Sasha Banks & Bayley vs. Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville vs. The Iiconics (Peyton Royce & Billie Kay) vs. Carmella & Naomi vs. Nia Jax & Tamina vs. The Riott Squad (Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan) – Elimination Chamber match to determine the first ever Women’s Tag Team Champions

Background: On the December 24, 2018, episode of Raw, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon announced that a new WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship would be introduced in 2019. On the January 14, 2019, episode of Raw, on her segment “A Moment of Bliss”, Alexa Bliss unveiled the championship belts and revealed that the inaugural champions would be determined at Elimination Chamber in a tag team Elimination Chamber match, featuring three teams from Raw and SmackDown each, making the championship non-exclusive to either brand. Qualification matches to determine the three teams from Raw took place on the January 28 and February 4 episodes of Raw: the teams of Nia Jax and Tamina, The Riott Squad (represented by Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan), and The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection (Bayley and Sasha Banks) each qualified by defeating the teams of Bliss and Mickie James, Natalya and Dana Brooke, and Alicia Fox and Nikki Cross, respectively. Due to its smaller roster, no qualification matches were held for SmackDown and instead, the teams of Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose, The IIconics (Billie Kay and Peyton Royce), and Naomi and Carmella all announced their participation. On the February 11 and February 12 episodes of Raw and SmackDown, triple threat tag team matches occurred between each brand’s three respective tag teams to determine which two teams would start the Elimination Chamber match. Bayley and Rose were pinned in their respective matches, making Banks and Bayley, and Deville and Rose the first entrants in the chamber.

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: Sasha Banks is 0-1, Bayley is 0-1, Nia Jax is 0-1, Tamina is 0-2, Sonya Deville is 0-1, Mandy Rose is 0-1, Naomi is 1-1, The IIconics, Carmella and The Riott Squad wrestle at this event for the first time.

Match: The first two teams to kick off the match are Bayley & Sasha Banks and Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville. It’s a back and forth start to the match with neither team able to finish the other one off. Sonya sells a knee injury in the first portion of the match. Live Morgan and Sarah Logan are the third team to join the match and they go right to work on the two teams who are laid out as they enter. The Riott Squad square off with Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville before the four girls slug it out. Naomi and Tamina are the only two girls in this match to not have come through NXT. Liv and Sonya are stiff with each other, Sonya caught Morgan with a stiff right. The Iiconics are the next team to enter and with everyone down they attempt to win all six girls but they all kick out. The Iiconics double team everyone they can and get a near fall on Sasha Banks whilst being very vocal the whole time.

Carmella and Naomi are the fifth team in the match and they pick up the pace, there’s bronco busters for everyone. Peyton hits a gory special on Sasha Banks as the girls take it in turns to get their offence in. Naomi hits a rear view on Mandy Rose but then both members of The Iiconics roll Naomi up for the three! Naomi & Carmella are the first team eliminated. The other three teams turn their attention to The Iiconics but then change their mind as Nia Jax and Tamina enter the match. Nia and Tamina clear the ring and then swing The Iiconics into the side of the chamber. Nia and Tamina his Samoan drops on the Iiconics and pins them for three counts! The Iiconics have been eliminated. Sasha and Bayley stack up Sonya and Mandy before hitting a double knee drop for a near fall. The Riott Squad climb up to a pod and dive down on four of their opponents.

Nia Jax hits a Samoan drop on Liv Morgan off the second rope and Tamina hits a Superfly splash on both members of the Riott Squad before pinning them both for the three! The Riott Squad are eliminated. Nia Jax looks to take out Bayley but Bayley moves and Jax crashes through a pod. Bayley, Sasha Banks, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville quadruple team Tamina with Bayley hitting an elbow drop for the three! Nia Jax and Tamina are eliminated. We’re down to the two teams that started the match. Sonya rolls up Sasha for a near fall but Sasha then hits a backstabber and Bayley hits a Bayley to belly for a pinfall broken up by Mandy. Mandy hits a facebuster on Sasha in the middle of the ring for a near fall. Sasha locks the Banks Statement on Sonya Deville who taps out!

Result: Sasha Banks & Bayley win the Women’s Tag Team Championships, last eliminating Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville.

