wrestling / TV Reports
Winfree’s WWE Survivor Series: WarGames Review 11.30.24
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of WWE Survivor Series, I’m Robert Winfree and this marks the third year in a row I’ve been tapped to cover this event. We’ve got a couple of WarGames tonight, one women’s and one men’s as well as three total tight matches. Not Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens, something of relevance has to headline Saturday Night’s Main Event coming up and those two got that particular nod. Instead we’ve got Gunther vs. Damian Priest for Gunther’s title, LA Knight defending the US title against the recently returned evil Shinsuke Nakamura, and a triple threat for the Intercontinental title when Bron Breakker, Sheamus, and Ludwig Kaiser all squaring up. On the WarGames side of things the women’s face team won the advantage, which usually is an odd choice and the only time I’ve felt it actually worked was two years ago when the faces had the advantage over the Bloodline but the emotional core of that story was about Sami Zayn earning his stripes so him and Jey being out manned for a lot of it kind of worked, plus it preserved Roman Reigns as the final entrant. Here I think it indicates either one of the women turning heel, Naomi or Bayley being the chief possibilities since Bianca Belair taking out Jade Cargill creates a ton of logical plot holes while Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley are very detached from that segment of the team. Honestly Bayley hasn’t been a face for too long after a lengthy heel run so of the two Naomi might be due a change of alignment. Of course the heels being at a disadvantage could also be indicating Liv Morgan coming out last then just choosing to run away rather than face the wrath of Rhea Ripley, and eyes should be kept on Tiffany Stratton since both women’s champions are in this match she could cash in on either Morgan or Nia Jax if the opportune moment arises. The men’s side of things is much more straight forward, Solo Sikoa’s new Bloodline crew plus Bronson Reed trying to finally subjugate the originals plus CM Punk. I fully expect Jacob Fatu to do something insane here, and Tonga Loa’s punches will continue to be the dirt worst. I have high hopes for Gunther vs. Priest since Gunther is basically my favorite bell to bell wrestler right now and their first match was quite good. Knight and Nakamura had too abbreviated a build to be special, but Sheamus, Kaiser, and Bron have been tearing it up on RAW for a while now so that should be solid. Well that’s my preamble, let’s get to the action.
We see the heel women walking in the back as Michael Cole and Corey Graves welcome us to Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We also see the face women walking in the back. The cavalcade continues as we see pretty much everyone walking in the back at some point who’s on the card then get the usually intro/hype video. Everyone gets their own entrance, Tiffany Stratton is not carrying her briefcase though.
Match #1 – WarGames: Liv Morgan, Tiffany Stratton, Candice LeRae, Raquel Rodriguez, and Nia Jax vs. Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Naomi, Bayley, and Iyo Sky
Bayley starts things for the good guys, it was logically her or Belair in that spot. For the heels it’s Jax, that’s a little surprising but Jax and Bayley can work well enough together and Jax can absorb the punishment from being at a deficit. Jax quickly knocks Bayley over and poses because we’re salting already. Some evasive moves from Bayley and a minor communication error already, Bayley settles things with some running elbows then kicks Jax out of the corner. Jax misses some stomps but does land a headbutt. Bayley moves between the rings and continues avoiding Jax then snaps her though the ropes. They start trading strikes between the rings then Jax and Bayley move to the second ring. This has been an inauspicious start. Bayley with a chop then a hurricanrana, she takes off part of her gear and starts whipping Jax with the sleeve before Jax gets it away from her and returns the favor. Jax wastes some time but the hits a hip attack to Bayley who’s between the rings. Bayley is able to bounce Jax into the cage then land a running knee but a second one is countered with an avalanche from Jax. Jax tosses Bayley into the cage, then Jax hits a hip attack to squash Bayley into the cage.
Naomi heads to the ring next. Naomi gets a kendo stick from under the ring and starts laying into Jax with it, then chokes he with it. There’s also a toilet seat in the ring now, OK then. Some kicks from Naomi, then a mule kick and scissors kick as she’s running through her usual stuff. Bayley is mostly recovered now and she and Naomi double team Jax for a bit. Jax gets the kendo stick though and attacks both Bayley and Naomi with it then uses the toilet seat by putting it on Naomi but Bayley with more kendo stick shots. Naomi puts the toilet seat on Jax now then with the Stink Face to Jax. Jax fights back with a double headbutt then takes a double back body drop.
