This years Elimination Chamber event took place in Chicago, at the United Center.
Home town hero, CM Punk took on Judgement Day member, Finn Balor, in a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match.
AJ Lee competed in her first singles match in over a decade as she faced Becky Lynch in a Womens Intercontinetal Championship match.
Finally, the Men and Women’s Elimination Chamber matches determined which superstars would head to Wrestlemania for world title opportunities.
Here is a look back at how the show went down.
Womens Elimination Chamber B-
Overall, I thought the match had an alright start to the show. It was a slow start between Kiana James and Tiffany Stratton, but there wasn’t anything bad about it either.
Not so much on the wrestlers, but the pods opened so fast after the timer expired, which left a lack of tension and excitement for who would enter the chamber. Something that every other chamber match prior had.
Raquel Rodriguez was built as the ‘powerful’ competitor in the match, and she played the part well. As she threw the women around the structure’s steel walls, put James through the pod. She would go on to double-stack her alongside Asuka, eliminating both of them.
Stratton, Rodriguez and Rhea Ripley worked well together in the final three, and Ripley’s spot off the top of the pod added a lot of spectacle to the match.
The final two matchups between Ripley and Stratton made me interested in a match between the two down the line, but ultimately, Ripley going on to win the match was the right call.
It sets up a new feud with the Australian superstar and current Women’s Champion, Jade Cargill, and it doesn’t repeat the same feud we had for months between the Champ and Stratton.
Things are certainly up in the air about Iyo Sky’s plans heading into Las Vegas with her tag team partner competing for the title, which might lead to her facing Giulia for the Women’s United States belt.
Aj Lee VS Becky Lynch – Women’s IC Title Match C
After the mixed tag match between the two and their husbands at Wrestlepalooza in September, as well as their recent promo on Raw, I didn’t expect this to be anything special.
However, it was a fine match, and much better than I anticipated, given it was AJ’s first singles match in her WWE return.
The opening began with a lot of technical holds and reversals between the two, which complemented their wrestling styles much more than in their previous matchup and allowed the match to breathe.
Due to them having one promo before this match, it felt anticlimactic in the arena towards the start, but it eventually picked up.
AJ kicking out of a DDT to a steel chair, and a Manhandle slam, was surprising to be sure, and for her to then beat Becky and become the new Intercontinental Women’s Champ added to that surprise factor.
With AJ becoming the new champion, I hope we see more appearances from her on Raw, especially now the Road to Wrestlemania is at its peak.
The WWE need to add some different contenders into the Midcard Women’s bracket with the champion change, as it needs freshening up with what has been the same people competing for the belt for over a year.
Yet, I expect AJ and Becky to face off against each other at Wrestlemania. If they aren’t, I’d like to see what is in store for them over these next seven weeks.
CM Punk VS Finn Balor – World Heavyweight Championship Match B+
CM Punk’s reign as World Heavyweight Champion has been one of the best things in WWE at this moment of time, and this match was another great piece to his championship reign.
Punk came out to a special Chicago Bulls-style entrance in front of his home city, which was great to see.
The contest started very back and forth between Balor and The Best in the World, which was very reminiscent of their match in Belfast a few weeks back.
The switch from a technical style to big moves to put their opponent away was fast, but done cleanly as the match stepped up its tempo.
One thing that took away from the match wasn’t anything to do with this match on the night.
Punks promo with Roman Reigns after the Tribal Chief won the Royal Rumble pretty much confirmed the two would face each other at Wrestlemania.
With that taking place, it lacked the jeopardy that their most recent match contained, as the match in Belfast felt it could have went either way.
Otherwise, it was a great match, and the best of the evening.
It was likely the end of the miniature feud between the two, which hinted at Balor turning face after the bell.
Men’s Elimination Chamber C
The match started off fine, with Jevon Evans and Cody Rhodes working well in the chamber, and that continued as Trick Williams entered the fray.
After that, the match suffered in quality. While Jevon was in the match, I wish he had been given more opportunities to do what we know he has the quality to do.
With Bronson Reed getting injured the Monday before, it was tough for WWE, but to decide that Logan Paul should be doing the same spots as him and go on to eliminate Evans, Williams and LA Knight certainly left a sour taste.
Then we had an interference from ‘The Masked Man’ who would take out Logan Paul and reveal himself as Seth Rollins.
Minutes later, Drew McIntyre interfered this time as he struck out at Rhodes, which led to Randy Orton winning the Elimination Chamber.
While one interference can be excused, to have two in a match that is structured so no one can enter or exit is a strange decision.
It is becoming more and more of a common occurrence to see interferences in WWE’s main event matches, whether that is on Raw, Smackdown or on PLE, and I’m not a fan of this direction.
I’m pleased to see Orton get a title opportunity at Mania, and it was one that was slightly unexpected, it got there the wrong way with the cameos from Rollins and McIntyre, and it could still lead to a fatal fourway match between McIntyre, Rhodes, Orton and Jacob Fatu.
Add in the poor reception to Danhausen’s debut on the show, which was hinted at for almost a month and four-minute ad breaks being played during PLE’s, it wasn’t a hit out of the park from WWE in their final big stop on the Road to Wrestlemania
Up Next
WWE’s next Premium Live Event takes place in Las Vegas as they host Wrestlemania 42 on April 18th and 19th at Allegiant Stadium.
Featured image – “United Center (17136283953)” by Arvell Dorsey Jr. from Chicago, IL, United States is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Daniel Moffat 
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