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Hello ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the live review of Elimination Chamber 2014! We’re live from the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota as we get ready for the last stop before this year’s mega event, WrestleMania!
The pre – show kick off match saw Goldust and Cody Rhodes taking on the team of Curtis Axel and Ryback.
Goldust and Cody Rhodes vs. Axel and Ryback (With Larry “The Axe” Hennig)
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After a good back and forth action, Goldust and Cody Rhodes picked up the victory to kick things off with the pre – show of the PPV.
Winner (s): Goldust and Cody Rhodes
Rating: **
Backstage, Renee interviewed The Usos who claimed that they will win the titles tonight on the PPV.And here we go! 2014 Elimination Chamber PPV kick started with a video package looking at the six participants of the Elimination Chamber match, and the history of the Elimination Chamber match.
Jack Swagger (With Colter) vs. Big E for the WWE Intercontinental championshipBefore the match, Zeb Colter cut a promo about the Intercontinental championship, and how Big E doesn’t deserve to be the Intercontinental championship. Colter said that things have gotten worse ever since Big E won the title, and said Jack Swagger would win the title tonight. He ended things with “We The People”. Big E then made his way down to the ring.
The bout kicked off with Swagger and Big E locking horns as Big E overpowered Swagger. Swagger came back with a knee to the gut and dropped Big E, but Big E came back with a shoulder tackle as Swagger rolled out of the ring. Swagger then took it to Big E, but Big E countered with a big belly to belly throw and followed it up with another one! Big E followed Swagger to the outside and rammed his head onto the steel steps. Colter tried to distract Big E, but Big E followed it up with a clothesline to Swagger and a spear on the steel steps for a 2 count. Swagger came back by arm dragging Big E outside the ring and followed it up with a clothesline! Swagger worked on Big E and covered him after a clothesline for a nearfall. Big E tried to build some offense but Swagger stopped him with a big boot! Swagger held Big E down with a reverse headlock, but Big E powered Swagger face first onto the mat!
Swagger and Big E then collided in the middle of the ring as both men went down. Big E missed with a shoulder in the corner and ran shoulder first into the post, as Swagger covered him for a 2 count. The crowd started a “We The People” chant as Swagger worked over Big E. Big E built some momentum and delivered a big belly to belly suplex! Swagger followed it up with a spine buster to Big E for a nearfall. Big E caught Swagger while going for the Swagger bomb, but Swagger held on to the ropes. Big E then followed it up with a spear through the middle ropes to the outside! Big E covered Swagger for a 2 count. Big E then went for the big splash for yet another nearfall. Big E went to the top but Swagger caught him with a huge belly to belly throw for a nearfall! Swagger then took Big E out by chipping his knee and then locked in the Patriot Lock in the middle of the ring! Big E then kicked Swagger away, and Swagger tried to go for the gut wrench, but Big E countered with a clothesline! Swagger went back to the ankle and locked in the Patriot Lock once again, but Big E countered with an enziguri and followed it up with the Big Ending to pick up the victory!
Winner and still the WWE Intercontinental champion: Big E
Rating: ***
Analysis: That was an outstanding match to kick things off. Big E and Swagger gave everything they had, and Swagger was very close to winning the Intercontinental championship heading into WrestleMania. It’ll be interesting to see what WWE does with Colter and Swagger, as tensions started brewing between Colter and his “client”. With Cesaro being pushed as a main eventer, one has to imagine that Swagger will turn face soon.
Bad News Barrett then appeared and delivered the bad news about Russia winning more gold than the United States, and said US would have to wait for 4 more years to do anything about it. This is brutal.WWE then plugged in about the return of Hulk Hogan to the WWE on this week’s episode of RAW.WWE then plugged in Kane’s abuse of power against Daniel Bryan. Byron interviewed Bryan, as Bryan talked about his chances of winning the WWE World Heavyweight championship. He then ended things off by leading the crowd in a “Yes” chant.
