While his WarGames tag team partner Seth Rollins was not happy to see CM Punk, Cody Rhodes had a different outlook on the return of the very unpredictable former WWE and AEW champion.
In the post-show press conference, Rhodes had a positive tone and looked forward to Punk to see what he brings to the table.
“If he can help with what where we are going and what we’re doing, absolutely…welcome aboard, welcome aboard,” Cody said in his usual meticulous press answers.
“And I have a feeling that the CM Punk that potentially we’re getting is hungry,” Rhodes added. “And that’s the best. That’s the best, when someone’s hungry, when somebody wants it, when it’s real.”
Cody praised WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H and WWE President Nick Khan for doing the deal.
“You can ask all the boys and girls till they’re blue in the face, how do you feel? You might get up, you might get down and a wide range of emotions but the first thing is always business,” Cody continued, adding that he feels like everybody wants to be in WWE at the moment.
Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch joked that they are “dating again” and they’ll see how it goes after making amends with each other following a very public fallout a couple of years ago.
The two best friends who turned enemies were all smiles yesterday at the post-Survivor Series press conference, sitting next to each other after their WarGames match earlier in the night.
“We’re just courting each other again, let’s ah, take it easy, we’ll get there…we’ll get there,” Becky added.
The Man was especially very emotional talking about the two reuniting, saying they have made a lot of history individually.
“But the most history we’ve made has been together,” Becky said. “And probably the best history that we’ve made,” she continued, as she shed a tear.
“It’s getting dusty in here come on,” she said as Charlotte grabbed her hand.
Flair added, “I just think we bring the best in each other. When we hug at the same time, you could feel that electricity. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for her and she wouldn’t be where she was if it wasn’t for me, so I think that just never goes away.”
CM Punk left the Allstate Arena yesterday on his own in his Mercedes SUV and his car was mobbed by fans chanting for him.
Videos online show Punk stopping his car and acknowledging the fans, even taking a selfie and signed an autograph while in the car as police in front of him then told him to move it.
Fans inside the Allstate Arena chanted for him several times, often very loud, until the surprise return which blew the roof off the place.
WWE quickly released a CM Punk t-shirt which is now available on WWE Shop and certainly a hot seller at the WWE Survivor Series Superstore today.
CM Punk leaving the Allstate Arena tonight after returning at #SurvivorSeries:
Seth Rollins was not happy to see CM Punk back yesterday and had to be restrained by officials, Michael Cole, and Corey Graves as he threw middle fingers and a lot of “f*ck you” to Punk who was across him on the other end of the aisle.
Footage on social media shows an angry World Heavyweight champion at ringside being held back, possibly revealing Punk’s first feud in WWE in almost 10 years.
In previous interviews, Rollins said he did not like CM Punk and that WWE didn’t need the former champion back.
Of course, this was all part of the show as it was done in full view of the 17,000+ fans still inside the Allstate Arena who were still shocked to see Punk return.
One man who was not bothered by his return was Randy Orton, who sat down in the ring and pointed to his watch at Punk, with Punk responding by doing the Orton pose. The two then waved to each other.
Seth Rollins about CM Punk: “All I’m saying is he better get the fuck outta by the time I get back there, I’m gunna knock him the fuck out” 💀 pic.twitter.com/GRYlFigTfQ
PWInsider.com is reporting that the deal between WWE and CM Punk was signed yesterday just hours before the Survivor Series and that Punk is signed on a multi-year deal.
Now, if that will be completed is a whole other story considering the history of CM Punk in both WWE and AEW.
Meanwhile, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select adds that Triple H and CM Punk had a long conversation earlier in the week where both of them cleared the air and decided they want to get back in business. Things were kept so quite that only a handful of people were aware of what was coming and Triple H took over producing the final few minutes of the show as the majority where clueless.
Punk rolled into backstage in plain sight before he was set to walk out to Cult of Personality, although an area backstage was cleared off to accommodate the surprise.
It was also noted that all 10 participants in the WarGames match were told that CM Punk was coming out following the match just minutes before they actually went out, so all of them were aware of the surprise that was coming.
Addressing the “elephant in the room,” WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H said at the post-show press conference that the deal with CM Punk came “super quick” which is why it remained tight and did not leak.
He said all the speculation leading up to the show were just that and things moved quickly once that speculation died down a little bit.
Triple H told the press that he’s extremely excited to have Punk back and it’s been almost 10 years since he’s been gone.
“If you are the same the person you were 10 years ago 10 years later, you’ve messed up,” Triple H said. “I’m a different person, he’s a different person, this is a different company, we’re all on the same even starting ground.”
Asked what’s next for Punk in WWE, Triple H said it will be an interesting thrill ride and welcomed him back home to WWE where he belongs.
A question was also asked if there was any push from TKO to bring Punk in and Triple H responded saying that there was zero push from them and they’re probably wondering what the hell just went down while watching it on television.
“Myself, Nick Khan…very few people knew about it,” Triple H remarked about the surprise, adding that WWE fans wanted it and he’s ready to run through a wall and deal with whatever comes next when it happens.
The impossible has happened. CM Punk returned to WWE at the Survivor Series, coming out to a monstrous pop after the ending of the main event.
With the show finishing around 15 minutes earlier than usual, you knew something was up and everyone at the Allstate Arena was treated to a huge surprise.
Several loud CM Punk chants rang through the building during the show but when Cult of Personality hit the speakers, fans went ballistic.
Punk came out and absorbed all the love from the crowd and teased the Superstars who stayed in the ring to watch the circus. He celebrated with the fans as Seth Rollins visibly showed his displeasure as to what just happened.
Punk did not approach the ring and stayed at the top of the entrance and did not speak, but you can bet it will be open mic night on Monday!
WWE has teased Punk for several weeks with subtle references throughout Raw and Smackdown and Punk played along on social media.
The former two-time AEW champion was fired from AEW in September following a fight with Jack Perry backstage at All In in London.
This was his first appearance on WWE television since Royal Rumble 2014.
