It’s nearly time for one of the most anticipated shows of the year for WWE. Get ready for pulse-pounding action and nonstop thrills at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames! And as always, I’m here to make completely accurate, surefire predictions for every match on the card.

Survivor Series has long been considered one of the cornerstone live events of WWE’s illustrious history. It’s considered one of the company’s “Big Four” shows, along with SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and of course WrestleMania.

With so much prestige and history attached to this fall show, it’s no wonder why WWE is sparing no expense to bring the fans a night of memorable moments and matches.

Every match slated for Survivor Series: WarGames feels personal, with many feuds coming to a head this Saturday at the Allstate Arena. But the match with perhaps the most intrigue around it is the men’s WarGames match, which will see the long-awaited return of Randy Orton.

Orton was put on the shelf in May of 2022 with a back injury. And now, a full year and a half later, the Viper returns to the squared circle to do battle inside the haunting WarGames structure.

Orton will be joined by his longtime friend Cody Rhodes, along with Sami Zayn, “Main Event” Jey Uso, and the World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins, in their battle against The Judgment Day.

But Judgment Day isn’t coming alone. The team of Finn Balor, “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, Damian Priest, and JD McDonagh will also be flanked by extra muscle in the form of Drew McIntyre. The Scottish warrior shocked the world a few weeks ago by aligning himself with Judgment Day, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a group he decried and fought to dismantle for months.

Needless to say, this match will be off-the-wall insanity from start to finish. And that’s merely scratching the surface of how chaotic Survivor Series: WarGames looks to be. There’s also the Women’s WarGames match, along with two title defenses on the card to account for.

I clearly have my work cut out for me, and the last time I predicted match outcomes for a Big Four show didn’t exactly pan out well. Nevertheless, I feel good about my odds here.

Let’s take a look at my picks for WWE Survivor Series: WarGames!

• Carlito vs. Santos Escobar

   

  My pick: Santos Escobar

  It seems Santos Escobar has revealed his true colors after turning on his childhood idol Rey Mysterio in horrific fashion weeks ago on SmackDown. After a disgustingly raw promo last Friday – in which he openly wished for Rey’s leg to become infected post-op to the point of amputation – Escobar was confronted by Rey’s longtime friend and WWE legend Carlito. Their match was made official for Survivor Series almost immediately after, with Carlito fighting on behalf of the Ultimate Underdog.

  Bottom line, Santos needs the win more than Carlito. I see the former LWO leader dismantling Carlito with underhanded tactics this Saturday, which will further solidify his descent into madness.

   

• Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, Shotzi, and Becky Lynch vs. Damage CTRL - Women's WarGames Match

  My pick: Damage CTRL

  I went through a lot of back-and-forth picking the winner for this match (which honestly may continue even after I post this). On one hand, it’s always hard for me to bet against Charlotte Flair at a Big Four, especially when she’s got the EST of WWE Bianca Belair and “The Man” Becky Lynch on her side. And Lynch made her return to the main roster last Friday to a thunderous ovation from the WWE Universe.

  However, this new iteration of Damage CTRL – with new members Asuka and a returning Kairi Sane – feels nigh unstoppable. And the inherent chaos and unpredictability of the WarGames match would seemingly serve to benefit the dastardly stable.

  While there does seem to be some unease between Bayley and her other Damage CTRL compatriots, I still see them pulling off the upset against the good guys.

• Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Zoey Stark - Women's World Championship

   

  My pick: Rhea Ripley

  Zoey Stark has impressed many fans over the last few weeks after earning her way to a championship match against The Judgment Day’s Rhea Ripley. Despite the glaring difference in both size and championship success, Stark has shown zero sign of fear or intimidation toward Ripley. I have no doubt she’ll come to Survivor Series: WarGames ready to put it all on the line.

  I just don’t think it will be enough to topple the reigning Women’s Champion. Rhea Ripley has been on a hellacious tear since winning the title at WrestleMania. Few superstars has had the consistent success in 2023 that she has, and I don’t see that ending this weekend. She’ll put up a good fight, but in the end Zoey Stark will witness Rhea Ripley’s brutality firsthand.

   

• Gunther (c) vs. The Miz - Intercontinental Championship

   

  My pick: Gunther

  You know how I just said few superstars have seen the same level of success this year that Rhea Ripley has? Well, Gunther is one of those few. The Ring General remains undefeated in singles competition since debuting on the main roster nearly two years ago. And since winning the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania, Gunther has taken all comers who think they’re tough enough to take it from him.

  Miz is one of the most accomplished WWE stars of all time, and he has the 2nd most IC title reigns in WWE history. But does he have what it takes to beat Gunther for it? I just don’t see it. As much as I hate to admit it, Gunther has a point. Miz is an amazing performer and entertainer, but Gunther is a no-nonsense wrestler who will do whatever it takes to win. Gunther retains.

• Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, Seth Rollins, and Randy Orton vs. The Judgment Day and Drew McIntyre - Men's WarGames Match

   

  My pick: Cody, Jey, Sami, Seth and Randy

  As I mentioned earlier, the WarGames match is unpredictable by design. The only thing you can guarantee in a match like this is absolute carnage and destruction. For that reason, I applaud Randy Orton for making his highly anticipated return to the ring in such a hellacious and devastating match.

  The Judgment Day’s track record is a tad spotty, though they seem to have picked up traction since regaining the Tag Team Championships last month. And now, with the addition of Drew McIntyre, the playing field seems fairly even heading into Saturday.

  But I think the pure excitement and energy from the WWE crowd will push the returning Orton to lead his team to victory inside the nightmarish structure of the WarGames cage. Now, whatever happens post-match concerning Orton and any of his teammates is up in the air. I don’t think anyone would blame him for hitting an RKO on Jey as repayment for taking him out of action last year.

  But as for the match itself, expect the good guys to close the show with their hands raised.

• How To Watch

  You can watch WWE Survivor Series: WarGames Saturday, November 25, 8 p.m. ET, only on Peacock!

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