WarGames is one of pro wrestling’s great theatrical inventions: two rings side-by-side, one giant cage wrapped around them, staggered entries that build from dread to delirium — and moments that feel carved out of myth. Conceived by Dusty Rhodes from a feverish Mad-Max-style vision, WarGames evolved into the battlefield where factions are born, betrayals burn, and careers are crystallized. And as WWE charges into this Saturday’s Survivor Series: WarGames Premium Live Event, understanding that legacy explains exactly why the match still hits with primal force.
Below is the definitive top five, built on accurate historical detail, deep match analysis, and extensive research — and directly tied to why this weekend’s WarGames matches matter more than ever.
1) The Four Horsemen vs. Dusty Rhodes, Road Warriors & Allies — Great American Bash (1987)
Why it still matters for this Saturday:
This is the blueprint — the foundation upon which every WarGames rests. Dusty Rhodes’ original WarGames was a ritual: a brawl shaped by loyalty, vengeance, and tribal warfare. Every team stepping into the cage this Saturday steps into Dusty’s creation, where the rules are simple: two rings, one cage, and no escape.
2) The Four Horsemen & Larry Zbyszko vs. Sting, Brian Pillman & The Steiner Brothers — WrestleWar ’91
Why it still matters for this Saturday:
WrestleWar ’91 remains the gold standard of WarGames violence and emotional sacrifice. Brian Pillman’s near-life-risking performance added a level of danger and pathos unmatched even today. This Saturday’s competitors inherit that element — someone always sacrifices their body and sanity for the team.
3) Team nWo vs. Team WCW — Fall Brawl ’96
Why it still matters for this Saturday:
Fall Brawl ’96 showed that WarGames thrives on distrust. Fake Sting. Paranoia. Strategic betrayal. WarGames works best when alliances fracture and emotions warp. As teams enter the cage this weekend, trust — or lack of it — will shape the match as much as fists and steel.
4) Team Ciampa (with Kevin Owens) vs. The Undisputed Era — NXT TakeOver: WarGames (2019)
Why it still matters for this Saturday:
This match rebooted WarGames for the modern era. Chaos from the top of the cage. A surprise return. Relentless spots. This Saturday’s match inherits that spirit: spectacle with heart, violence with story, and the ever-present chance of a show-stealing return.
5) The Bloodline vs. The Brawling Brutes, Drew McIntyre & Kevin Owens — Survivor Series: WarGames (2022)
Why it still matters for this Saturday:
This was the main-roster rebirth. The match that proved Survivor Series no longer needed Raw vs. SmackDown — it needed WarGames. Sami’s loyalty crisis. Jey’s reluctant acceptance. Roman’s dominance. This Saturday’s teams step into a format now defined by massive stakes and character-altering consequences.
Why This Saturday’s WarGames Matters More Than Ever
WarGames is a living ritual: every generation reshapes it, and every new match borrows the blood, psychology, and storytelling of those that came before. Survivor Series has now adopted WarGames as its November identity — and this Saturday’s lineups have the star power, narrative depth, and emotional weight to stand alongside the five greatest battles ever fought inside the double-ring cage.
Comparing This Year’s WarGames Teams to the Legendary Five
As Survivor Series: WarGames 2025 approaches, it’s worth placing this year’s men’s and women’s WarGames teams in the context of the five classic matches we’ve highlighted. How do the current rosters reflect, echo, or depart from the legacy of the great WarGames battles?
2025 Men’s WarGames Teams
This year’s teams are:
- Face Team: CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso
- Heel Team: Brock Lesnar, Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Drew McIntyre & Logan Paul
Legacy Comparison:
1. Echoes of Fall Brawl ’96 (nWo vs. WCW)
Much like the 1996 classic centered on fractured alliances and ideological warfare, this year’s men’s teams balance main-event firepower with combustible chemistry. Personal tensions — particularly among Rhodes, Reigns, and the Usos — mirror the paranoia and mistrust that powered Fall Brawl ’96.
2. Modern Athleticism & Star Power (like NXT TakeOver: 2019)
The 2019 WarGames match thrived on hybrid athleticism. Similarly, this year blends megastar presence (Punk, Reigns, Lesnar) with younger, explosive talents (Breakker, Reed). It’s a perfect fusion of spectacle and unpredictability.
3. Legacy as a Narrative Anchor (echoing the 1987 original)
With Rhodes and Punk representing history while Breakker and Paul embody WWE’s next wave, the teams reflect the generational cross-section that made the very first WarGames match iconic.
2025 Women’s WarGames Teams
This year’s teams are:
- Face Team: AJ Lee, Rhea Ripley, IYO SKY, Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair
- Heel Team: Becky Lynch, Asuka, Kairi Sane, Nia Jax & Lash Legend
Legacy Comparison:
1. Veterans + Rising Stars (in the spirit of 1987 & 1991)
AJ Lee and Charlotte Flair evoke the leadership and gravitas of Rhodes and Flair, while Ripley, SKY, and Legend reflect the explosive youth and risk-taking of Pillman and the Steiners.
2. Big Personal Stakes (like WrestleWar ’91)
This year’s women’s match mirrors the emotional weight of the 1991 bout. Rivalries run deep — Lynch vs. Flair, Ripley’s uneasy alliances, Bliss’ unpredictable motives — echoing the passion and brutality of past classics.
3. Modern Spectacle + Nostalgia (inspired by TakeOver’s reboot)
Just as NXT revived WarGames with contemporary flair while respecting its past, the 2025 women’s match blends icons (AJ, Flair, Asuka) with today’s sharpest performers to create a WarGames that feels both historic and fresh.
Overall Assessment
This year’s WarGames teams are not just participants — they are the newest authors in a 38-year-long saga.
They reflect:
- the chaos of 1996,
- the sacrifice of 1991,
- the spectacle of 2019,
- the emotional storytelling of 2022,
- and the foundational spirit of 1987.
This Saturday, the past will echo through every steel clang and every staggered entrance. And when the cage lowers, the legacy of WarGames will grow once again — rewritten by a new generation of warriors.
Make sure to subscribe to our Late Night Crew Wrestling YouTube Channel. Follow @yorkjavon, @kspowerwheels & @LateNightCrewYT on X.