Candice cuts off Tiffany’s attempt to get into the match. Candice tosses some chairs into the ring and Jax whacks Bayley and Naomi with one, there’s another awkward spot in that sequence. Bayley and Naomi avoid chair shots and fight back, pinning Jax in the corner with a chair. Candice saves Jax and rams Naomi into a chair then hits the Codebreaker into a senton to hit both Bayley and Naomi. Jax and Candice move the chairs into the second ring and set them up then bridge a chair across two of them. Naomi fights back on Candice as Bayley occupies Jax in a corner. Jax is able to save Candice from a 1D on the chair bridge then Bayley gets set on that structure and Candice with the Lionsault onto Bayley.
Belair runs down for the good guys and brings a trashcan to throw at Jax then also gets a fire extinguisher, and then finds a table to a big pop. Naomi runs over to help Belair with her plunder. Belair with another chair and she whacks Candice with it once she enters the ring. Candice tries a poisoned rana but Belair counters into a reverse Alabama Slam into the corner. Belair dropkicks a chair into Jax then she and Naomi start double teaming Jax in the corner. They just kind of kill some time, Bayley drops Candice with a back suplex then Naomi with a basement dropkick on Jax.
Tiffany enters now to a decent pop and she gets a trashcan and a lid for it to go into the ring. Tiffany uses the lid to whack Belair and Naomi then drops Naomi with a spinebuster. Handspring back elbow to Belair then she catapults Bayley into a Jax clothesline. Naomi and Belair get launched into each other, then Tiffany holds Naomi for a Jax leg drop. Belair takes a Samoan Drop and blockbuster from Jax and Tiffany. Bayley tries a chair but Tiffany uses it against her. Naomi and Jax head to the second ring where Naomi attacks Jax with the chair and an enziguri. Bayley snaps Tiffany through the ropes and here comes the next good guy.
Iyo runs down and will likely do something crazy. Iyo finds a purple trashcan then climbs the cage with it, she gets up top with the can and Candice climbs up to meet her there. They fight over position for a bit then Iyo sets the can on one of the corner platforms before trying a sunset bomb off the cage but doesn’t land it. Ultimately Iyo just cracks Candice with a dropkick. Tiffany and Iyo square up and trade some gymnastic routines. Iyo avoids a double stomp then hits Tiffany with a chair, and a chair shot for Candice as well. Jax eventually runs Iyo over to stop the fun.
Raquel heads down next to no pop. Raquel finds a table which gets a little pop but she just drops it and apparently can’t find what she’s looking for so just heads in and hits Iyo with a fall away slam into the cage. Naomi gets tossed into the cage but Bayley is here to save Belair from the same fate. Jax breaks that up so Raquel and she team up to attack Belair and Bayley. Jax and Raquel with the Super Collider to Naomi and Iyo and the faces are laid out pretty much entirely by just Jax and Raquel. That does set the stage for Ripley though.
Ripley picks the table that Raquel left behind and sends it into the ring through Raquel. Ripley then dropkicks Jax but Tiffany cuts her off. Bayley and Naomi re-enter the fray and Naomi hits a double rear view to Jax and Raquel. Everyone stands and the faces get together and abuse the bad guys with all kinds of weapons. Candice takes a braid shot from Belair then Belair gets a chair booted into her face. Naomi with a bulldog to Raquel but Jax runs her over. Ripley headbutts Jax repeatedly and stands tall as the clock runs down for Morgan.
Morgan looks terrified as she exits the holding cell, and she just runs to the back to get a baseball bat. With some courage secured she walks to the ring and enters so the match officially begins. Belair wipes out Raquel and Ripley rakes off her mask then lays into Morgan. Jax breaks up a Riptide and everyone starts stomping on Ripley. Morgan wants to hit her with the bat again and whacks her in the ribs a few times. Morgan brought in handcuffs and the heels try to cuff Ripley to the ropes but Ripley fights back then Bayley gets involved. Iyo with a double jump dropkick to Jax, Tiffany then hits her with a double stomp. Everyone gets some stuff in now culminating with Bayley launching Morgan into a corner then taking a Samoan Drop from Jax for a 2 count. Tiffany and Iyo climb different ends of the cage, Iyo has her purple trashcan and dons it because she’s nuts and then moonsaults onto half the people while Tiffany hits a Swanton onto the other half of the participants and everyone’s down.
