The last premium live event before WrestleMania, also known as the Elimination Chamber, took place Saturday night in Australia but super early Saturday morning in Cali. That meant I stayed up until 2 a.m. to watch the event due to the time difference. Thankfully, it was worth it.
While most of the match outcomes were predictable, Elimination Chamber is one of my favorite events due to the concept. Superstars enter a steel cage with glass pods. While two superstars start the match, the remaining superstars are locked in the pods, then they are released one by one every couple of minutes. The twist to this match is the use of the steel cage and pods to the wrestler’s advantage.
Eliminations happen like a normal match (pinfall or submission), and they win by being the last remaining superstar. The winner goes on to face whichever champion wasn’t picked from the Royal Rumble winners.
Let’s take a look at some of the best matches from the Elimination Chamber.
Women’s Elimination Chamber Match (WWE Elimination Chamber February 24)
The women’s elimination chamber featured Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Naomi, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair and Tiffany Stratton. Naomi and Becky Lynch started the match.
This match definitely had some crazy moments. From Rodriguez showing her pure strength, lifting people up just to slam them against the steel cage chains, to Morgan thrashing Stratton’s body into the glass pods. It was the type of match you didn’t want to blink on, because you’d miss something unbelievable.
Stratton was quite impressive in this match, keeping up with some of the more veteran superstars and even showing off a flip from on top of the pod that knocked down all her opponents. I wanted this to be the match that finally gave Morgan her shot at revenge, but Lynch was the victor in the end, hitting Morgan with the manhandle slam finisher.
The Judgment Day vs. New Catch Republic (WWE Elimination Chamber February 24)
The tag team champions, Finn Bálor and Damien Priest (Judgment Day members), defended their titles against Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne (New Catch Republic). Simply put, Bate and Dunne put on a wrestling clinic with this match. Between their innovative double team moves and their strategic strikes at Priest and Bálor, there were so many moments that made me think we’d have new tag team champions.
On the other hand, Bálor and Priest had double-team moves of their own that were a bit more powerful than New Catch Republic’s. The Judgment Day duo earned the victory after Priest hit a double chokeslam from the top rope, followed by Bálor’s coup de grace finisher. And, of course, the outside aid of Dominik Mysterio’s distractions also helped Priest and Bálor clinch the victory.
Men’s Elimination Chamber Match (WWE Elimination Chamber February 24)
The men’s elimination chamber match had Kevin Owens, Bobby Lashley, Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, Logan Paul and LA Knight. Similar to the women’s match, this was absolutely stacked with talent and incredible spots. For one, Lashley speared Paul through one of the glass pods. There was also a random attack with a steel chair from AJ Styles, which aided in getting LA Knight eliminated from the match.
Since it’s elimination chamber rules, outside interferences do not automatically end the match. While I figured McIntyre would win, it was great to see Orton truly shine in this match and live up to his “RKO out of nowhere” name. In the end, McIntyre did win, but not from his own doing. After Orton RKO’d Paul, Paul was angered and came back into the match to hit Orton with brass knuckles. McIntyre took advantage of that attack and pinned Orton for the 1, 2, 3 and secured his ticket to face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania.
“Sports Entertainment Solidified” is a pro wrestling column by Maddy Myer that runs every Monday.