Tonight on WWE Elimination Chamber, former Shield members collide as Dean Ambrose reemerges as a title contender to Authority golden boy and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. Plus, NXT Champion Kevin Owens looks to make one of the biggest WWE debuts in history as he challenges WWE United States Champion John Cena in a champion vs. champion matchup. All that and more at WWE Elimination Chamber.
The kickoff show is LIVE from Corpus Christi, Texas. Renee Young, Booker T, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton are the panelists for tonight.
WWE Director of Operations Kane announces that all three members of WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day will compete in the Elimination Chamber.
Video packages, interviews, and previews of Elimination Chamber.
Zack Ryder vs. Stardust
Arm drag from Stardust lands and a side headlock is followed by a shoulder block. Zack Ryder comes back with a dropkick and arm drags. Stardust works out and gets flapjacked. Stardust sent out and he works Ryder to the mat back inside. Surfboard from Stardust sees Ryder roll over to cover for a nearfall. Ryder fights off the mat to land a neckbreaker. Missile dropkick swatted away by Stardust. Ryder sends Stardust out and lands a missile dropkick from the apron. Rollups exchanged inside and Ryder almost wins with a Broski Boot. Cross Rhodes lands for Stardust.
Winner by pinfall: Stardust
Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars
Comments: Something about this match didn’t flow. It was mechanical and the pace seemed off for whatever reason. Nothing outright horrible, but nothing redeeming either.
Tom Phillips hosts a Twitter Q&A with Lana.
Miz TV with The Miz and Summer Rae features Daniel Bryan as the special guest. Bryan announces that he is here to present the WWE Intercontinental Championship to the winner of the Elimination Chamber and announce that his career is not over. Miz tries to give unsolicited advice and offers his duties as a promoter for 10% of Bryan’s earnings. Bryan invites The Meta Powers out to make Miz TV more interesting and they take out Miz.
The pay-per-view is LIVE. Michael Cole, John “Bradshaw” Layfield, and Jerry “The King” Lawler have the call for tonight.
Elimination Chamber Match for the WWE Tag Team Championships: The New Day vs. The Prime Time Players vs. Los Matadores (w/El Torito) vs. Tyson Kidd & Cesaro (w/Natalya) vs. The Ascension vs. Lucha Dragons
The Ascension and Lucha Dragons start off. Dragons land srpringboard moonsalts and a pop-up dropkick on Viktor. Konnor tosses Sin Cara and Kalisto onto the steel and they come back to work The Ascension into the corners. Kalisto popped to the top of the New Day pod and he is held by his leg as Sin Cara is hit with a double team slam. Sin Cara with a senton from the top of the pod on Viktor. Kalisto again pulled down by New Day and Tyson Kidd and Cesaro enter. Double team on Sin Cara and The Ascension. Cesaro with an uppercut on Kalisto from the top rope. Superplex from Cesaro from the top of the pod and Kidd with a springboard elbow for a nearfall. The Ascension come back and drop Kidd for a nearfall. Cesaro sent out and Kidd locks in a Sharpshooter. Konnor breaks it and Kalisto scalesthe cage to the Prime Time Players pod. Nearfall for The Ascension broken up and Los Matadores enter. El Torito with a hurricanrana off the top of the pod. Kalisto to the roof of the chamber and he lands a splash. Torito to the top and he gets caught by Ascension. Torito thrown to the steel and Fall of Man lands. Los Matadores are eliminated and Kalisto soon hit with Fall of Man as well. Lucha Dragons are eliminated. Michinoku Driver on Kidd from Viktor gets a nearfall. The Prime Time Players in next and Viktor and Titus O’Neil fight outside. O’Neil tosses Viktor into the chamber. Darren Young with a gutbuster on Viktor and Konnor hit with a big boot as he tries to break the cover. The Ascension are eliminated.
