WWE Elimination Chamber Review 02/17/2019

Hello Misfits! It’s the Wrestling Classic here with my review for WWE Elimination Chamber review. The WWE is hot on the road to Wrestlemania. This means a stop where men and women have to enter the unforgiving Elimination Chamber. This year there are once again two elimination chamber matches. One match for the women and another one for the men. The women will step into the chamber this time for the first time ever as teams to once again make history crowning the first ever WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions of the modern era. The men will battle for Daniel Bryan’s WWE Championship. Will Captain Planet be able to retain? Also in the past week we’ve seen Kofi Kingston to become the fan favourite pick to win. Will the WWE pull the trigger? Also on this card the Smackdown Tag Team Titles, the Intercontinental and the Raw Women’s Championships will be on the line. Lets see how the show went.

This show is coming to us from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

I missed the kick off show live and haven’t watched it back. I always miss the kick-off shows LOL. Buddy Murphy retained his Cruiserweight Championship from Akira Tozawa.

– The show opened up with great hype video for the event.

– The commentating is split between the Raw and Smackdown teams. Michael Cole, Renee Young and Corey Graves will call the Raw matches while Tom Phillips, Byron Saxtpn and Corey Graves will call the Smackdown matches. Beth Phoenix will be a special guest commentator for the women’s chamber match.

Elimination Chamber Women’s Tag Team Championship
The Boss N’ Hug Connection def. Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville, Nia Jax & Tamina, Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan, The IIconics and Naomi & Carmella
in 33:00 by surviving elimination
This match was really fun. I feel like every team brought something different to the match and you knew you were a part of history watching it. This is only the second time that the women were stepping into the chamber and the first time as teams. The match kicked off with Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville going up against Sasha Banks and Bayley. The order following this was The Riott Squad, The IIconics, Carmella and Naomi and then Tamina and Nia Jax. There were cool moments seeing teams such as The Riott Squad and Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville face off as they’ve always been on opposing shows. Also the way the IIconics interacted with Nia Jax and Tamina. Carmella and Naomi came in hot looking like a really dominant team. However, the two former Women’s Champions were the first eliminated when Naomi got caught in a double pin by the IIconics. The IIconics dominated for a bit when they first came in and really made this match fun. Peyton Royce changed up her hair and honestly looked like a perfect ten. Their interaction with Nia Jax and Tamina where they tried hiding in a pod from them only to get manhandled and swung into the fencing of the chamber was great. Unfortunately, this led to them getting eliminated following synchronized Samoan Drops from Tamina and Nia Jax. I was sad to see Peyton Royce and Billie Kay get eliminated, I’m not over-exaggerating when I say they shined in this match. The Riott Squad girls also shined during this match. At one point they hit crossbody’s on their opponents by leaping off pods which was cool.  The Riott Squad was eliminated when Nia Jax his a Samoan Drop on Liv Morgan from the middle rope followed by a splash from Tamina. Tamina and Nia Jax dominated for a bit until Nia missed a spear and went crashing through a pod leaving Tamina all by herself to fight off against Sasha, Bayley, Mandy and Sonya. The numbers were too much for Tamina and this led to the elimination of Nia Jax and herself. The final two teams were the same two teams that started the match. They told a great story and there were times they made it seem like Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville had the match won. They even gave us some false finishes with Sasha and Bayley. In the end, Sasha Banks was able to modify her finishing move, the Bank Statement, to avoid using her injured shoulder to force Sonya Deville to tap to become the first ever Women’s Tag Team Champions. I was cool with any team winning other than Nia Jax and Tamina. As much as I would have liked to see any of the other teams have a historic moment and win here, only for Sasha and Bayley to win the belts at Wrestlemania. However, it was great to see my favourite Sasha Banks finally win a first time ever match after being involved in so many of them. This was a fun match and I’ve watched it twice. I enjoyed it just as much the second time.

– Sasha Banks and Bayley were interviewed after the match. Bayley didn’t know what to say and there was a chorus of boo’s at first. Sasha Banks took over which led to a louder “you deserve it” chant. Sasha cut a solid emotional promo and the two celebrated. I am totally down with these two winning the belts since it makes sense now to why they kept them together after teasing a break-up all 2018.

