Originally published at https://www.postwrestling.com/2018/02/25/wwe-elimination-chamber-2018-report-feat-ronda-rouseys-contract-signing/
Welcome to POST Wrestling’s coverage of the WWE Elimination Chamber event from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
You can post your thoughts throughout the show on the POST Wrestling Forum thread.
The kickoff show is being hosted by Renee Young with Booker T., Peter Rosenberg, and David Otunga.
Paul Heyman is at the show.
Paige joined the panel, she said she is disappointed she is not in tonight’s Elimination Chamber Match and she helped make this match happen for the women. On Ronda Rousey, she said she is glad she is here but she used to fight 1-2 times a year and in WWE you can “times that by 100”.
Mike Rome interviewed Bayley and Sasha Banks, Bayley calls Sasha her best friend but then said she would be the winner. Mickie James walked in and said no one is “using her” in response to their description of the relationship between Alexa Bliss and James.
Matt Hardy cut a taped promo and he will delete Bray Wyatt tonight.
Kurt Angle was the guest on the Twitter Q&A. He stated that Jason Jordan had surgery and will be returning soon but won’t make it to WrestleMania. Peter Rosenberg asked Angle if this is John Cena’s last opportunity to make it to WrestleMania and he laughed and said, “No”.
KARL ANDERSON AND LUKE GALLOWS VS BO DALLAS AND CURTIS AXEL
Gallows was starting a “nerd” chant. They went through a quick break.
Axel was in control of Anderson and built to Gallows receiving the hot tag.
Dallas was sent out to the floor and they hit the Magic Killer for the win.
WINNERS: KARL ANDERSON AND LUKE GALLOWS AT 8:50
The Revival was interviewed backstage, they said that wasn’t “their tag team wrestling” and called Anderson and Gallows “a mockery of tag team wrestling”.
Paul Heyman was the final guest on the panel, Heyman put over the opportunity of a lifetime for the winner of the Elimination Chamber to face Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania and will have a face off on Monday at Raw.
Travis Browne is sitting in the arena. Cain Velasquez and Daniel Cormier are also in attendance as they are in the middle of filming TUF.
ALEXA BLISS VS SASHA BANKS VS BAYLEY VS SONYA DEVILLE VS MANDY ROSE VS MICKIE JAMES IN AN ELIMINATION CHAMBER MATCH FOR THE RAW WOMEN’S TITLE
Bayley and Sonya Deville started the match and every 5:00 a new entrant is scheduled to enter.
Bayley hit a top rope elbow drop onto Deville onto the panel.
The third entrant into the match is Mandy Rose so it’s both members of Absolution against Bayley. Deville speared Bayley onto the panel on the floor. They double-teamed Bayley and repeatedly ran her back into the fence.
Bayley’s arms were tied around the fence as they mocked and kicked at her.
The fourth entrant into the match is Sasha Banks.
Banks came to the aid of Bayley and got the better of Rose and Deville. She drove Rose face first into the side of the turnbuckle and followed with the double knees to Deville.
Banks applied the Bank Statement and eliminated Mandy Rose for the first elimination of the match.
The fifth entrant is Mickie James.
Mickie and Bayley climbed the fence and attacked each other. Mickie knocked Bayley down and she climbed on top of the pod. Mickie leaped off the pod with a Thesz press to eliminate Deville.
Banks immediately hit James with the backstabber and followed by the Bayley-to-belly and Bayley pinned James. Alexa Bliss is scared as her ally has been eliminated with Banks and Bayley awaiting her entry into the match.
Bliss enters the match and tries to climb up the cage to get away from Banks and Bayley. Banks and Bayley corner her and they kept chasing Bliss. Banks went to help Bayley on top of the pod but then kicked her and she landed down on the mat.
It is now everyone for themselves as Bayley attacked Banks in retaliation.
Bayley hit Bayley-to-belly off the turnbuckle, but Bliss capitalized with a roll up on Bayley and eliminated her. It is down to Bliss and Banks.
Bliss went for Twisted Bliss and landed on Banks’ knees.
Moments later, Bliss hit a Twisted Bliss to a standing Banks on the panel, Banks then locked on the Bank Statement and rolled into the ring, but Bliss escaped.
Bliss drilled Banks face first into the pod and Bliss hit a top rope DDT and pinned Banks.
