Daniel Bryan vs. Drew Gulak

Background: Backstage during the February 21 episode of SmackDown, Daniel Bryan was approached by Drew Gulak, who claimed to know all of Bryan’s weaknesses. On the March 6 episode, Bryan challenged Gulak to a match at Elimination Chamber, which was later made official for the event.

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

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: Daniel Bryan is 2-2 at this event, Drew Gulak wrestles at Elimination Chamber for the first time.

Match: This is by far the biggest match of Drew Gulak’s career, it’s nice to see him get a singles match on PPV like this. There’s some nice takedowns and wrestling from Gulak in the early going. Bryan responds with some wrestling of his own. It’s a real back and forth match with Gulak countering a lot of what Daniel Bryan has to offer. Drew really targets the neck and he takes control in the match. He hits a stiff side suplex and Bryan lands right on his neck. Gulak also hits a nasty looking German suplex too. Bryan soon fires up with a running dropkick. Gulak hits an inverted superplex locks on the Gulock, which is a dragon sleeper but Bryan rolls through and counters into the yes lock and Gulak passes out. The referee calls for the bell! Daniel Bryan shows Drew Gulak some respect after the match.

Result: Daniel Bryan wins by technical submission.

Review: This was a great way to kick off the show. It’s not often you see a proper wrestling match between two technical masters but we got it here. There were some real stiff suplexes in this from Gulak, Bryan landed right on his neck from a couple of then. Daniel Bryan wins this but I wouldn’t be surprised to see these two men tagging up in the future.

Rating: 7.5/10

Andrade (c) vs. Humberto Carrillo – United States Championship match

Background: On the Royal Rumble Kickoff pre-show, Andrade (accompanied by Zelina Vega) retained the United States Championship against Humberto Carrillo. Carrillo then won a rematch on the following Raw by disqualification due to Vega’s interference. Following the match, Carrillo performed a Hammerlock DDT on Andrade onto the exposed concrete, just as Andrade had previously done to Carrillo back in December. With Andrade absent over the next month, Vega brought up her new associate, Angel Garza from NXT, Carrillo’s real life cousin. The two then feuded where Garza defeated Carrillo at Super ShowDown. On the March 2 episode of Raw, Carrillo teamed with Rey Mysterio to face Andrade and Garza, where Carrillo pinned Andrade. This earned Carrillo another United States Championship match against Andrade at Elimination Chamber.

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

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: Both men wrestle at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: The bell rings and Andrade hits a back elbow right out of the gate and takes the advantage in the early going. Humberto gets back into the match with a lovely springboard headbutt. Andrade hits a running kick and poses with Zelina Vega smiling from the outside. This match is fast-paced with some good psychology. Andrade takes the fight to the outside and looks to pull up the mat but Carrillo stops him. Humberto hits a proper top rope hurricanrana for a near fall. Andrade avoids a moonsault and then hitd the double knees in the corner for a near fall. Zelina pulls up the mats on the outside, Andrade throws Carrillo out of the ring and then looks to hit a hammerlock DDT on the exposed concrete but Humberto hits a back body drop. Carrillo hits a plancha to the outside and then looks to take advanrage in the ring but Andrade kicks out of the pinfall attempts. Andrade reverses a victory roll and pulls on to the tights for the three!

Result: Andrade retains the United States Championship by pinfall.

Review: This was a really fun match. A fast-paced lucha-libre style match which are a rarity these days. Humberto is really talented if lacking in charisma. Although the same could be said about Andrade. But this was good, there was a lot of chemistry. Andrade wins, which I think is the right call.

Rating: 7.75/10

The Miz & John Morrison (c) vs. Heavy Machinery (Otis & Tucker) vs. Lucha House Party (Lince Dorado & Gran Metalik) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Big E) vs. The Usos (Jimmy & Jey) vs. Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler – Elimination Chamber match for the Smackdown Tag Team Championships

Background: At Super ShowDown, The Miz and John Morrison defeated The New Day (Big E and Kofi Kingston) to capture the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. The following night on SmackDown, it was announced that Miz and Morrison would defend the title in a tag team Elimination Chamber match at the event. The challengers announced for the match were The New Day (Big E and Kingston), The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso), Heavy Machinery (Otis and Tucker), Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado), and Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode. The following week, Ziggler and Roode won a tag team gauntlet match to enter the chamber last.

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

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: The Miz is 2-5, John Morrison is 0-2, Kofi Kingston is 1-5, Big E is 2-0, The Usos are 1-1, Dolph Ziggler is 1-3. Heavy Machinery, The Lucha House Party and Robert Roode wrestle at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: The two teams to kick off the match are The Usos and The New Day. The New Day won the tag team Elimination Chamber match in 2015. It’s a fast-paced start to the match from the two teams with so much history. New Day are wearing paint by numbers ring gear. It’s back and forth between the two teams. The crowd seem quiet for this one. It’s a stand-off between the two teams as the third team, Lucha House Party, enter the match and pick up the pace. Lots of nice action from the Luchas, with my only criticism being their lack of matching ring gear. They hit about 5 moonsaults on Jimmy Uso but Jey makes the save. The Miz and John Morrison are the 4th team in the match. They get a few near falls on the other teams ans show off some impressive teamwork before Heavy Machinery enter. Otis and Tucker use their power to pick apart the other teams and Otis hits a caterpillar on Big E.

