WWE Elimination Chamber 2017 Review

WWE Elimination Chamber 2017
Brand: Smackdown
Phoenix, AZ
Talking Stick Resort Arena
2/12/17

Kick Off Show
For some reason they decided to put Carmella on the kick off panel along with Booker T & Sam Roberts. I thought this was a good idea at first since there were three women's matches on the show so it would have made sense to have the perspective of one of the active females on the roster, but she didn't add anything to the conversation. I get she is suppose to be a stuck up heel, but why even have her on if she's not going to add anything, thankfully she was only out there for the first half as midway through James Ellsworth came out and said he bought them a skybox ticket to watch the show (not sure why someone on the roster would need to buy a ticket, but whatever). Also on the pre show we see JBL falling on his butt while doing the Texas two step during his entrance and this makes Booker T laugh his ass off.

Kick Off Match
Mojo Rawley def Curt Hawkins
The match starts out with Mojo charging toward Hawkins, but he keeps getting in the ropes forcing the referee to back Mojo up. Once Mojo finally gets his hands on Hawkins he cuts him a flip with a knee clip. Hawkins rolls out of the ring, but Mojo goes after him and rolls him half way in the ring and slams Hawkins chest first into the apron. Hawkins catches Mojo as he is getting in the ring with a kick and then throws him into the apron. Hawkins gets in the ring looking for a count out win, but Mojo gets back in the ring at the count of 8. 

After commercial we see Hawkins is in control and he clips the knee of Mojo and slides out of the ring. Hawkins hits a vertical suplex for a 2 count. Hawkins then puts Mojo in a grounded sleeper which Mojo gets out of with a jawbreaker. Mojo fires up and hits some punches followed by a couple of shoulder blocks and a clothesline. Mojo hits a stinger splash and then a Hyper Drive for a 2 count. Mojo grabs the leg of Hawkins and tries to drag him into the middle of the ring, but gets caught with a punch to the throat and Hawkins then hits a jumping flatliner for another 2 count. Hawkins toys around with Mojo, but gets punched in the gut. Hawkins tries for an Impant DDT, but Mojo gets out of it and and tries to clothesline Hawkins, but gets hit with an enziguiri by Hawkins for 2. Hawkins is bouncing up and down in the corner like Edge used to do when getting ready for a Spear, but as he charges at Mojo he gets caught and launched into the corner. Mojo hits Hawkins with a running punch in the corner followed by a spinning powerslam for the win. This is an early contender for least cared about match of the year. Nothing special happened in this match and was just a basic match. Rating *1/2

Match #1
Becky Lynch def Mickie James
If WWE plans on making Mickie a long term heel then they need to get her some new theme music as it's way too upbeat and happy sounding for a heel to come out to. Becky had an interesting choice of tops for this match as it didn't even look like a top you would see a woman wrestler wear as it was absolutely see through and had a nice flowery print on the front.

Mickie & Becky have an extended lock up spot where they roll to the outside and neither one is giving in and Mickie backs Becky into the barricade and Becky backs Mickie into the ring apron. The only reason they finally break is because they don't want to get counted out. In the ring Becky gets a hold of Mickie's arm, but Mickie cartwheels and rolls through and starts working on Becky's arm. Mickie hits some shoulder thrusts and locks in a hammer lock, but Becky reverses and takes back control of Mickie's arm. Becky tries to get Mickie down for the Dis-Arm-Her, but Mickie gets into the ropes and Becky is forced to break. Mickie grabs Becky's arm, but Becky uses momentum to toss Mickie out of the ring. Becky holds the ropes for Mickie to get in and they exchange forearms (with Becky in the ring and Mickie on the apron) until Becky sends Mickie face first into the turnbuckle and Mickie falls off the apron back to the floor. Becky hits the running forearm off the apron.

Becky rolls Mickie back into the ring, but Mickie catches Becky with a kick as she is getting back into the ring and then slams her arm into the match for a 2 count. Mickie hits a leg drop on the arm and then puts her in a short arm scissors followed by dropping both knees onto Becky's arm. Mickie kicks Becky right in the face for 2. Mickie wraps Becky's arm in the ropes and hits it a few times. Mickie puts Becky in a grounded hammerlock and then knees the arm before bridging over putting more pressure on the arm as Becky screams out in pain. 

