Explaining WWE's Epic WarGames Match

It's WarGames season!

WWE Survivor Series: WarGames is right around the corner, and longtime fans are already way too excited to witness one of the most entertaining match types in professional wrestling — there's no match quite like it! If you're a new fan looking for information about WarGames, don't stress: you came to the right place.

Here's everything you need to know about WarGames.

What Are the Rules of WarGames?

For members of the WWE Universe who have never experienced WarGames, and even for seasoned veterans, the rules can seem quite complicated. Luckily, we here at USA Insider have you covered.

Basically, the rules are as follows: Two teams (sometimes more) are contained in separate outside cages with just one member from each team starting inside the caged rings. The bell rings, but the match doesn't start at that point. For five minutes, a no-disqualification fight happens until one member of the first team is randomly released into the fray.

Yes, this creates a 2-1 handicap situation where one Superstar must fight off two opponents for three minutes until the odds are evened up when a member of team two is finally released. One member from alternating teams is then let into the match every few minutes until all Superstars have been let in. One team constantly is battling at a disadvantage, driving the drama even further up the charts.

Then the match begins and, of course, it's no holds barred. Anything goes. Pure chaos.

In 2017, NXT brought back the WarGames match for the first time in nearly 20 years (watch highlights from the men's match below) and later held the first-ever women's match inside the cage. It's safe to say that both matches set the standard for the modern version of WarGames that fans will see on Saturday, November 30, exclusively on Peacock!

Did Cody Rhodes' Father, Dusty Rhodes, Really Invent WarGames?

Believe it or not, yes — WarGames is the brainchild of Dusty Rhodes, the father of The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes! The elder Rhodes was in charge of the National Wrestling Alliance and came up with the idea as a way to finally settle one of the most intense feuds in the promotion's history.

But don't take our word for it. In 2017, WWE cameras caught up with Dusty as he explained how WarGames was created, and it's about as fascinating as you could imagine!

When Was the First-Ever WarGames Match?

The first WarGames match in history took place during NWA's Great American Bash in 1989 from the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. The historic clash saw The Road Warriors, The Midnight Express, and Steve Williams take on Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, Jimmy Garvin, and The Samoan Swat Team in a match that fans had sky-high expectations for — even though they didn't know what to expect!

We won't spoil the ending, but It was a chaotic, wild contest that every member of the WWE Universe should see at least once. While it wasn't the blood-soaked affair that marks later WarGames matches, the original has a timeless quality that every fan can appreciate. There's just so much historical significance! 

Thankfully, if you've ever wanted to witness an essential piece of pro wrestling history, you're in luck: we've tracked down the match in its entirety:

So now that you're all caught up on the ins and outs of WarGames, there's nothing left to do but sit back, relax, and enjoy watching the famous match live!