5 biggest talking points from WWE Elimination Chamber 2018

The final Raw-exclusive WWE pay-per-view on the road to WrestleMania featured two Elimination Chamber matches, both with huge ‘Mania implications, as well as Ronda Rousey’s official contract signing.

The show produced more than its fair share of memorable moments and there’s no doubt that it was one of the best brand-exclusive PPVs that WWE has produced since the 2016 draft.

In this article, we take a look at five big moments from the event that everyone is talking about.

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#5 John Cena hints at a heel turn

John Cena was eliminated by Braun Strowman

John Cena insisted before the seven-man Elimination Chamber match that he had to win or, for the first time in his 15-year WWE career, he won’t have a road to WrestleMania.

Well, the 16-time champion failed to accomplish his goal and, like four other men, he was eliminated from the Chamber match following a running powerslam by Braun Strowman.

Many predicted that we would see The Undertaker at Sunday’s event to set up a long-awaited match between the two icons at ‘Mania, but “The Deadman” was nowhere to be seen and all we got was another below-par Cena performance (purely from a storyline perspective).

A sombre Cena said on RAW Talk after the show that he has a plan for ‘Mania that “may involve stepping outside the proper etiquette in the WWE”, which certainly seemed like a cryptic hint at a heel turn.

#4 We still don’t know who Asuka will face

Asuka defeated Nia Jax at Elimination Chamber

Ever since Asuka won the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble match, we have been waiting to hear official confirmation on whether she will challenge for the Raw or SmackDown Women’s title at WrestleMania 34.

Considering she is still very much a Raw Superstar, the assumption is that she will challenge for Alexa Bliss’s title in New Orleans, but WWE continues to state that she will simply receive a “championship opportunity”, which suggests she could switch to the blue brand.

“The Empress of Tomorrow” defeated Nia Jax at Elimination Chamber in one of her best matches yet on the main roster. However, she was attacked post-match by her opponent and we still didn’t find out who the Rumble winner will face in six weeks’ time.

#3 Braun Strowman breaks Elimination Chamber record

Monday Night Rollins? How about Sunday Night Strowman?!

If there was a modern-day “People’s Champion” in WWE, then there’s no doubt that the title would be bestowed upon Braun Strowman.

The Las Vegas crowd was cheering on “The Monster Among Men” more than anyone in the men’s Elimination Chamber match but, as expected, he was unable to defeat Roman Reigns when it came down to the two long-term rivals at the end.

Still, the night wasn’t all bad for Braun, as he set a new Chamber record of five eliminations (The Miz, Elias, John Cena, Finn Balor and Seth Rollins) to write his name into the WWE history books.

#2 Alexa Bliss cuts an incredible promo

Alexa Bliss retained her title in the Chamber match

All six women produced great performances in the first-ever women’s Elimination Chamber match, but Alexa Bliss really stood out from start to finish.

Her pre-match mannerisms and in-ring performance were brilliant, while her post-match interview with Renee Young was one of the best you’ll see in WWE.

The Raw Women’s Champion had the whole crowd chanting “You deserve it!” after outlasting five other women to win the Chamber match, and her emotional speech encouraging young girls to “dream big” came across as very inspirational.

Then, wiping tears from her eyes, she turned against the crowd and said none of them will ever achieve their dreams and that she is the “one true Goddess” in WWE.

#1 Ronda Rousey puts Triple H through a table!

Whether people like the idea of Ronda Rousey competing in WWE or not, even her biggest detractors would have to admit that her Raw contract signing was set up to be one of the most interesting moments of the night.

After a shaky start, where it looked like the Las Vegas crowd might hijack the segment, they began chanting her name and Ronda explained why her hero is “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and how she wants to earn fans’ respect as an in-ring performer.

Then, after Kurt Angle informed her that Triple H and Stephanie McMahon (both present at the contract signing) only wanted her to join WWE so they can “own her” as revenge for her actions at WrestleMania 31, things started to turn nasty.

The segment ended with Ronda signing her contract after being slapped by Stephanie, but the biggest moment, which is bound to be played for weeks and months to come, was when she slammed Triple H through a table!