The WWE 2025 Tournament took place at Petco Park in San Diego, California, featuring a star-studded Survivor Series event. The show highlighted two major WarGames matches in the men’s and women’s divisions, John Cena’s final performance before retiring at Survivor Series, and a women’s world title clash between Stefanie Vaquel and Nikki Bella.
TheSportster evaluated every match from the Survivor Series 2025 live event to identify the best and worst matches as well as the overall quality of the show.
In the Men’s WarGames match, Brock Lesnar, The Vision, Logan Paul, and Drew McIntyre faced off against CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and The Usos. The match was rated 5.5/10 by TheSportster. The first half was slow and somewhat uncoordinated, including shocking moves like the Doomsday Device’s Bron Breaker. Notable moments included Cody Rhodes and Logan Paul battling atop the cage, though some phases like Jey Uso’s retreat diminished the WarGames atmosphere. Lesnar dominated until Roman Reigns entered, but the finale felt cluttered with excessive finishing moves and lacked the match’s expected brutality. An awkward conclusion had a masked attacker target CM Punk before Bron Breaker won the match with a spear, leaving many questions unanswered and marking the match as a technical mess.
The Women’s WarGames match featured Charlotte Flair, Iyo Skye, Alexa Bliss, AJ Lee, and Rhea Ripley versus the Kabuki Warriors, Nia Jax, Rush Legends, and Becky Lynch, scoring 5.75/10. While the match included highlights such as Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair and Iyo Skye’s iconic dumpster dive, the overall pace was plodding and the technical execution inconsistent. The babyfaces had an awkward advantage in multiple segments, and the 40-minute bout lacked the toughness and intensity typically expected from WarGames. Several moments of taunting and hugging among teammates further diluted the match’s competitive feel.
The Women’s World Championship match between Stefanie Vaquel and Nikki Bella earned a 6.25/10 rating. Nikki Bella took an early lead with a cheap shot, but Vaquel fought back battling for the title in a dynamic match. Vaquel showed greater confidence and intensity compared to previous performances, though the match experienced some sloppy spots and slow moments, with the crowd occasionally disengaged. The contest ended spectacularly with Vaquel landing a corkscrew moonsault following a devil’s kiss on the announcers’ table to secure a decisive victory.
John Cena’s final bout before retirement was against Dominik Mysterio for the Men’s Intercontinental Championship, rated 7/10. The energetic match had a fun, chaotic vibe, heavily spotlighting Mysterio’s cheating antics. Cena did not overly focus on technical prowess, instead allowing Mysterio’s tricks to take center stage. A fake injury angle added dramatic tension involving all members of Judgment Day. The match concluded with Liv Morgan surprising everyone by attacking Cena, aiding Mysterio’s win to capture the Intercontinental title. While the atmosphere was electric, the match had the feel of an elaborate house show bout.
Fan Take: This Survivor Series event is significant as it marks John Cena’s final WWE appearance, creating a historic moment for fans. Additionally, the mixed reviews for the WarGames matches suggest WWE might need to rethink the match pacing and storytelling to better capture the brutal essence the format promises, impacting future event quality.
