The phrase "went to the wall" means to suffer a major defeat or failure. Some possible antonyms for this phrase could include "succeeded," "triumphed," "prevailed," or "overcame." These words suggest a positive, victorious outcome rather than a negative or hopeless one. Alternatively, antonyms for "went to the wall" might focus on avoiding or preventing defeat, such as "survived," "persevered," "thrived," or "withstood." In any case, choosing the right antonym will depend on the context of the original phrase, and the desired tone or message of the sentence or passage in which it is used.