Becky Lynch vs. Mickie James

Background: Mickie James recently made a return to WWE under the mask of La Luchadora. She helped Alexa Bliss retain her Smackdown Women;’s Championship against Becky Lynch. Lynch would unmask La Luchadora and reveal that it was Mickie James all along. Becky has vowed revenge ever since.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time match between these two girls.

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: Both girls make their Elimination Chamber PPV debut tonight.

Match: This is Mickie James’ first PPV match since making her return to WWE. The girls take the fight to the outside whilst in a collar and elbow tie up. For me this feels like the biggest of the three women’s matches tonight. Becky takes the advantage, hitting a forearm off the apron. Mickie manages a cheap shot and then hits a DDT for a near fall. Mickie dominates for a while, mostly using submissions. Becky then fires back using strikes and a Bexploder for a near fall. Mickie hits a top rope Lou Thesz press for a two count, she’s bleeding from the elbow. Mickie counters a pump handle slam and hits a Mick Kick but Becky’s foot is under the bottom rope on the cover. Becky looks for the armbar but Mickie counters with a roll-up which Becky counters with a pinfall of her own for the three!

Result: Becky Lynch wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a good match between these two girls. Both of these girls are great so I would expect no less. Becky was the right winner, anyone else and I’d probably say Mickie should win but Becky needed the win. I don’t think we’ll see another match between these two on pay per view. I wouldn’t be surprised to see either of these girls in the mix at Wrestlemania.

Rating: 6.75/10

Apollo Crews & Kalisto vs. Dolph Ziggler – 2 on 1 handicap match

Background: Dolph Ziggler recently turned heel, taking out Kalisto after a match. Apollo Crews came to Kalisto’s aid and since then Ziggler and Crews have had their differences. Daniel Bryan made a handicap match after Dolph said he could beat both men at the same time.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time handicap match between these three men.

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: Dolph Ziggler is 1-2 at Elimination Chamber, Kalisto is 0-1 and Apollo makes his debut at this event.

Match: Dolph Ziggler attacks Kalisto as he makes his entrance, throwing him into the LED screens. Referees come out and see to Kalisto who looks injured. Apollo goes to the ring anyway and it looks like we have a singles match. It’s a fast paced start to the match from Apollo who is showing a meaner streak than usual. Ziggler soon takes the advantage. Ziggler uses a few chinlocks throughout this match. Kalisto soon emerges from the back holding his lower back. Apollo hits a big enzeguri which echoes around the arena. Kalisto then tags in and hits a springboard senton and lays in some kicks. Apollo tags back in and hits a sit-out powerbomb for the three! After the match Ziggler sweeps Kalisto off the apron and then snaps Apollo’s ankle in a chair.

Result: Apollo Crews and Kalisto win by pinfall.

Review: This match wasn’t too great. All three men are full of talent but it might have worked better as a handicap match with Kalisto there the whole time. Dolph set the pace of the match which was slow for the most part. Chinlock city. It was ok but considering the guys involved it could have been a lot better.

Rating: 3.5/10

Tag Team Turmoil – Smackdown Tag Team Championship match

Heath Slater & Rhyno vs. Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Fandango)

Elimination Chamber Record: Heath Slater is 1-0 at Elimination Chamber events, the other three men make their Elimination Chamber PPV debut.

Match: Heath Slater and Fandango start the match. Breezango are dressed in sailor outfits. Slater takes the early advantage, taking on both members of Breezango. Slater then tags Rhyno who gets a big pop. Fandango makes a blind tag and he takes Slater down, giving his team the advantage. Before the brand split none of these guys would feature on pay per view so it’s nice to see them. Fandango drops tickets on Slater. All four men get into it with Rhyno clearing the ring of Tyler Breeze. Rhynomakes a blind tag and hits Fandango with a big gore to eliminate them from the match.

Result: Heath Slater and Rhyno win by pinfall.

Heath Slater & Rhyno vs. The Vaudevillians (Simon Gotch & Aiden English)

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: The Vaudevillians are making their Elimination Chamber PPV debut tonight.

Match: The Vaudevillians come out and take out Rhyno on the outside. Heath Slater tags himself in but Aiden English goes right to work on Slater. All four men soon get into it. Rhyno hits Gotch with a gore and Slater then hits English with an impaler DDT!

Result: Heath Slater and Rhyno win by pinfall.

Heath Slater & Rhyno vs. The Usos (Jimmy & Jey)

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: The Usos are 0-1 at this event.

Match: The Usos go right to work on Slater. but Heath gets a shot in and tags in Rhyno. Jimmy gets his team the advantage and tags in Jey who gets hit with a clothesline. Slater tags in and comes in off the top but Jey hits him with a Samoan drop. Rhyno gets involved but Jey disposes of him. Jimmy tags in, hits a superkick and eliminates Rhyno and Slater!

Result: The Usos win by pinfall.