Tiffany gets the other trashcan and looks through it for all kinds of plunder, eventually finding her MITB briefcase as both champs are down. She could cash in and thinks about it, but Raquel halts that then Iyo shows up spraying the fire extinguisher and Ripley is able to cuff Raquel in the corner. Jax fights back and gets her minions to try and set tables up, there are two of them in play. Tiffany and Candice set up the table in the second ring. Candice and Belair fight on the top rope, Belair then drops Candice on the top rope but the camera misses it. Jax with a Samoan Drop to Belair then a leg drop for a 2 count as Iyo and Bayley break it up. The two former friends stare off then argue long enough for Jax to run them both over. Jax then hits Belair with her own braid for a bit and sets her on a table then looks for an Annihilator through it but Belair gets free then she and Naomi powerbomb Jax through the table but Morgan breaks up the pin with a bat shot. Morgan runs wild with the bat for a bit then Belair takes it from her and chases her with a chair but Raquel is able to boot Belair. Morgan then takes out Bayley with a chair assisted ObLIVion only for Ripley to break it up. Ripley tries another Riptide but Raquel saves her. A chair assisted Codebreaker from Morgan to Ripley, then she puts Ripley on a table and climbs but Ripley chops her. Ripley up on the ropes with Morgan and they fight for position. Ripley eventually lands another headbutt, then an avalanche Riptide through the table to end things.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Iyo SKy, Naomi, and Bayley won in 38:10
Rating: 3.5 stars
Thoughts: This had a really rough start and that drags it down from 4 star territory but once things got going it was pretty good down the stretch. Tiffany came out looking pretty good and Iyo did her usual crazy stuff. Not the best women’s WarGames but hardly a bad outing.
Post match the faces all climb the cage and pose together atop it.
Nakamura’s new heel theme is really growing on me, the man has a really menacing presentation going on right now and I dig it. LA Knight got his usual big pop.
Match #2 – US Title Match: (c) LA Knight vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
They circle, Knight seems just a little flustered but avoids a kick. Nakamura eventually ties up with Knight and backs him into the corner then lands a shot to the neck. Knees from Nakamura then a kick to the back. Knight comes out of the corner with a clothesline then lays in mounted punches. Suplex from Knight gets barely a 1 count. Stomps from Knight but Nakamura rolls out of the ring then Knight follows with a dropkick through the ropes. Some ringside brawling now and Nakamura rams Knight into the barricade a few times. Knight bounces Nakamura off the apron a handful of times then they head back into the ring. Crosschop from Nakamura but Knight then hangs him up on the ropes and drops an elbow from the second rope. Nakamura slings Knight into the ropes then hits his misdirection back elbow and follows with an ax kick and a dropkick for a 2 count. A few more strikes from Nakamura then he puts Knight on the top rope for the running knee to the body which sends Knight out of the ring. Knight rolls back into the ring but Nakamura greets him with kicks to the body and head then Knight catches him with a Stun Gun to stifle things.
DDT from Knight gets a 2 count. Nakamura lands a kick but Knight then catches him with a very safe Burning Hammer variant, more an inverted Death Valley Driver. Knight sets Nakamura on the top rope and climbs up, gets knocked down but then jumps up top but Nakamura slips under him and crotches him on the top rope. Nakamura then tries an avalanche reverse exploder, Knight fights him off but Nakamura kicks him in the back of the head then hits the avalanche reverse exploder suplex but only finds a near fall. Now Nakamura sets for the Kinshasa but Knight avoids it and hits an Ore Ga Taue then follows with the Mega Star Elbow. Knight wants Blunt Force Trauma, but Nakamura falls between the rings then hits Knight and they fight over a suplex between the rings, Nakamura rakes the eyes then hits a reverse DDT on the metal between the rings. That can’t have felt good. Nakamura sets for the Kinshasa and crushes in the back of Knight’s head with it to get the win and the title.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Shinsuke Nakamura won the title in 9:41
Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: Surprisingly good given the short build, Knight wrestled like a man a little off of his game and I have credit him for that because it’s a hard line to walk making that look intentional rather than sloppy and he nailed the difference. Nakamura getting a title this quickly is surprising, I half expected him to get disqualified here. Good stuff from both men.
In the back Akira Tozawa and Maxxine try to get Otis out of a room, this is just a commercial bit for True Classic.
UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is here, 0 pop which is totally expected.