Cesaro drops O’Neil with a clothesline and hits Young with a dropkick as he sits up top. Cesaro and Young sent to the mat and O’Neil gets a nearfall broken by Kidd. Spinebuster on Kidd from O’Neil gets a nearfall as well. Both teams down as The New Day enter and work both teams down. Prime Time Players and Cesaro and Kidd team up to land a suplex on New Day and Xavier Woods tossed into a pod by Cesaro and Kidd. Kofi Kingston hit with the Cesaro Swing and dropkick combo. Young rolls up Cesaro. Tyson Kidd and Cesaro are eliminated. Honor Roll on Young from Woods and Big E and Woods toss O’Neil into a kick from Kingston. Young set up for the finish, but he crotches Woods and Kingston up top. Corner spear misses for Big E and his shoulder meets the post and his head meets the pod. O’Neil comes back and drops Woods with a big boot. Big E tossed into the cage and Trouble in Paradise caught by O’Neil. Kingston tossed into the cage as Young is dropped. Gutbuster on Kingston gets a nearfall and Young and Big E sent to the steel. Belly to belly throw lands for Big E and O’Neil with a powerslam. O’Neil chop blocked and hit with Trouble in Paradise.
Winners by pinfall and STILL WWE Tag Team Champions: The New Day
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Comments: This match likely would have been better off without being in the Elimination Chamber, which completely defeats the purpose. Some nicely planned spots that didn’t pan out
Lana talks with Dolph Ziggler backstage.
Triple Threat Match for the WWE Divas Championship: Brie Bella (c) vs. Naomi vs. Paige
Naomi taken out and Paige with a takedown and ground and pound on Nikki Bella. Bella thrown into the announce table outside by Naomi. Crossbody miss from Naomi gets Paige a nearfall. Kicks and clotheslines from Paige followed by a fallaway slam for a nearfall on Naomi. Bella back with a facebuster for a nearfall on Paige. Alabama Slam from Bella on Paige and Naomi with a schoolgirl rollup for a nearfall from behind. Missed springboard kick from Bella gets Paige a nearfall. Bella sent out and Naomi with a suplex on Paige. Leg drop lands and Naomi and Paige up top. Bella comes in for a tower of power that earns nearfalls on both Naomi and Paige. Rack Attack on Paige countered by a Rear View from Naomi for a nearfall. PTO attempt from Paige on Bella sees Naomi drop her for a nearfall. Electric chair drop attempt by Paige turned into a reverse hurricanrana from Naomi for a nearfall. Bella with a Rack Attack on Naomi.
Winner by pinfall and STILL WWE Divas Champion: Nikki Bella
Rating: 2.25 out of 5 stars
Comments: Solid match all around. A bit sloppy, but it did what it could given the time.
(Commercials)
Kevin Owens vs. John Cena
Kevin Owens with a side headlock and John Cena gets the shoulder block. Owens works Cena down until Cena comes back with a running bulldog. Owens drops him with a kick to counter a back bodydrop. Cena dropped with a forearm and he gets worked into the corner. Nearfall for Owens sees the rear chinlock applied to Cena. Cena gets up and sets Owens up for an Attitude Adjustment. Owens gets free and lands a DDT for a nearfall. Big boot drops Cena and he taunts Cena. Punch drops Cena with a schoolboy for a nearfall. Clothesline comeback from Owens and some ground and pound is followed by a running senton for a nearfall. Owens and Cena exchange punches until Cena ducks to land a shoulder tackle. Cena caught and Owens tilt-a-whirls him into a crucifix drop for a nearfall. Cannonball into the corner gets another pin attempt. Cena with punches and he leapfrogs over a Pop-up Powerbomb to land shoulder tackles. Backdrop suplex followed by a Five Knuckle Shuffle from Cena. AA sees Owens move out and land a Pop-up Powerbomb for a nearfall. Owens heads up top and Cena crotches him. Owens sends him back down with headbutts and misses on a moonsault. AA lands and Owens kicks out. Punch exchange once again and Cena dropped by a superkick. Five Knuckle Shuffle attempt by Owens sees Cena grab the leg and apply the STF. Owens gets near the rope and Cena drags him to the middle. Owens kicks him away and puts him on his shoulders. AA from Owens gets a nearfall.
Cena down in the corner. Owens runs into a kick from Cena and a tornado DDT out of the corner gets Cena a nearfall. Cena up top and the leg drop connects. Owens able to kick out. AA attempt from Cena turned into a Steenalizer for a nearfall for Owens. Right hands exchanged and Owens tries a Pop-up Powerbomb. Cena hooks the ropes and charges the corner for a springboard stunner that can’t finish Owens. Avalanche fisherman buster from the top rope from Owens unable to put Cena down. Senton connects for Owens and Cena kicks out. Both men struggle up and Cena with a clothesline. Clothesline lands again and Owens sends Cena off the ropes. Pop-up Powerbomb lands for Owens.