Here are the results from the Survivor Series which took place from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Bayley, and Shotzi defeated Bayley, IYO SKY, Asuka, and Kairi Sane in a WarGames match; Gunther defeated The Miz to retain the Intercontinental title; Santos Escobar defeated Dragon Lee; Rhea Ripley defeated Zoey Stark to retain the Women’s World title; Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Randy Orton, Sami Zayn, and Jey Uso defeated Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh, and Drew McIntyre in a WarGames match.
Tuned in just in time to see the end of Rampage. Wheeler Yuta winning the ROH TV Title via low blow. Then kicking Shibata low again afterward and offering a mock handshake. The guy who lost to Buddy Matthews last week. The guy repping the group for whom Bryan Danielson will be a babyface once the Continental Classic starts. Can the BCC please make their minds up.
*****
All the tournament participants spoke – Garcia called it ‘wrestling’s greatest tournament’. If it is, we’ll tell you, don’t tell us.
The announcers ran through the rules, the Blue group and tonight’s matches. So if you didn’t watch Dynamite, f*** you basically, we’re not going to catch you up on the Gold guys.
Claudio Castagnoli vs Daniel Garcia (Blue Group)
Backstory: Opening round
Nigel said Danielson wasn’t here because he had his period. In reality, he can’t yet fly due to his injury.
Garcia danced on his way out, hopefully Claudio breaks the little twerp’s arms, hips and legs so he can no longer do it.
Claudio ran him through, snatched him into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, power showing through immediately. Then aimed kicks at the gut, bodyslam, Garcia got a boot up, again, leapt into a guillotine body scissors, Claudio countered over into a suplex. Before aiming more mocking kicks at the downed youngster, Garcia tried to fight back and was smashed back down, chops and uppercuts in the corner.
‘Three sensational matches’ on Wednesday per Schiavone.
Claudio again shook off a brief fightback until being knocked off the apron. Garcia did his dance. Screw winning the tournament right? He followed Claudio outside and aimed a running dropkick with the Swiss sat on a chair. But tried it again and was caught and smashed repeatedly into the barricade. Thank you Claudio.
Ads. Nice start. Really enjoy Claudio’s work.
Garcia fired a flurry in the ropes, big slap to the cheek, couple duck unders, Claudio looked for a pop-up uppercut, Garcia again grabbed the guillotine on the way down, Claudio again tried to counter via suplex, Garcia held on behind into a choke. Until being rammed into the buckle, Garcia rolled him up for two, into an ankle lock, Claudio reaching, finally kicking free, Garcia jackknifed the legs for another two count, Claudio smacked him back down, uppercuts in the corner, short-arm clothesline out, count of two.
Hammer and anvil now, quiet enough to hear Claudio counting, Ricola Bomb countered into another two count, Claudio countered the Dragon Tamer into a sharpshooter, dragging the youngster back after he’d nearly reached the ropes, and again; Garcia hooked him into a cradle for nearly three, pop-up uppercut as Claudio got the same.
Another uppercut, Ricola Bomb, win.
Another pretty good tournament match, possibly my favorite so far. Still waiting for this to ‘pop’ with either a truly standout match or interesting twist.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Eddie Kingston promo – he did his usual ‘fourth wall’ stuff addressing the producer etc. He said he’s put two titles on the line, that’s how important this tournament is to him. All he ever wanted to do was wrestle in Japan. And when he finally did, he won a title, yet still he’s putting that on the line because he wants this to be the best tournament in America.
He asked how much longer he had to talk because he needed to go get ready to face Brody King, who isn’t a little guy, isn’t easy to overcome. Then left.
Believable, passionate, honest – you might not like ‘fourth wall’ stuff but otherwise there are few people like Eddie at getting something over. Because he’s genuine, when he says something it carries weight. He didn’t tell us this was the greatest tournament ever, he said he wants it to be.
Killswitch vs the Boys
Backstory: NONE
After one of the Boys had to take a chokeslam over the ropes onto the apron in an effort to get Luchasaurus over, Killswitch won with his new lame lariat to the back. He then chokeslammed the other Boy on a chair.
Do not like sacrificing guys’ bodies in nothing matches like this. I don’t feel any different about Luchasaurus because two guys risked broken backs.
Adam Copeland came out. From behind. With a chair. He wailed away on Saurus, then put him in a crossface using part of the chair. Crowd were completely behind him here as he prepped another con-chair-to. And delivered.
‘Killswitch’ started pulling himself up, a second con-chair-to did the job. Glad they’re giving Copeland an edge here (NPI), he needed one. Doesn’t do a great deal for ‘Killswitch’ on his first night but he doesn’t do a lot for me. They explained Christian wasn’t here btw. But at no point mentioned or showed what happened to Nick Wayne or his mum on Wednesday.
If you don’t emphasize it, it’s not important.
On that subject, they replayed the angle we’d just witnessed after the break.
Winner: Killswitch
Before going back to Lexy trying to speak to Copeland backstage. He came round the corner, said he liked her so warned her to leave. He addressed ‘Jay’, ‘or better yet Christian Cage’. He said everything he’s doing is on Cage. Because Cage was so worried about playing second fiddle to him. Copeland told him when they started that their friendship meant more than anything. But Cage couldn’t see past his jealousy.
He ran through all the despicable things Cage has done, Cage knows he has a short fuse and he finally lit it when he said he’d break Copeland’s neck. Because that was threatening his children’s future, ‘so now I’m hunting you, now I got two heads on the wall’, Cage should go ask his minions what that feels like.
He’s going to take the TNT Title because it’s the most important thing to Cage, even though it’s secondary to Copeland to getting back at him. He challenged him for the December 6th Dynamite.
This was absolutely excellent. In one segment, Copeland’s won me back over with his intensity. This is the appropriate way to respond to what Christian Cage has said and done. Though don’t like him going after the TNT Title, especially after he said it’s secondary. He doesn’t need that belt, it seems like a ratings ploy for a match which doesn’t need a title on the line.
Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews vs Komander & Gravity
Backstory: NONE
Duuuuuuude! It’s been so long since I’ve seen and heard Malakai’s entrance, has to be over a year. Brings back memories of when he was going to be the next monster heel.
Another match with a babyface who’s such a dork I want the heels to just destroy them. To wit – ‘House of Black’ chant from the audience.
Matthews and Gravity to start, the Aussie working the arm, into a headlock, shoulder tackle, vicious kitchen sink, Gravity slipped out of a belly to back, German, enziguri, Malakai in, weird arm drag which looked like Malakai was receiving r/t giving, back elbow, Gravity awkwardly and slowly kipped up to be booted back down.
Komander in via hurracanrana, springboard kick, Matthews distracted him and Malakai hit kicks to both faces and a bridging German for two.
Ads. Some very awkward exchanges between Black & Gravity.
Back to Komander fighting free of Buddy: jawbreaker, leap for the tag, caught and rammed into the HOB corner, Malakai in, double suplex coming – Komander landed on his feet, dodged and rolled, tag to Gravity, diving cross body, chops for both heels, lariats in opposite corners until being kicked away by Black – Buddy threw him into a vicious Malakai knee. HOB then had to stand and wait while Komander tagged in and came off the top, tornado ddt, avoided the End, hit a gutbuster, two only.
To the top, Malakai down, Buddy again distracted Komander, allowing Black to hit a kick and tag out, Gravity in to stop a double superplex, he and Malakai botched something, both HOB ended up outside but caught Gravity out of a dive, he recovered to the apron, Komander rope-walked into a crazy springboard aerial press, crowd liked that.
Both faces tried shooting stars, HOB both got knees up, stereo knee lifts, Gravity given a double-team knee strike, Komander down in the corner, Malakai sat in his pose, beckoning the Mexican toward him, Komander crawled toward Malakai right into a Buddy Curb Stomp.
Had its bright spots but also had very sloppy moments. All involving Gravity. Got to hear Malakai’s music again on the way out.
Winner: Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews
Backstage to Action Andretti and Darius Martin. They talked about teaming for eight months but something’s felt ‘off’ – Dante walked in, they all bumped fists, he announced ‘I’m back’.
Ads.
So yeah they didn’t explain anything if you don’t already know. Which is becoming a theme tonight.
In case you don’t, Dante suffered a gruesome leg injury at an ROH ppv earlier this year and has come back pretty damn quickly considering. Glad he’s feeling better anyway. And hope he can return to form because Top Flight are a very exciting young team.
Julia Hart vs Lady Frost
Backstory: NONE
Julia got a nice pop coming out. Be interesting to see what she can get out of Frost who’s very athletic but very raw (the Darwin Nunez of wrestling? Hopefully not as dumb).
Apparently they’re doing the gimmick again where the HOB’s title matches have random stips. Tonight’s is No Count out. Again, they didn’t explain any of this. We all watch absolutely everything they do right?
Hart backed Frost to the corner, Frost turned the tables, landed a chop, said ‘Ice Cold’ (again, you can hear every word – the crowd are enthusiastic but sound very small). Frost fired more strikes, chops in the ropes, Julia countered a whip, Frost slipped behind, Julia ducked an attack, to the apron, Frost followed, cartwheeling to avoid being tripped off the apron but Julia got her at the second attempt.
Then flung her into the barricade – no count per the rules – before dumping her at the bottom of the ramp as a weak ‘Lady Frost’ chant started (she’s from the area).
The champ grabbed a chair, set it up but was dumped face-first atop the ring steps – Frost missed a moonsault off them and clearly hurt her ankle on the short landing. Julia sat her in the chair on the ramp then clotheslined her off it. Before flinging her back in and bagging two via the first pin of the match.
Frost hit kicks, her ankle seemingly ok, Hart sort-of tripped her down, hit a weak lariat to the back then got the win via Hartless.
Was on the brink of going long.
Winner: Julia Hart
Lexy with Will Hobbs and Don Callis. Hobbs was in a ‘BIG, BLACK & JACKED’ tank. Callis talked about how clever he is yet even he can’t understand Jericho and Omega getting a tag title shot off one match. He said Hobbs is ‘a one man team’, he can take them both out. Hobbs repeated what’s written on his tee then finished with ‘Anyone can get it’. The crowd chanted along with the B.B.J. line.
AEW are clueless sometimes. Just clueless. ‘Ooh, the fans liked that ‘Big, Black & Jacked’ line last week, let’s do it again!’. They just chase anything that gets the slightest reaction. Whether or not it’s good for the characters or their alignment.
It’s absolutely a good line. For a babyface.
Also, not great when heels point out the massive flaws in your booking.
FTR vs the Righteous
Backstory: NONE
Righteous got no reaction as usual. Vincent and Cash began, the latter with tape on his ribs/side. Tag to Dax, drop toe hold/elbow combo for two. Nice to see an early attempt to win a match. Vincent landed a running back elbow and got the tag. Kelly is big into this being an upset.
Dax fired chops out of the corner but was driven back, caught Dutch running in with an elbow, they badly botched Dax’s springboard cross body ‘cause Dutch was looking the wrong way, crowd booed a little, Dax sent both heels outside.
Ads.
Back to Dax in a Vincent sleeper – apparently Dutch hitting a bodyblock during the break was worth replaying. Dax landed chops, avoided a pair of elbow drops, tried a sunset flip, blind tag to Dutch who hit a splash for two. ‘It’s over!’ – to repeat, Kelly is big into this being an upset.
The big guy missed a senton splash, Cash fired the crowd up as Dax made the crawl, Vincent cut him off, Dax slid through the legs, tag, Cash firing jabs and chops to both, leaping lariat – Dutch still standing, a second sent him (just about) over the ropes in a spot straight out of 1988.
Dutch got two via Bossman slam after a blind tag. Cash fought both off again, tag to Dax, Cash rolled through to haul Vincent up into the Big Rig in easily the best spot of the match. Nice finish.
