For the first time since 2017, Houston will host a major WWE event called "Survivor Series: WarGames."
What is it?
The WarGames series was created in 1987 by Dusty Rhodes and has become an iconic staple of the wrestling world, officials said. Over the course of its history, the format of the series has adapted and changed, but it was ultimately rebranded in 2022 into "Survivor Series: WarGames" and became a marquee event for the main WWE roster.
The annual premium live event takes place inside a massive, roofless steel cage with two wrestling rings placed side by side. According to ESPN, one member from each team starts the match in the cage and every few minutes, a competitor from one of the teams is released from a holding cage to enter the match. The winner is selected after one member of a team secures a pinfall or submission on an opponent, which are two specific positions in wrestling.
How we got here
The event first appeared at a major sports stadium last year, with a debut at Petco Park in San Diego, which, according to a July 13 news release, set records for gate and attendance at approximately 46,016 fans participating in the one-day event. Now, the major showdown will be held at Daikin Park in Houston this November.
This marks the first WWE Premium Live Event to be held at Daikin Park since "Royal Rumble" in 2020 and only the second time the city has hosted a "Survivor Series" event, which first took place in 2017, according to the release.
The local impact
CEO of Houston First, Michael Heckman, said he anticipates the event to bring in thousands of fans and generate a "significant" economic impact for the community. According to Wrestlenomics, the last two WWE events to happen in Houston brought in a little over $600,000 to the city. However, the San Diego Tourism Marketing District, which oversaw the Survivor Series in 2025, projected that the event would generate about $3.6 million in direct lodging and hotel revenue. An all-encompassing, post-event economic report has not yet been released, but San Diego earmarked almost $5 million in additional expenses to facilitate the event.
Quote of note
“We are proud to be able to help bring one of the world’s premier entertainment brands to Houston for what promises to be an unforgettable holiday weekend," Heckman said. "Houston has earned a reputation for delivering world-class entertainment events, and we look forward to welcoming the WWE Universe to our destination."
Get involved
The 2026 installation of "Survivor Series: WarGames" will be held at Daikin Park on Nov. 28. Tickets will go on sale Aug. 7 at 11 a.m. on Ticketmaster, with general presale beginning Aug. 6. To register for presale information, residents can visit the WWE website here.