Becky starts making a comeback with some forearms. Becky tries to send Mickie into the ropes, but she counters and kicks Becky in the arm and then sends her shoulder first into the ring post. Mickie hits Becky with a hurricanrana out of the corner and then lets out a loud scream. Mickie kicks Becky in the face again for another 2 count. Mickie puts Becky into a half nelson chin lock until Becky starts making a comeback and they trade forearm shots. Becky hits her clotheslines and running dropkick followed by a Bexploder for 2. Becky misses the flying Firearm in the corner and Mickie hits her with a flapjack and then goes up top and hits the flying Thesz press for 2. Mickie tries to send Becky into the turnbuckle shoulder first, but Becky blocks it and hits a springboard back kick and then a missile dropkick off the top for 2. Becky looks for a pumphandle slam, but Mickie counters and hits a Mick Kick for 2 count. Mickie looks for a Mickie DDT, but Becky counters with a back drop. Becky tries to put Mickie in the Dis-Arm-Her, but Mickie reverses it into a roll up and Becky reverses that into a pin for the 3 count. 

This was a match I was highly looking forward to as it has two of my favorite girls in it and I was hoping for a really good match as I know both of them are capable of putting on a show stealing match, but that wasn't meant to be in this match. I felt pretty disappointed after this match and was left wanting much more than what I got. Rating **3/4

Match #2
Apollo Crews & Kalisto def Dolph Ziggler (2-on-1 Handicap Match)
As Kalisto is making his way to the ring he is attacked by Dolph and thrown into the stage. The referees and trainers check on Kalisto as it now looks like the match will be one on one.

When the bell rings Apollo drives Dolph into the corner and starts beating the crap out of him and this continues until the referee backs up Apollo. Apollo runs at Dolph in the corner, but gets caught with an elbow. Crews hits some grounded punches and then a suplex. Dolph rolls out to the apron, but Apollo goes to grab him, however he gets hung throat first on the top rope. Dolph then hits a neckbreaker snapping Apollo's neck across the middle rope followed by another neckbreaker in the ring for a 2 count. Dolph hits a jumping elbow drop to the back of Apollo for 2. Dolph puts Apollo in a rear chin lock, Apollo fights out of it and catches a kick from Dolph and rolls him up for 2. Dolph fires back with an uppercut taking Apollo down. Dolph puts Apollo in another chin lock, except this time he is seated on the back of Apollo. Apollo gets a surprise roll up for 2 and Dolph goes right back to the chin lock. Apollo gets to his feet and Dolph tries to hit him with another neckbreaker, but Apollo pushes him off and gives him a back kick to the gut. Dolph dodges a kick and hits that neckbreaker. 

Kalisto comes back out selling his injuries and another referee is trying to hold him back, but Kalisto won't listen. Apollo hits Dolph with a big enziguri and both men are down until Apollo makes the hot tag to Kalisto. Kalisto hits a kick from the apron and then hits a springboard senton that takes Dolph down. Kalisto hits some kicks and a handspring enziguiri. Kalisto goes for the Salida del Sol, but Dolph pushes him off into his own corner and Apollo makes a blind tag. Kalisto backflips to avoid a clothesline and hits Dolph with a big spin kick right into a seated spin out power bomb by Apollo for the win.

After the match Dolph pulls Kalisto off the apron and Apollo gives chase to Dolph back into the ring where Dolph catches him getting in the ring. Dolph places the chair around the ankle of Apollo and stomps on it twice as the Crews chants "thank you Ziggler" which is not a good sign for Apollo as now it seems the fans hate him, but I don't blame him for how bad he has done on the main roster as much as I blame how he has been booked or in his case hasn't been booked as he feels like he hardly ever shows up.

I like how Dolph took out Kalisto to make this one on one, (even though it's still dumb to have a handicap match where the faces have the numbers advantage) but didn't like the match as we still have yet to see what Apollo can do on the main roster due to him not having long segments of the match where he is control. I also could have done without a rest hold or two. I still think we need a heel turn for Apollo, but then again a heel turn hasn't really helped Dolph that much so who knows if it would help Apollo. Rating **

American Alpha (c) def Heath Slater & Rhyno, Breezango, The Vaudvillains, The Usos, & The Ascension (Smackdown Tag Team Championship - Tag Team Turmoil)

The first two teams to start are Heath Slater/Rhyno & Breezango. Breezango comes out dressed like they just got off a cruise ship. 