The Iiconics eliminate Naomi & Carmella
Tamina & Nia Jax eliminate The Iiconics
Tamina eliminate The Riott Squad
Sasha, Bayley, Mandy & Sonya eliminate Nia Jax & Tamina
Sasha Banks eliminates Sonya Deville & Mandy Rose

Review: This was a great match. Really enjoyable, a little predictable but a fun match none the less. Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville really shone in this match for me and I’d like to see them in the mix for these titles going forward. Sasha and Bayley are a great choice for first champions though and I look forward to this division going forward.

Rating: 7.25/10

Shane McMahon & The Miz (c) vs. The Usos (Jimmy & Jey) – Smackdown Tag Team Championship match

Background: At the Royal Rumble, The Miz and Shane McMahon defeated The Bar (Cesaro and Sheamus) to win the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. On the following episode of SmackDown, The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) defeated The Bar, The New Day (represented by Big E and Kofi Kingston), and Heavy Machinery (Otis Dozovic and Tucker Knight) in a four-corners tag team elimination match to earn a championship match at Elimination Chamber.

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

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: The Miz is 2-4, The Usos are 0-1 and Shane McMahon wrestles at this event for the first time.

Match: The Miz introduces his wife Maryse and they announce that they are having another baby! The Miz and Jimmy Uso kick off the match and it’s back and forth in the early stages. Jimmy tags out to Jey and The Miz takes the advantage, hitting his trademark clothesline in the corner. Shane tags in and looks to hit coast to coast early but Jimmy distracts him. Miz and Shane work well together as a team. The Usos take the advantage, double teaming The Miz and keeping him away from his partner. Jimmy Uso hits The Miz with his own clothesline. Miz tags in Shane who picks up the pace. He hits Jimmy with a pump kick which I’ve not seen anyone but Sheamus hit in a long time. Shane hits coast to coast on Jimmy Uso and then climbs the other corner to hit coast to coast on Jey but Jey hits him with a superkick! Jey goes up top and hits a splash for a near call. Shane tags in Miz who comes in with a springboard double axe handle. The fight goes to the outside where Jimmy accidentally hits his own brother with a suicide dive.

The Miz lays Jey Uso down on the announce desk and Shane goes up to the top and hits a massive flying elbow drop on Jey through the desk. Back in the ring with Jimmy Uso and The Miz, Jimmy hits a superkick and then heads up top for a splash but Miz gets his knees up. Miz hits skull-crushing finale and pins Jimmy but Jimmy reverses the pin and gets the 3! The Usos win the match!

Result: The Usos win the Smackdown Tag Team Championships by pinfall.

Review: This was a fun match. It was a good pace throughout and the result could have gone either way. I guess this is the end of the Miz/Shane McMahon tag team. I’m sure they’ll both be involved with each other at Wrestlemania, probably against each other if I were to guess.

Rating: 6.5/10

Bobby Lashley (c) & Lio Rush vs. Finn Balor – 2 on 1 handicap match for the Intercontinental Championship

Background: On the January 28 episode of Raw, while Finn Bálor was addressing his loss to Universal Champion Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble, he was interrupted by Intercontinental Champion Bobby Lashley and his manager Lio Rush. Lashley claimed that he was better than Lesnar and then attacked Bálor. The following week, Bálor was scheduled to face Lashley, but Lashley instead had Bálor face Rush. Lashley stated that depending on Bálor’s performance, he would consider giving him a title shot, but before the match could begin, Lashley attacked Bálor. Despite this, Bálor defeated Rush. Bálor was then scheduled to face both Lashley and Rush in a handicap match at Elimination Chamber with Lashley’s Intercontinental Championship on the line.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time match involving these three men, it’s actually a PPV debut for Lio Rush.

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: Finn Balor is 0-1, the other two men wrestle at this show for the first time.

Match: Lio Rush looks to start the match but quickly tags out to Bobby Lashley. Lashley dominates Balor in the early going until deciding to tag out to Lio. Balor starts to fight back so Rush tags out as quickly as he can. Bobby dominates Balor for the majority of the time they are in the ring together. Lashley looks to finish the match with a spear but Lio Rush tags himself in, looks for a frog splash but Finn gets out of the way. Balor clears the ring of both opponents and then takes them both out with a plancha. Finn then hits Rush with his running dropkick and hits the coup de gras for the three!

