Saturday’s WWE Survivor Series WARGAMES 2025 wasn’t just an experience on the ESPN app and Netflix internationally but also in person, where the energy in and around Petco Park was undeniable. I attended the event to cover it for FightsATW, and although the PLE (Premium Live Event) received mixed reviews on social media, it was an experience that’s hard to describe, as they delivered excellent production and a fantastic fan atmosphere.
San Diego Was Ready For The WWE
@abeg718 Fans waiting to get into @Petco Park for this year’s #wwesurvivorseries . #sandiego is super crowded right now. #wwe #wrestling ♬ original sound – AbeG718
The fan “meet and greet” events are usually well attended, so when the WWE hosted theirs on Friday at the San Diego Convention Center, it was no surprise that fans showed up in droves. What was surprising was that the day before Thanksgiving, there were still plenty of tickets available. It looks like after everyone had some turkey on Thursday and then decided to go online and buy tickets for the Survivor Series because sales spiked later that night. By the time Saturday arrived, there were few tickets left.
I arrived in downtown San Diego two hours before the event started, and there was an undeniable buzz throughout the city. Traffic was crazy, and after I parked and walked up to Petco Park, there were mobs of people everywhere. The merchandise stores outside the venue were crowded with people making purchases before the gates opened. Most of the merchandise being bought was related to John Cena, who was making his second to last appearance before retiring for good, as he faced Dominik Mysterio, a native of San Diego.
Once the gates to Petco Park opened, fans rushed into the park not only to reach their seats but also to get refreshments and, for first-timers, walk around and take in the atmosphere. It was certainly a sight to see from the press box.
@abeg718 ohhhhhh #survivorseries #sandiego #wwe ♬ original sound – AbeG718
The Survivor Series Had Mixed Reviews But Their Were Moments That Made It Worth Wild
Starting with the high points, the production and ringwalks for all the wrestlers were epic, especially since the crowd was fully engaged. No pop was bigger than Cena’s walkout, which hit 110 decibels at one point during the intro. Liv Morgan’s return and her double turn added a nice twist to a match that had already become the highlight of the night with the psychology Cena and Mysterio displayed. Lastly, Brock Lesnar’s music cutting off Jey Uso’s encore “yeeting” was perfect, and the fans’ reaction reflected that feeling. Those moments alone likely won over most of the fans who attended the event.
@abeg718 Insane #johncena walkout for #survivorseries in #sandiego . #wwe ♬ original sound – AbeG718
Where WWE fell short were the two WARGAMES matches. The women tried their best, but some spots weren’t executed well, and others were a little predictable. During the men’s match, the spots felt forced, and the introduction of the hooded wrestler just didn’t land. Also, the ending where Roman Reigns tells Cody Rhodes that this was the last time they would ever team up, with nothing happening afterward, felt anticlimactic. The fans at the arena waited around for at least 10 minutes after the match to see if anything else would happen, but after the announcement thanking them for attending, fans just left, while others booed.
WWE Should Come Back To San Diego For Another PLE
On Saturday night, 46,016 fans turned out to see their favorite wrestlers perform. Even though it was a holiday weekend, San Diego fully supported the Survivor Series, despite the short holiday week. The outcome was a packed stadium and likely millions in merchandise sales. If this isn’t a sign of what San Diego can do, then I don’t know what is. When WWE considers venues for some of their other PLEs in 2026, they should definitely consider San Diego as a strong contender to host an event.
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