Fandango and Slater start the match and Fandango backs Slater in the corner and then does some hip shaking. Slater pushes Fandango into the ropes, but gets a shoulder block and Fandango does some more hip shaking. Slater leapfrogs Fandango and hits him with a big hip toss as Slater does some hip shaking of his own. Slater hits an atomic drop on Fandango and then one on Breeze who had been tagged in. Slater tags in Rhyno as the fans chant ECW. Breeze gets hit with a shoulder block from Rhyno and then a running shoulder thrust into the corner. Rhyno tags in Slater and they hit a double back elbow on Breeze. Slater hits a series of punches on Breeze, Breeze backs up Slater into the rope and Fandango makes a blind tag and as Slater runs to the ropes he gets tripped by Fandango on the outside. Fandango hits a front suplex on Slater hanging him out to dry on the top rope as he tags Breeze in and they hit a double kick to the head of Slater as Breeze covers for a 2 count. Fandango tags back in and hits some stomps in the corner on Slater and then Slater hits a sunset flip, but Fandango won't go down and regains his balance and punches Slater in the face and then gives him a bunch of fashion tickets. Slater finally gets him over for the pin and gets a 2 count. Slater hits a side kick for another 2 count as Breeze comes in to break it up. Rhyno comes in and clotheslines Breeze and then gets sent to the floor by Fandango. Slater rolls Fandango up in the O'Connor roll, but he pushes him off and Slater tags in Rhyno. Fandango rolls up Slater, but doesn't know Rhyno is now legal and when he turns around he gets hit with a Gore and is pinned for the 3 as Breezango is eliminated.

Next are the Vaudevillains who pull Rhyno out of the ring from under the bottom rope and send him into the barricade, but then get hit with a top rope crossbody to the outside by Slater. Slater rolls Rhyno in the ring so he can tag in and goes to bring Gotch into the ring, but gets kneed in the back by English who stomps away and hits a knee drop for a 2 count on Slater. English lays Slater across the top rope and kicks him in the gut as Gotch kick him in the head and English tags in Gotch before hitting a running kick to Slater in the corner. Gotch hits some knee strikes and a spin kick to Slater. Gotch hits a rolling fireman's carry on Slater and then gets Gored by Rhyno. Slater moves out of the way of a Swanton Bomb from English and then hits him with the Implant DDT to get the win and eliminate the Vaudevillains.

The new and improved heel Usos are next. Slater blocks some punches from Jimmy, but gets a side kick to the gut. Jimmy sends him into the ropes, but Slater comes back with a running forearm. Rhyno comes in and gets whipped hard into the corner. Jey tags in and hits a corner forearm on Rhyno as Jimmy is holding him. Rhyno tags Slater back in and he comes off the top with an axehandle. It's at this point I first notice Mauro keeps calling the Elimination Chamber the Hell in a Cell and this would happen a few times throughout the night. Slater knocks Jimmy off the apron and moves out of the way as Jey misses a stinger splash. Slater hits some right hands and then goes for a running high knee, but Jey ducks and hits him with a pop up Samoan drop for a 2 count as Rhyno breaks it up. Jey throws Rhyno out of the ring and Slater tries for an O'Connor role, but Jey hooks the ropes at first and tags in Jimmy then once Jey lets go Slater performs the O'Connor roll, but gets hit with a super kick from Jimmy for a 3 Count as Beauty and the Man Beast have been eliminated.

The champions American Alpha are out next and The Usos meet them on the ramp as the fight starts on the outside. They all get in the ring and Alpha hit their simultaneous german suplexes. Jordan hits a clothesline that takes himself and Jimmy out of the ring. Gable hits a flying cross body for a 2 count. Jey sends Gable to The Usos corner so Jimmy can tag in and they hit a backbreaker knee drop combo for a 2 count. Jimmy sends Gable hard into the corner chest first and gets a 2 count. Jey tags in and kicks Gable in the gut as Jimmy holds him. Jimmy tags back in and hits a leg dop and then locks in a rear chin lock. Gable tries to make a come back, but Jimmy throws him out of the ring. Gable gets back in both he and Jimmy clothesline each other and are both down. We get hot tags on both sides as Jordan comes in and hits a dropkick on Jey and then suplexes both Usos. Alpha are looking for the Doomsday Bulldog, but Jey rolls up Jordan. Gable runs over and cradles Jey and gets the 3 count and The Usos are eliminated. After the elimination The Usos beat up American Alpha as they send Gable into the steps and hit Jordan with a top rope splash.

