WWE Elimination Chamber 2019 Results and Review

Tonight we look at Elimination Chamber, a PPV on WWE’s Road to Wrestlemania. The show had two matches that took place in the Elimination Chamber itself. The first one crowned the inaugural WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, and in the main event, a match that had the WWE Championship on the line. Let’s take a look at the show.

Akira Tozawa vs. Buddy Murphy (WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match)

The Youtube pre-show match was Akira Tozawa versus Buddy Murphy. It feels sort of odd that the one feud that took place exclusively on the Network is having it’s match on the pre-show. Some people who don’t watch 205 Live just wouldn’t care, right? Anyways, Tozawa did a dive to the outside early on, but was caught an given a suplex. Tozawa landed a Shining Wizard for a two count. Shortly after, Tozawa reversed a Powerbomb off the second rope into a Huricanrana for another two count. He did an Inverted Huricanarana off the corner, and then two dives to the outside head first. Murphy was dragged back into the ring but got up to avoid being landed on. Murphy got hurt on the ropes, and was given a Back Senton from Tozawa which looked painful. Coming off the ropes, Tozawa was hit with a running knee. Murphy escaped a submission move and landed Murphy’s Law to retain his belt. This was a spectacular match. I don’t know much about 205 Live currently, but when I see their matches on PPV’s then tend to deliver.

Carmella & Naomi vs. Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan vs. The Iiconics (Peyton Royce & Billie Kay) vs. Tamina & Nia Jax vs. Sonya Deville & Mandy Rose vs. Sasha Banks & Bayley (Women’s Tag Team Championship Elimination Chamber Match)

The first match on the PPV was the Women’s Tag Team Championship Elimination Chamber Match. The two tag teams that started this match were Sonya Deville & Mandy Rose and Sasha Banks & Bayley. Mandy Rose was given a good neckbreaker outside the ring from Bayley because she got her boot stuck on the cage. The first group to enter from a pod was Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan from the Riott Squad. The second team that entered was The Iiconics. They immediately tried pinning everyone in the ring since everyone was on the ground tired. After the Iiconics came Naomi and Carmella. Sidenote, but their names together work well as a team name since they’re both one-word names. Also they’re pretty good at mocking each other’s movements. Carmella was picked up by Billie Kay and almost Powerbombed off the cage and to the floor, but she reversed it into a Huricanrana. Naomi fought Mandy during this match because of their rivalry. Naomi was surprised by a roll-up pin from The Iiconics, who both pinned her. Naomi and Carmella became the first eliminations of the match. Right after, The Iiconics were surrounded by all of their opponents. Of course the final entrants were Nia Jax and Tamina.

Out of fear of the chaos, The Iiconics went back into their pod. Once Tamina and Jax realized this, they focused on The Iiconics. They were given duel Samoan Drops to be eliminated. They’re a seriously good comedy tag team. Morgan and Logan did duel Crossbodys off the top of a pod. Morgan was given a Samoan Drop off the second rope by Jax, and then Tamina did a Frogsplash onto both Riott Squad members to eliminate the team. Nia tried spearing Bayley but missed her and went through a pod. While Jax was out, Tamina was given an Elbow Drop off the top rope from Bayley. Everyone pinned and eliminated her. The final two teams were Deville & Rose, and Bayley and Banks. Banks did a Backstabber, and then Bayley did a Bayley-to-Belly onto Deville for a pin attempt. Rose came in to break up the pin. All four wrestlers went to the top of a pod. Deville was kicked off the pod, so was Bayley right after. Deville speared Bayley into a pod, but a metal bar in it, so it didn’t break. Rose drove Banks into a pod, and then did a move in the ring for a two count. Rose tried Spearing Banks, who was being held by Rose, but Sasha escaped, making Deville attack her own teammate. Banks put Deville in a Boss Statement to become the inaugural tag team champions with Bayley.

This match was pretty good. Up until the first pinfall it did feel a little slow, with a few minutes where it felt like nothing was happening at all. Also I don’t completely understand the gimmick of Banks doing nothing in tag matches on RAW the weeks before. Banks did a lot of the work in this match, so it didn’t make much sense to me. Banks and Bayley had an emotional speech afterwards.

