The WWE Survivor Series: WarGames match, when the storylines are perfectly executed, has the potential to be one of the most electric bouts on the WWE calendar. Ten superstars pairing into two teams of five inside not one but two steel cages? How could it be anything but spectacular? The format – a sort of quasi Hell in a Cell and Elimination Chamber mashup – should only be enhanced by the wrestlers involved.
As the clock ticked closer to the month of WarGames, hints began to be dropped about which superstars would most likely be involved. With the scene set for the November 17, 2025, Monday Night Raw, social media was abuzz with speculation about who they were certain would be announced as the final two pieces to the puzzle.
And yet somehow WWE managed to drop the ball on this year’s matchup.
The Champ Was There…But Not For WarGames
As the opening segment of Raw came to a close, some fans were left confused when it was announced that John Cena would face Dominik Mysterio at Survivor Series on November 29, 2025, in a rematch for the Intercontinental championship that he won a week ago. Cena not being involved in the WarGames bout is a miss on many levels.
While it is satisfying to see Cena putting over a young talent in Dominik Mysterio, it is disappointing that an even more compelling storyline was abandoned. Not only had Cena just had his long-anticipated bout with Mysterio the week prior, but both were involved in a six-man tag match with Finn Balor, JD McDonagh,
Sheamus, and Rey Mysterio a week later at Madison Square Garden. A third match between the two, with so few Cena appearances left, is an unnecessary waste.
It would have made sense to have Cena involved in the WarGames match for several reasons. For starters, it would have been exciting to see the 17-time World champion team up with the current World Heavyweight champion CM Punk, WWE Undisputed champion Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and Jey Uso. Outside of Uso, on that team are wrestlers with whom Cena has either recently or in the past had feuds.
By having Cena a part of that group, it would have further solidified that WarGames team as WWE’s version of The Avengers. Having Jimmy Uso take the spot that should have been Cena’s is underwhelming at best.
Unfinished Business For Good
Next and most importantly, the WWE universe never got, and will unfortunately never see, a proper ending to the rivalry between Cena and Brock Lesnar that should have played out in the WarGames match. Many fans were left disappointed and frustrated with the ending of their bout at Wrestlepalooza on September 20, 2025, where Lesnar dominated and destroyed Cena in a manner similar to what took place at SummerSlam 2014.
The creative decision to not only have Lesnar beat Cena but also squash him once again made no sense whatsoever, especially considering this took place as one of Cena’s precious Retirement Tour matches.
If the WWE was going to have had the only time Cena and Lesnar shared the ring this year take place at Wrestlepalooza, Cena should have defeated Lesnar and conquered the biggest demon he has been plagued by throughout his 23-year career.
It was widely reported that Cena was initially poised to defeat Lesnar before the move was scrapped at the last minute. Had creative stuck with that storyline, it would have been tolerable to have Cena not take part in the WarGames match.
Almost Could’ve Done it All
Finally, Cena has never competed in a WarGames match during his 23-year career, and it would have been satisfying and electric to see him compete in a new format, considering he has so little time left in the wrestling ring. Why not give him the opportunity to be a part of such a legendary match? Some fans have been critical of Cena’s Retirement Tour being underwhelming and at times disjointed.
WarGames would have been the perfect opportunity to right the wrong. Cena, Punk, Rhodes, Uso, and Reigns vs. Lesnar, Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, and Drew McIntyre? Edge of your seat match.
John Cena has never been one to take the safe route throughout his career, as he has participated in many stipulated matches. WWE creative keeping him out of the WarGames match is a head-scratching move that has robbed fans of the opportunity to see the GOAT in one of the most thrilling PLEs of the year.
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