Winner by pinfall: Kevin Owens
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Comments: A starmaking performance. Cena’s work with NXT talent has been excellent and this was no different. With the added atmosphere and big stage, it made the match that much more special.
Post-match, Kevin Owens has the microphone. Owens said on his first night that anyone who didn’t know him isn’t worth his time. Owens says everyone knows who he is. Owens started a fight with John Cena and now he is the man who finished the fight. Owens has some veteran advice for Cena and tells him his time is up because Owens’s time is now. Owens says the champ is here.
Kickoff show panel reviews the Cena vs. Owens match.
Bo Dallas with a microphone before his match with Neville. Dallas said he tried to be nice. Dallas saw a bird with a broken wing and he tried to help, but Neville denied him. Dallas says everyone needs help and it is too late for him. Dallas will make Neville Bolieve.
Bo Dallas vs. Neville
Side headlock takeover from Bo Dallas sees Neville kick him away. Neville comes back with backflips into the corner. Dallas kicked away and Neville up top for Red Arrow. Dallas moves out and Neville lands a moonsault outside for a nearfall back inside. Rear chinlock applied and Dallas gets the rear chinlock. Dallas gets to his knees and tells Neville he is doing this for him. Roundhouse kick from Neville lands and Dallas tosses him out. Dallas works him outside and a back elbow inside gets a nearfall. Dallas works Neville down for a nearfall. Dallas continues to keep Neville on the mat. Neville sends Dallas into the second turnbuckle and Dallas goes outside. Strikes from Neville back inside followed by a standing shooting star press for a nearfall. DDT from Dallas gets a pin attempt.
Winner by pinfall: Neville
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Comments: Cool-down match. Those can only do so much. Serviceable for what it was.
WWE COO Triple H informs Roman Reigns backstage that his getting involved in the WWE Championship match will get Dean Ambrose disqualified.
Elimination Chamber Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship: Mark Henry vs. Sheamus vs. R-Truth vs. Ryback vs. King Barrett vs. Dolph Ziggler
King Barrett and Dolph Ziggler start. Barrett with a nearfall off a suplex after exchanging submissions with Ziggler. Barrett works Ziggler in the corner. Knee to the midsection gets a nearfall and Barrett works a chinlock. Ziggler comes back with an elbow and dropkick. Neckbreaker and elbow drop get Ziggler a nearfall. Barrett tosses Ziggler into pods and the chamber outside. R-Truth’s pod opens and Barrett immediately steps into the pod and beats him down. Truth tossed into the chamber and Barrett keeps him on the mat. Ziggler comes back and gets hit with a big boot on the steel. Barrett tosses Ziggler into the post and Truth comes back with clotheslines on Barrett. Missile dropkick nearfall for Truth. Scissors kicks and a corner splash from Truth. Winds of Change nearfall on Truth and Ziggler dropped again for a nearfall by Barrett. Barrett breaks the pod of Mark Henry by tossing Ziggler in. Slam and leg drop from Henry get a nearfall. Ryback in and he works Henry into the corner. Shoulder block nearfall on Henry by Ryback. Barrett calls for a Bull Hammer on Ziggler. Barrett hit with a superkick and dropped on the top turnbuckle. Lie Detector from Truth on Barrett. King Barrett is eliminated. Ryback and Ziggler go after each other while Henry works on Truth after a standoff. Sheamus is last out as his pod door gets stuck. Ryback left standing and he takes Truth on his shoulders for Shell Shocked. R-Truth is eliminated. Ziggler hit with a delayed vertical suplex by Ryback.
Sheamus finally picks the lock of his pod and tosses Ziggler through the pod. Sheamus taunts Henry and gets hit with a splash for a nearfall. Clothesline from Henry ducked and Sheamus hits a Brogue Kick. Mark Henry is eliminated. Sheamus turns his attention to Ziggler. Suplex attempt from Sheamus turned into a small package for a nearfall. DDT connects on Sheamus for a nearfall. Ryback looks to powerbomb Ziggler and gets hit with a superkick. Ziggler ducks a Brogue Kick to hit a Famouser for a nearfall. Sheamus comes back with a Brogue Kick. Dolph Ziggler is eliminated. Sheamus and Ryback left. Powerslam nearfall for Sheamus. Ryback drops him and looks for a Meat Hook Clothesline. Sheamus moves out and shoves Ryback into a pod. White Noise on the steel from Sheamus gets a nearfall back inside. Ryback bounces Sheamus off the cage and powerbombs him back inside. Shell Shocked connects for Ryback.
