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The WarGames concept was the brainchild of Dusty Rhodes, the American Dream. Introduced in 1987, the unique match type debuted in Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). It was eventually adopted by WCW, where it became an annual tradition.
However, it took WWE nearly two decades to revive the WarGames matches. From 2017 to 2021, the match was exclusively held at NXT Takeover in the Thanksgiving season. Beginning in 2022, Triple H brought the concept to the main roster, which annually occurs at Survivor Series.
More than 10 such matches have occurred under the WWE banner, and here, we list three must-see ones. Considering the large number of battles that have occurred inside the steel cage covering two rings, some honorable mentions are worth noting:
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- Team 2.0 vs. Team Black and Gold (2021)
- Rhea Ripley, Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, and Tegan Nox vs. Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, Io Shirai, and Kay Lee Ray (2019)
- Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, and Randy Orton vs. The Judgment Day and Drew McIntyre (2023)
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Disclaimer: This list is far from exhaustive and exclusively represents the author's views alone.
#3. The Bloodline vs. The Brawling Brutes, Drew McIntyre, and Kevin Owens (Survivor Series: WarGames 2022)
The first-ever Men's WarGames match on the main roster was a "banger," which isn't surprising considering the wealth of talent involved. However, this bout will forever be remembered as a storytelling masterpiece.
The main story heading into the bout was Sami Zayn's divided loyalties as The Honorary Uce of The Bloodline and Kevin Owens' best friend. Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, and Solo Sikoa had accepted Zayn, but Jey Uso was reluctant. The WarGames match beautifully developed these dynamics.
The Tribal Chief sent Sami Zayn early to team up with Jey Uso, leading to hesitation. However, Jey became Zayn's biggest fan once the night was over as The Honorary Uce proved his loyalty to The Bloodline.
KO had stunned Reigns to set a three-count, but Zayn stopped the referee. A low blow followed by a Helluva Kick, allowing Jey Uso, his biggest critic, to hit the Uso Splash for the victory. A united Bloodline stood tall to close the show.
The WarGames match should have the ideal blend of action and drama. The Bloodline vs. The Brawling Brutes, Drew McIntyre, and Kevin Owens at Survivor Series 2022 struck this delicate balance.
#2. The Undisputed Era vs. SAnitY vs. Roderick Strong and The Authors of Pain (NXT Takeover WarGames: 2017)
When WWE announced the return of WarGames in NXT, excitement levels were through the roof. Hence, the iconic clash between The Undisputed Era vs. SAnitY vs. Roderick Strong and The Authors of Pain benefitted from the novelty surrounding the concept.
WWE made a few changes from the previous version as there was no roof and pinfalls were allowed. However, the bout will be remembered for the breathtaking in-ring action, the energetic crowd, and the renaissance of Tag Team wrestling.
The match showcased the talent of NXT's Tag Team division. Old-school powerhouses in The Authors of Pain aligned with a vengeful Roderick Strong to battle the sinister faction of SAnitY and the rising team of The Undisputed Era.
All nine men were incredibly talented, but as three separate teams fighting for glory, they tore the house down. Killian Dain was the star of the match, but Alexander Wolfe deserves equal credit for the German Suplex he hit off the top rope.
Roderick Strong Superplexing Adam Cole off the top of the cage onto the mass of humanity below was the highlight of the match. Nonetheless, Cole hitting the Shining Wizard to get the win for his team was a good booking decision.
This match laid the roadmap for future WarGames matches and lived up to the sky-high expectations. Hence, it was a must-see encounter.
#1. The Undisputed Era vs. Tommaso Ciampa, Keith Lee, Dominik Dijakovic, and Kevin Owens (NXT TakeOver WarGames: 2019)
As mentioned previously, a great WarGames match has intense in-ring action and incredible storytelling. However, the best ones ought to have more drama and genuine surprises, which is why the Men's WarGames match at TakeOver in 2019 is fondly remembered.
The Undisputed Era was at the top of its game in 2019, holding all the gold in the black-and-yellow brand. Tommaso Ciampa had stepped up to the dominant faction, but his treacherous nature had eluded him of reliable allies.
Surprisingly, Ciampa's former rivals, Keith Lee and Dominik Dijakovic, put aside their differences to take down Adam Cole and his friends. Nonetheless, they were still one man short.
Enter Kevin Owens. KO returned towards the final stages of the match. He received a massive pop as he came back in his original NXT attire. A genuine surprise that added so much to the battle, this was the turning point.
This clash had star power, tension with several combustible elements (the rocky relationship between Ciampa and his allies, brutality (a core ingredient), and surprises.
