WWE Survivor Series: War Games 2023 Preview

Read our early predictions for WWE Survivor Series War Games 2023

Dave and Johnny previewed Survivor Series, including the men’s and women’s War Games 2023 matches, Dragon Lee v. Santos Escobar and Rhea Ripley v. Zoey Stark. They talked about rumours of CM Punk returning at Survivor Series, MJF facing Samoa Joe at AEW World’s End and the AEW Continental Classic tournament.

Final War Games 2023 Predictions

Carlito vs. Santos Escobar

Dave Simon discussed the change in the match-up due to Carlito’s on-screen injury at the hands of Santos Escobar. Initially, Carlito was set to wrestle Escobar in War Games 2023, but after the storyline attack, Dragon Lee is now stepping in to face Escobar at Survivor Series.

• Dragon Lee will replace the injured Rey Mysterio and Carlito to face Santos Escobar.
• Escobar attacked The LWO and injured Mysterio and Carlito, leading to this bitter grudge match.
• The Dragon Lee and Escobar match has more than just bragging rights at stake.

Other Survivor Series War Games 2023 Matches

Simon expressed that aside from the WarGames matches, the other bouts like Rhea Ripley vs. Zoey Stark and Gunther vs. The Miz seemed like filler matches more suitable for a regular episode of SmackDown rather than a major pay-per-view event.

Rhea Ripley vs. Zoey Stark

• Zoey Stark earned a match against Rhea Ripley in Survivor Series War Games 2023 after winning a Battle Royal.
• Stark has had an impressive first year on Raw, becoming Trish Stratus’ protégé and facing Becky Lynch.
• Ripley was almost defeated by Stark’s Z-360 move at WWE Crown Jewel.
• Will Stark connect with the Z-360 move again to become the new Women’s World Champion?

Intercontinental Champion Gunther vs. The Miz

• Intercontinental Champion Gunther will face The Miz.in Survivor Series War Games 2023
• The animosity between Gunther and The Miz started when Gunther humiliated The Miz on Miz TV.
• The Miz became the No. 1 Contender after winning a Fatal 4-Way Match.
• The Miz has held the Intercontinental Championship eight times, one reign away from tying the record.
• Gunther has held the title for a record 514 days (531 by Survivor Series), while The Miz has held it for 592 days.

Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, and Shotzi vs. Damage CTRL

• Damage CTRL, consisting of Bayley, Kairi Sane, and Asuka, will face Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, and Shotzi in a Survivor Series War Games 2023 Match.
• Damage CTRL gained new members with the return of Sane and the addition of Asuka.
• Bayley challenged Flair, Belair, and Shotzi to find a partner to face them in the War Games 2023 structure.
• Becky Lynch emerged as the surprise partner for Flair, Belair, and Shotzi.
• Which team will overcome the brutality of WarGames 2023?

Randy Orton’s Return

The hosts touched on Randy Orton’s long-awaited return to WWE after a significant back injury that had sparked retirement rumours. They predicted that due to the storyline history with the Bloodline, particularly Jey Uso, Orton would likely target Uso for an RKO as payback during the WarGames 2023 match at Survivor Series.

Predictions for WarGames

In the War Games 2023 match, the team of Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, and Randy Orton were discussed with a hint of potential tension, considering each member’s storied past with Orton.

• Drew McIntyre and The Judgment Day will battle against World Heavyweight Champion Seth Freakin Rollins, Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, and Sami Zayn.
• The Judgment Day has dominated Raw, inflicting brutal beatdowns on Rollins, Rhodes, Uso, and Zayn.
• JD McDonagh has joined The Judgment Day, adding more offence to their ranks.
• McIntyre announced he would fight alongside The Judgment Day after they cost Uso and Rhodes the WWE Tag Team Titles.
• Randy Orton will join the Rollins, Rhodes, Uso, and Zayn team in the WarGames 2023 structure.

Will CM Punk Enter War Games 2023?

Co-hosts Dave Simon and Johnny North candidly discussed CM Punk’s potential return to the WWE at Survivor Series War Games 2023. Simon wanted to see CM Punk back in the ring regardless of the promotion, citing time and injuries as limiting factors for the wrestler’s career. Despite anticipation among fans, especially with the event being in Punk’s hometown of Chicago, Dave acknowledged that less than 24 hours before Survivor Series, there were no signs of Punk’s appearance.

CM Makes Triumphant WWE Return at War Games 2023

Johnny and Dave discussed the aftermath of Punk’s departure from AEW and speculated about WWE’s need for a big surprise at War Games. While they agreed that Punk’s presence would have enhanced the show, they also acknowledged that WWE has enough star power to sustain the event without him. The hosts acknowledged Punk’s complex history with wrestling promotions but noted that his star power made him a valuable asset, much like other challenging personalities in wrestling’s past. However, given current circumstances and WWE’s direction, they both believed that a CM Punk appearance at Survivor Series War Games 2023 was unlikely.

Predictions for the AEW Continental Classic Tournament

Jon Moxley’s Predictions

Dave Simon and Johnny North predict Jon Moxley will finish the AEW Continental Classic tournament with 13 points. They foresee Moxley achieving victories over several opponents, including Swerve and Rush, but potentially having a double count-out with Jay White.

Jay White’s Predictions

Jay White is expected to end up with 10 points. The hosts anticipate a tough tournament for White, including a draw with Moxley and a loss to Swerve, but victories over Jay Lethal and Mark Briscoe.

Swerve’s Predictions

Swerve is predicted to amass 12 points, with Simon and North predicting wins against Mark Briscoe and Rush but a loss to Jon Moxley.

Jay Lethal’s Predictions

The co-hosts do not see a bright outcome for Jay Lethal, anticipating that he may not win any matches.

Mark Briscoe’s Predictions

Mark Briscoe is also expected to have a challenging tournament, with the co-hosts foreseeing him only getting a win over Jay Lethal.

Rush’s Predictions

Rush is predicted to secure victories against Mark Briscoe and Jay Lethal, finishing with six points, according to the hosts’ discussions.

Still Unpredictable

The hosts also delve into the potential outcomes for the Blue League, with discussions around Brian Danielson, Brody King, Andrade, Claudio Castagnoli, Daniel Garcia, and Eddie Kingston. They consider various match-ups, with a strong focus on how these outcomes could affect the tournament’s standings and the credibility of the AEW Continental Classic.

In the end, Dave Simon and Johnny North reflect on the unpredictable nature of AEW’s booking and the challenges of making an accurate prediction, especially as they have yet to reveal who “the Devil” is. They also discuss the broader implications for the wrestlers involved, such as Jay White’s booking at a recent pay-per-view and potential storylines leading into the tournament finals.