The New Age Outlaws vs. The Usos for the WWE Tag Team championships
Road Dogg then cut his usual promo and Billy Gunn followed it up with his usual verbiage. The Usos then made their way out next to a good reception.
Gunn started things off with Jimmy as Gunn took him down with a shoulder and a high elbow. Gunn then slapped Jimmy and laid into him as the crowd chanted for the Usos. Jimmy came back with a drop toe hold and a couple of arm drags as Road Dogg came in, and Jimmy threw him out of the ring with an arm drag as well! Jey then came in and locked up with Road Dogg get the better of the exchange. Jey came back with a headbutt and a big kick, but Dogg hip tossed him into the corner. Jey looked hurt, as Dogg threw him outside and Gunn took advantage, taking Jey down with a clothesline and threw him back into the ring.
The crowd started a big “CM Punk” chant as Dogg kept up the offense. Dogg covered Jey for a nearfall as Jimmy hyped up the crowd. Jey tagged in Jimmy as Dogg tagged in Gunn, and Jimmy went at it with Gunn. Dogg came in but got tossed out as Jimmy hit a Samoan drop on Gunn. Jimmy went for the splash but Dogg dragged him out of the way! Jimmy then hit the top rope plancha on Dogg and Gunn! Gunn countered with a big clothesline, as Gunn brought him back into the ring. Jimmy avoided a Fame Asser and took Gunn’s head off with a superkick for a nearfall! Jimmy went to the top for the splash as Jey went at it with Dogg on the floor. Dogg caught a superkick, but Gunn took advantage of a distracted Jimmy to roll him up to pick up the victory!
Winner (s) and still the WWE Tag Team champions: New Age Outlaws
Rating: ** ¾
Analysis: WWE has already made plans to have a rematch on tomorrow’s episode of RAW, and I’m not surprised with the outcome. NAO are still the tag team champions going into WrestleMania, and The Usos will likely take on the champs at WrestleMania, and win the tag team titles at the grandest stage of them all. NAO has to put over the young talent, and what better time to do that other than at WrestleMania?
Bad News Barrett appeared and said Daniel Bryan won’t win the title tonight, and the fans will turn on him for that. BNB chanted “Yes” as the fans chanted “No”.
Titus O’Neil vs. Darren Young
Young came out first followed by Titus. Titus blindsided Young while he was talking to the referee and started things off with a side headlock, as the crowd started a “We want Lesnar” chant! Titus kept on the offense with a big shoulder tackle and a knee to Young’s gut! Young came back with some rights and a dropkick. Young then clotheslined Titus out of the ring and nailed Titus with a flying clothesline from the top rope for a nearfall! Titus countered Young’s offense by throwing him out of the ring.
Titus brought Young back and locked him in a bearhug! Young tried to fight out of the predicament, but Titus caught him with a backbreaker. Titus tossed Young around the ring, and caught Young in an abdominal stretch. Young fought out of the hold and laid into Titus! Young connected with a neckbreaker for a 2 count! Titus stopped Young’s offense with a shot to the kidney and connected with the Clash of the Titus to pick up the victory.
Winner: Titus O’Neil.
Analysis: That was an ordinary bout, and it might be the beginning of O’Neil’s push. It’ll be interesting to see if WWE pits him against Big E for the WWE Intercontinental championship. That’s a feud I’ll be willing to see.
BNB appeared once again and ripped on the Minnesota football team and the fans/electricians. He then plugged in Hogan’s return and said his charisma will forever over shadow Hogan’s. Okay.
The Shield vs The Wyatt Family
The Shield came out first, followed by The Wyatts. The crowd started a “This is awesome” chant even before the match began!
The Shield came out first, followed by The Wyatts. Great back and forth match which saw The Wyatts completely dominating the three members of The Shield, with Bray Wyatt and Dean Ambrose battling into the crowd. Dean Ambrose wasn’t seen again, as Bray Wyatt joined Harper and Rowan and laid into Rollins and Reigns.
