WWE’s plans for the men’s WarGames match are beginning to take shape, even if the company has not yet made the teams official.

A report emerging after Monday Night Raw indicates that the current internal plan is for this year’s men’s WarGames match to use a five-on-five format. The update arrives in the wake of the four-on-four confrontation between The Bloodline and 946, a development that immediately raised questions about how WWE could expand the rivalry into its annual double-cage showcase.

At this stage, WWE has not formally confirmed either side of the match, the full list of participants, or the precise route the company will take to get there. The five-versus-five direction should therefore be viewed as a reported plan rather than an announced lineup. Still, the format provides a meaningful clue as the story continues to develop on television.

A Four-on-Four Standoff With Bigger Implications

The recent Raw showdown placed The Bloodline and 946 opposite one another in a four-on-four setting. In a normal tag-team rivalry, that type of confrontation might point toward an eight-man tag match. With WarGames approaching, however, the setting naturally invites a larger escalation.

For more background on this topic, read WWE’s John Cena Classic Date Remains Unsettled Amid Potential December Scheduling Clash.

A reported five-on-five WarGames match would require each group to add one more representative, or it could lead to WWE reshaping the existing sides before the match is finalized. That is the central question surrounding the men’s match now: who will become the pivotal fifth member for each team?

WWE has not publicly revealed whether the additional participants will come directly from The Bloodline and 946, whether established allies will be recruited, or whether the road to WarGames will involve shifting loyalties. Those details matter because WarGames is traditionally built around numbers, strategy, grudges, and the anticipation created by deciding who gets to stand inside the cage.

For now, the most concrete development is the reported match size. A five-man team format would give WWE room to make the Raw confrontation part of a broader story rather than treating the four-on-four encounter as a final preview of the event.

Why Five-on-Five Changes the Build

WarGames is designed to reward faction warfare and long-running conflict. Two rings enclosed by a cage give WWE a setting where personal rivalries can be combined into one major match, with each entry potentially changing the balance of power. Moving from four-on-four to five-on-five would increase both the scale of the bout and the number of possible stories WWE can tell before the event.

One additional wrestler per side can have a major effect on the presentation. The final entrant can be positioned as the difference-maker. A returning ally, a new association, or even an uneasy partnership could become a major element of the build without WWE needing to disclose every detail at once. Conversely, the identity of the tenth competitor may become a source of tension if one team struggles to find a trustworthy partner.

The extra spots also create more television opportunities. WWE can use qualifying-style matches, recruitment segments, confrontations, ambushes, and temporary alliances to establish why each person belongs in the match. None of those specific directions have been announced, but a ten-person structure gives the company considerable flexibility over the weeks leading into WarGames.

It is also possible that the current four-on-four alignment will not remain perfectly intact. WWE stories regularly evolve as premium live events approach, particularly when faction disputes are involved. Until the official graphic and match announcement are issued, the reported format should not be taken as confirmation that every wrestler seen in the latest Raw confrontation is locked into the cage match.

The Bloodline’s WarGames History

The Bloodline has become closely associated with WarGames during WWE’s modern use of the match concept. The group’s internal hierarchy, family connections, alliances, and rivalries have made it a natural fit for a stipulation centered on team unity under pressure. That history adds another layer of interest to the current situation involving 946.

WarGames does not simply test who can win a fight. It tests whether a team can function when the stakes rise and the environment becomes increasingly chaotic. That dynamic is especially important whenever The Bloodline is involved, because questions of loyalty and leadership can matter as much as the physical battle inside the cage.

A five-on-five format could intensify those themes. The larger roster means more personalities to manage and more chances for a team’s strategy to break down. A side that appears stronger on paper may still be vulnerable if its members are not aligned. Similarly, a team that enters as an underdog can gain momentum if it is united and able to use the staggered-entry format effectively.

Those are the types of issues WWE can emphasize as it builds toward the match. The latest four-on-four confrontation has established the immediate conflict, while the reported ten-person plan suggests there may be more pieces yet to be placed on the board.

No Official Teams Announced Yet

Despite the report regarding the planned format, WWE has not announced the official men’s WarGames lineups. There is no confirmed list of ten participants at this time, and there is no official indication of which Raw segments or matches will determine the final members of either side.

That distinction is important. Plans in professional wrestling can change, and WWE’s public announcement will be the definitive confirmation of the match, its participants, and the branding surrounding the event. Until then, the current discussion is centered on the expectation that the men’s bout will be five-on-five rather than on a completed card.

Fans will be watching the next developments involving The Bloodline and 946 closely. Any new allies, opponents, absences, or confrontations could provide a stronger indication of how WWE intends to fill the remaining places. The company may also choose to reveal the teams gradually, using the uncertainty around the final positions to build anticipation.

Crown Jewel Comes First

Before WarGames takes center stage, WWE’s next major premium live event on the calendar is Crown Jewel. That event is the company’s immediate priority, meaning the WarGames picture may continue to unfold alongside the final build to Crown Jewel rather than receiving all of WWE’s attention at once.

This creates an interesting window for the Bloodline-946 issue. WWE can allow the rivalry to simmer while focusing on its next premium live event, then increase the intensity once Crown Jewel has passed. Alternatively, the company could use Crown Jewel-related programming to introduce developments that influence the WarGames teams. No such connection has been announced, but the event schedule gives WWE time to build the match in stages.

The key takeaway is straightforward: WWE is reportedly looking at a five-on-five men’s WarGames match, and the four-on-four clash between The Bloodline and 946 appears to be an important part of that developing picture. The identities of the two additional competitors, along with the final team structure, remain unconfirmed.

Until WWE makes the lineups official, the most compelling part of the build will be seeing how both sides grow from the four men currently positioned in the conflict to the reported five-man teams expected for WarGames.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.