Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks vs. Mickie James vs. Mandy Rose vs. Sonya Deville – Elimination Chamber match for the Raw Women’s Championship

Background: This is the first ever women’s elimination chamber match. Kurt Angle made the announcement and then announced the six competitors in the match. Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville make up Absolution, Sasha Banks and Bayley are friends and so Alexa Bliss has tried to rekindle her friendship with Mickie James but James isn’t buying it. The winner of this match is sure to go to Wrestlemania as Raw Women’s Champion but will Asuka choose to battle for their title?

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time six woman match involving these girls.

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: Mickie James and Alexa Bliss are the only two girls to have fought on this event before and they both lost their matches at last years event.

Match: The two girls to start the match are Sonya Deville and Bayley. Sonya and Mandy are looking for their first PPV victory tonight. All six of these women have wrestled in NXT but only Sasha and Bayley were NXT champions. The two girls fight back and forth in the early going. The gratings around the outside of the ring are covered in mats which we saw last year too. Mandy Rose is the next girl to enter which is good for Sonya Deville. Bayley does manage to fight off both girls to begin with but the numbers become too much and Absolution take charge. Sasha Banks is 4th in and she helps out Bayley. It essentially turns into a tornado tag team match now with the two teams going at it. Mandy Rose has a good showing against Sasha Banks, I’m impressed with her ability. Sasha Banks hits a backstabber on Mandy and then locks on the Banks Statement and Rose taps out! Mandy Rose is the first ever girl eliminated from an elimination chamber match.

Mickie James is next to enter. She goes to work on anyone moving. Mickie is in great shape. She makes her way to the top of a pod and then dives down on Sonya with a Lou Thesz press which is enough to eliminate Sonya! Bayley quickly hits a Bayley To Belly on Mickie James and that eliminates Mickie from the match! Alexa doesn’t look happy as she knows she has to face both Bayley and Sasha Banks when she enters the match. Alexa Bliss enters the match and runs as far away as she can from Bayley and Sasha. Sasha and Bayley corner Alexa on top of a pod but Sasha then kicks Bayley off the pod! This implosion allows Alexa to take the advantage. Bayley and Sasha then go at it and it is a triple threat. A frog splash from Banks isn’t enough to keep Bayley down. Bayley hits a Bayley to belly on Sasha off the top! Alexa then quickly rolls up Bayley and gets the 3 to eliminate Bayley from the match!

We’re down to Alexa Bliss and Sasha Banks. Definitely the right two girls to finish the match. Sasha gets her knees up when Alexa attempts Twisted Bliss. They keep showing Bayley leaving. Bliss climbs up to the top of a pod again and hits Twisted Bliss to the outside! Sasha somehow manages to lock on the Banks Statement and rolls Alexa into the ring but Bliss fights free. Sasha looks to climb up a pod but Alexa stops her and then hits a hangmans DDT off the top for the three!

Result: Alexa Bliss wins the match, retaining her Raw Women’s Championship.

Sasha Banks eliminates Mandy Rose
Mickie James eliminates Sonya Deville
Bayley eliminates Mickie James
Alexa Bliss eliminates Bayley
Alexa Bliss eliminates Sasha Banks

Review: This was a good elimination chamber match. I enjoyed it. The psychology was really good, I enjoyed the story. Absolution came out of the match looking good, Mickie James too. We finally got the implosion of Sasha Banks and Bayley but Alexa Bliss gets the win and looks really good coming out of it. She goes on to Wrestlemania.

Rating: 7.25/10

The Bar (Sheamus & Cesaro) (c) vs. Titus Worldwide (Titus O’Neil & Apollo Crews) – Raw Tag Team Championship match

Background: Titus Worldwide have beaten The Bar on three separate occasions over the past few weeks. Titus and Apollo beat The Bar in a non-title tag team match on Raw last week which earned them a shot at the titles tonight.

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

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: Apollo Crews is 1-0 at Elimination Chamber, Titus O’Neil is 1-1, Sheamus is 0-5 and Cesaro is 1-2.

