Well, that was some night for WWE. Survivor Series 2023 will undoubtedly be remembered for the remarkable return of CM Punk after a tumultuous nine year hiatus, but the show also was friendly reminder of why the product is as hot as it is at the moment.
CM Punk back in the WWE is shocking. After years of drama and anger on both his side and WWE’s side, Punk involved is a true testament to the theory time heals all wounds. That or Punk will crash and burn in WWE just like he did in AEW. Time will tell. For now, Punk is an enormous get and a talent that is going to command attention on Raw as the company shops the rights to that show.
Now, I argued that Punk returning at this particular show would be a mistake due to the fact that so much was happening from a story perspective within the men’s War Games match. As suspected, Punk’s return overshadowed everything else that happened on PLE, but it wasn’t an entirely difficult task to accomplish given the happenings on the show itself.
I was inside the Allstate Arena for the show and the crowd was hotter and larger than anything I’ve seen inside that building for at least a decade. The crowd intensity covered up some wounds of the show that was otherwise closer to mediocre than great.
Here are my Brass Ring Ratings for the show and here’s how they work … I call it like I see it and am always happy to discuss.
Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, & Shotzi vs. Damage CNTRL - Women’s War Games Match
This match certainly had the benefit of going on first. The audience was ready and bit on everything the women tossed at them. Sidebar. WWE framed these War Games matches as an enormous deal and put production effort behind how they lowered the cage, so the crowd buzzed with anticipation as it slowly repelled from the ceiling. Great stuff.
Now, the match had it’s moments. Good spots here and there with a super spot dive from Iyo Sky from the top of the cage and then the babyfaces won. The moments clicked and story made sense even though, Damage CNTRL could have used the boost a W would have given them here.
Heydorn’s Brass Ring Rating - OOO
Gunther vs. The Miz - WWE Intercontinental Championship
The match of the night. This was wonderful and rooted in Gunther being a supremely effective heel. Gunther was so over that anything Miz did got the cheers he was looking for. The story of the bout of Miz proving he could get aggressive like Gunther was the main building block of the match and won over the audience early. The near falls were believable, but the right man went over in th end.
Heydorn’s Brass Ring Rating - OOO 3/4
Santos Escobar vs. Dragon Lee
A match strictly to get Escobar a PPV win. Lee looked good in that regard and put over Escobar strong.
Heydorn’s Brass Ring Rating - O 3/4
Rhea Ripley vs. Zoey Stark - WWE Women’s World Championship
This was a very hard hitting match and worth going out of your way to watch. It wasn’t a classic by any means, but it featured a lot of action that was crisp and very Rhea Ripley-esque. Stark never had a real shot at winning here, but did what she needed to in terms of having a memorable match for the given circumstances. As for Ripley, she was a damn star out there. The aura was on display and the crowd reaction came right along with it. Good stuff.
Heydorn’s Brass Ring Rating - OOO 1/4
The Judgement Day & Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn, Randy Orton, & Jey Uso - Men’s War Games Match
The drama with Randy Orton “not being in the building” was fine, but unnecessary except for the fact that it threw fans off the CM Punk return scent. That said, Orton got a big pop and the match was built around his entrance into the match. I expected more from Cody Rhodes and really everyone given the heat that the feud had going on. The match as a whole didn’t capitalize on that.
Now, the RKO off the top of the cage was very well done and the perfect way to bring Orton back into the fold. It was fine, but the build elevated expectations that they didn’t meet.