WINNER: ALEXA BLISS AT 29:36 TO RETAIN THE RAW WOMEN’S TITLE
This was well laid out and the big focus was a future program with Sasha Banks and Bayley. The match went close to 30 minutes and didn’t drag. It was well positioned in the opening position and I’d say this overachieved.
Renee Young interviewed Alexa Bliss, she said this victory is about every little girl and woman in the audience that ever dreamt big, it was a complete babyface delivery to the point it was so over the top and you felt the heel line coming a million miles away. Bliss had tears in her eyes, got serious and said, “looking at all the people out there, you will never accomplish your dreams”. She said there is no one better than her and the odds were stacked against her and she still won. She is the “one true goddess in WWE”.
Kurt Angle is shown entering Ronda Rousey’s locker room.
Braun Strowman’s has a selfie promo, all he needs is “these hands” and will make Brock Lesnar his “pet beastie boy”.
SHEAMUS AND CESARO VS APOLLO AND TITUS O’NEIL FOR THE RAW TAG TITLES
Sheamus and Cesaro jumped them before the bell rang. Apollo and Titus fought them off and Apollo hit a high cross to both on the floor.
Sheamus and Cesaro got the advantage on Apollo as the match slowed down. Titus was knocked off the apron to prevent the tag when Apollo made it over.
Titus received the tag, Sheamus leaped off the top into the Clash of the Titus and Cesaro made the save.
Crews took out both Sheamus and Cesaro on the floor with a tope con giro.
Cesaro came back and clipped the knee of Crews, Cesaro leaped off the middle rope for an assisted White Noise that Sheamus delivered and they pinned Apollo.
WINNERS: CESARO AND SHEAMUS AT 10:02 TO RETAIN THE RAW TAG TITLES
Given the spot of following an Elimination Chamber, they did fine in the spot and it’s exactly the match you would expect these four to have, which was a good one but are challengers that you don’t take seriously.
There was a close up of an Asuka mask on the floor backstage and then a foot stomped it and it was Nia Jax.
NIA JAX VS ASUKA
Jax is dominating Asuka at the beginning of the match.
Jax curb stomped her face first into the mat while grabbing the Asuka’s arms.
Asuka went for a guillotine and was suplexed off by Jax. Jax lands a Samoan drop but then misses with the leg drop.
Asuka is dropped from the turnbuckle and Jax attempted a banzai drop and missed. This followed with Jax missing a somersault splash and then ran shoulder first into the post. Asuka hit a flying armbar and locked it on, Jax postured up and lifted Asuka and nailed her into the turnbuckle to escape.
Jax yelled, “I’m going to WrestleMania”, she lifted Asuka for a powerbomb and it was countered into a head scissors / Victory Roll (Momo Latch) and pinned Jax.
WINNER: ASUKA AT 8:11
Jax attacked Asuka after the match and sent her to the floor. She shoved Asuka into the steel post. Jax then ran at Asuka and put her through the timekeeper’s barricade. Coachman called Jax “a sore loser”.
Asuka played the underdog role but conquered the monster and I don’t think this hurt Jax in the slightest. If anything, they gave too much to Jax with the post-match attack.
Bliss was interviewed and said, “no one is ready for Alexa”.
Charly interviewed Roman Reigns, he doesn’t care what Paul Heyman says and he shows up ten days a year and talks about things he cannot physically do in the ring. Reigns has a “spoiler alert” that he is going to WrestleMania and taking the Universal championship.
BRAY WYATT VS MATT HARDY
Matt came out and then he disappeared during Bray’s entrance.
Bray Wyatt entered the ring, Matt sang “Obsolete” but was not visible and Bray was looking under the ring when Hardy appeared and went after Bray.
Hardy started applauding Bray.
The audience wasn’t paying attention and had their focus on someone in the crowd with a beach ball.
Corey Graves explains the audience being silent because last time they cheered Hardy, it didn’t help him out with Bray.
Hardy hit a side effect, he got the crowd chanting, but then was hit with a uranage and senton by Bray.
The audience began chanting “Rusev Day”.
Matt stopped Sister Abigail, ducked a clothesline and hit a Twist of Fate for the win.