A voice appeared over the speakers – Malakai’s – he called Claudio ‘Cesaro’ and said neither he, Yuta or ‘CM Punk’ would be coming to save them. ‘This place isn’t the brotherhood that you think it is’. The lights went out, then came back up, nothing had happened except FTR had braced for a fight, Malakai cackled, the crowd were non-plussed because they understandably didn’t know what to think.
Are they suddenly making Punk references again to play into the belief among some that he’s the Devil? Because they’d be better to let that sleeping dog lie.
Largely solid tag.
Winner: FTR
They had to replay the Top Flight interview from earlier because TNT apparently cut it off early before. The crowd were amusing themselves with random chants because they’d already seen most of it. In fact all of it. There was nothing here that wasn’t shown earlier, all he said was ‘I’m back’. Despite Schiavone talking about us missing part of his return promo.
*****
They again played the footage of Jericho being attacked post-ppv then Schiavone hit the ring to introduce the tag champs. He asked them to explain the attack. Starks called Jericho a leeching vampire who couldn’t leave him alone. Bill said they looked more like ‘the Golden Girls’ than the Golden Jets.
Starks said he and Bill didn’t even know each other that well, asking Bill when his birthday was – ‘No idea’, Bill replied. Yet they’ll still beat Omega and Jericho.
Bill talked about knowing he’d always make it back to the top, even when he was having seizures from alcohol withdrawal. Or when he couldn’t get out of bed. The crowd cheered that because well, yeah. Seriously is anyone a heel?
Bill said Omega and Jericho were two of the best to ever do this but they didn’t realise what they were dealing with. He and Starks are angry and motivated and will embarrass them. He compared themselves to great basketball pairings of the past including Jordan and Pippen. But doesn’t even see Bill Wennington when he looks at their challengerse (Wennington was like a backup center, does anyone even know who he is anymore?), he compared them to gophers who got Jordan gum (so are they greats or scrubs?).
Starks named flavors of gum he likes then left. Weird.
What’d I say about Starks just doing whatever he likes out there. No idea how I’m supposed to feel about this match which leaves me feeling disinterested.
*****
They showed clipped comments from the winners and losers from the Gold Group in a video package. Better than nothing but that sort of thing should top the show if they’re serious about making the tournament seem important and keeping fans up to date.
Keith Lee vs Lee Moriarty
Backstory: Moriarty is allied with Shane Taylor, who Lee is seemingly still feuding with
Moriarty got a pop cause he’s from Pittsburgh. On a night where absolutely nobody’s a heel. Nigel quoted Juelz Santana – ‘Rumble Young Man Rumble’. As if I didn’t love him enough already.
After a brief sequence including a spin kick spot that got a big pop, Lee pounced Moriarty to bring the break.
We returned from a break to a p-in-p replay of what happened during it so missed more of the match. Until Lee shoved Moriarty away, missed a wild swing, Moriarty tried a leaping armbar, the big man basically bicep curled him up then smacked him down with the opposite arm in an impressive spot.
Moriarty came back with a boot and flying bulldog while they were announcing Dynamite matches.
He tried to fire yes! kicks with Lee on his knees, Lee blocked them then shoved him to the apron, Moriarty crashed into him via springboard (it was weird – think they were going for Lee being so big it didn’t bother him but it appeared as if he’d forgotten he was supposed to hit a lariat or something) but got the worst of it before being snatched up into Lee’s off the shoulder powerslam.
Lee does seem to have lost some weight which can only help him going forward. Might have been good if it got time or wasn’t constantly interrupted.
Winner: Keith Lee
Lexy with Keith Lee backstage. He said he’d planned to talk about how talented Moriarty was. And he is, ‘but he’s no Keith Lee’. He’s tired of the lack of opportunity and he’s here to take it… ‘Him, you know who you are.’
The commentators speculated who ‘Him’ is. Nigel suggested Shane Taylor. The others weren’t sure.
A better promo than Lee’s usual too – serious and intense.
Eddie Kingston vs Brody King (Blue Group)
Backstory: Opening round
Eddie got his usual pop. Nigel explained that he’s ‘ostensibly relinquished his titles’. Kingston has to win the tournament to get them began.
Needlessly convoluted. If a tournament’s truly prestigious then winning it should be enough.
Both bulls bumped chests several times, staggering one another but neither going down. To the chops, Kingston really sold Brody’s. A clubbing blow to the back left Kingston on his knees. He dragged himself up in the corner and was clubbed down, crowd barking before Brody did, cannonball to follow, Kingston crumbling to ringside, ref beginning his count.
Eddie only made it to the apron at four and was booted back down. King followed him out there to I guess break the count. Another chop battle, Brody again emerging victorious, Kingston again crumbling, this time against the steps, Brody’s charge missed this time and he crashed into the steel.
Kingston broke the count then slipped back out, eating a right and being sat on a conveniently placed chair at ringside then crushed against the barricade via running splash. More chops from King, they made it back in at seven, Kingston choked in the ropes as the crowd chanted ‘Let’s go Eddie!’. Brody continued the beating with a senton splash.
Ads. Very physical so far.
Back to a King superplex. Eddie’s being dominated so far so we all know who’s winning right? We’re only five matches in and that formula’s already predictable.
Kingston collapsed out of a whip and the ref checked him. Before he got his boot up twice in the corner, running lariat, blocking a Brody boot, big shot, both down. Crowd chanting for Kingston once more. Brody up first but only to receive a lariat in the corner, machine gun chops, exploder blocked into a King German, the ref checked Eddie again, he popped up to land a Uriken for a very near fall. With the first pin attempt of the match.
Ref’s count at eight as they made their feet, chops once more, singlet coming down for Eddie, almost out on his feet but beckoning Brody to bring it. They took turns teeing off, flurry from King, he hit the ropes, Kingston targeted the legs with a kick, ddt, ‘nother near fall.
This is getting good, feels like a real contest. The babyface has something to overcome.