The final team is The Ascension and it looks like they are going to have an easy night. If the Ascension didn't look ridiculous enough Konnor comes out wearing some kind of mask over his mouth. The Ascension hit The Fall of Man on Jordan and it looks like that will be it, but Gable breaks the pin at the very last second. Gable faints on top of Konnor and gets picked up and thrown on the top rope. Viktor tags in and stomps away on Jordan. Konnor comes back in and hits a corner clothesline and sends Jordan into Viktor who hits a high knee and this gets a 2 count. Viktor comes in and misses a stinger splash in the corner (the stinger splash seems to be very popular on this show) and then Jordan hits him with a belly to belly as both men are down. Konnor comes in to try and cut Jordan off before he can make the tag, but Jordan throws him out of the ring. Right as Jordan tags Gable, Konnor has come around and pulls Gable from off the apron. Konnor goes for a clothesline on the outside, but Gable ducks and runs into the ring just in time for Alpha to hit the Grand Amplitude for the win to retain their Smackdown Tag Team Championship.

This was a really fun match, but the decision to put The Ascension last was a bad idea as it killed the crowd until the finish as nobody gave even the slightest thought about American Alpha not winning when they are against The Ascension. I wish Breezango was more of a threat to the titles and not seen as just a joke. Rating ***1/4

Match #4
Nikki Bella v.s. Natalya ended in a Double Count Out

I have really enjoyed this feud and as much as I hate to admit it Nattie has done a great job as a heel and her promos against Nikki have made my mouth drop at times because of the stuff she has said about Nikki as I never thought I would hear some of these things in a women's feud. Their brawls have been really fun to watch and actually makes me want to see what they do next. For the first time ever during this feud I have felt sympathy for Nikki and want to see her kick Natalya's ass.

Nikki came out wearing the Clemson Tiger colors of orange and purple (I know she didn't wear them for that reason) and I have to say orange never looked as good as it did on Nikki and wow that Bella Booty is one of a kind and the top is not too bad either. 

Natalya does the John Cena "You Can't See Me" in Nikki's face and then slaps her. Nattie takes her down with a headlock takeover, but Nikki scissors her head and gets out, Nattie tries it again and again Nikki gets out of it. Nikki kicks Nattie in the knee and tries to lock in a cross armbreaker, but Nattie locks her hands so Nikki can't put it on and then is able to get out of Nikki's grasp. Nikki pays Nattie back with a slap of her own and this pisses Nattie off as she takes Nikki down and starts punching her. Nattie then hits two waistlock takedowns. Nattie tries for a third takedown, but Nikki blocks it and rolls into a knee bar as Nattie quickly gets to the ropes. Nattie rolls to the outside and gets kicked in the back with a baseball slide from Nikki. Nikki then jumps off the apron with a flying clothesline taking down Nattie. Nikki rolls Nattie in the ring, but Nattie rolls right back out on the other side and asks for a time out, but Nikki comes out after her. Nattie pushes Nikki into the ring post back first.

Back in the ring Nattie hits a snap suplex and a kick to the spine of Nikki. Nattie stomps Nikki in the corner and then snapmares her in the middle of the ring and hits her with a dropkick. Nattie then locks in a rear chin lock (I think we get one of these per match). Nikki gets to her feet and is taken back down with a running clothesline. Nattie talks trash to Nikki's mom who is sitting at ringside next to Nikki's brother. Nikki surprises Nattie with a roll up, but only gets 2. Nattie works on the legs of Nikki and calls her a bitch which gets her a slap in the face from Nikki. Nikki puts the Fearless Lock on Nattie, but she quickly gets to the ropes. Nikki hits a shoulder block and a dropkick and then drives Nattie's face into her knee and this gets a 2 count. Nikki counters an attempted forearm with a kick to the leg and a Michinoku driver for 2. Nattie is looking to put on the Sharpshooter, but Nikki kicks her off and hits the Nikkisawa running forearm for a 2 count. Nikki tries to put Nattie on her shoulders for the Rack Attack 2.0, but Nattie starts hitting her in the back of the head and the neck. Nikki reverses a whip and hits a spinebuster for 2. Nikki then hits Nattie with a springboard enziguiri for 2. Nikki goes up top, but Nattie cuts her off and hits her with a superplex as they are both down. Nattie gets up and puts Nikki in the Sharpshooter, but after a bit of struggling Nikki powers out and locks in another Fearless Lock (it looks better than any STF that Cena ever put on) and Nattie gets to the ropes. Nattie then throws Nikki out of the ring and they are brawling at ringside and they both get counted out.