Harper and Rowan then double chokeslammed Rollins through the Spanish announce table as the crowd started a “Holy sh*t” chant! The end saw Reigns standing alone against the three members of The Wyatt Family, and he delivered the Superman punch to both Bray and Rowan! Harper then came in and got speared for his troubles. Bray Wyatt then connected with Sister Abigail on Roman Reigns to pick up the victory for his team!
Winner: The Wyatt Family.
Rating: ****
Analysis: That was an outstanding 6 man tag team match as everyone expected, and this will now lead to dissention in The Shield. Dean Ambrose wasn’t seen after Bray and Dean brawled in the fans’ section, and Roman Reigns stood tall in the end, taking it to all the three members of The Wyatt Family, but the numbers game caught up with Roman as Bray Wyatt picked up the victory. It’ll be interesting to see where the feud goes from here, and we might finally get to see the triple threat match between the three members of The Shield at WrestleMania!
AJ Lee (With Tamina) vs. Cameron for the WWE Divas championship
It was the usual divas match which saw Cameron getting an upper hand over the Divas champion for the most part, and a miscommunication between AJ and Tamina nearly cost AJ the title. Tamina in the end saved the Divas champion by causing the disqualification, giving the win to Cameron. Post match, Tamina laid Cameron out and brought the Divas title to AJ, who looked pissed.
Winner by DQ: Cameron
Rating: *
Analysis: Nothing great to say about the bout, but this might lead to a Tamina vs. AJ match at WrestleMania for the Divas title, considering WWE even cares about the strap anymore.
Bad News Barrett came out and said his podium was broken, and said he had more time to give some bad news. He plugged in the WWE Network, and said people will lose their jobs and students will be kicked out of schools because they will be mesmerized by the WWE Network. He then said something about government throwing people out and knocked their homes. My head hurts.
Backstage, Santino, Emma, Khali, Los Matadores and El Torito played with the WWE toys.
Batista vs. Alberto Del Rio
Batista came out first to a lukewarm reception, followed by ADR who had a neck brace on and a crutch. ADR said because of Batista’s attack couple of weeks ago, he won’t be able to compete, but blindsided Batista and beat him down with the crutch. ADR drilled Batista with the crutch to the gut and attacked his knee. The crowd started chanting “Si” as the referee started the match. Batista started attacking Del Rio as the crowd booed! Batista was sent to the ring post as the crowd started a “Boo-tista” chant, which was hilarious. ADR applied the cross arm breaker on the ropes as the referee started the five count! The crowd started a big “Daniel Bryan” chant as ADR worked on Batista’s arm. The crowd then started a “CM Punk” chant as ADR continued to work on Batista’s arm. Batista then tried to make a comeback as the crowd jeered, but ADR stopped him by attacking his shoulder. The crowd then started a “Y2J” chant! ADR missed with a shoulder in the corner, giving Batista time to recuperate.
Batista drilled ADR with some shoulders, but ADR came back with a double foot stomp! ADR connected with an enziguri in the corner for a nearfall. ADR kicked Batista out of the ring. The crowd started a big “We want Lesnar” chant! ADR rolled Batista into the ring, but Batista connected with a spear for a nearfall. Batista started building momentum with a couple of clotheslines. Batista went for a powerslam but ADR countered with a backstabber backbreaker for a nearfall! ADR missed with a splash and Batista took advantage with a spine buster as the crowd booed him! Batista went for the Batista bomb, but ADR escaped and chipped Batista’s knee, connecting with a shining wizard for a nearfall! ADR went for the cross arm breaker, but Batista countered it into a Batista bomb to pick up the victory as the crowd booed.
Winner: Batista
Rating: **
Analysis: Batista looked blown out throughout the match, and the crowd showed their displeasure with Batista headlining WrestleMania by booing him throughout the bout. I don’t blame the fans for how they behaved, and the match wasn’t anything great. ADR set the pace for the bout but Batista finished things off, building momentum going into WrestleMania. It’ll be interesting to see if WWE inserts Daniel Bryan into the main event at WrestleMania after seeing the negative reaction Orton and Batista have been getting.