Match #3 – Intercontinental Title Triple Threat Match: (c) Bron Breakker vs. Ludwig Kaiser vs. Sheamus
Everyone stares off at first, Sheamus and Bron seem to menace Kaiser so Kaiser powders. That works for Bron who attacks Sheamus and they trade punches. Kick from Sheamus then Bron drops him with a throw. Kaiser gets a chair and swings at Bron but Bron avoids it and runs him over with a clothesline. Sheamus gets backed into the corner but fights out of it and hits the Irish Curse then another one to Bron for good measure. Kaiser kicks the leg of Sheamus then hits a nice dropkick to the ribs of Bron. Kaiser wedges the chair in a corner but Sheamus and Bron both have had enough of him and start punching him down. Shoulder blocks to Kaiser then Bron clotheslines down Sheamus who rolls out of the ring. Bron tries to run around and Spear Sheamus but Kaiser intercepts with a baseball slide then runs around to dropkick Sheamus into the ring steps. Kaiser throws Sheamus into the announce table then Bron flies into frame and tackles Kaiser down then hits him with an exploder suplex on the floor. Bron and Sheamus start trading punches on the floor, the crowd is now pro Sheamus as Bron double legs Sheamus and punches him.
Sheamus and Bron head back into the ring where Bron stomps away at Sheamus, Sheamus tries to fight back but Bron cuts him off with a Kitchen Sink knee lift. Some trash talk from Bron but Sheamus fires up with punches then a tilt a whirl power slam and Kaiser has to break up the pin. Kaiser and Sheamus start swinging punches and tumble to the floor. Sheamus goes for a powerbomb but Kaiser fights free then Bron jumps from the apron onto both of them and everyone spills over the top of the announce table. Bron throws Sheamus into the crowd then Kaiser rakes his eyes and throws Bron into the ring steps. Sheamus rises behind Kaiser and goes Bodhran Beating over the barricade, he gets 11 before Bron shows up and Bron gets 10 for his trouble. Sheamus then jumps off the barricade and hits a double clothesline to both Kaiser and Bron. Back in the ring for Sheamus and Kaiser, Kaiser rolls out of the ring quickly and gets the shillelagh on the floor and swings at Sheamus but Sheamus blocks then uses the shillelagh to clothesline Kaiser into the time keepers area.
Bron in the ring calls on Sheamus and Sheamus joins him in the ring and they start the hockey fight. Jumping knee from Bron but Sheamus then hangs him up on the top rope and hits a Razor’s Edge but only a near fall. Now Sheamus tries the avalanche White Noise but Bron slips free then jumps up top with Sheamus to hit a Frankensteiner. Sheamus side steps a Spear and hits a Brogue Kick but Kaiser pulls the ref out of the ring at the last possible second to stop the pin. Sheamus looks incensed at Kaiser and goes to chase him but Kaiser has the shillelagh and wears out Sheamus with a flurry of stick shots. Everyone heads back into the ring, Kaiser still has the shillelagh but Sheamus with a knee to the head but only a near fall and everyone’s down taking a breather. Sheamus is up first but his ribs are done and Kaiser hits a Kaiser Roll then the hammerlock DDT but Bron flies in with a Spear to Kaiser. Bron is pissed, and sets to Spear the spine out of Sheamus and does so to retain the title.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Bron Breakker retained the title in 14:24
Rating: 4 stars
Thoughts: That was exactly what you’d expect from these three, fast paced, hard hitting, and with some excellent use of camera work to compliment their physicality. Hats off to all three men, this was quality work all around.
Match #4 – World Heavyweight Title Match: (c) Gunther vs. Damian Priest
They take their time before the first tie up, then Gunther tries to slip behind then hits a head lock but Priest counters and they trade takedowns then escapes until Priest grabs an arm to slow things down. Gunther tries an arm drag to get free but Priest holds onto the arm and Gunther uses a rope to break. They both miss strikes then Gunther takes a powder to recompose himself. Back in the ring Priest backs Gunther into a corner and Gunther again takes a moment to try and get his head right. Gunther with a kick and some strikes now to try and get his offense rolling but Priest comes out of the corner with a shoulder block but now he’s selling his left arm as Gunther rolls out of the ring. Gunther sees the arm issue and smirks about it before getting back in the ring. A few kicks from Priest now then he avoids a chop and boxes the ears. Gunther with a boot out of the corner then he runs into a flapjack but again that left arm of Priest is in trouble so Gunther kicks the bad arm.