Smackdown Tag Team Championship
The Usos def. Shane McMahon & The Miz (C)
in 14:10 by pin fall
Before the match began, The Miz introduced his wife Maryse out so they could announce that they are having another baby. I want to say congratulations to both of them and their entire family. I thought this match was really fun. Shane McMahon didn’t feel like out of place here as be brought on some great offence. The Usos were a great as per usual. Shane McMahon and The Miz’s chemistry as a tag team has really gotten better and this worked. They did follow the traditional tag team formula, with The Usos turning things around and isolating The Miz only for Shane McMahon to get the hot tag. Eventually, Shane McMahon would take Jey Uso out with his leap of faith elbow through the table which took out both guys. It came down to Jimmy and The Miz in the ring and Jimmy Uso, in which Jimmy won an exchange between the two leading to a crucifix pin picking up the win. I was totally surprised to see the Usos win here and wasn’t expecting it at all. I thought The Miz and Shane would hold the titles at least until Fastlane or a random Smackdown on the way to Wrestlemania. I wonder what the story is going to be moving forward. I’m not against the Usos being tag champions again and glad to see it.

2-0n-1 Handicap Match
Intercontinental Championship
Finn Balor def. Bobby Lashley (C) & Lio Rush
in 09:30 by pin fall
The odds were stacked against Finn Balor and the story they told was smart. Bobby Lashley never lost the championship for himself but it was Lio Rush that took the L. Lashley and Lio worked well as a team and making the key tags when necessary. Every time Balor started gaining momentum, they would tag out and slow him down. Lio let his ego get the best of him and it led to Balor being able to hit the coupe the grace for the win. Finally, Balor wins a championship since first winning the Universal Championship in August 2016. I was glad to see Finn win the belt but I do wish it was on a bigger stage and under different circumstances than a handicap match. After the match, Bobby Lashley beat up Lio Rush out of anger that he cost him the title. I really don’t want to see them break up for good because Lio has been the best thing to happen for Lashley since Lashley returned then his victory over Reigns.

Raw Women’s Championship
Ronda Rousey (C) def. Ruby Riott
in 1:40 by submission
Charlotte Flair came out as she promised us she would be sitting in the front row for this match but in reality she was sitting at ringside for it. Charlotte cut a promo before she made her way to her seat. Charlotte recapped how she got into the Wrestlemania main event and pointed at the Wrestlemania sign. Ruby Riott came out alone since her partners in crime were involved in the Elimination Chamber earlier. Ronda Rousey came out in a “Mortal Kombat” Sonya Blade inspired gear. This makes total sense since Ronda Rousey is voicing the character in the upcoming game release. This is also the most normal Ronda’s make up has looked on a PPV I think and I honestly liked it. I also really liked this gear more than her regular one personally. Anyway, Ronda made quick work of Ruby Riott unfortunately. The match ended in a little over a minute and was a total squash. I feel bad for Ruby because she is one of the more talented in ring workers and unlike the limits that Charlotte and Sasha took her too, Ruby just got squashed.

– After the match, Charlotte came into the ring for a stare down with Ronda Rousey. Charlotte points at the sign again and in the distance you see a “Kill Bill” looking Becky Lynch making her way to the ring on crutches through the crowd. Charlotte looked at Becky as if she was pathetic. Becky attacked Charlotte with the crutch as the fans edged her on by chanting “she’s the man!” Becky really did a number on Charlotte and the crutch shots did not look forgiving. Ronda picked up the other crutch to go after Charlotte but Becky then attacked Ronda with her crutch beating the crap out of her. There was evidence of the beating on Ronda’s body after and she even got busted open on the side of her head. Becky got arrested and taken out as the fans popped for the entire thing. I felt like they were underwhelming but there was a reaction. Becky got taken out of the arena in handcuffs by the cops while smiling ear to ear. Ronda looked pissed as she was busted open on the side of her head.

No DQ Match
Baron Corbin def. Braun Strowman
in 10:50 via pin fall
Does anyone care about Baron Corbin? Also, isn’t it incredible how irrelevant Braun Strowman feels right now? It’s almost as if he lost all of his momentum he had for himself all of 2016 to mid 2018. I forgot this match was even happening and didn’t care for it when it was on. Why does Corbin still dress like a hall party waiter or an applebees manager if he’s not the GM anymore? Braun isn’t interesting anymore and the gimmick doesn’t make him anymore interesting. This match was placed in a horrible spot being after the Becky segment and before the main event, so it explains why the crowd had no interest in it either. Strowman was in charge the entire time until randomly Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley came out to help Corbin take out Strowman. They did a triple powerbomb to Strowman putting him through two tables and allowing Corbin to pick up the win. I hope this isn’t a thing to start a new stable because McIntyre and Lashley are better off staying as far away from Boring Corbin as they can.