Eddie up first, he still couldn’t land the exploder or a piledriver, King dumped him via back body drop, Eddie ran into a spinebuster but blocked a running lariat, finally hit the exploder, half and half, saito, one, two… kickout at the last, Eddie in disbelief.
Kelly pointed out there being less than five minutes left and sold the difference between one and three points. Nice touch.
Brody landed a piledriver, Kingston got his foot under the ropes, both down again. King up first, Kingston stumbling up, barely able to stand, finally he ducked a lariat, hit an Uriken, Brody shook it off, Dante’s Inferno for the win.
Well, that shuts me up re: the pattern of matches. Really nice clash here – felt dramatic, felt like Kingston was getting the crap beaten out of him until being so worn down he had nothing left, felt real. And had an unpredictable finish. Kudos to Kingston for being willing to lose completely cleanly in a promotion where not everyone is.
They very quickly showed the updated standings for both leagues.
Fairly good night of wrestling and an easy watch of a show – the opener and closer being the best things on it
Apart from Adam Copeland’s new purpose, intensity and promo – he feels totally different now
Keith Lee seems to be rediscovering his form
*****
There was nothing ‘must watch’ here: if not for covering it, I wouldn’t have tuned in
After Tony Khan’s weird challenge for fans to ‘Put your money where your mouth is’ re: a round-robin tournament – he seems to have failed to realise that the G1 isn’t just wrestling: they have threads running through, they have ups and downs, they talk strategy, they wonder whether wrestlers are injured or out-of-form. So far, all AEW’s has been is good wrestling. Impetus on ‘good’ too, because nothing yet has been a signature or ‘wow’ match to set this thing apart
The Blue Group feels very light on star power without Danielson
Largely a show of predictable matches and outcomes with far too many squashes – as is becoming a pattern on Saturdays
Appreciate you reading. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
We are just hours away from the Survivor Series: WarGames as a record-breaking crowd at the Allstate Arena is expected for tonight’s premium live event.
Below you can find the latest betting odds of all the matches, accurate as of time of print. Please be careful when betting as live odds will likely change by the time the show starts.
The men’s WarGames match will have Cody, Jey, Sami, Seth, and Randy against Finn, Dom, JD, Damian, and Drew in what will surely be one of the wildest WarGames matches. Team Cody are 4/11 favorites at the moment while Judgment Day and McIntyre are 2/1.
A four-vs-four women’s WarGames match will pit Bayley, Kairi, Asuka, and IYO against Bianca, Charlotte, Shotzi, and Becky. Team Damage CTRL are currently having better betting odds with 8/13 against Team Bianca who are at 6/5.
Rhea Ripley defends her WWE Women’s World title against Zoey Stark tonight and Ripley is the overwhelming favorite for the match with 1/33 odds while Stark is a huge underdog with 8/1 odds and practically zero chance of winning.
Gunther’s odds fell a little bit from yesterday but he’s still a clear-cut winner in the eyes of bookmakers. Gunther is 1/7 to retain the Intercontinental title while The Miz is at 4/1 for the upset.
Dragon Lee has replaced Carlito in his match against Santos Escobar but despite a change in opponents, Escobar remains the favorite with 4/11 odds while Lee is 15/8.
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Visit the Fairgo website – Go to Fairgo casino website on your web browser;
Click on the ‘Sign Up’ button – You can find this button in the top right corner of the homepage;
Fill in your details – Enter your personal information such as name, email, and date of birth;
Create a username and password – Choose a unique username and strong password for your account;
Select your preferred currency – Fairgo allows players to choose from various currencies for their transactions;
Agree to the terms and conditions – Make sure to read and agree to the terms and conditions before proceeding;
Click ‘Register’ – Once you have completed all the steps, click on the ‘Register’ button to create your account.
Congratulations, you are now a registered member of Fairgo and can start playing your favorite casino games.
Responsible Gambling at Fairgo
Fairgo takes responsible gambling seriously and promotes safe and responsible gaming for its players. It offers various tools and resources to help players manage their gambling habits, such as deposit limits, cool off periods, and self-exclusion options. In addition, Fairgo has partnerships with reputable organizations that provide support for problem gambling. The casino also conducts regular checks to prevent underage gambling and ensures that its players are of legal age. Fairgo promotes responsible gambling as a way to enhance the enjoyment of casino games without causing harm to oneself or others. Players are encouraged to set limits, take breaks, and seek help if needed. Fairgo prioritizes the well-being of its players and strives to maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for all.
Terms and Conditions at Fairgo
By registering and playing at Fairgo, you agree to adhere to the following terms and conditions:
Eligibility – Players must be of legal age (18 years or above) and reside in a country where online gambling is legal;
Account Information – All personal information provided by players must be accurate and up-to-date. Any changes must be notified to Fairgo immediately;
Fair Play – Players must abide by the rules and regulations of the casino and refrain from any fraudulent or illegal activities;
Deposits and Withdrawals – Players are responsible for ensuring that their funds are deposited from a legitimate source. Any suspicious activity will be reported to the relevant authorities;
Bonuses and Promotions – All bonuses and promotions offered by Fairgo are subject to specific terms and conditions, including wagering requirements;
Responsible Gambling – Players are responsible for managing their gambling habits and must not allow it to negatively impact themselves or others;
Privacy Policy – Fairgo respects the privacy of its players and ensures that all personal information is kept secure and confidential;
Termination of Account – Fairgo reserves the right to terminate accounts if players are found to be violating any of the terms and conditions;
Changes in Terms – Fairgo may modify or update its terms and conditions at any time, and it is the players’ responsibility to stay updated with any changes.
It is important for players to carefully read and understand the terms and conditions before registering at Fairgo. By agreeing to these terms, players can have a safe and enjoyable gaming experience at one of the best online casinos in Australia.