Priest rolls out of the ring but Gunther is with him and rams his bad shoulder into the ring post then launches him into the barricade. Again Gunther slams the arm of Priest into the ring post. Priest with a right hand but then Gunther uppercuts the bad arm. Back in the ring now Gunther zeroes in on the arm of Priest. Priest with body blows to try and get back into this but Gunther cuts him off with a hammerlock then knees to the arm. Gunther’s limb work has always been excellent and this is no exception, Priest is selling quite well as Gunther keeps attacking the arm. Chop from Gunther then he works on a modified Surfboard stretch. Priest fights to his feet and lands some elbows then Gunther chops him. Another right from Priest, Gunther then wrenches the arm and lands a chop. Priest is firing up now though and lands an enziguri to put both men down.
More elbows from Priest then Gunther with an arm breaker but Priest fires up with a flurry of rights. Flatliner from Priest gets a 2 count. Priest hits the ropes but Gunther avoids his clothesline and grabs at a Sleeper then transitions to a powerbomb but Priest slides free and tries the Razor’s Edge only for Gunther to slip free. Priest grabs a gogoplata, or the worlds worst triangle choke but I think he meant for it to be a gogoplata. Gunther gets free but Priest with a thrust kick then powers him up for the Razor’s Edge but the arm gives out and Gunther grabs the Sleeper hold. Now Gunther with the powerbomb but only a 2 count. Gunther goes up top for the Splash but Priest punches him on the top rope. They fight for position, Priest all the way up top and hits an avalanche hurricanrana then hits the Razor’s Edge but his cover is quite poor and Gunther rolls the shoulder up before the pin. The straps come down for Priest, he tries South of Heaven but Gunther chops his way free then hits a double wrist lock into a Kimura. Gunther cranks the Kimura but Priest scrambles to the ropes and forces the break.
The crowd tries to rally Priest, but Gunther hits him with a short arm clothesline. Another clothesline from Gunther, Priest just calls him on from his back then Priest with his own clothesline. Priest with the rebound clothesline off the ropes gets a near fall. Priest now goes up top, Gunther hits the ropes to crotch him up there. Gunther with some chops but climbs up with Priest, Gunther wants a superplex from the very top but Priest shoves him down but Priest falls to the floor and that did not look planned. The ref checks on Gunther in the ring and Finn Balor with a Coup de Grace from the steps to the fallen Priest so that fall from Priest was planned and just looked incredibly real so kudos. Gunther boots Balor just because he can, then rolls Priest into the ring to hit a definitive powerbomb, then lays in hammer and anvil elbows before locking in a modified Sleeper hold with one arm caught and Priest goes out.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Gunther retained the title in 19:17
Rating: 4 stars
Thoughts: Maybe a little long but not by much, Priest and Gunther have solid chemistry and Gunther showed some really nice limb work while Priest sold it incredibly well. I’m not sure the near 20 minutes was fully used well but that’s a minor complaint. Very good psychology from both men and they told a very good physical story.
Post match Balor makes his angry face from the ramp while Priest sells the arm and Gunther kisses the belt.
All of Solo’s crew come out together, my hunch is Tama Tonga starts for them. Yep, there he goes. The faces come out one at a time, it’s either Jey or Sami to start for them logically, I’ll guess Jey. Jey actually is the last of the good guys to come out and heads straight to the ring through the crowd.
Match #5 – WarGames: Solo Sikoa, Bronson Reed, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu vs. Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, Jimmy Uso, and CM Punk
Jey and Tama stare at each other between the rings, Jey approaches towards Tama then they slowly start circling. Eventually they just start trading punches with Jey getting the better of things. Solid right hand from Jey then some corner work. Tama avoids an enziguri then hits a sliding clothesline. Gator roll from Tama into a version of the Falcon Arrow. The crowd is busy chanting for the good guys who are locked in the holding cage rather than what’s going on in the ring. Tama with a hilo then some punches but Jey starts fighting back to get the crowd to care about this but Tama sends him hard into the corner and mocks him. Splash from Tama and he tries for a cover, not sure if legitimate botch or now but he got a “you fucked up” chant. Jey fires up with an enziguri then a corner hip attack.
For the heels out comes Reed. Smart to keep Botcha Loa out of this as long as is reasonable. Reed throws quite a few chairs into the ring but Jey throws them at him as he gets in the ring then Reed swats one out of the air. Jey with some punches but Reed with an avalanche to drop him and cut him off. Reed with a few chair shots to Jey then he drops Tama onto Jey and follows with a senton for good measure. Tama and Reed stomp on Jey in a corner then Reed stands on Jey for a bit. More corner work to Jey, the poor man gets squished in the corner to set up the next entrant.