The Miz & Shane McMahon vs. The Usos (WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match)

Before the first match, The Miz came out. He brought out Maryse, who announced that they’re having another baby. To be honest this surprised me because I was expecting him to announce another episode of their reality TV show. Pretty sure this was the sole reason why the champions entered first. Like true best friends, The Miz and Shane wore matching shirts for this match. Early on in the match Shane was hit with a Superkick while trying for a Coast-to-Coast, and then a Frogsplash for a pin that The Miz broke up. He landed a Coast-to-Coast before his second one was countered. Shane did an elbow drop off the top rope and through a commentary table later. Miz did a Skull Crush Finale but it was reversed into a roll-up to end the match. The crowd loved this but it felt weird. The finish felt a little rushed. I was surprised that they were able to get the crowd back by the end of the match since they seemed tired from the match before. The Miz helped Shane McMahon to the back.

Bobby Lashley & Lio Rush vs. Finn Balor (WWE Intercontinental Championship Match)

This next match was an interesting one was Bobby Lashley’s belt was put on the line but defended by him and Lio Rush. Balor did a dive over the top rope to both Rush and Lashley. Balor gave Rush a Coup de Grace to win the match and become the new IC Champion. Out of pure anger, Lashley gave Rush a Chokeslam afterwards.

Ruby Riott vs. Ronda Rousey (WWE RAW Women’s Championship Match)

We were shown a clip from a house show last night where Becky Lynch came from the audience to attack Charlotte Flair. Flair then came out and was interviewed by Charly Caruso. She cut a promo and then took a seat at ringside for the next match. Ronda Rousey won her championship match in short time with an Armbar. Becky Lynch came from the crowd in crutches afterwards, coming to the ring with no security stopping her. After a long time of pretending she was hurt, she took her crutches and beat Charlotte with them. After a long build she beat Rousey with her crutches too. It didn’t feel believable how long Becky had until security arrived.

Baron Corbin vs. Braun Stroman (No DQ Match)

Baron Corbin and Braun Stroman fought each other in a No DQ match next. Corbin did a Running Powerslam through a table during this match. Right after, Drew McIntyre’s music hit and he came out with a chair. When he was focused on Corbin, Lashley came from behind and attacked with a chair. McIntyre and Lashley both picked on Stroman. The three guys gave Stroman a Triple Powerbomb through two tables to win the match.

Kofi Kingston vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe vs. Daniel Bryan (WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Match)

The main event of the evening was the Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship. Samoa Joe and Daniel Bryan started the match. During Bryan’s pre-match promo he got mad at the fact that Erick Rowan wasn’t allowed at ringside. Early on in this match, Bryan was cautious about Joe. He was waiting for another person to come into the match. Bryan fought with Joe until Kofi Kingston came in. Bryan climbed to the top of a pod and just sat down. Kofi hopped onto the pod and then chased Bryan onto the cage. Joe threw off Bryan, but Kofi avoided being taken down. Kofi jumped off the cage, landing back first onto Bryan and Joe. AJ Styles was the next person to enter the match. Joe was eliminated when AJ gave him a Phenomenal Forearm. Jeff Hardy came in next. Hardy did a unique Swanton Bomb off a pod and onto Styles, who was on the top turnbuckle. Bryan then gave Hardy a running knee strike to eliminate him. Randy Orton was the final person to enter. Orton landed an RKO on Styles to eliminate him. Kofi gave Orton a Trouble in Paradise to eliminate him.

The final two were Kofi Kingston and Daniel Bryan. Bryan and Kingston exchanged kicks. Kofi landed an SOS for a two count. The crowd was completely behind Kofi. Later on Bryan landed a running knee strike, but Kofi kicked out. Bryan tried for another but was hit with a Trouble in Paradise. Bryan turned a pin attempt into one of his own which Kofi escaped. Bryan put in the Labell Lock but Kofi made it to the ropes. They went onto a pod, where after exchanging blows, Bryan got knocked down. Kingston tried for a Frogsplash but Bryan dodged it. Bryan landed a his running knee strike to end the match. The crowd fell silent. I think this is a good example of how when you play up a fanbases dream but have no intention of actually fulfilling it, you make people feel unsatisifed. The crowd did a “thank you Kofi” chant after the match.