Result: Finn Balor wins the Intercontinental Championship by pinfall.

Review: This was another fun match. Another good match with a good pace. I loved the psychology of all three men involved. They had tee’d up this very result and went through with it which was interesting. Finn Balor wins the Intercontinental Championship and he’s a perfect fit for the belt. Lashley loses the title without being pinned.

Rating: 6/10

Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Ruby Riott – Raw Women’s Championship match

Background: On the February 4 episode of Raw, Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey issued an open challenge for the title. The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, and Sarah Logan) came out and Morgan accepted the challenge, but was defeated. Immediately after, Logan stepped up, but was also defeated. Riott did not attempt to challenge Rousey and instead retreated with her Squad. In a backstage interview, Riott stated that she was ensuring that her teammates were okay and claimed that she could defeat Rousey at any time. Later, it was revealed that Rousey would defend her championship against Riott at Elimination Chamber.

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: Ronda Rousey is dressed like Sonya Blade who she voices in Mortal Kombat 11. Ronda looks for the arm of Ruby early but Riott backs out of the ring. Ruby gets in the ring and Ronda hits Piper’s Pit and locks the armbar on and Riott taps out!

Result: Ronda Rousey wins by submission.

Review: Well this was short and sweet. Hard to review really. We all knew who was winning this one and they didn’t insult us by dragging it out. It’ll be Ronda and Charlotte at Wrestlemania (and probably Becky Lynch too).

Rating: N/A

Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin – No Disqualification match

Background: During the second half of 2018, Baron Corbin served as the Acting Raw General Manager. During this time, Braun Strowman was on the receiving end of his authority, including Corbin costing Strowman the Universal Championship at Crown Jewel. At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, Strowman defeated Corbin in the titular match, thus stripping Corbin of his authoritative power and earning another Universal Championship match at the Royal Rumble. However, Corbin also caused Strowman to lose this title opportunity. After a confrontation between the two on the January 14 episode of Raw, Strowman chased Corbin to the backstage area where Corbin hid in what was later revealed to be Vince McMahon’s limousine. Strowman destroyed the limo, resulting in Mr. McMahon fining him $100,000 and cancelling his championship match. Strowman and Corbin continued going at each other over the next couple of weeks and a no disqualification match between the two was scheduled for Elimination Chamber.

Previous PPV matches: This is a second PPV match between these two men, Strowman won the first at TLC.

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: Both men are 0-1 at Elimination Chamber PPV’s.

Match: Corbin gets a cheap shot in early and then lays into Strowman with a kendo stick. Corbin then sets the kendo stick up like a spike pointing out of the corner. Strowman ends up snapping the kendo stick in half saying that he doesn’t need it. On the outside Corbin sidesteps Strowman, sending him into the ring steps. Corbin dominates with the ring steps for a while but Strowman fights back and sets a table up in the ring before hitting a running powerslam on Corbin through the table! Drew McIntyre’s music then hits and out walks McIntyre with a chair! Bobby Lashley then appears from behind with a chair! McIntyre and Lashley beat Strowman down with chairs and then set up a couple of tables. Drew hits Braun with a claymore kick and then he and Corbin stack one table on top of another. Lashley, Corbin and McIntyre then triple powerbomb Strowman through the two tables. Corbin hooks the leg and gets the 3!

Result: Baron Corbin wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a match of two halves. The first half with the two competitors in the match and then McIntyre and Lashley coming out and triple teaming Braun. It was an ok match, not terrible. A slower pace than most of the matches tonight. Not the result a lot of people would have wanted. But I’m sure this will keep going until Wrestlemania where I’m guessing we may get a 6 man tag match?

