The 2025 edition of WWE’s Survivor Series will forever be etched in the history books. Not so much for the average/sub-par WarGames match. But for the surprise appearance of a mysterious masked individual who added at least a little bit of engagement.
The Attack That Rocked WarGames
The 5-on-5 WarGames finale saw the team of CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and The Usos battling a powerful collective—”The Vision” (Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed), Logan Paul, Drew McIntyre, and Brock Lesnar. The match was filled with weapons, some decent spots, and drama, but it all came to a head with the introduction of a new variable.
As the action reached its crescendo, a figure, clad entirely in black with their face obscured by a mask, stormed the cage. In a move that sent shockwaves through the San Diego crowd, the assailant brutally delivered a Curb Stomp to CM Punk, directly leading to the heel team securing a controversial victory.
The question instantly took over social media: WHO IS THE MASKED MAN?
Debunking the Architect
Initial fan speculation honed in on one name: Seth “Freakin” Rollins.
The familiar Curb Stomp manoeuvre—a move practically synonymous with The Architect—made him an immediate prime suspect. Furthermore, Rollins has a history of mind games and feigning injury. Leading many to believe his reported shoulder surgery was just a smokescreen.
However, reliable reports quickly began to pour cold water on the Rollins theory. Suggesting his injury is genuine and he would be out for the foreseeable future.
If not the former World Heavyweight Champion, then who was the man bold enough to cost CM Punk and his allies the biggest match of the night?
The A-Town Down Shock
According to reports from PWInsider, the mystery has been definitively solved. The man behind the mask, the perpetrator of the attack, is none other than two-time WWE United States Champion, Austin Theory.
The reveal aligns perfectly with backstage whispers of a significant push for the 28-year-old Superstar. The speculation is that this dramatic interference is the genesis of a huge character change. Setting Theory up to potentially join The Vision under the guidance of the legendary Paul Heyman.
When questioned about the incident, Heyman, in true fashion, refused to reveal the identity, simply fuelling the fire and confirming the significance of the attack.
This is a major investment by the company in Austin Theory.
We’ve seen executive confidence in him before – look no further than his massive victory over John Cena at WrestleMania 39. This move suggests the WWE brass sees him as a key figure in the next generation of main eventers.
The fallout from Survivor Series is guaranteed to be explosive.
Get ready for a new, more dangerous Austin Theory, as he looks to establish himself at the very top of the WWE hierarchy.
Weak?
This feels incredibly weak to me. I’ve seen very little of Austin Theory to suggest he’s one of the next wave of top-tier talent. Plus, it feels like there’s plenty of mid-card talent due a push.
I can’t see how they stop with Cody/Punk/McIntyre etc being in the constant rotation of upper-card matches, too. So the migration of the next-generation looks to be stagnant, anyway.
I have nothing better to offer in terms of options. As someone really wanting to see LA Knight have a Heavyweight Title Run and a fan of Gunther. I don’t know that my eyes are on the younger talents and next generation, anyway. So perhaps this is a good shout and will start of the next events that ultimately lead to the succession of the upper-card.