WWE then plugged in about the Network and about the Chamber match.
Randy Orton vs Daniel Bryan vs Christian vs John Cena and Antonio Cesaro vs Sheamus for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the Elimination Chamber
Cena made his way out first to a mixed reaction, followed by Christian and Orton. Bryan then came out to a huge “Yes” chant. Cesaro then made his way out, followed by Sheamus. Sheamus and Cesaro started things off as Cesaro dominated the exchange. Cesaro threw Sheamus on the steel floor outside the ring, and Cesaro followed it up with a couple of uppercuts. Sheamus cut Cesaro’s offense short with a shoulder tackle from the top rope for a 1 count. Sheamus now laid into Cesaro with a shoulder to the gut in the corner, and threw him on the steel outside the ring. Sheamus then caught Cesaro with the Irish clubs to the chest and drilled Cesaro with a clothesline. Cesaro and Sheamus exchanged blows, and Cesaro threw Sheamus into the post and followed it up with a double foot stomp to the gut for a nearfall. Cesaro drilled Sheamus with uppercuts and mocked Cena with his “You can’t see me” gesture. The crowd chanted for Cesaro as Sheamus tried to make a comeback, but Cesaro stopped him in his tracks. Sheamus fought him off and connected with a shoulder tackle from the top rope as Daniel Bryan came in as the crowd exploded! Bryan connected with a dropkick to Sheamus and a knee to Cesaro’s gut. Bryan drilled Sheamus with kicks and connected with a clothesline. Bryan then took turns kicking Cesaro and Sheamus! Bryan drilled Cesaro with the roundhouse, but Sheamus stopped him. Bryan took Sheamus down with a drop toe hold while connected with a belly to back with a bridge on Cesaro for a nearfall! Cesaro came back with a tilt – a – whirl backbreaker on Bryan for a nearfall.
Sheamus and Cesaro went back and forth with Sheamus getting the better of the offense. Cesaro turned the tables and knocked Sheamus onto the steel outside the ring. Bryan came back with some uppercuts to Cesaro, but Cesaro threw Bryan into the pod as Bryan went right through the glass! Cesaro and Sheamus traded blows as Sheamus connected with a running senton on Cesaro on the steel! Sheamus covered Cesaro for yet another nearfall. Sheamus worked on Bryan as the crowd started the dueling “Let’s go Cena/Cena sucks” chants. Christian came in next and threw Sheamus over the top rope, and worked on Bryan’s injured shoulder. Christian threw Bryan out of the ring onto the steel and worked on Bryan’s shoulder. Christian ripped off Bryan’s padding on his shoulder and rammed him into the steel chains and the pod. Christian then connected with a tornado DDT for yet another nearfall. Bryan came back with a couple of kicks and an enziguri, but missed with a shoulder in the corner! Sheamus then worked on Christian, but Christian came back with a neckbreaker. Cesaro threw Christian right into the pod and connected with an uppercut! Cesaro covered Christian for a nearfall, and then turned his attention towards Sheamus. Cesaro connected with a gut wrench suplex on the steel floor on Sheamus! All of them were down as Cena made his way into the match. Cena delivered an AA on Christian, right on Cesaro! Bryan stopped Cena with a hurricanrana from the top rope! Bryan connected with some kicks to Cena, but Christian dropped Bryan with the Killswitch for a nearfall!
