Personal Suggestions for Improving Survivor Series

A common consensus among wrestling fans after Survivor Series: War Games on Saturday is that the War Games concept has been run into the ground and that Survivor Series should revert back to previous format to give the match stipulation a rest. 

Unfortunately, I don’t see this as much of a possibility because of the historical lack of traction and importance for the Survivor Series brand. Ever since 2022 when Survivor Series added "War Games" to its brand, it has garnered a new level of recognition and marketability. One thing I didn’t take this into consideration until I heard a new podcast episode from Wrestletalk is how WWE sells “Survivor Series: War Games” to cities, not “Survivor Series.” Survivor Series was previously the least hyped of the Big 5 (previously Big 4) and was close to being cancelled in 2010. Ever since the name change though, it has felt more like a Big 5 ppv.

However since then, War Games has felt more and more forced because the creation of large teams with little chemistry/substance and the overexposure of the stipulation. Despite everyone’s complaints though, it has drawn large gates and broken attendance records for Survivor Series. Which will encourage WWE to revisit War Games in 2026, 2027 and beyond (side note: it will be held in Saudi Arabia eventually). And I don’t blame them for doing so, since it’s a successful formula. BUT they need to be mindful that fatigue is real, and if they go back to this formula too many times, they may undo the newfound heights that the Survivor Series brand has reached.

So, how should WWE address this? As a realist and wrestling fan, it’s hard for me to see them abandoning the War Games brand. It’s a money maker and draw. 

However, I can see them changing the formula of the War Games match. Hear me out, rather than having teams, they can make it a multiman match with a reward for the winner (e.g. world title match at Royal Rumble or Day 1, $100,000, Big Show’s Iron Clad Contract, Golden Egg). And to separate this from the Elimination Chamber format, it could be 1 pinfall/submission to win once all superstars have entered. Armageddon Hell in a Cell is the only time I can think of with a similar situation like this. And if superstars exit the cage (voluntarily or involuntarily), they’re disqualified from the match.

Another Idea. If I was in charge, I would put the War Games brand on hold to preserve its reputation as a unique, violent match type that’s for special occasions. But I will start (or continue) the trend of having Survivor Series being a themed event rather than simply Survivor Series. So imagine for each year’s Survivor Series, there’s a theme that differentiates it from other years. For example:

• Survivor Series: Extreme Rules (all matches have no rules or extreme stipulations)
• Survivor Series: Bragging Rights (Brand Warfare)
• Survivor Series: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs (Self-Explanatory)
• Survivor Series: Deadly Games (Tournament Style like ‘98)

The themes/subtitles would provide a sense of distinctiveness for each year, make storylines more ambiguous, and reward long term fans by bringing back old PPV concepts in a modern way that doesn’t overexpose it or make it feel forced. 

For example, I love Tables, Ladders, and Chairs matches, and was delighted to see one at SummerSlam. But it is a stipulation that rarely feels justified at times. When the Hardys, Edge and Christian were around, they could (as either teams or individuals) have these matches and it would make sense because of their association with them. Now it just isn’t that plausible with the current roster, unless it’s slightly forced. So you have either multiple teams or people randomly attacking each other with tables, ladders, and chairs which may look odd/random depending on the superstars’ history with the object. 

After hosting some of these Survivor Series themed events, they can bring back War Games which will feel fresh/special again.

So yeah, these are my thoughts, please let me know what you think! Sorry if the use of bold is confusing :D