Rating: 5/10

Daniel Bryan (c) vs. AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton vs. Kofi Kingston – Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship

Background: At the Royal Rumble, Daniel Bryan defeated AJ Styles to retain the WWE Championship with help from the returning Rowan. On the following episode of SmackDown, Bryan, along with Rowan, disposed the standard leather-bound title belt with metal plates in a garbage can and introduced a new custom belt made from hemp and wood. Styles then confronted Bryan and Rowan, followed by Randy Orton, Samoa Joe, Jeff Hardy, and Mustafa Ali. After an ensuing brawl, WWE Chief Operating Officer Triple H scheduled Bryan to defend the championship against the five in an Elimination Chamber match at the pay-per-view. A gauntlet match between the six was scheduled for the February 12 episode to determine who would enter the chamber last. Due to a legitimate injury, however, Ali was pulled from the match and replaced with The New Day’s Kofi Kingston. Orton won the ensuing gauntlet match, making him the last entrant in the chamber.

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: Daniel Bryan is 1-2, AJ Styles is 0-1, Randy Orton is 2-3, Kofi Kingston is 1-4, Samoa Joe and Jeff Hardy wrestle at Elimination Chamber for the first time tonight.

Match: Daniel Bryan cuts a promo before the match running down the crowd. Daniel Bryan and Samoa Joe kick off the match. Man I’d love to see a singles match between these two. Daniel Bryan hangs around the outside of the ring, avoiding getting in the ring with Joe. Samoa Joe eventually gets his hands on Bryan and lays into him, locking on a Boston crab. The two men have a chop off and Joe’s sound seriously loud. Bryan’s chest is very red. Kofi Kingston is the third man to enter and he picks up the pace. The crowd are seriously behind Kofi too. Daniel Bryan scarpers up a pod and sits down. Kofi leaps up with him and lays in some right hands. AJ Styles is in 4th. Styles takes shots at everyone. Kofi manages to wriggle out of a Styles Clash attempt but Joe then tries to lock the coquina clutch on Kofi. AJ Styles comes out of nowhere with a phenomenal forearm to Joe which is enough for the 3! Samoa Joe is eliminated.

Jeff Hardy enters 5th. Hardy and Styles get into it, they’ve got history going back to their TNA days. Kofi and Daniel Bryan go at it on the other side of the ring. AJ and Hardy fall of the top and AJ’s has a nasty bump on the top rope. Hardy lays Styles down on the top rope and then hits him with a swanton bomb! Daniel Bryan then hits Jeff Hardy with a running knee and pins him for the three! Jeff Hardy has been eliminated. Randy Orton is the last man to enter. Orton picks apart all three men. AJ looks to hit a phenomenal forearm on Kofi Kingston but Orton hits AJ with an RKO! Orton hooks the leg for the three. AJ Styles ie eliminated. Randy hits Kofi with a hangmans DDT off the top and then motions for an RKO but has to hit Daniel Bryan with a powerslam. Kofi then hits Orton with trouble in paradise to eliminate Orton!

We are down to Daniel Bryan and Kofi Kingston. Kofi and Bryan hit each other with strikes and Kingston really fires up. Kofi hits SOS for a near fall. Kofi gets another near fall and the crowd go nuts. This place will erupt if Kofi Kingston wins this match but I suspect he won’t. He looks for trouble in paradise but Bryan exits the ring. Bryan sends Kofi into one of the pods and then hits him with a running knee for a near fall. That’s a shocker, I’m not sure anyone has kicked out of that move before. Bryan looks for a second but Kofi counters with trouble in paradise for a near fall. Bryan locks on the LeBell lock but breaks the hold when Kofi reaches the bottom rope, which he didn’t have to do because there are no disqualifications in this match. Bryan and Kingston fight on top of one of the pods where Kofi kicks Bryan down to the mat. Kofi then looks for a splash off the pod but Bryan moves and then hits a running knee to the face for the win.

Result: Daniel Bryan retains the WWE Championship, last eliminating Kofi Kingston.

AJ Styles eliminates Samoa Joe
Daniel Bryan eliminates Jeff Hardy
Randy Orton eliminates AJ Styles
Kofi Kingston eliminates Randy Orton
Daniel Bryan eliminates Kofi Kingston

Review: This match was all about taking Kofi Kingston to the next level. He was a star in this match and the crowd were 100% behind him the whole match. He came close but I have a feeling this won’t be his final shot. Daniel Bryan vs. Kofi Kingston at Wrestlemania? This was a fantastic match.

Rating: 8.5/10