Bonuses and Promotions at Fairgo
Fairgo offers various bonuses and promotions to enhance the gaming experience for its players. These include:
Welcome Bonus – New players can enjoy a generous welcome bonus upon signing up at Fairgo. This welcome package may include a match bonus and free spins on selected games;
Daily Bonuses – Fairgo offers daily bonuses such as cashback, reload bonuses, and free spins on certain days of the week;
VIP Program – Fairgo rewards its loyal players with exclusive bonuses and benefits through its VIP program. Players can earn points by playing their favorite games and climb up the VIP levels for even greater rewards;
Monthly Specials – Each month, Fairgo introduces new and exciting promotions that give players a chance to win big prizes such as cash, free spins, and more;
Tournaments – Fairgo hosts regular tournaments with massive prize pools for its players to compete against each other and showcase their skills.
Players can check the promotions page on the Fairgo website or subscribe to their newsletter to stay updated with the latest bonuses and promotions. It is important to note that all bonuses are subject to specific terms and conditions, and players must fulfill the wagering requirements before withdrawing any winnings from bonuses.
How to Make a Deposit at Fairgo?
Making a deposit at Fairgo is a simple and secure process. Follow these steps to fund your account and start playing:
Log in to your Fairgo account – If you don’t have an account, follow the steps mentioned above to create one;
Go to the ‘Cashier’ section – You can find this option in the top right corner of the homepage;
Select your preferred deposit method – Fairgo offers various payment options, including credit/debit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers;
Enter the amount you wish to deposit – Keep in mind any minimum or maximum deposit limits set by Fairgo;
Confirm your transaction – Once you have entered all the necessary information, click on ‘Deposit’ to confirm your transaction.
Your funds will be instantly credited to your account, and you can start playing your favorite casino games.
Fairgo prioritizes the safety and security of its players, and all financial transactions are encrypted to ensure the protection of personal information. If you encounter any issues with depositing, contact Fairgo’s customer support for assistance.
Fairgo Website Review
Fairgo’s website has a modern and user-friendly interface, with the main colors being green and white. The homepage features a striking banner showcasing the latest promotions and games, followed by different categories of casino games such as slots, table games, and progressive jackpots. The top menu bar provides easy access to important sections such as promotions, VIP program, banking options, and customer support. The website also has a convenient search bar to help players find their favorite games quickly.
Fairgo’s website is well-organized, with all necessary information easily accessible. The ‘Terms and Conditions’ and ‘Responsible Gambling’ sections can be found at the bottom of the homepage, along with payment options and security information. The website is optimized for both desktop and mobile devices, providing a seamless gaming experience on any device.
Safety and Security at Fairgo
Fairgo takes the safety and security of its players seriously. The casino utilizes advanced encryption technology to ensure that all personal information and financial transactions are kept secure and confidential. Fairgo is licensed by the Government of Curaçao, which ensures that the casino operates under strict regulations and guidelines.
To further promote responsible gambling, Fairgo offers various tools for players to manage their gambling habits, including setting deposit limits and self-exclusion options. The casino also partners with organizations such as GamCare and Gambling Therapy to provide resources for players who need help with controlling their gambling.
Fairgo also has a strict anti-fraud policy in place to prevent any fraudulent activities on the platform. All player accounts are subject to verification, and Fairgo may request documents such as ID, proof of address, and payment method details to ensure the security of player accounts. In case of any suspected fraudulent activity, Fairgo reserves the right to terminate the account and report it to the relevant authorities.
Fairgo Banking Options
Fairgo offers a variety of convenient and secure banking options for players to make deposits and withdrawals. These include major credit/debit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, e-wallets like Skrill, Neteller, and ecoPayz, prepaid cards such as Neosurf, and bank transfers.
Deposits are processed instantly, while withdrawals may take a few business days to process. Fairgo also accepts various currencies, including Australian dollars, US dollars, and Euros.
Players can set their preferred currency during the registration process or change it through their account settings. Fairgo does not charge any fees for deposits or withdrawals; however, players should check with their chosen payment method for any additional charges. Fairgo also has strict security measures in place to ensure the safety of all financial transactions on the platform.
FAQ
Is Fairgo a licensed and regulated casino?
Yes, Fairgo is fully licensed and regulated by the Government of Curaçao.
Can I play at Fairgo from my country?
As long as online gambling is legal in your country, and you meet the age requirement, you can play at Fairgo.
How do I create an account at Fairgo?
Click on the ‘Join’ button on the Fairgo homepage and follow the simple registration process.
How can I withdraw my winnings from Fairgo?
Go to the ‘Cashier’ section, select your preferred withdrawal method, enter the amount you wish to withdraw, and confirm the transaction. Keep in mind any minimum or maximum withdrawal limits set by Fairgo.
Hello everybody!! It’s @TheMagnumDA with another edition of the Pick’em report. This is one of my favorite events of the year – WAR GAMES!!! Tonight, Colin and I will have our own version of War Games, in the form of a Pick’em! Who will end up with the WOPC Championship? Let’s find out – ON WITH THE PICKS!
WWE Women’s World Championship Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Zoey Stark
Magnum: This is a great opportunity for Zoey, but Rhea is one of the MVP’s of WWE this year. She should be able to continue to her dominant reign with a successful defense. Mami‘s on top, yet again!
Colin: Mami is on top of the world right now and I can’t see her losing the title anytime soon. This will be a good match because both of them are solid in the ring, but the result is never in doubt in my mind. Ripley retains.
Dragon Lee vs. Santos Escobar
Magnum: Santos’ promo last week was brutal, but I don’t mean that in a bad way. Similar to Gunther, a very mean side of Santos came out when he said that he wished Rey’s leg would never heal. The push begins – this match will be awesome. Give me Santos for the win.
Colin: I feel bad for Carlito. Had to wait 13 years for a singles match on a PLE and it gets taken away from him. If that was going to happen, I would have picked Escobar for the win, but with Dragon Lee taking his place, I’m thinking he will win. It should be a fantastic match regardless of who wins, but I’m picking Lee.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Gunther (c) vs. The Miz
Magnum: The Miz brought out a very mean-spirited version of Gunther this past Monday. I was seriously impressed with the way Miz TV was presented on Raw. Gunther isn’t just a great wrestler – he truly believes he is better than everyone else. Miz brought that side out of him, and now it’s his chance to bring the best out of Gunther in the ring. I think they’ll have a fine match, and it ends with Gunther retaining the championship.