Smackdown Live 2/12/19 Results and Review

The show started with a rest in peace graphic for Pedro Morales, who passed away this week. After that we saw a recap of last night, where Vince McMahon announced that Becky Lynch would be replaced at Wrestlemania by Charlotte Flair. Charlotte came out right after and cut a promo. Nothing special happened. She isn’t the best in her division for promo work and it shows.

Carmella & Naomi vs Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville vs. The Iiconics (Peyton Royce & Billie Kay)

Similarly to what happened last night on RAW, three tag teams that will be in the Elimination Chamber Match for the Women’s Tag Team Championship faced off. Naomi won the match for her team by doing a Split Legged Moonsault on Mandy Rose. During the whole match Peyton Royce and Billie Kay didn’t get in the ring. They jumped Carmella and Naomi after the bell. Since Rose was pinned, her team will start the Elimination Chamber match against Bayley and Sasha Banks.

McMiz TV With The Usos

The next segment was Shane McMahon and The Miz’s talk show segment. Their guests on this episode were The Usos. The Usos did a “tag team test,” which is the questions of favourite food, colour and sports team. Shane and Miz got a pop when saying that their favourite minor league baseball team is the Toledo Mud Hens. The Usos started to act sour once Mandy Rose was brought up. It really struck a nerve. The segment ended with The Usos giving their opponents Superkicks.

Daniel Bryan vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton (Gauntlet Match)

New Day have been given an opportunity to have the last Elimination Chamber slot after Mustafa Ali lost his due to injury. The group selected Kofi Kingston as the entrant into the match. Kingston faced Daniel Bryan as part of a gauntlet match including all Elimination Chamber members. The winner of the match gets to enter last in the Chamber match. This went for a very long time. Big E and Xavier Woods fought Erick Rowan at ringside late into it. They were kicked out from ringside, yet Rowan got to stay. Rowan threw Kofi into the timekeepers area when the referee wasn’t looking. Instead of the match ending in DQ, Rowan was thrown out from ringside. Kofi gave Bryan a Trouble in Paradise for the pinfall. Jeff Hardy came out next. Kofi eliminated Hardy with an SOS. Kofi escaped a Kokena Clutch and turned it into a roll-up to eliminated Joe. Joe attacked Kofi right after, putting him in a Rear Naked Choke. AJ Styles came out next and attacked Samoa Joe. Styles waited until Kofi Kingston recovered before they started. Kofi was working very hard in this match for what is a very small prize. Styles put in a Calf Crusher, which made Kofi Kingston tap out. The final entrant was Randy Orton, who of course came out of nowhere and did an RKO.

This match had some good wrestling but was half of the show. This just felt like a night off for the writers. NOTHING moved forward on this show. All we had was previews which gave us the same information we already knew.

Smackdown Live 1/29/19 Results and Review

This week Smackdown Live started with a recap of Becky Lynch’s Royal Rumble win, and her confrontation with Ronda Rousey on Monday. When we went to the live arena we saw Becky Lynch come to the ring. The crowd had paper signs that said “The Man,” similar to last night. I think this is one of those things that the WWE production hands out to the crowd. After Becky did a short promo Charlotte Flair came out. Flair taunted her, saying that she finally made it off the kickoff show. I thought Charlotte didn’t come off as a believable heel in this scene. Just the way she delivered lines, I guess. After Charlotte finished talked she got punched in the face. Lynch walked away confidently but then got hit from behind on the ramp. They brawled until it was broken up. This was a good way to start the show. I wished that they had some sort of lead into what was happening in the next segment. Like when the brawl was being broken up they could have made someone have their entrance.

