VANCOUVER — The World Wrestling Entertainment train just keeps rolling and Survivor Series: WarGames at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena continued that trend, as the event set a new all-time North American arena gate record.
Reported attendance for the show was 17,828 and the gate record makes sense because many single tickets were sold at $1,000 or more. WWE Chief Content Office Paul Levesque stated that it was the company’s 63rd sell-out this year.
Vancouver Canucks anthem singer Elizabeth Irving performs at WWE Survivor Series: War Games, at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, on Saturday, November 30, 2024. Photo by Mike Mastrandrea, https://www.instagram.com/mikemastrandrea_photography MORE PHOTOS IN OUR SURVIVOR SERIES GALLERY
The event was significant for Vancouver because the last time the city hosted a pay-per-view/premium live event was In Your House: Rock Bottom on Dec. 13, 1998. That show still holds Vancouver’s arena record for a WWE show with 20,042 but this show out earned it for the gate.
Vancouver proved itself to have a significant appetite for the WWE with 13,000 for a Friday Night Smackdown in January and over 8,000 for a live event in 2022.
Survivor Series seemed to peak in three different spots. Both the men’s and women’s WarGames matches had tremendous heat but the triple-threat match for the Intercontinental Title featuring Bron Breakker, Sheamus and Ludwig Kaiser completely overdelivered.
Some of the merchandise available at WWE Survivor Series: War Games, at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, on Saturday, November 30, 2024. Photo by Mike Mastrandrea, https://www.instagram.com/mikemastrandrea_photography MORE PHOTOS IN OUR SURVIVOR SERIES GALLERY
Women’s WarGames
The women’s opener had its slow points, particularly some of the offence of Nia Jax. There were some slow portions early on and Jax didn’t seem confident wielding weapons. The match picked up when Bianca Belair entered. She brought the athleticism up and reenergized the fans. Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky and Tiffany Stratton all were extremely over. The sequence between Sky and Stratton was a highlight and the WWE has a megastar bubbling up with Stratton. The crowd wants to cheer her, they want her to cash in and WWE has been booking her perfectly. A solid opener that really picked up when more talent entered the ring. My MVP for the match was Sky. The moonsault inside a garbage can spot was extremely impressive and it’s great to see WWE once again push her as a singles star. She is more than ready to contend again.
U.S. Championship Match
Shinsuke Nakamura and LA Knight had a fairly brief match but Knight was incredibly over. The finish came pretty abruptly and I question how many people were aware that Nakamura was back with this new character. Not bad but it didn’t really have enough time to be anything memorable. The title switch was significant because it’s the first major title change in Vancouver since Too Cool won the tag titles over Edge and Christian on a Monday Night Raw on May 29, 2000.
Intercontinental Championship Triple Threat Match: Sheamus vs. Ludwig Kaiser vs. Bron Breakker (c) at WWE Survivor Series: War Games, at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, on Saturday, November 30, 2024. Photo by Mike Mastrandrea, https://www.instagram.com/mikemastrandrea_photography MORE PHOTOS IN OUR SURVIVOR SERIES GALLERY
IC Championship Match
Arguably the match of the night with all three guys working very stiff. The match featured the best false finish of the night when Sheamus pinned Breakker after his finish and Kaiser pulled out the ref. Also, a great finish with Breakker pinning Sheamus. The crowd really got into this one.
Up in the press box at @RogersArena for @WWE Survivor Series. The first non-TV big event in Vancouver since 1998. The double cage looms large #SurvivorSeries pic.twitter.com/EL8KH9qLVF
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) November 30, 2024
World Championship Match
Gunther and Damian Priest worked a slower and more methodical style which was a good idea for a change of pace on the show. There was a hint of “bizarro world” typical Canadian fan reactions with a lot of fans cheering on Gunther. The finish was a little convoluted with Finn Balor coming out and attacking Priest who then passed out in Gunther’s sleeper. Feels like we get more Priest and Judgment Day encounters in the coming months.
Pre-show panel set up at the parking lot across from @RogersArena. Lovely Vancouver weather 😂 @wwe #SurvivorSeries pic.twitter.com/IbRyUv0u3i
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) November 30, 2024
Men’s WarGames
The biggest story coming out of the match might be just how incredibly over Jacob Fatu is. “Love You Solo!” chants rang out throughout the match and Fatu is another example of a megastar waiting to explode. Some good tension between Punk and Reigns throughout. Bronson Reed also had an excellent showing. The entire babyface team, including Jimmy Uso, were all extremely over and that is a nice problem that WWE seems to have. Crowd really loved the match.
Perhaps a bigger story was all the success and audience reaction that the show got without so many major names. There was zero presence from Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens. It was also disappointing to not see B.C.’s own Chelsea Green get at least a segment or an interview. I think the crowd would have erupted for her.
The main event also didn’t really provide any major hook. There was no surprise return, no swerve and simply the babyfaces won. Seth Rollins didn’t show up. Paul Heyman did not turn and I know many fans seemed to think The Rock was appearing but also nothing from him.
Despite all of that it seemed like fans were sent home happy.
Roman Reigns before the WarGames match: Roman Reigns, Sami Zayn, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, and CM Punk vs. Solo Sikoa, Tonga Loa, Tama Tonga, Jacob Fatu, and Bronson Reed at WWE Survivor Series: War Games, at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, on Saturday, November 30, 2024. Photo by Mike Mastrandrea, https://www.instagram.com/mikemastrandrea_photography MORE PHOTOS IN OUR SURVIVOR SERIES GALLERY
Survivor Series Press Conference
The post-show press conference featured members of the winning men’s and women’s teams, Breakker and Levesque.
It was revealed that Jimmy Uso suffered a foot injury in the match and Levesque added that Reed was injured but Reed’s injury could be storyline-based.
The men’s team members that were initially at the presser were the Usos and Zayn but Punk showed up and comedically asked for muffins (just like his famous meltdown at All Out). He was given macaroons and was unhappy. Punk was asked a lengthy question about what he feels about all that Reigns has accomplished and simply said: No comment … and left.
HHH was asked about the new WWE ID program but didn’t really share anything that was new.
Another point that wasn’t brought up was the WWE releasing a T-shirt promoting Survivor Series with Seattle’s Space Needle in Vancouver. That shirt was mocked on social media but it was pulled after the pop-up store’s opening on Thursday.
This show could be seen as a stepping stone in the never-ending Bloodline saga but it may be remembered as a record-setting gate and big leaps forward for developing talents like Breakker, Stratton and Fatu.
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