Colin: Kudos to both of them for an awesome in-ring segment last Monday on Raw, but we all know The Miz is not going to be the one dethroning Gunther. And that is not a dig in any way at The Miz, it’s just the way it is. Gunther retains.
Women’s War Games Match Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, Shotzi, and Becky Lynch vs. Damage CTRL (Bayley, Asuka, Iyo Sky, and Kairi Sane)
Magnum: What’s interesting about this match is the opportunity for sowing the seeds of dissent between Bianca and Charlotte – I actually believe that will be one of the World Championship matches at Mania 40. The first chapter can start here, with a Damage CTRL victory and the babyfaces left scrambling for answers.
Colin: There will be issues with the babyface team. I think Becky and Charlotte will end up costing the match for their team and Damage CTRL will come out victorious. I’m kinda bummed this is not a five vs five match as I believe this kind of match works better with 10 people inside the two rings. But anyway, Damage CTRL victorious.
Men’s War Games Match Cody Rhodes, Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, and Randy Orton vs. The Judgment Day (Damian Priest, Finn Bálor, “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, and JD McDonagh) and Drew McIntyre
Magnum: This is it – something huge is going to come out of this. I don’t know if it’ll be a Randy Orton heel turn, or a possible cash-in by Damian Priest, or even the return of CM Punk, but something massive is going to happen. I’ll go ahead and say that Team Cody is going to get the win, but the bigger question remains: Just what is going to happen afterwards? Very intrigued.
Colin: Totally expected a Randy Orton turn here. He HAS to do it, no? He’s going to RKO the hell out of Cody and that leads up to a program between the two. It’s going to be a bad night for the faces at WarGames I believe, as I’m picking Judgment Day to win this one.
Alright everyone! That’s going to do it for the Pick’em Report! We will see you next time here on Wrestling Online. @TheMagnumDA signing off.
AEW is once again facing another rough night tonight with Collision going head-to-head with Survivor Series. History shows that AEW TV suffers the most when going up against WWE PLEs and tonight is likely not to be any different.
AEW will have three hours of action tonight as Rampage starts the party at 7PM ET. The show was bumped from yesterday and will now serve as the lead-in to Collision which starts at 8PM ET in its usual time.
The Continental Classic tournament will continue tonight on Collision with the Blue League taking spotlight. Daniel Garcia vs Claudio Castagnoli and Eddie Kingston vs Brody King are two tournament matches, plus there is also FTR vs The Righteous, Keith Lee vs Lee Moriarty, and House Of Black vs Komander and Gravity. Meanwhile Katsuyori Shibata will defend his ROH Pure title against Wheeler Yuta on Rampage.
Live from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, WWE presents the 2023 Survivor Series on Peacock and WWE Network. The full card is as follows:
Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, and Randy Orton vs Finn Balor, Damien Priest, Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh, and Drew McIntyre in a WarGames match; IYO SKY, Bayley, Asuka, and Kairi Sane vs Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, Shotzi, and Becky Lynch in a WarGames match; Gunther vs The Miz for the Intercontinental title; Rhea Ripley vs Zoey Stark for the WWE Women’s World title; and Carlito vs Dragon Lee.
The Kickoff show will start at 7PM ET and will air on all of WWE’s social media properties while the actual premium live event starts at 8PM ET.
Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins had some fun with the crowd after Smackdown went off the air. Both Superstars, who were super over with the fans, spent several minutes in the ring following the dark match against Judgment Day was over and the the majority of the fans remained in the arena for the show.
Fans kept asking for a table and Rhodes said he’s going to do something that people in the back might not be happy about but he’s going to do it anyway. He asked one of the production people at ringside if there was a table under the ring, and of course, there was a table under the ring.
Rhodes got the table out and he said he’s going to sign it, and the WWE World Heavyweight champion is going to sign it too, and then they are going to give the table to someone in the stands.
As you can expect, the fans went absolutely bananas when Cody kept asking who wants it, as every fan from every corner raised their hands and yelled. Unable to make a decision, Cody then passed the buck to the champion who said as a champ, he should make the decision.
Rollins told Rhodes that last time they were in this city, it was at Hell In A Cell and he didn’t like him very much back then, and he’s not liking him very much now for putting him on the spot.
The champ eventually selected a member of the armed forces who was sitting at ringside and the two delivered the table to him and posed for photos before returning to the back.
This is the first WarGames match for eight of the 18 participants who will be in the two matches tonight at Survivor Series.
Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Randy Orton, Damian Priest, Finn Balor, Dom Mysterio, JD McDonagh, and Kairi Sane will all be entering their first WarGames match.
Meanwhile, Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, Drew McIntyre, IYO SKY, Bianca Belair, Asuka, Becky Lynch, Bayley, Shotzi, and Charlotte Flair have all entered the steel structure before, some in NXT and some on the main roster.
This is the second WarGames match in a row for Zayn, Uso, McIntyre, Belair, Asuka, Lynch, Bayley, and SKY, who were all participants in last year’s event as well.
IYO SKY has been featured in all of the women WarGames matches so far, four of them, and will enter her fifth one tonight. Dakota Kai has also entered in four but will not be part of tonight’s match due to her injury.
None of the men’s record holders will be in the WarGames match, with Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong, and Butch all having four outings each in this particular match.
While four is an impressive number, and five as well for SKY, they are way away from reaching the overall record for WarGames, with Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard holding the record with a whopping 15 appearances.
There has been a slight change in the Survivor Series card as Carlito was taken out of his match last night by Santos Escobar.
Carlito cut a promo on Smackdown on how this would be his first solo WWE PLE match in 13 years and went off on Santos for what he did to Rey Mysterio.
Santos came out and he blamed Carlito for breaking up his LWO family and a fight erupted which needed several officials to break up. But as Santos walked to the back, he actually went around through the fans and had a sneak attack on Carlito, injuring his shoulder.