American Alpha (c) (Chad Gable & Jason Jordan) vs. The Usos (Jimmy & Jey)

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: American Alpha make their debut at this event.

Match: The Usos try to jump American Alpha before the bell but Chad and Jordan fight them off. The Usos use some cheap tactics, double teaming Gable behind the referees back to take the advantage. The Usos make frequent tags, double teaming Chad Gable. Eventually Gable hits a clothesline and both he and Jimmy Uso are down. Jason Jordan makes the hot tag and he belly to belly suplexes both Usos. Jimmy looks for a roll up on Jordan but he is no longer the legal man and Gable rolls up Jimmy for the 3!

Result: American Alpha win by pinfall.

The Usos attack American Alpha after the match, throwing them into the ring post and beating them off the ring apron. The Usos then throw Gable into the ring steps hard. Jimmy hits a big splash on Jordan from the top rope abd leaves the ring with Gable and Jordan both down and out.

American Alpha (Chad Gable & Jason Jordan) (c) vs. The Ascension (Viktor & Konnor)

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: The Ascension are 0-1 at this event.

Match: The Ascension come out and immediately hit fall of man on Jason Jordan but Gable breaks up the pinfall. The Ascension dispose of Chad Gable and then double team Jason Jordan. Jordan manages to tag in Gable who hits grand amplitude for the victory!

Result: American Alpha win by pinfall.

Review: This was a decent tag team turmoil match. There were a few teams in there that seemed like filler. The big match was between The Usos and American Alpha. I’d like to see The Usos as champions at some point. American Alpha are a great team though, but I did prefer them in NXT when they had a big more personality.

Rating: 6/10

Nikki Bella vs. Natalya

Background: Carmella revealed that it was Natalya that attacked Nikki Bella at Survivor Series. Natalya has since said that she despises Nikki Bella and is basically jealous of everything Nikki has achieved. She claims Nikki has achieved everything because of sex appeal and her husband, John Cena.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time PPV match between these two girls.

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: Nikki Bella is 1-0 at Elimination Chamber events, Natalya makes her debut at the event tonight.

Match: Natalya mocks John Cena in the early going and then slaps Nikki and takes her down. Natalya has the advantage in the early going but Nikki gets back into it with a knee bar. Natalya takes back the advantage and mocks Nikki as she lays into her. Natalya always offers a safe match. You know what you’re getting. She’s a good technical wrestler but you’re never going to see an exceptional match. Her mannerisms are really over the top though, to the extent of being awkward. Nikki Bella fires up but that doesn’t last long. Nikki hits a spinebuster for a near fall and then a springboard enzeguri. Natalya hits a superplex and then locks on the sharpshooter but Nikki counters and looks on the STF! Natalya makes it to the bottom rope to break the hold. The fight spills to the outside where Natalya rams Nikki into the barricade. Bella returns the favour and then lays in some right hands but both girls end up getting counters out!

Result: Double count out.

Review: Yeah, I mean the fundamentals of this match were fine but it wasn’t a very entertaining match. Natalya dominated for the most part but it was slow and submission based. Nobody wanted a double count out and it means we’ll see this match again. Smackdown has a pretty stacked women’s roster so it’ll be interesting to see who’s involved in the title match at Wrestlemania.

Rating: 4/10

Randy Orton vs. Luke Harper

Background: Since Randy Orton joined the Wyatt Family, Luke Harper hasn’t trusted him. This has come to a head recently with Orton clearly pushing Harper out of the Wyatt Family. Orton blames Harper for costing he and Bray Wyatt the Smackdown Tag Team Championships. Harper would then accidentally kick Bray Wyatt in the face. Orton beat Harper on Smackdown and after the match Bray attacked Harper, officially kicking him out of the Wyatt Family.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time singles PPV match between these two men.

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: Randy Orton is 1-3, Luke Harper is 1-0.

Match: You can tell this is going to be a slow match. The fight quickly goes to the outside though where Harper bounces Orton off the barricade and announce desk. Back in the ring and Harper hits a dropkick before going to the top but Randy hammers him off. Back to the outside where Orton throws Harper over the announce desk. We then get our first chinlock of the match. Lots of posing from Orton in this match. Harper is a really athletic guy for his size. He hits a big suicide dive sending Orton flying over the announce desk. Orton hits a superplex in what has been a back and forth match so far. Orton hits his trademark hangmans DDT and then motions for an RKO but Harper superkicks him in the face…twice! Luke hits a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall and the crowd seem to be enjoying themselves. Harper then looks for his spinning clothesline but Orton blocks it and hits an RKO for the three!

Result: Randy Orton wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a decent match. It was short and sweet. The crowd were into it a bit more than I was but it wasn’t terrible. Orton had to get the win really with him heading to the Wrestlemania main event. Will Bray Wyatt win the Elimination Chamber match to setup the Orton/Wyatt match at Wrestlemania? I’m not sure where this leaves Harper, he doesn’t tend to do a lot when not associated with Wyatt.