After the match Nattie hits a cheap shot on Nikki, once Nikki gets back up she chases Nattie and hits an awesome looking spear on Nattie on the ramp. Nattie then runs to the back. Later in the night Nikki would be in a backstage interview where she would be attacked by Nattie again next to the makeup area and while fighting Nikki accidentally throws powder on Maryse who was standing nearby and this is what I guess is going to set up the Cena/Nikki vs Miz/Maryse feud.

I liked this match more on second watch, but was surprised we didn't have an end to the feud, but I guess that will come in some kind of No DQ match on an episode of Smackdown. One thing I hated during the match was the constant talking by Nattie, don't get me wrong I like when a heel trash talks during the match in fact Kevin Owens does it very well, but Nattie came off as so freaking annoying and wasn't even saying creative things rather than she was just saying the same stuff over and over and over again. I bet if you count the times Nattie screamed Shut Up or You Can't See Me it would be over twenty. This annoyance by Nattie made me take off a quarter of a star. The action in the match though was really good. Rating ***

Match #5
Randy Orton def Luke Harper
I have really enjoyed this whole Wyatt Family story and in addition to great story telling there have been great matches and this one was no different.

They lock up and Harper puts him in a headlock, but Orton pushes him off and gets shoulder blocked. They fight at ringside with Harper in control as he slams Orton's head on the announce table. Harper rolls Orton back into the ring and hits him with a big dropkick. Harper goes up to the top, but Orton cuts him off and hits him sending Harper down to the floor. While Harper is laid out at ringside Orton poses in the corner. Harper gets back into the ring and Orton whips him hard into the corner. Orton sends Harper out of the ring and hits a back suplex on the announce table and Harper tumbles backwards. Orton rolls Harper back in the ring and gets a 2 count. We get our one required chin lock of the match. Orton hits a front suplex on Harper and hangs him out to dry on the top rope and Orton decides to pose in the corner again.

Orton stomps Harper some and then goes back to a chin lock. Harper gets out of the hold and hits some right hands to Orton and rebounds out of a whip into the corner with a clothesline. Orton looks to send Harper into the corner, but Harper hops over the top rope and hits Orton with a right hand and then a slingshot senton. Harper hits his signature running big boot for a 2 count. Harper goes to grab Orton's legs, but gets kicked in the shoulder and sent outside the ring. Orton is looking for his hangman's DDT, but instead Harper drop Orton throat first on the top rope. Harper then hits Orton with a catapult throat first into the second rope. Orton rolls to the outside and Harper is looking to hit a suicide dive, but Orton blocks it with a forearm to the head. Orton gets in and Harper throws him back out and this time hits the suicide dive and it sends Orton over the German announce table. Harper then gives Orton a taste of his own medicine and hits the back suplex on the announce table. Harper then gets hit with a scoop powerslam on the floor by Orton. 

Orton gets back into the ring and Harper is on the apron looking like he wants to superplex Orton to the outside, but Orton cuts him off and crotches him on the top turnbuckle and hits him with a superplex into the ring and this gets a 2 count. They trade shots and Orton tries for an RKO, but gets pushed off. Orton comes back with a full nelson slam for 2. Harper rolls to the apron and Orton hits the hangman's DDT. Orton sets up for the RKO, but instead gets hit with two super kicks back to back and this gets Harper a 2 count. Harper is looking for a power bomb, but Orton counters with an attempted RKO and a kick to the face before getting hit with a kick to the gut. Harper hits a sit out power bomb for 2. They trade shots back and forth on their knees and work their way up to their feet. Harper goes for the Discus Clothesline, but Orton hits the arm causing Harper to spin the other way and right into an RKO for the win. 

I really enjoyed this match and I'm glad Harper is finally getting the praise and recognition he deserves as he is a hell of a talent that I really enjoy watching. If I had it my way I would either put him in the WWE Championship match and make it a triple threat or have him win the Andre Battle Royal and push him to the moon. The only negative I have on this match is the one too many chin lock spots from Orton. Rating ***3/4

Match #6
Naomi def Alexa Bliss (c) (Smackdown Women's Championship)
I could write all day about how much I love Alexa Bliss, but that's not what this is about. I have really been impressed by Naomi since her recent return as I feel she has delivered both in the ring and on promos. I can't believe WWE tried to turn her heel year or so ago, she is not someone you want to root against as she is just too nice. Bliss on the other hand while I'll never boo her because she is Queen Bliss makes a perfect heel and plays the role perfectly with the snobby and bratty personality and the way she expresses through her facial expressions especially how she cuts her eyes at people.

