3 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (21 Nov - Results & Review)

3. New Members Won’t Save Women’s WarGames

Rhea Ripley introduced AJ Lee as the final member of the babyface squad, then it became clear that Becky Lynch is the final member on the heel side when she attacked to close out SmackDown. Yeah, this whole deal was rushed - the credits were rolling on Friday's episode when Becky shook Asuka’s hand. Did they lose time somewhere in the night? Did somebody go long in-ring, or something?

The side story of mistrust between Rhea and Charlotte Flair seems ultimately pointless looking back now they're content to be all buddy buddy, and there’s still such a thrown together air to everything. That’s true on the men’s side too, being fair. Nah, yours truly hasn't been digging the build to this year’s Survivor Series, can’t lie. There's absolutely no need for either of the top billed matches to take place inside the double cage.

At this rate, a return to more standard elimination fare in 2025 might've been the better call.

There isn't much meat on the bone for the women's match. Only AJ and Becky feel like true enemies in this thing, and they'll have to do a lot of the heavy lifting come next weekend. Let's be real, WWE fans in San Diego aren't exactly going to rocket out of their seats if Lash Legend and Nia Jax go face to face with Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss.

This match would be perfectly serviceable as an elimination tag at most. Again, the WarGames concept should be held back for ultra-violent blood feuds or rivalries where everybody has to the settle the score in a vicious, stunt-filled brawl. That doesn't fit what's being presented here.