Rating: 6/10

Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Naomi – Smackdown Women’s Championship match

Background: Naomi has pinned Alexa twice in non title matches which has earned her a shot at the Smackdown Women’s Championship. Naomi is intent on taking the title to Wrestlemania which is in her hometown of Orlando, Florida.

Previous PPV matches: This is a second PPV match between these two girls, Naomi beat Alexa Bliss at No Mercy a couple of months ago.

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: Naomi is 0-1 at Elimination Chamber, Alexa Bliss wrestles art this event for the first time tonight.

Match: Alexa starts the match by flicking her hair in the face of Naomi and then slapping her. Naomi shows off her athleticism in the early going but gets caught springboarding off the top rope. Alexa has some quick offence of her own and pins Naomi in a similar style that Layla used to do a few years ago. Naomi picks up the pace and hits a blockbuster for a near fall. Naomi hits the rear view for another near fall. Naomi looks to hit a moonsault but Bliss hangs on to her boot. Bliss gets a cheap shot in to take the advantage. Alexa heads to the top but Naomi kicks her down. Alexa gets frustrated as a DDT doesn’t finish off Naomi. Naomi looks for a moonsault but Alexa rolls slightly out of the way, she then rolls up Naomi with her feet on the ropes but the referee sees it. Alexa attempts twisted Bliss but Naomi gets her knees up. Naomi hits a moonsault and that’s enough foe the three!

Result: Naomi wins by pinfall.

Review: This match was ok. The crowd were a little flat for it but it wasn’t a terrible match. I’m a little surprised to see Naomi win the title, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see her win it at Wrestlemania instead. But Naomi will go to Orlando as champion. Ok match but a well deserved title win for Naomi.

Rating: 5/10

John Cena (c) vs. Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles vs. Bray Wyatt vs. The Miz vs. Baron Corbin – Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship

Background: John Cena won the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble last month but Shane McMahon would announce that there is one last stop on the road to Wrestlemania. John Cena must defend the WWE Championship against 5 other men with the winner going on to Wrestlemania to defend against Randy Orton.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time 6 way match between these men.

Elimination Chamber Record: John Cena is 3-4 at Elimination Chamber, Dean Ambrose is 2-1, Bray Wyatt is 1-0, The Miz is 2-2. AJ Styles and Baron Corbin make their debut at the event tonight.

Match: Dean Ambrose, Baron Corbin, The Miz and Bray Wyatt are the first four men out and step inside their pods which means AJ Styles and John Cena start the match. It’s a brand new Elimination Chamber structure for tonight. Styles takes the early advantage and gets the first near fall in following a spin-out powerbomb. Cena hits a powerbomb of his own for a near fall. Dean Ambrose is the next man to enter. We saw a triple threat match between these three men at No Mercy last year. The pace tends to pick up when someone enters these matches and slows down as we get close to the next entrant. Ambrose is the current Intercontinental Champion, he dives off one of the pods on to John Cena. Bray Wyatt enters the match and he picks up the pace. Cena and Styles climb up the chamber and slug it out until AJ hammers Cena down to the floor below. I’ve just noticed the metal grates surrounding the ring have now been covered by mats.

Bray Wyatt hits AJ Styles with a belly to belly throw off the top rope as Dean Ambrose powerbombs Wyatt. No eliminations yet. All four men are down which means we’ve got somebody new entering the match and it’s Baron Corbin. Corbin takes down everyone, starting with Dean Ambrose. Corbin hits end of days on AJ Styles but Cena locks the STF on Corbin! Corbin then hits end of days on Cena! The Miz is the last man to enter the match which means all six men are in the ring at the same time. Corbin stands waiting for Miz but Ambrose rolls Corbin up and eliminates him from the match! Corbin attacks Ambrose on his way out of the Chamber, throwing him through a pod and then hitting him with end of days. The Miz then covers Ambrose and gets the pinfall, eliminating Ambrose from the match!

The Miz is the next man eliminated after John Cena hits him with an attitude adjustment. AJ Styles and Bray Wyatt double team the WWE Champion. Cena hits an attitude adjustment on AJ Styles but Styles kicks out of the pinfall. Bray Wyatt then hits Sister Abigail on John Cena to eliminate the WWE Champion from the match! Bray Wyatt and AJ Styles go at it, Stylesl ooks for a phenomenal forearm but Wyatt counters and hits Sister Abigail for the three!

Result: Bray Wyatt wins the match and the WWE Championship

Baron Corbin is eliminated by Dean Ambrose
Dean Ambrose is eliminated by The Miz
The Miz is eliminated by John Cena
John Cena is eliminated by Bray Wyatt
AJ Styles is eliminated by Bray Wyatt

Review: This was a great match. You can tell they’re getting everything in line for Wrestlemania but this was a really fun match. You had some really good workers in there and the result was one people actually wanted to see. Bray Wyatt is the new WWE Champion and we are headed for Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton at Wrestlemania.

Rating: 7.75/10