I liked Alexa's Wonder Woman gear she had on as she could rescue me any day of the week. 

They start off face to face with Bliss talking smack and then she flips her hair in Naomi's face and turns her back toward her and this allows Naomi to roll Bliss up for a 1 count. Alexa then takes the gum out of her mouth and throws it at Naomi (how can you not just love that). Naomi hits Bliss with some forearms and slams her head into the top turnbuckle a couple of times. Naomi tries to go up top, but Bliss goes to stop her so Naomi jumps back down to the apron. Bliss misses a clothesline and Naomi kicks her with a high kick to the head. Naomi tries for a springboard, but Bliss grabs her by the hair and throws her down to the mat and hits her with some punches for a 2 count. Bliss sends Naomi into the corner and chokes her with her boot. Bliss chokes Naomi against the middle rope and then jumps on her with both knees to the back of her head and this gets a 2 count. Bliss tries to send her into the turnbuckle again head first, but Naomi blocks it and tries for a bulldog, but Bliss pushes her off and she hits the corner hard and is sitting in between the top and middle ropes. Bliss pulls her to the mat and gets a 2 count. 

Bliss stands on the hair of Naomi and pulls her arms up causing it to pull Naomi's hair. We then get our required chin lock of the match. Naomi hits an arm drag on Bliss, but gets a back elbow to the face as she charges at Bliss. Bliss flips off the middle rope and rolls Naomi up in a pin for a 2 count, then Naomi counters into a crucifix for 2. Bliss catches Naomi's leg, but then gets kicked with another one right to the head and both women are down. Naomi ducks a clothesline and hits a flying clothesline followed by a flying back elbow. Bliss sends Naomi into the corner, Naomi goes to kick Bliss but she catches her feet and throws them away, but Naomi comes back with a kick to Bliss's head and then another followed by a flipping clothesline. Naomi hits a blockbuster off the top for 2. Naomi goes to pull Bliss out of the corner, but gets kicked in the head. Bliss runs at Naomi and gets hit with the Rear View for a very close 2 count. 

Bliss sees Naomi going for the split legged moonsault so she grabs her foot. Bliss begs off and backs up into the ropes so Naomi can't attack her. Bliss hits a forearm and a knee to the face before slamming Naomi to the mat by her hair. Bliss hits the Insult to Injury for a 2 count. Bliss goes up looking for Twisted Bliss, but Naomi catches her with a kick to the head as Bliss goes to the outside. Naomi is looking for a dive to the outside, but Bliss stops her and hits her with a DDT for 2 as Bliss throws a tantum as she is frustrated that Naomi won't stay down. Naomi grabs the arms of Bliss and and sends both feet into her face. Naomi hits the Split Legged Moonsault, but lands on the back of Bliss. Bliss rolls her up with an assist of the ropes, but the referee catches her. Bliss goes back up and hits Twisted Bliss, but Naomi gets her knees up. Naomi hits another Split Legged Moonsault and gets the 3 count to become the new Smackdown Women's Champion. 

This was much better on second viewing as after the first time I had to get over the shock of Bliss losing so the quality of the match didn't sink in. The finish was a little sloppy, but overall a really good match and if anyone was going to beat Bliss I'm happy it was Naomi as she does deserve it. Match Rating ***1/2  Alexa Bliss Rating ********** take that Meltzer and your six star rating for Okada vs Omega lol

Match #7
Bray Wyatt def John Cena (c), AJ Styles, The Miz, Baron Corbin, & Dean Ambrose (WWE Championship - Elimination Chamber Match)

I like the new Elimination Chamber structure for the most part. I like the plexy glass on top of the pods to give a new camera view of the match when they fight on top of the pods, I also like there is more room to dive off the pods and guys can get the full move in without having to modify it due to the chamber being in the way. Also the top of the pods are solid now instead of being chains like the walls of the chamber so the person in the pod can no longer attack the person standing on top of it. I loved all the new cameras on the chamber. The major negative I have if the floor on the outside being just a mat instead of the steel grate, it takes away a lot of the danger of the match as now the only way to inflict damage on the outside is throwing them into the chain or into the pod. I always liked them falling on the steel as it made the danger level seem more realistic. I also like how when its time for someone to enter and they do the light show to reveal the next entrant that there is a big WWE logo shining in the middle of the ring.