R-Truth vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (United States Championship Match)

After the break R-Truth and Carmella came out to the ring. R-Truth was angry about how his #30 Royal Rumble spot was robbed by Nia Jax. To make up for this, he was granted a United States Championship match. After a commercial break there was a confusion as R-Truth did a roll-up pin where Shinsuke kicked out but the ref counted three. There was a pause, and then R-Truth was declared the new champion. After that Rusev came out with Lana. Rusev challenged him to a match, whatever the reason was I didn’t catch cause my feed cut out for a minute. Carmella shoved Lana which made her fall over, and then my feed cut out again, and then after the break we came back to a match. My feed cut out again, and apparently R-Truth beat Rusev. That seems hard to believe, and if it was true seems sad. Rusev lost clean to R-Truth? Also, was Rusev the heel in this? Because he certainly wasn’t a heel on Sunday. Truth was jumped after the match by Nakamura and Rusev. Backstage we saw Becky Lynch leaving the venue. When asked why she wouldn’t let the doctors evaluate her, she said she’s done being sidelined.

Andrade Attacks Rey Mysterio

Rey Mysterio came out for a match. Before his opponent came out, Zelina Vega said that she knew Mysterio orchestrated her getting banned from ringside with the last match between Mysterio and Andrade. Andrade tried for a Three Amigos but Mysterio escaped the third one and tried for a 619. The 619 was blocked, with Andrade landing his Hammerlock DDT to finish off Mysterio. I hope that these two guys get built for a PPV match because they deserve that sort of a stage for this.

The Miz and Shane McMahon Celebrate Their Title Victory

The Miz and Shane McMahon came out to celebrate their tag team Championship victory. As a present for The Miz, Shane showed a video package on the team’s journey to becoming champions. Shane then brought out The Miz’s father. On a mic, Miz’s dad said he loves him and is proud of him. Backstage we saw Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose declare themselves for the Elimination Chamber Tag Team Championship match. So people on RAW have to win a match to qualify, and they just get the walk into it? Mandy Rose showed a clip from 2015 on the show Tough Enough, showing Naomi criticize Rose, which is apparently why Rose has held a grudge against her. This felt dumb since the Tough Enough clip at hand was people taking wrestling moves and having no reaction to them.

The Usos vs. The New Day vs. The Bar vs. Heavy Machinery (Elimination Tag Team Match)

We had a fatal-four-way elimination tag team match next with Heavy Machinery’s first match on Smackdown. They beat The Ascension last week on RAW. The two big guys in this match were Otis Dozivic and Big E, who faced off for some time in this match. The commentary team continued to talk about Mandy Rose minutes into the match. Kofi was the first elimination as Heavy Machinery gave them their double team move “The Compactor.” Before a commercial break The Usos were planning to do double dives to the outside, but only one of them dove since the other one was distracted that they got tagged out by Sheamus. Because of this, the one that dove got picked on outside the ring. Sheamus gave Tucker Knight a Brouge Kick to eliminate Heavy Machinery. Right after that Jimmy Uso gave both Sheamus and Cesaro a Superkick, dove to the outside to take out Cesaro, and then Jey did a Frogsplash to win the match.

Closing Segment

Daniel Bryan came out to the ring to cut a promo on his WWE Championship win on Sunday. He said that this win was a win for everyone. He then introduced Erick Rowan, his new henchman. Bryan talked about how he is a hypocrite for carrying around the WWE Championship. He talked about the cow that was killed to make the belt, calling it Daisy. He threw it in the garbage and then unveiled a new belt that was made of rocks, wood and hemp. While talking about the belt he was interrupted by AJ Styles. Randy Orton came out as we went to a commercial break. After the break all of the sudden Jeff Hardy is in the ring, and Mustafa Ali is coming to the ring. Samoa Joe came out right after, and everyone was talking trash to each other. After Joe mentioned Styles’ wife, everyone started brawling. As Bryan is on top of the announce table saying that he won’t let any of them fight him, Triple H appears on the big screen and says that Bryan will defend his belt in an Elimination Chamber match. This was such a poorly constructed ending to the show. There was explainable reason why so many people came out at the end.