Jimmy makes the run down to help his brother. No weapons for Jimmy and he just unloads kicks to Tama and Reed then Jimmy and Jey double team Reed with superkicks. Jimmy uppercuts Tama then hits a Whisper in the Wind to drop both Reed and Tama. Jimmy and Jey with tandem offense to Reed and Tama. Tama gets bounced off the cage then we get stereo 10 punches to Tama and Reed. Reed gets launched into the cage to set up Loa heading down presumably.
Loa tries but Solo stops him and sends out the Samoan Werewolf Jacob Fatu instead. Fatu doesn’t bring a weapon besides himself into the ring, Jimmy and Jey both jump him but Fatu rams Jimmy into the cage, Jey with a Samoan Drop to Fatu but he pops up and hits a spinning elbow to Jey. Jimmy gets slammed again into the cage then Fatu headbutts Jey. Fatu with a handspring moonsault that bounces Jimmy into the cage then lands on Jey. Reed and Tama show up again now that Fatu has done all the work, they hit the Ragnarok triple team slam on Jey. Fatu then hip attacks Jimmy into the cage because he’s a menace.
For the good guys Roman stops Punk’s entrance and sends out Sami instead. Punk stares down Roman but Sami is the one who heads into the fray. Sami again without sending in more weapons, he runs wild on Tama first then punches away at Reed. Reed misses a corner splash and Sami with a 10 punch to the big man. Between the ropes Sami stomps away at Reed then heads up top and tries a crossbody but Fatu catches him so Jimmy superkicks Fatu. Jimmy and Sami with their hand shake then hug and stomp away at Fatu. All three of them start attacking Reed in the corner. Sami moves over to throw Tama into the cage. Reed headbutts Jimmy down but Sami saves Jimmy only for Fatu to attack him. Fatu then hits Jimmy with an Implant DDT but Jimmy kind of botched that.
Loa heads down and I’m sure everything is about to get worse. Loa goes under the ring and finds a table, that gets him the biggest pop of his career I’m sure but he can’t get it in the ring so Fatu comes over to help him. Another table from Loa then he heads into the ring. Jey takes a clothesline from Loa. Tama and Loa double team Sami while Reed and Fatu do some construction. Jimmy gets sent into the cage by Fatu. Loa with a Snake Eyes to Sami then squashes him into the cage. One of those tables is set against a corner and Fatu hits a springboard moonsault to Jey because he’s a maniac. Jimmy is in a corner and Tama kicks a chair into him.
For the good guys the door opens and Punk pushes past Roman to get into the match. Roman isn’t happy about that, Punk stares down Reed, Fatu, and Tama then looks to just leave. Punk ponders but goes under the ring for a toolbox and heads into the ring with it then brains Fatu, Tama, Reed, and Loa with it. More shots to Loa from Punk, pretty safe shots for what it’s worth. Knee to Reed, then one to Tama as well and one to Fatu then a bulldog onto the box but Fatu just pops up and no sells it then kills Punk with a pop up Samoan Drop. Seriously, Fatu is the star of this thing so far. Everyone starts brawling now and Reed launches Sami into the cage. Jey takes some corner offense as the last heel heads down.
Solo takes a minute to star down Roman in the cages then heads to the ring. Solo slams the cage door into Sami, then the same for Jey and Jimmy before heading into the ring. Sami takes a Spinning Solo, then Jimmy takes the finisher from Tama and Loa. Jey takes the Guerilla’s finisher as well. Fatu with the double jump moonsault to Jimmy and Jey. Reed now with a Tsunami to Sami. Punk is isolated now but he tries to fight only to get mauled by the numbers game. Solo gets the chain to lock the cage and actually locks the door closed to keep Roman out whenever his time is up.
Speaking of, here comes Roman. Roman walks to the ring as the entire new group stares him down. He can’t get in through the door and takes a bit too long to make the logical decision to climb over the cage. Roman climbs to the top of the cage, Tama and Loa meet him but get punched down. Reed up as well but Roman bounces him into the cage and Reed crotches himself. Eventually Roman gets to bounce Solo around then he jumps from the top rope onto all the heels to wipe them out. Roman with punches to everyone then he heads to rally his team so everyone can stare at each other from different rings. Notably Roman does not help Punk to his feet. Punk and Roman stare and jaw jack but Heyman walks down to yell at them and get them to put aside differences as the match now officially begins with everyone in the cage.