John Cena & AJ Styles start out the match. They lock up and Cena gets a side headlock and is pushed off to the ropes and shoulder blocks AJ. They lock up again and AJ gets the side headlock and gets pushed off into the ropes, Cena drops down and then leapfrogs as AJ turns back around quickly with a stiff kick to the leg of Cena. Cena gets in some punches and sends AJ into the corner, but AJ moves and Cena goes chest first into the corner. AJ hits Cena with a torture rack power bomb for a 2 count. AJ looks for a Styles Clash, but Cena picks him up and flapjacks him. Cena hits a snap sunset flip power bomb for a 2 count. AJ & Cena exchange punches and then Cena drop toe holds AJ and attempts an STF, but gets kicked off and hit with the ushigoroshi for 2. AJ misses a splash in the corner and then a clothesline as Cena comes back with a couple of flying shoulder blocks and a spin out power bomb which is to set up the 5 Knuckle Shuffle, but Cena decides not to do it as he sees the next entrant is fixing to be released. 

Dean Ambrose is the 3rd entrant and he hits a clothesline on Cena and throws him to the outside. Ambrose sends Cena into the chain wall of the chamber a few times and then kicks and stomps him. AJ comes out and tries to send Ambrose into the chain, but he blocks and sends AJ into it before clotheslining him back into the ring. Ambrose tries to suplex AJ into the ring as AJ had rolled outside, but AJ reverses and bring Ambrose out. Ambrose hits AJ with a release suplex. Cena tries to climb up top, but Ambrose knocks him back down to the outside. Ambrose climbs on top of his pod and delivers a Lunatic Elbow on Cena and all three men are down. AJ goes behind Ambrose, but he reverses and they exchange waist locks until Cena comes from behind AJ and hits a german suplex on both AJ & Ambrose. Cena tries for an AA on Ambrose, but he slides off so he tries one on AJ, but spins him around and AJ's legs hit Ambrose in the face. AJ gets out of the AA and enziguiri Cena and then Ambrose hits a Lunatic Lariat on AJ as the clock clicks down for the next entrant.

The 4th entrant is Bray Wyatt who clotheslines Ambrose and hits a running back elbow on Cena. Bray hits a fall away suplex on Ambrose and Bray charges at AJ, but he low bridges and Bray goes to the outside. AJ tries for a springboard onto Bray, but Bray grabs him and throws him into the chamber wall. Bray charges at AJ, but he moves and Bray goes into the ring post. AJ places Bray in between the top and middle rope and hits him with a slingshot leg drop from the inside to the outside. Cena tries for an AA on the outside, but AJ gets out of it and starts climbing the chamber wall and Cena follows him up. Both men tease falling and then AJ hits Cena with a hard shot and he falls off the wall. AJ gets on a pod and is met by Ambrose who slams AJ's head off the plexiglass a few times. Ambrose goes back over to the wall and Bray tries to grab his foot, but he kicks him away and then goes for the Lunatic Elbow from off the wall, but Bray catches him with an uppercut. Bray sets Ambrose on the top rope and then gets up on the middle rope and hits repeated headbutts, but Ambrose fires back with forearms and then slides up under him looking for a power bomb, but Bray fights him off. AJ comes down off the pod and then we get a tower of doom spot where Ambrose power bombs Bray and Bray tosses AJ by the throat across the ring. Miz is in his pod looking shocked and then tells someone to make a cover, but everyone is laid out.

Baron Corbin comes in next and runs into some punches and kicks from Ambrose before leveling with with a clothesline. Corbin throws Ambrose outside and sends him into the chamber wall and presses his face up against it. Corbin sends Ambrose back in the ring and misses a corner clothesline and Ambrose hits him with a running forearm and tries for a bulldog, but Corbin pushes him off and hits him with a Deep Six as Ambrose rolls out of the ring. Bray tries to hit a uranage on Corbin, but he pushes him off and sends him face first into a pod and then hits him with a big boot. Corbin slams Bray into the chamber wall and then hits him with an STO. AJ catches Corbin as he comes in the ring with some right hands and then runs the ropes right into the End of Days by Corbin. Cena runs over and puts Corbin in the STF, but he rolls through it and hits Cena with the End of Days. Ambrose comes out nowhere with a dropkick off the top rope and clotheslines him to the outside and then repeatedly whips him into the chamber wall. Corbin hits a modified snake eyes into the chamber wall and then one into the pod. Corbin looks for a snake eyes in the ring, but Ambrose slides out the back and tries for the Dirty Deeds, but Corbin counters and sends him into the corner and then Corbin is met with a back elbow. Ambrose climbs up to the top, but Corbin shoves him off and into the chamber wall. 

