The highly anticipated father-versus-son confrontation between Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio will not take place at Survivor Series: WarGames on November 29, 2025, marking a significant shift in WWE’s San Diego event planning.[1] The decision to remove the match from the card represents a major pivot following the early completion of a separate title program just days ago.
Wrestling Observer Radio host Dave Meltzer first reported the cancellation, noting the considerable uncertainty surrounding the implications of this booking change. “Rey and Dominik are not wrestling in San Diego,” Meltzer stated, emphasizing the mystery surrounding WWE’s alternative direction for both competitors moving forward.[1]
The Catalyst: John Cena’s Early Title Victory
The removal of the Mysterio family match traces directly back to WWE’s decision to accelerate the John Cena versus Dominik Mysterio Intercontinental Championship program. Originally scheduled to headline Survivor Series: WarGames in San Diego, the match was moved up to the November 10 episode of Raw in Boston, where Cena successfully captured the Intercontinental Championship—achieving his long-awaited Grand Slam Champion status in the process.[1]
This early title transition has created a domino effect throughout WWE’s event scheduling. With Dominik no longer holding the prestigious Intercontinental Championship, the narrative foundation for his scheduled Survivor Series encounter with his father fundamentally changed. Sources close to WWE’s creative direction revealed that the company re-evaluated the match’s storyline potential following Cena’s victory, prompting executives to shelve the family rivalry for the San Diego event.
“We’re still working on what comes next for Dominik and Rey,” one WWE insider told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The title change shifted everything, and creative felt the story needed more development before they faced off in San Diego.”
What Does This Mean for Rey and Dominik?
While Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio will not compete against each other at the November 29 event, both wrestlers remain advertised to appear at Petco Park in San Diego.[1] This cryptic positioning has sparked widespread speculation within the wrestling community about their potential involvement in other segments or matches.
The question of whether John Cena will retain his newly won Intercontinental Championship at Survivor Series: WarGames remains unanswered. Dave Meltzer acknowledged this uncertainty, suggesting that WWE’s plans for the title program remain fluid. “I don’t know if that means Cena and Dom is still on or they’re going in a different direction to where they were going,” Meltzer explained on Wrestling Observer Radio.[1]
Focus Shifts to WarGames Matches
With the Mysterio family storyline removed from Survivor Series: WarGames, WWE has committed to centering the card around the event’s marquee attractions—the Men’s and Women’s WarGames matches. The Men’s WarGames features an intriguing matchup between Team CM Punk (CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, and two TBA participants) and a squad led by Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, alongside Logan Paul and two additional competitors to be announced.[1]
The Women’s WarGames will pit Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Alexa Bliss, and Charlotte Flair against Nia Jax, Lash Legend, The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane), and one TBA competitor.[2] This match carries significant stakes following recent developments on Raw, where The Kabuki Warriors attacked Ripley and Sky, potentially sidelining both women from competition.
Broader Implications for WWE Creative
The decision to scrap the Rey versus Dominik match underscores WWE’s willingness to pivot its creative direction based on real-time storytelling developments. This approach reflects the company’s response to audience reactions and the potential long-term booking implications of title changes.
From a business perspective, removing a family-based storyline from a major premium live event suggests that WWE’s creative team is prioritizing the traditional WarGames match formula, which has become synonymous with Survivor Series since its rebranding in 2022. The event has evolved significantly from its 1987 origins, when traditional Survivor Series elimination matches characterized the programming. The shift to WarGames matches transformed Survivor Series into a different spectacle altogether, and the 2025 edition appears to double down on this philosophy.[2]
The Rey Mysterio Legacy Question
For Rey Mysterio, who has spent decades as one of WWE’s most decorated performers, the match cancellation represents a missed opportunity to share an in-ring confrontation with his son at a major pay-per-view. The legendary luchador has maintained a strong presence on WWE programming despite being in the later stages of his career, and his involvement at San Diego remains valuable from a star power and drawing perspective.
Dominik Mysterio, conversely, finds himself in a transitional phase following his loss to John Cena. The Intercontinental Championship had provided him with legitimate main event credibility alongside The Judgment Day faction. His next major storyline direction remains unclear, though his presence at Survivor Series: WarGames indicates WWE intends to keep him in prominent positions moving forward.
Looking Ahead
As Survivor Series: WarGames approaches, WWE continues to finalize its card with several slots remaining to be filled. The event promises to deliver the hard-hitting cage action that has defined the modern Survivor Series experience, even if one of the announced attractions will not materialize.
Fans anticipating a Mysterio family drama at Petco Park will need to look elsewhere for that storyline’s continuation. Whether Rey and Dominik’s rivalry advances at a future event, or whether WWE has abandoned the father-versus-son narrative entirely, remains to be seen as the company navigates the fluid landscape of professional wrestling’s ongoing storyline development.