Lince Dorado money bars across the top of the chamber and then hits a beautiful shooting star press on everybody below. That was a lovely spot. Heavy Machinery then hit the compactor on Grank Metalik and Tucker pins him for the three! The Lucha House Party are eliminated and the final team, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode enter the match. The main battle from here is between Ziggler, Roode and Heavy Machinery. Tucker flies off the top of one of the pods at one point. Otis then misses with a shoulder charge on Ziggler and goes flying all the way through the pod and outside of the ring! I have never seen that before. Tucker then tries to fight off both Ziggler and Roode on his own but Tuckers fate is met with a superkick and a glorious DDT which is enough to eliminate Heavy Machinery from the match.

With Ziggler and Roode distracted it allows New Day to hit trouble in paradise and the big ending on them. The Usos hit a double Uso splash and they get the three on Ziggler and Roode. It leaves us with The Miz & John Morrison, The Usos and The New Day. The Usos and New Day team up to take down the champions. Kofi misses with a cross body on Jey Uso, lands on the mat so both Morrison and Miz cover Kofi for the three. New Day are gone, leaving just Miz & Morrison and The Usos. Jimmy Uso kicks out of the skull-crushing finale, Miz then locks on the figure four and Morrison hits starship pain but Jey makes the save. Miz and Morrison then hit a double pin with Miz’s feet on the ropes (it’s legal) and they get the three!

Result: The Miz & John Morrison retain their Smackdown Tag Team Championships.

Heavy Machinery eliminate The Lucha House Party
Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode eliminate Heavy Machinery
The Usos eliminate Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode
The Miz & John Morrison eliminate The New Day
The Miz & John Morrison eliminate The Usos

Review: This was a fantastic match. There were some great spots in this match, it’s one of the best elimination chamber matches in recent memory. Miz and Morrison retain and now they’ve beaten all of their competition, who will their opponents be at Wrestlemania? I loved the Lince Dorado spot and Otis going flying out of the chamber. Miz and Morrison looked great too. This was a really really good match.

Rating: 8.5/10

AJ Styles vs. Aleister Black – No Disqualification match

Background: On the February 24 episode of Raw, The O.C. (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson) attacked Aleister Black backstage. Black then challenged Styles to a match for the following week, however, Styles said that Black would have to defeat Gallows and Anderson before he could face Styles. Black defeated both Gallows and Anderson in separate matches, after which, Styles faced and defeated Black. A no disqualification rematch between Black and Styles was then scheduled for Elimination Chamber.

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

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: AJ Styles is 0-2, Aleister Black wrestles at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: It’s a cagey start to the match ith both men struggling to take the advantage. Black hits some lovely kicks but gets distracted by Gallows and Anderson who are at ringside which allows Styles to take the advantage. AJ then grabs a kendo stick and targets the left leg of Black with it. The fight goes to the outside where Black hits a knee strike and then pulls a table out from under the ring and sets it up. AJ uses a chair and locks on the calf crusher but Black manages to get out of it. AJ hits a low phenomenal forearm for a near fall and then a brainbuster for another near fall. Black fights back with strikes and a springboard moonsault for a near fall. Black counters a Styles Clash but AJ then attempts a tombstone piledriver which Black also counters. On the outside Black hits double knees on AJ which sends him through the table.

In the ring Black has to fight off Gallows and Anderson until all three men take him down. The OC hit the magic killer and AJ steps outside the ring for the phenomenal forearm but the lights go out and when they come back on The Undertaker is stood choking Gallows and Anderson! Undertaker then chokeslams Styles before the lights go back out and he’s gone. Aleister Black then hits black mass and pins AJ for the three!

Result: Aleister Black wins by pinfall.

Review: This match was ok. It had a slower pace than I was expecting and it’s the kind of combination of guys I had big expectations for. It wasn’t a terrible match but it was pretty forgettable and really only here to continue the build for Undertaker and AJ. None the less it’s a huge win for Aleister Black tonight.

Rating: 5.75/10

The Street Prophets (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) vs. Seth Rollins & Murphy – Raw Tag Team Championship match

Background: At Super ShowDown, Seth Rollins and Murphy retained the Raw Tag Team Championship against The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford). On the following Raw, The Street Profits were given one final opportunity where they defeated Rollins and Murphy to win the title. Later backstage, Rollins and Murphy challenged The Street Profits to a rematch for the title at Elimination Chamber, which was made official.

Previous PPV matches: This is a second PPV match between these two teams. Rollins and Murphy previously beat The Street Prophets at Super ShowDown last month.

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: Seth Rollins is 1-3, the other three men wrestle at this show for the first time.

