE’s spectacle-driven presentation versus AEW’s wrestling-focused approach, outdoor stadium versus indoor arena, carefully paced dual main events versus an exhaustive 12-match card.
LOOKING AHEAD
With Survivor Series War Games set for Saturday, November 29th, at Petco Park and AEW Full Gear on Saturday, November 22nd, at the Prudential Center, wrestling fans face an embarrassment of riches. Both shows promise to deliver memorable moments, though in distinctly different styles.
“We’ll be back here next week to preview Survivor Series one more time,” Dave announced. “Johnny and I will be here to break down War Games, talk about what we expect, and give you our final predictions before the show.”
Join Dave and Johnny live on YouTube, Rumble, Twitch, X (formerly Twitter), Kick, or DLive, next Friday for their full WWE Survivor Series/War Games Preview and then again at around 10 PM on Saturday to gather your live reactions.
The hosts also noted they would not be providing a post-show for AEW Full Gear due to the expected late finish time – a practical decision given Tony Khan’s tendency to book lengthy events that often extend past 1 AM Eastern.
FINAL THOUGHTS FROM DAVE SIMON
As the show concluded, Dave offered his perspective on wrestling’s current landscape, emphasizing the historic nature of this particular weekend.
“This is what wrestling should be,” Dave said. “Big matches, real stakes, stories that matter. Whether you’re a WWE fan, an AEW fan, or you watch both like we do, this weekend is special. Survivor Series is going to be historic – the first outdoor War Games, John Cena’s last one, and the most stacked card they’ve done in years. That’s the thing – WWE’s firing on all cylinders right now.”
He continued: “And look, AEW’s giving their fans what they want too – a huge card with something for everyone. I just wish they’d tighten it up a bit, but that’s Tony Khan for you. Come on – twelve matches is insane.”
The episode exemplified Wrestling Uncensored’s approach: unfiltered opinions, detailed analysis, and genuine enthusiasm for the business they’ve covered for years. As both WWE and AEW prepare for major events, fans have access to comprehensive previews from hosts who understand the industry’s complexities while remaining passionate fans first.
Ringside Report MMA returns Thursday for more combat sports coverage, with Dave Simon, Freddie Garcia, and AJ D’Alesio breaking down the week’s MMA action on Ringside Report MMA.
Watch Wrestling Uncensored every Friday at 10 PM ET on YouTube, Rumble, Twitch, DLive, and Kick. Subscribe at membership.ringsidereport.net to support audience-supported wrestling coverage.
Follow Dave Simon on Twitter at @davesimonmma for more wrestling and MMA analysis.
Follow Johnny “Genesis” North on Twitter at @northgenesis for more wrestling and MMA analysis.
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