Match: Sheamus and Cesaro attack Titus and Apollo before the match but the challengers turn it around. The Bar soon take the advantage not long after the bell officially rings, double teaming Apollo and making quick tags. Sheamus and Cesaro dominate the match for a long time, stopping Crews from making a tag. Eventually Apollo avoids a shoulder charge in the corner from Sheamus and then makes the hot tag to Titus! O’Neil throws Cesaro around the ring and then hits both champions with big boots. Sheamus makes a blind tag and then slips as he climbs up to the top. Titus then counters his move off the top and hits Clash Of The Titus but Cesaro breaks up the pinfall attempt. Apollo tags in and picks up the pace but on the outside Cesaro lays out O’Neil. Cesaro tags in and hits a springboard uppercut at the same time sheamus hits white noise which is enough for the three.

Result: The Bar retain the Raw Tag Team Championships by pinfall.

Review: This match was ok. I don’t think the titles were ever in danger. Titus didn’t get in the match much but Apollo looked good, I’m just not sure where he fits on the roster. Maybe the gat team division is the best place for him. The Bar retain the titles and have a lot of chemistry as a team. I’m sure they’ll go on to Wrestlemania to defend their titles.

Rating: 4/10

Asuka vs. Nia Jax – If Nia wins then the Wrestlemania title match is a triple threat

Background: After announcing the Elimination Chamber line-up he went on to tell Nia Jax that he has a special match for her, she’ll take on Asuka and if she wins then she will also get a title shot at Wrestlemania. Nia claims to be the only woman who doesn’t fear Asuka. Asuka says she has beaten Jax before and she will do it again.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time PPV match between these tow girls on the main roster.

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

Match: Asuka tries to use her speed in the early going but Nia fights back with her power. Nia has some decent offence but she does smash Asuka’s face into the mat a little too stiff at one point. Asuka attempts a knee bar but Jax just powers out of it. Nia hits a Samoan drop and then looks for a leg drop but Asuka rolls out of the way and hits a shining wizard for a near fall. Asuka then keeps kicking Nia in the face. Alexa Bliss is shown looking on and smiling as Nia takes the advantage. Asuka avoids a banzai drop nut then runs right into Jax. Nia looks for a senton and ends up hitting Asuka’s legs. Asuka avoids a shoulder charge and then locks on an armbar but Nia rams her into the corner to break it. Nia looks for a powerbomb but Asuka counters with a victory roll to get the three!

Result: Asuka wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a better match than I thought it would be. And the crowd seemed into it too. Nia is a great heels because she’s so much bigger than the other women. And Asuka is just great. Asuka continues on to Wrestlemania whilst Nia Jax is out of the running.

Rating: 6.75/10

“Woken” Matt Hardy vs. Bray Wyatt

Background: This all started when Bray Wyatt pushed Matt Hardy to breaking point. A “Woken” Matt Hardy would then emerge and talk about battles between he and Bray Wyatt over thousands of years. Wyatt ironically says that it is all ramblings of a mad man. They would cost each other opportunities to get into the Elimination Chamber match and now face each other, something Matt Hardy describes as the great war.

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

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: Bray Wyatt is 2-0 at this event, Matt Hardy makes his Elimination chamber PPV debut tonight.

Match: Bray Wyatt doesn’t make his usual entrance, the lights go out and he appears in the ring but Matt Hardy, who had already made his entrance, has vanished. Hardy’s voice then echoes around the arena, singing about Bray Wyatt being obsolete. Wyatt looks all around the ring for Hardy and Matt appears behind him and attacks him before the bell. At one point Hardy gives Wyatt a round of applause and the crowd join in. Wyatt soon takes the advantage with a big cross body. The crowd boo as Wyatt keeps control of the match, Matt Hardy is very popular under his new woken gimmick. Bray starts to lose his patience as he takes the fight to the outside. Hardy hits a side affect for a near fall and then a double axe handle off the middle rope but Bray then hits a urunage and a senton for a near fall. This match could go either way. A “Rusev Day” chant breaks out as the crowd seem a little bored when Wyatt takes control. Hardy counters Sister Abigail and hits twist of fate for the three!