The action spilled backstage as Escobar continued to attack Carlito until Dragon Lee came for the save.
Later in the show, Smackdown GM Nick Aldis said that Carlito is injured and unable to compete tonight. Dragon Lee entered the frame and begged with Aldis to put him in instead. Aldis agreed quickly and the two shook hands sealing the deal.
Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Shotzi and Bianca Belair are out to the ring first. They each take turns talking about their War Games match with Damage Control. Bayley comes out and immediately starts trying to drive a wedge between Charlotte and Becky. Becky said she didn’t come to Smackdown to talk. She came here looking for a fight and challenged two of Damage Control members to face her and Charlotte in the main event tonight.
In the back Bayley is gloating to the rest of Damage Control about the match she just made, and Iyo told her she needed to be in i. But it will be Bayley and Asuka facing Charlotte and Becky.
Damian Priest & Finn Balor VS. The Street Profits for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships.
As Ford goes to the top rope, Ripley gets up on the apron and Finn pulls down Ford, Priest with the tag and Balor hits Coup de Grace for the win.
Winners and Still Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions: Damian Priest & Finn Balor
In the back Becky and Bianca walked into the locker room and talked with Shotzi and Charlotte walked in. Becky and Charlotte get into a little argument about trust and Bianca speaks up and says she was the one that asked Charlotte to call Becky. Becky said whatever I am here to fight everyone, so I am going to go get ready for the match.
The Grayson Waller Effect is next with Kevin Owens. He introduces Kevin Owens and it’s Austin Theory who comes out dressed like Kevin Owens. Grayson didn’t get two words out and the real Kevin Owens comes out and says what are you doing? What is this? As they start arguing about Owens costing Waller his match with LA Knight, Owens says you guys really don’t know how things work around here when you start calling people’s names. Waller asked Theory what he was talking about? Theory says I think he is talking about LA Knight and Knight comes out. Waller tells Theory he wants to punch both of them and Owens looks at Knight and says you just want to punch them first and Knight says Yeah, and they knock Waller and Theory out of the ring.
LA Knight & Kevin Owens VS. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory
With all four competitors in the ring, Owens and Knight run Theory and Waller into each other, Owens then hits a Stunner on Waller and Knight hits the BFT on Theory and gets the pin.
Winners: Kevin Owens & LA Knight
In the back Bianca is talking to Becky about needing her and Charlotte to get along. Becky says she is cool, and she got this.
Carlito comes out for an in-ring promo. This will be his first singles match at a PLE in 13 years but he keeps thinking about what happened to Rey Mysterio then told Santos something in Spanish so Santos could not misunderstand him. He then said to Santos you made a very big mistake and Santos comes to the ring to confront Carlito.
Santos then blames Carlito for Rey’s injury and taking his L.W.O. Family. The two then began fighting. As officials held Carlito back, Santos sneaks through the crowd and jumps off the barricade with a knee to Carlito’s back and the officials then push Santos back.
Santos and Carlito got back into it backstage as Santos tried to break Carlito’s arm, Dragon Lee came in for the save.
Pretty Deadly VS. The Brawling Brutes
Ridge walked out of the match. Butch held his own and hit the bitter end but did not see or hear the blind tag and Pretty Deadly gets the win.
Winners: Pretty Deadly
In the back Shotzi met up with Charlotte about putting things behind her and Becky.
Kayla Braxton interviews Nick Aldis and an update on Carlito: he is hurt badly and cannot compete tomorrow night. Dragon Lee comes in and begs for the match with Santos. Aldis said you want in? You are in.
The Judgment Day talks about tomorrow at War Games and warns Randy Orton that they will put him back out.
Becky Lynch then walked up to Charlotte and asked if she was good, and Charlotte says she is good and asked Becky if she was good, and Becky said she was good. They began to walk out together.
Bayley & Asuka VS. Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch
Becky went for the pin on Bayley after a manhandle slam, but Charlotte hit a spear on Asuka causing Asuka to break up the pin. An argument started and Bayley shoved Becky into Charlotte and rolled Becky up for the pin.
Winners: Asuka & Bayley
After the match Bianca Belair and Shotzi come out to try to calm down Becky and Charlotte and Becky walks out of the ring by herself, leaving the rest of her team in the ring.
LA Knight will be making an appearance at the Cricket Wireless store in Chicago tomorrow morning to meet fans ahead of the Survivor Series.
Knight, who is currently not featured on the show, will be at the store located at 2650 North Narragansett Avenue between 9AM and 11AM and will be doing a meet and greet with fans. Considering his current popularity, a lot of people are expected to show up and this event is on first come, first served basis so be there early.
Apart from appearances at the Survivor Series Superstore, this is the only appearance with a sponsor this weekend.
Visit sponsorships.cricketwireless.com/wwe for more information.
It’s the last WWE premium live event of 2023 and tomorrow night, WarGames dominates the Survivor Series.
We will look at the early betting odds for the matches on the card and tomorrow we will update with the latest numbers. Remember, bet responsibly if you are using real money and check out no deposit casino bonus in Ireland.
In the men’s WarGames match, the team of Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn, and Randy Orton have the better numbers and are 2/9 favorites to win the match against Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Drew McIntyre, Dominik Mysterio, and JD McDonagh who are 11/4 in their odds.
The other WarGames match will feature the women and the team of Damage CTRL – Bayley, Asuka, IYO SKY, and Kairi Sane – are the favorites with 4/6 odds while their opponents – Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, Shotzi, and Becky Lynch – are 11/10.
The WWE Women’s World title will be on the line as Rhea Ripley defends against Zoey Stark. Ripley is super favorite with 1/33 odds while Stark is 8/1 for an unlikely win.
Speaking of unlikely wins, the Intercontinental title held by Gunther looks like it will be staying with the Austrian according to bookmakers as he is 1/20 favorite against The Miz who is 7/1.
And the last match sees Santos Escobar battling Carlito, with Escobar 1/8 favorite and Carlito 4/1 to win his first PLE singles match since he returned to the company.