– Lacey Evans came out for no reason. 

Elimination Chamber
WWE Championship
Daniel Bryan (C) def. Kofi Kingston, Randy Orton, AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy & Samoa Joe
in 36:40 by surviving elimination
This was it. The match I was waiting for since the first match. Daniel Bryan came out cutting a promo about him having to defeat the odds and being the planets saviour. Everyone in this match shined and utilized the Chamber to look good. The match started with Samoa Joe and Daniel Bryan. I enjoyed Bryan trying to avoid Joe to kick off the match only to get hunted like prey by Joe. Joe went hard with the chops to Bryan’s chest and they allowed Joe to shine as the Samoan Submission Machine as he smoothly transitioned from submission to submission on Bryan. I got heavy old school ROH feels with these two going at it. Kofi Kingston was the third one in allowing Bryan to get out of Joe’s sight and to catch a breath. One really cool spot was when Bryan was sitting cross legged on top of a pod, Kofi launched himself up there to force Bryan to get involved in the match again. Kofi was the fan favourite in this match after his impressive 60-minute run during the gauntlet match on Smackdown last week. Styles was in next and eventually eliminated Samoa Joe after hitting Phenomenal Forearm. Joe was the first one out but had a great showing. I got hit with TNA feelings seeing those two go at it. Styles took offence from everyone letting people shine in his expense. In next was Jeff Hardy who hit one of the biggest high spots with a swanton bomb off a pod onto AJ Styles. Hardy was eliminated by Bryan after being caught by a running knee. Randy Orton came in last and was vicious on his attack on everyone. He eliminated AJ Styles after catching him with an RKO as he was trying to springboard for a Phenomenal Forearm. This looked like a diamond cutter the way it was preformed but it got the job done. I’d love to see these two go at it at Wrestlemania. In what felt like sweet retribution for 2009, Kofi Kingston eliminated Randy Orton after hitting him with a trouble in paradise. This was a shock to everyone but an enjoyable one. The final two were Daniel Bryan and Kofi Kingston which was a pleasant surprise. The match had been good but this final stretch with these final two was something special.This wasn’t Santino Marella getting a few close calls against Bryan in 2012. This was Kingston reminding the world that he’s one of the best to ever do this. His desperation was clear and the hope spots were so well done without ever going overboard. When he kicked out of the Running Knee, I lost my mind. He hit a SOS for a close call. He even hit a Trouble in Paradise for a close call. The fans were extremely behind Kofi Kingston here. Kofi got desperate and went for a splash off the top of the pod. The moment he went up there, I knew it was the beginning of the end. He missed and Bryan locked in the Labelle Lock for the win, retaining his WWE Championship. This was something special. Bryan and Kofi gave us something that really had people at the edge of their seat and believable with that final stretch. The coolest thing that I think gets overlooked is that Bryan might have won but he gave Kofi the ring to get praised by the fans. The New Day members came out to console their brother. I still think that Kofi should have won even if it meant dropping it Fastlane. 

Final Thoughts
This show had title changes and history was made. However, the two chamber matches are the only matches I think people will remember from this show. Hardcore fans of women’s wrestling will remember the entire Becky appearance as well. However, for the other four matches on the card which two of them were pretty good and titles changed hands, I think many fans will forget about them a couple of months down the road. The chamber matches were fun as hell though. The women proved they could hang in matches they wouldn’t even be considered for just five years ago and at the same time continued the revolution by introducing a new set of titles that the division could have used since over a decade ago. The men killed it and all shined but nobody more than Kofi Kingston. This was his night at the end of it all. If you didn’t watch this event and dont think you have time to watch the entire thing, I encourage you to watch the two chamber matches at least. It was solid stuff.
Final Rating – 7/10

What were your final thoughts on Elimination Chamber? What final grade would you give the event? Where would you rate it on a scale of ten? Do you agree with my review? Leave your comments, opinions and thoughts below in the comments section.