Winner by pinfall and NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion: Ryback
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars
Comments: Special matches are the Russian roulette of wrestling. This is what happens when everything that can go wrong in a special stipulation does. Ryback winning was about the only decent thing here, but any momentum the title earned him might be hampered after this match.
Cena vs. Owens II announced for Money in the Bank.
Video package recaps the rivalry between WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Seth Rollins (c) (w/J&J Security & Kane) vs. Dean Ambrose
Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose exchange armlocks. Arm drags from Ambrose and an armbar. Rollins moves outside to consult with Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury. Rollins works Ambrose into a corner back inside. Clothesline comeback from Ambrose and he works Rollins in the corners. Chop knocks Rollins down. Nearfall for Ambrose and he sets Rollins up on the top rope. Rollins ducks under and Ambrose kicks him away. Mercury on the apron and Ambrose distracted. Ambrose in the tree of woe and Noble gets to the apron. Double foot stomp from Rollins sends Ambrose to the mat for a nearfall. Rollins works Ambrose down and Ambrose arm drags to get space. STO into the second turnbuckle from Rollins stops the comeback and earns a nearfall. Rollins knocks Ambrose around the ring and Ambrose comes back with punches. Sling Blade from Rollins gets a nearfall. Crossbodies connect at the same time and Rollins and Ambrose knock each other out of the air. Ambrose knocking Rollins down and a sunset flip gets a nearfall. Nearfalls exchanged and Ambrose with a wheelbarrow facebuster to end the exchange and earn a nearfall. Rollins set up for the bulldog and J&J pull him out. Ambrose with a suicide dive that takes him and Rollins over the announce table. Rollins with a backslide inside and he gets caught with his feet on the top rope.
Ambrose bounces Rollins off of Mercury and sends him flying into Noble outside. Rollup for a nearfall by Ambrose sees Rollins roll through to land a superkick for a nearfall. Rollins up top and Ambrose meets him with a punch. Rollins and Ambrose tumble outside and J&J distract Ambrose enough to allow Rollins to land a running powerbomb into the barricade. Nearfall back inside for Rollins. Flying knee off the top gets Rollins a nearfall and an inverted DDT gets the same. Rollins works Ambrose in the corner and Ambrose comes back with a corner forearm of his own. Tornado DDT gets a nearfall on Rollins. Dropkick with Rollins tied between the ropes lands, but Ambrose misses a leg drop. Springboard knee misses and Rollins comes back with an enzuigiri. Rebound clothesline from Ambrose connects and Rollins kicks out. Elbow drop to the standing Rollins gets Ambrose a nearfall. Rollins sends Ambrose out and lands a suicide dive that bounces him into the announce table. Corner powerbomb lands and Ambrose comes back out of the corner with a clothesline. Kane and J&J taken out and Ambrose goes up top. Elbow drop takes out The Authority. Ambrose spins off the apron as Rollins rolls out to land another clothesline. Rollins pulls the referee in front of him as Ambrose goes for an elbow drop. Referee out and Rollins and Ambrose exchange until Ambrose lands Dirty Deeds. New referee runs out and makes the count.
Winner by pinfall and NEW WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Dean Ambrose
Post-match, the first referee wakes up and confers with the second referee. The decision is made and Lilian Garcia announces that Dean Ambrose won the match, but by disqualification. Seth Rollins therefore retains the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Winner by disqualification: Dean Ambrose
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Comments: A truly great match ruined by a truly awful finish. Predictable and put a whole set of nails in the coffin of an already dead crowd.
Roman Reigns comes out as The Authority attacks Dean Ambrose. Ambrose and Reigns clear out J&J Security, Kane, and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. Ambrose announces that he won the match and he is taking the belt with him. Reigns and Ambrose go through the crowd with the belt as Rollins screams for them to bring his belt back. Ambrose and Reigns pose in the crowd with the title as the show closes.
Overall Rating: 1.75 out of 5 stars
Overall Comments: Aside from two great matches, this show was exactly what you would expect of a hodgepodge impromptu pay-per-view that was meant to be a house show. Skim through everything else but the main event and the great WWE in-ring debut of Kevin Owens.
Nolan Howell can be reached at nth993@gmail.com for any questions or comments.