Cesaro then went for the swing, but Cena drilled Cesaro leading to Christian being darted into the corner, and Cena connected with the turning backdrop. Sheamus caught Cena with the White Noise for a nearfall! Fast paced action led to Christian connecting with the tornado DDT on Cesaro for a nearfall. Cena rammed Christian into the chamber, but Cesaro connected with the flying uppercut for a nearfall on Cena! Cesaro and Cena traded blows as Bryan came in! The trio exchanged blows and Sheamus came in! All five men went at it as Orton stared through the chamber pod. Cesaro picked Sheamus from the floor and connected with a suplex from the middle rope for a 2 count! Orton made his way in and kicked all the other superstars. Orton turned his attention towards Cena as the crowd booed him. Orton tried to punt Bryan but Bryan moved. All the 5 superstars turned their attention towards Orton as he tried to lock himself in the pod. Sheamus Brogue kicked right through the pod! Sheamus threw Orton around like a ragdoll and attacked Orton! Cena then turned his attention towards Orton and connected with the five knuckle shuffle. Cesaro threw Cena on the floor and put Orton in the giant Cesaro swing! Bryan then came back with a rolling German suplex on Cesaro! Sheamus drilled Bryan, as Christian came back in. Sheamus tried to Brogue kick Christian, but Christian ducked, as Sheamus drilled Cena instead. Christian tried to take advantage, but Sheamus and Cena kicked out of the roll ups!
Sheamus then attacked Christian, but Christian escaped the Irish curse on the floor! Orton nailed a superplex on Sheamus and Christian delivered a splash from the top of the pod on Sheamus to eliminate him from the match!
First elimination: Sheamus
The fans started a “This is awesome” chant. Bryan took Christian down with the running knee and eliminated him from the match.
Second elimination: Christian
The final four stared at each other, as they attacked one another. Orton went at it with Bryan while Cesaro and Cena battled it out. Bryan stared Cena down as the crowd started a huge “Yes” chant. Both men traded blows as Bryan went for the LaBelle lock, but Cena powered through it. Cena went for the AA on Bryan, but Cesaro delivered a German suplex with Bryan going out with a Samoan drop! Cena then took Cesaro down with a drop toe hold and locked him in the STF as Cesaro tapped out.
Third elimination: Cesaro
Cena then went for the STF on Orton as The Wyatts’ music hit! The Wyatts were in the chamber and Orton weaseled out. Bryan and Cena attacked The Wyatts, but they took both of them down. Bray then connected with Sister Abigail on Cena as the trio left the chamber. Orton then slithered back in and covered Cena to eliminate him.
Fourth elimination: Cena
Kane then came out and asked The Wyatts to go back. Kane then came into the chamber and Bryan connected with a knee to the head of Kane from the top! Orton then threw Bryan into the pod, but Bryan hung Orton in a tree of woe and connected with some kicks and baseball slides! Bryan connected with a backdrop from the top rope as the crowd started a “Let’s go Bryan” chant. Orton hung Bryan on the top turnbuckle and connected with the underhook DDT from the middle rope. Bryan connected with the running double knee, but Kane dragged the referee out! Bryan drilled Kane with a big kick, but Orton connected with the RKO! Bryan kicked out at 2 and the fans exploded! Bryan connected with a kick to the head of Orton! Kane drilled Bryan and Orton hit another RKO on Bryan to pick up the victory.
Winner and still the WWE World Heavyweight champion: Randy Orton
Rating: ****
The crowd looked on disappointed as Bryan recuperated in the ring. The PPV went off the air as Bryan looked distraught, with Orton raising the titles in the ring.
Analysis: That was a great main event, but the ending was predictable, and WWE still hasn’t learnt its lesson. The crowd wanted Bryan to win, but WWE still went ahead with Orton picking up the victory. The fans don’t want to see Orton vs. Batista at WrestleMania, and they made it clear by booing Batista during his match with ADR. Cesaro and Bryan stood out in the main event, as both men showed excellent ring skills and were a part of some great moments. Kane’s interference would mean that Bryan would face either Kane or Triple H at WrestleMania, which won’t do Bryan any good.
Over – all rating of the PPV: *** ½ (Out of 5 stars)
Although there were a couple of excellent matches on the card, the ending once again ruined the PPV. WWE needs to listen to its fans, which it hasn’t done for quite a long time. With Orton retaining, the headline for WrestleMania is now set in stone, which completely takes away any interest the WWE Universe has. Anyway, with The Undertaker and Hulk Hogan set to return on tomorrow’s episode of RAW, it’ll be interesting to see what transpires. Thank you for joining us for the live coverage of the PPV, as we now head to WrestleMania!