Match: Rollins and Murphy are joined at ringside by the Authors Of Pain. Dawkins and Rollins kick off the match but it’s not long before Murphy and Ford are legal. Rollins and Murphy soon take the advantage and make quick tags to keep Dawkins away from his partner. Montez Ford makes the hot tag and picks up the pace. That pace is slowed down by the Authors Of Pain on the outside who throw Ford into the barricade. The Viking Raiders then head out from the back and get into it with the AOP. All four men fight to the back. Rollins and Murphy work well together snd they hit a load of superkicks for a near fall. Dawkins counters a pedigree attempt from Murphy and then tags in Montez Ford. Rollins counters a frog splash with a roll up for a near fall. Ford sidesteps a stomp but Rollins hits a buckle bomb. Murphy comes off the top with double knees for a near fall. Kevin Owens then makes his way through the crowd, hops the barriade and throws popcorn in the face of Seth Rollins. Dawkins then shoves Rollins into the barricade before the Street Prophets double powerbomb Murphy into the barricade. Back in the ring and Montez Ford hits the frog splash on Murphy for the three! After the match Kevin Owens hits Seth Rollins with a stunner.

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

Review: This match was ok. Not a classic by Seth Rollins and even the other three guys standards. It’s a good title defence for a tag team I really like. But it all looks like it’s to setup the match betwene Rollins and Owens.

Rating: 5/10

Braun Strowman (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro & Sami Zayn – 3 on 1 handicap match for the Intercontinental Championship

Background: On the January 31 episode of SmackDown, Braun Strowman defeated Shinsuke Nakamura (with Sami Zayn and Cesaro in his corner) to win the Intercontinental Championship. On the February 28 episode, a contract signing for a title match at Elimination Chamber was held. Tired of hearing Zayn’s rants, Strowman signed the contract, stating that regardless of who else signed it, he knew he would basically be facing all three at the event. Zayn seized the opportunity and he, Nakamura, and Cesaro all signed the contract, making it a 3-on-1 handicap match for Strowman’s Intercontinental Championship at the event.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time handicap match involving these four men.

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: Braun Strowman is 0-2 at Elimination Chamber PPV’s, Cesaro is 2-2, and both Nakamura and Zayn wrestle at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: Strowman starts the match well but it’s not long until the numbers getthe better of him. Zayn, Nakamura and Cesaro make quick tags and dominate for much of the match. Sami spends most of the match running away from Strowman. Cesaro and Nakamura hit a double suplex and Zayn hits a helluva kick at the same time! Zayn is the legal man and pins Strowman for the three!

Result: Sami Zayn, Cesaro and Shinsuke Namakura win the match, Sami Zayn wins the Intercontinental Championship.

Review: This was a pretty fun match. I like matches like this because they don’t happen very often. I really like Sami Zayn as Intercontinental Champion. It took three men to beat down Strowman but they managed it tonight.

Rating: 6/10

Asuka vs. Natalya vs. Ruby Riott vs. Liv Morgan vs. Sarah Logan vs. Shayna Baszler – Elimination Chamber match to determine the number one contender to Raw Women’s Championship

Background: On February 17, a Raw-branded women’s Elimination Chamber match was scheduled for the event to determine the number one contender against Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 36. Announced for the match were Natalya, Liv Morgan, Asuka, Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan, and NXT’s Shayna Baszler, who reignited her feud with Lynch from Survivor Series by ambushing her on the previous week’s episode of Raw.

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

Elimination Chamber PPV Record: Asuka is 1-0, Ruby Riott is 0-1, Sarah Logan is 0-1, Liv Morgan is 0-1, Natalya drew her only match at this event and Shayna wrestles at this event for the firs time tonight.

Match: Natalya & Ruby Riott are the two girls to kick off the match. Natalya takes the advantage in the early going and even locks the sharpshooter on outside the ring but Riott powers out. Becky Lynch is shown watching backstage. Ruby takes control with vicious strikes. Sarah Logan is next to enter the mstch and goes right for Natalya. Logan dives off the top of one of the cells and completely wipes out Natalya and Ruby. Shayna Baszler is next to enter and she quickly locks the kirifuda clutch on Sarah Logan to eliminate her. Seconds after that she locks the kirifuda clutch on Ruby Riott and eliminates her too!

Shayna lays into Natalya before submitting her to the kirifuda clutch! There is a long wait for the next entrant and the crowd boo. Eventually Liv Morgan enters the match and Shayna swings her into the chamber and then into the pod. Shayna then applies the kirifuda clutch to Liv Morgan whilst sitting on the top rope right in fornt of Asuka. I like the final matchup between Asuka and Baszler. It doesn’t last long though. Asuka locks on the Asuka lock but Baszler breaks the hold. Baszler targets the injured wrist of Asuka and then locks on the kirifuda clutch to which Asuka passes out!

Result: Shayna Baszler wins and becomes number one contender to the Raw Women’s Championship.

Shayna Baszler eliminates Sarah Logan
Shayna Baszler eliminates Ruby Riott
Shayna Baszler eliminates Natalya
Shayna Baszler eliminates Liv Morgan
Shayna Baszler eliminates Asuka

Review: This match was all about Shayna Baszler. I enjoyed the first few minutes but from there it was pretty boring. The long waits didn’t help. But I like Shayna as number one contender, it’s somebody fresh for Becky and should make for a good match at Wrestlemania.

Rating: 4/10