Result: Matt Hardy wins by pinfall.

Review: The crowd were really into this match at times, mostly when Matt Hardy was in control. Hardy is really good at bringing the crowd into the match. Bray Wyatt’s offence was much more slow paced and lost the crowd at times. It was an ok match but I think these two have a much better match in them. A big win for Matt Hardy as Wyatt doesn’t lose too many matches clean.

Rating: 5/10

Roman Reigns vs. John Cena vs. Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins vs. Braun Strowman vs. The Miz vs. Elias – Elimination Chamber to determine number one contender to the Universal Championship

Background: After Shinsuke Nakamura announced he would take on AJ Styles at Wrestlemania a number one contender needed to be named for the Universal Championship at Wrestlemania. Kurt Angle announced an Elimination Chamber match would decide a number one contender and made a series of qualifying matches. Roman Reigns, John Cena, Braun Strowman, The Miz and Elias all qualified and then there was a last chance match for the final spot. Seth Rollins was added to the last chance match at the last minute and the match ended with both Finn Balor and Seth Rollins pinning Bray Wyatt. Balor and Rollins were both then added to the match meaning that three men will start for the first time ever.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time match involving all 7 of these men.

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: Roman Reigns is 1-1, John Cena is 3-5, Seth Rollins is 1-2, The Miz is 2-3 and Finn Balor, Braun Strowman and Elias all make their Elimination Chamber PPV debut tonight.

Match: The Miz, Seth Rollins and Finn Balor are the three men to start the match. The Miz trues to form alliances with both men and even throws up the “too sweet” for Finn Balor which I found hilarious. Instead Rollins and Balor double team Miz before going at each other. John Cena is the 4th man to enter and slowly gets in the ring to go toe to toe with Seth Rollins. Cena hits a double five knuckle shuffle on Miz and Rollins. Cena then scoops up Rollins and Balor for a double attitude adjustment but Balor slips down and Rollins counters the move. Rollins and Cena hit superplexes on Miz and Balor respectively and all four men are down as Roman Reigns enters the match. Reigns start well but The Miz takes the advantage and there’s a nice spot with Miz hitting the it kicks on all four opponents. Braun Strowman enters next much to the enjoyment of the crowd.

Strowman drops everyone except The Miz who runs away. Miz climbs on top of one of the pods but Braun follows and throws Miz down onto the other four opponents below. Strowman hits a running powerslam on Miz and then pins him to eliminate Miz from the match. It becomes finisher city as Reigns, Balor, Cena and Rollins hit a quadruple powerbomb on Strowman that he kicks out of. Cena then hits an attitude adjustment on Strowman that he also kicks out. Elias enters the match. Elias tries pinning everyone but can’t keep anyone down. Elias hits a sit-out powerbomb on Reigns which was pretty impressive. Elias tries the same move on Elias and obviously fails so Braun hits a running powerslam and eliminates Elias from the match. Braun then hits a running powerslam on Cena to eliminate him from the match!

Finn Balor hits a 1916 on Rollins and then the coup de gras on Reigns but Strowman then scoops him up and hits a running powerslam for the 3! Rollins and Reigns double team Strowman before turning on each other. Rollins hits a from splash off the top of a pod onto Strowman but can’t keep him down for the three. Rollins then looks for a stomp but Strowman counters and hits a powerslam for the 3! Strowman has eliminated five men so far and now we’re down to just Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns. Roman Reigns takes the advantage with superman punches and two spears for the win!

Result: Roman Reigns wins the match and goes on to face Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania for the Universal Championship.

Braun Strowman eliminates The Miz
Braun Strowman eliminates Elias
Braun Strowman eliminates John Cena
Braun Strowman eliminates Finn Balor
Braun Strowman eliminates Seth Rollins
Roman Reigns eliminates Braun Strowman

Review: This was a decent enough match. It was nothing special as elimination chamber matches go, in parts it felt like they were going through the motions and there were spots we had seen before. Roman Reigns wins the match and goes on to Wrestlemania to face Brock Lesnar in a rematch from a few years ago.

Rating: 6.5/10