Everyone stares at each other across the rings and we get the big brawl between the rings. Punk has squared off with Fatu, Roman with Solo as well. Sami with a lovely tornado DDT to Reed. Loa with ugly punches to Sami but Jimmy and Jey with superkicks to Tama and Loa then stereo Splashes to take them out of action for a bit. Solo and Fatu show up to take out the Usos. Solo tosses Jey into the cage then tries to sic Fatu on Roman and Punk. Punk attacks Solo while Roman fights Fatu then they switch opponents. Fatu tries the Implant DDT on Punk but he avoids it and Roman tries to Spear Solo but Solo dodges and Roman Spears Punk instead. Solo with a Samoan Spike to Roman but only a near fall as Roman’s near falls remain the best. Reed enters to grab Punk and hit a Death Valley Driver, Fatu then tries a double jump moonsault but did not do it well and he’s down holding his right knee. Sami shows up to attack Tama while a few people check on Fatu. Jimmy and Loa fight for a bit, everyone’s trying to reset while Fatu holds his knee and has slipped into a corner to stay out of the way. Fatu stands, still limping pretty badly and Roman hits him with a low blow then Spears the heck out of Solo. The table is set up by now, and Reed superkicks Roman. Reed puts Roman on the table and goes for the Tsunami, oh wait that madman is going all the way up top of the cage and tries the Tsunami but Punk pulls Roman out of the way and Reed wipes out himself and that poor table.
Roman is shocked by that but takes a moment to offer a hand to the downed Punk, Punk accepts and Fatu attacks them both with superkicks because he’s a madman. Roman with a superman punch to Fatu but Solo hits Roman with a couple of Samoan Spikes only for Jimmy and Jey to break up the pin. Fatu fights the Usos off but he’s on one leg and the Usos unload a bevy of superkicks to the Werewolf then hit a 1D to him. Jey sets up a table and Jimmy climbs to the top rope, Jey puts Fatu on the table, Jey then Spears Loa but Tama shows up to complicate things then Sami with a Blue Thunder Bomb to Loa. Jimmy climbs all the way to the top of the cage now looking for the Splash to Fatu and hits it to put Fatu through the table but there’s no pin and everyone is down.
Sami pulls himself up and then helps Jimmy up, then helps Jey and they all stagger over to the second ring with everyone else in it. Sami pulls Punk up and the Usos help Roman. Solo is all alone, Reed is still down after wiping out. Roman offers Solo a chance to surrender, Solo wont so he gets superkicks galore, a Helluva Kick from Sami, a Go To Sleep from Punk then a Spear from Roman to end things as Roman pins Solo.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, and CM Punk won in 41:55
Rating: 4.5 stars
Thoughts: Apart from the potential injury to Fatu this was great. Violent, high paced, plenty of narrative call backs to everyone involved, only Loa really didn’t shine in any capacity and Fatu in particular came out of this looking like a shining star and hopefully he didn’t get injured on that moonsault spot.
Post match the Bloodline celebrate while Punk looks on. Everyone but Roman heads over one by one to shake hands and hug Punk. Sami tries to play a bit of peacemaker as well and Roman and Punk face off then Roman extends a hand and the two shake but the tension is still there along with the respect. Paul Heyman looks quite pleased as the good guys pose and pyro goes off. The faces all head out of the cage, Heyman is waiting and hugs Punk, Heyman thanks Punk and Punk says he’ll come for his favor and Heyman says it’s his. Roman is the last to exit and rubs Heyman’s face then leads his crew to the back. Jimmy looks to be limping a bit, might just be selling but he might have banged up his knee on that last Splash too. The whole winning team makes one final pose at the top of the entrance way to close the show.
Thanks for reading everyone, I appreciate you be it live or after the fact. Stay safe out there and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.
More Trending Stories
- Kaitlyn Recalls Vince McMahon Laughing After Her Accidental Battle Royal Win
- Ricky Starks Recalls Being Told To Be Grateful For His Job After CM Punk Was Fired From AEW
- Conflicting Reports on Health of Jade Cargill After WWE Injury Storyline
- Paul Heyman Reveals That CM Punk Was Dragged Down in WWE Because of Perception of Him as a ‘Paul Heyman Guy’
