The 40th annual Survivor Series is scheduled for Saturday, November 28, 2026, at Daikin Park, returning WWE’s signature November event to Thanksgiving weekend.
WWE’s association with Thanksgiving dates back to 1987, when the very first Survivor Series was held on the holiday itself. Through 1994, the show stayed anchored to either Thanksgiving or the night before, laying the groundwork for a holiday custom that persists today.
- Survivor Series: WarGames anchors the Thanksgiving weekend calendar, bringing WWE’s signature November event to the holiday.
- Historical championship shifts on Thanksgiving, such as The Undertaker capturing his first WWF Championship, set precedents for late-year title changes.
Promoters of professional wrestling recognized the holiday’s potential to draw massive crowds long before WWE tied Survivor Series to Thanksgiving. During wrestling’s territory era, regional promotions frequently scheduled major cards on Thanksgiving night. Providing a platform for marquee feuds, championship bouts, and top attractions, these holiday shows took advantage of the fact that families gathered together and many workers had the day off.
The WWF took that established promotional concept to a national audience on November 26, 1987. The inaugural event took place at the Richfield Coliseum in Ohio and introduced large elimination tag team contests. The main event featured teams captained by Hulk Hogan and André the Giant, continuing their rivalry following WrestleMania III.
| Event Year | Date | Location / Venue | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | November 26 | Richfield Coliseum, Ohio | Inaugural Survivor Series; Hogan vs. André main event |
| 1990 | November 22 | Hartford, Connecticut | The Undertaker debuts; Gobbledy Gooker hatches |
| 1991 | November 27 | Thanksgiving Eve | The Undertaker defeats Hulk Hogan for first WWF Championship |
| 2026 | November 28 | Daikin Park | 40th annual Survivor Series: WarGames |
The Undertaker made his WWF debut as the mystery member of Ted DiBiase’s Million Dollar Team on Thanksgiving night in 1990 in Hartford, Connecticut. One year later on November 27, 1991, Thanksgiving Eve, The Undertaker defeated Hulk Hogan to capture his first WWF Championship. That victory established a foundation for a career spanning three decades.
The same 1990 event also introduced the Gobbledy Gooker. After weeks of programming featuring a mysterious giant egg, the character debuted as an enormous turkey. Although it developed a reputation as an eccentric creative decision, the character reappeared over the years and captured the WWE 24/7 Championship at Survivor Series 2020, exactly 30 years after its debut.
Survivor Series remained on Thanksgiving night from 1987 through 1990, before moving to Thanksgiving Eve beginning in 1991 and occupying that Wednesday slot through 1994. Alongside the pay-per-view events, Thanksgiving-week episodes of Raw and SmackDown have featured backstage parties, food fights, and unusual competitions.
On the November 29, 2013, episode of SmackDown, General Manager Vickie Guerrero oversaw a food-eating contest between Titus O’Neil and The Great Khali. The contest descended into comedy as The Great Khali collapsed face-first into the food, leaving Titus O’Neil as the winner. These segments provided lighter entertainment while giving performers opportunities to showcase their personalities.
Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026, followed by Black Friday on Friday, November 27, leading directly into the 40th annual Survivor Series: WarGames event.
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