The Miz's pod door opens, but he looks scared to death and doesn't want to really get in the match. Ambrose comes from behind and rolls Corbin up for the 3 count and Baron Corbin is eliminated. Corbin is pissed and he attacks Ambrose sending him through one of the pods. He grabs Ambrose and presses his face against the chamber wall and hits him with stiff shots to the back of the head. Corbin hits Ambrose with the End of Days and then leaves the chamber. The Miz cautiously exits his pod and pins Ambrose for the 3 count and Dean Ambrose is eliminated. 

Miz hits multiple kicks back and forth to the chests of Cena & Bray as he mocks Daniel Bryan and then he connects with a dropkick on both of them. Miz then gets AJ in the corner and hits him with kicks in the corner like Bryan would do. Miz hits a running corner dropkick on Bray and then one on Cena, he sends Bray to the outside and then hits one on AJ followed by an Awesome Clothesline on Cena in the corner. Miz is looking for something off the top, but Bray pulls him down and tries for a clothesline, but Miz counters and hits a Skull Crushing Finale on the outside to Bray. Miz goes up and hits a top rope crossbody on Cena, but he rolls through it and hits an AA on The Miz and he is eliminated.

We are down to AJ Styles, John Cena, & Bray Wyatt. AJ and Bray team up on Cena for a minute until Bray uppercuts AJ. Bray misses a senton back splash on Cena. Cena then hits a 5 Knuckle Shuffle on both AJ & Bray. Cena hits an AA on Bray and then tries one on AJ, but he reverses it and hits a Styles Clash for a 2 count. AJ tries for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Cena ducks and hits an AA on AJ for a 2 count. Cena climbs on top of one of the pods and hits a crossbody off of it onto Bray & AJ. Cena goes to pick up Bray for an AA, but he counters and hits a Sister Abigail on Cena for the 3 and John Cena is eliminated.

AJ hits a forearm, but Bray hits a clothesline taking AJ down and then gets on top of him and hits forearms to the head of AJ. Bray is looking for the running splash in the corner, but AJ comes out and hits a sliding dropkick to the knee followed by a running forearm on a seated Bray for 2. Bray does the spider walk and goes for a Sister Abigail, but AJ reverses with a roll up for 2 and then hits the phenomenal blitz combos strikes, but runs into a lariat by Bray for 2. Bray looks for a uranage, but AJ counters out of it so Bray goes for a clothesline, but is hit with a Pele kick and a running knee. AJ hits the springboard 450 for a 2 count. AJ goes for the Phenomenal Forearm, but gets caught in mid air and hit with the Sister Abigail for the 3 count and Bray Wyatt is the new WWE Champion.

Really good match that sets up a couple of things for WrestleMania. It looks like we will get Corbin vs Ambrose as well as that mixed tag as I'm sure Miz will be complaining about being eliminated by Cena. We actually got a match without a chin lock so that's a plus for sure. Everyone looked pretty good in the match. I just hope they bring back the steel grating. Rating ****1/4

This show was much better on second watch as the women's matches delivered better than I first thought and the chamber was a lot better on second watch. I will grade this show with a C+ as the first few matches were kind of weak, but really picked up from the Harper vs Orton match to the end.

Elimination Chamber 2017 Match Ranking
8. Mojo Rawley vs Curt Hawkins
7. Apollo Crews & Kalisto vs Dolph Ziggler
6. Becky Lynch vs Mickie James
5. Tag Turmoil
4. Nikki Bella vs Natalya
3. Smackdown Women's Championship
2. Luke Harper vs Randy Orton
1. Elimination Chamber Match

I hope you enjoy this review and I would be glad to know what you think of it. You can contact me @MTW3589 on Twitter. I'll be back with my review for Fastlane on March 5 which just happens to be my birthday.