Randy Orton def. Luke Harper
Orton once again entered using his own music, and not the Wyatt Family variation. I can’t quite figure out, from an in-universe standpoint, why he would not be using the Wyatt theme, since he is still a Wyatt family member. Harper is so damned good, and if the previous match had not ended in a double countout, I almost would have wanted this one to do so. I guess Harper was the defacto ‘good guy’ of this battle, despite both still being somewhere in the middle, and Orton having the majorty of the crowds’ support. This did make for some good opportunities to judge based on in-ring actions, rather than what the story would dictate; for example, Harper was more desperate and aggressive, though Orton was much more dismissive of Harper’s skill. Orton also continuously paused his assault to pose on the turnbuckle, which coupled with his earlier music choice, makes me think the WWE is trying to remind us that he is still Randy Orton, even if he is part of the Wyatt Family, before his Wrestlemania tour promotion begins properly. The though of Orton utilising his Punt crossed my mind, though it never evntuated, before a pair of Harper superkicks had me absolutely convinced Harper was going tog et the upset win. Some traded strikes then led way to an RKO OUTTA NOWHERE and Orton got the expected win. This match was incredible, and far and away the match of the night, in my opinion.
Naomi def. Alexa Bliss to win the Smackdown Women’s Championship
This match had a whole lot of hair pulling, which is a reference I Must have missed in the lead up, because even the commentators started bringing it up. It is unfortunate that this match was placed in the cool-down spot, between the two biggest matches and before the main event, because I feel as if the crowd being more involved could ahve made this a biiter deal that it seemed here. Naomi’s ass attack (aka The Rear View, aka her ass attack) made an appearance, and the match even saw Bliss channel her inner 200ish Christian and throw a tantrum on the canvas following a two-count. Alexa’s attempt to steal the win was countered, and Naomi hit her impressive moonsault to claim the win, and her first ever championship. It is a shame that this was probably the worst of the three women’s matches on the card, becuase it was arguably the most important. Naomi winning, however, does make me question which of the Smackdown women will be getting the title match at Wrestlemania – a multi-woman match for both shows, Raw and Smackdown, seems unlikely. This, of course, assumes everything goes according to plan for Naomi in the following weeks. It wouldn’t surprise me for Bliss to win it back, just so she can have a rematch with Becky Lynch at Wrestlemania.
Bray Wyatt wins the Elimination Chamber to claim the WWE Championship
The chamber has a new design, which seems to allow for some safer landings on the non-ring areas, as well as give an easier view into the structure itself. The new design, however, soon gives way to some very familiar violence, as John Cena and AJ start the match right where they left off at the Royal Rumble. As the twentieth in history, as the commentators state, I can’t imagine too many new or unique spots happening. I’d be surprised, for example, if someone DOESN’T go through one of the pods. Ambrose soon joins the fight, and this turns from a Royal Rumble repeat between Cena and Styles into a retelling of the triple threat these three had at No Mercy. Styles taking the flipping suplex from Ambrose makes me wonder if Styles was looking to do something big in his first chamber outting, though only Cena and Miz have previous experience in the Chamber itself, anyway.
Wyatt is fourth out, and my personal choice to win, though I don’t necessarily think it will happen. Wyatt has lost so much of his aura (both in the original swamp preacher and the more recent supernatural cult leader aspects) that I do wish the other superstars were scared of him. I now remember his loss to the Undertaker at Wrestlemania in what should have been a dominant win. And then THAT reminds me of Wyatt’s loss to Cena at Wrestlemania in what should have been his first victory – but don’t get me started on my thoughts on what match. I could rant forever.
Corbin joins the fray at number five, at instantly clears house. Corbin versus Wyatt is something I could get behind, as the story of Lone Wolf versus stable leader writes itself, even as a filler feud. Corbin is eliminated first by a quick roll up, and his path of destruction does some great character building, as well as now allow Ambrose to be eliminated by the chickenshit Miz, who is the last entrant. That was a really clever way to get rid of Corbin and Ambrose in one smooth swoop. I am surprised Harper didn’t make an appearance at all, once the cell door was opened, but I guess the RKO from Orton has kept him down and out.
Once Miz is eliminated, this turns into what could soon be the Smackdown Wrestlemania main event (plus Orton), if a multi-man bout is where the story leads. Wyatt soon gets the HUGE upset win as he pins Cena following a kiss from Sister Abigail – I guess Super Cena is reaching the end of his run. What a moment for Wyatt, as he taunts Styles, with Styles looking more and more like a top babyface in the making, especially if he goes up against Wyatt. Some more back and forth leads to Bray Wyatt pinning AJ Styles, and winning his first ever Championship in the WWE. Wyatt has been a favourite of mine since his days in FCW, so this was fantastic to see, even if I do feel it is long, long overdue. Now that Wyatt has won, the story of Orton winning the Royal Rumble takes a very interesting twist, and with Harper lurking in the wings, I am hoping for some very big things come Wrestlemania.
Since Wyatt has won the Chamber, I am hoping that by hook or by crook Harper can get himself inserted into the match to have Orton as “will-he-won’t-he” Wyatt follower and Rumble winner, Wyatt as the defending champion and Harper as the “third man”, in a sort of replay of Wrestlemania XX‘s phenomenal main event.
Random thoughts:
– The crowd CONTINUED to count “ten” for every referee count. Frankly, as much as I love Tye Dillinger, it is starting to wear a bit thin. Unless they actually do something with Dillinger, that is, but he seems to be deep in a feud on NXT.
– Mauro Renallo’s continued misnaming of the Elimination Chamber match as a Hell in the Cell match never got old, though it did make me remember former Raw general manager Mike Adamle. Adamle’s continued mistakes of super star names or pay per view events was mocked at the time, though Adamle has recently divulged he has been diagnosed with dementia, which adds some retroactive sadness to these mistakes.
– Bray Wyatt’s entrance to the Chamber, with the fireflies in the crowd reflecting and magnifying off of the pods, was an incredible visual. The Wyatt Family entrance in general is always beautiful, but the refraction on the pods’ glass made it look like there was an army of millions behind Wyatt.
– Cena’s wrist bands matched Nikki’s ring gear, in a rare show of union between the two.
MVPs:
> Breezango, believe it or not. They really helped the team of Slater and Rhyno get the crowd’s support at the start of the match. Fandango in particular managed to get the crowd into a frenzy for his opponent, Rhyno, to GORE Fandango in half.
> Natalya, as the heel against Nikki, did much the same as Breezango above. I’ve often thought Natalya should have been the grizzled veteran gatekeeper of NXT’s women’s division (when Asuka finally loses the NXT Women’s championship and moves on) in the same was Cesaro was for a while in NXT’s early days.
> Baron Corbin was far and away the most impressive in the Chamber. Keeping his involvement short but sweet was for the best, and it allowed for both his elimination by a fluke, and Ambrose’s elimination to make sense, and still give The Miz some more heat from the crowd.
Overall, this was a show of ups and downs. I only really felt two of the matches did much for anyone (Harper/Orton and the Chamber), and I will now always be sad I didn’t get to watch Bray win the title live. The show made Harper and Corbin in particular look strong in defeat, without damaging the brands of the others in the Chamber match, but overall this was a mostly forgettable show.
MoshFish Reviews 