WINNER: MATT HARDY AT 9:57
The majority of the match was spent focused on a beach ball by the audience. It’s a cold program and the audience wasn’t invested in this until the end.
Kurt Angle came out for the contract signing followed by Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.
Hunter says there may not be any bigger signing than this one and compares it to Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle joining the company. Hunter introduces Ronda Rousey and she enters to “Bad Reputation”.
Rousey shook hands with all three as she entered the ring.
Rousey started to speak and there were some boos as she seemed overwhelmed, but then a chant of “Ronda Rousey” began. Rousey looked like she was about to cry from the chants. She said she wants to make Roddy Piper and his family proud. She wants to earn their respect in this ring.
Hunter announces she will be competing at WrestleMania in a match, but not a championship match. Rousey doesn’t want to be given a title match and wants to earn it.
Kurt Angle brings up Hunter and Stephanie wanting to manipulate Rousey ever since WrestleMania 31 when Stephanie was attacked by Rousey. Hunter said Angle isn’t feeling well and just wants her to sign the contract.
Stephanie says they have been discussing her since WrestleMania 31, Rousey embarrassed them but also impressed them and wants her to be part of WWE. Kurt Angle says that Stephanie called her a “has been”.
Rousey stares down Stephanie, Hunter returns to the ring and they go to leave. Hunter returns, Rousey lifts him and puts him through the table. Stephanie slaps Rousey and yells at her, “you fucked up” chant at Stephanie for slapping Rousey and Stephanie leaves the ring.
Rousey signs the contract to end the segment.
ROMAN REIGNS VS JOHN CENA VS THE MIZ VS SETH ROLLINS VS FINN BALOR VS BRAUN STROWMAN VS ELIAS IN THE ELIMINATION CHAMBER MATCH
Elias started with a song in the middle of the ring and got lots of heat. He was eventually interrupted by Braun Strowman.
Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, and The Miz started the match.
Miz side stepped a curb stomp from Rollins and then Rollins avoided the Skull Crushing Finale.
The fourth entrant is John Cena.
Cena had a stare down with Rollins.
Cena lifted Rollins and Balor and Balor escaped, Rollins landed on his feet during an AA attempt.
Entrant number five is Roman Reigns.
Miz delivered “it kicks” to the other four on their knees.
Braun Strowman entered the match next.
Strowman chased after Miz and he scaled to the top of the pod and caught Miz. Strowman rammed Miz into the plexiglass and tossed Miz off the pod and onto the others on the mat. The audience is into Braun but isn’t at the level you would expect for the match as a whole.
Strowman hits the powerslam and eliminates Miz for the first elimination.
Elias is the final entrant into the match. Strowman stares him down and Elias won’t leave his pod.
Reigns, Cena, Balor, and Rollins hit a four-man powerbomb to Strowman and he kicked out.
Cena hit the AA and Strowman kicked out at one. Reigns followed with a spear and Strowman kicked out at two. Rollins hit him with a stomp, and then Balor with a coup de grace onto the panel outside the ring.
Everyone trades finishes and were down. Elias entered and went for pins on everyone and they all kicked out.
Strowman runs shoulder first into the post, bounces right back and hits Elias with a powerslam and eliminates Elias.
Cena leaped off the turnbuckle and was caught by Strowman, he hit Cena with the powerslam and eliminated him.
Strowman and Balor fought with the other two down, Balor hit a running dropkick and went for the coup de grace to the back and Strowman kicked out. Balor hit the 1916 to Rollins and he kicked out.
Balor hit the coup de grace to Reigns, but Strowman returned and nailed Balor with a powerslam and eliminated him.
It is down to Strowman, Reigns, and Rollins.
Rollins hit a buckle bomb to Reigns and he responded with a superman punch and both went down.
Rollins hit a splash off the pod to Strowman and he kicked out.
Strowman caught Rollins with a powerslam and eliminated him as well. Strowman has eliminated everyone and Reigns is the only one left.
Strowman charged at Reigns, missed and went through the pod. Reigns followed with a superman punch. He hit another and sent Strowman down to a knee. Reigns was hoisted in the air, hit another superman punch and then two spears to keep Strowman down and Reigns won the match.
WINNER: ROMAN REIGNS AT 40:09
Strowman hit Reigns with a running powerslam after the match. The audience called for another and he hit a second powerslam. He sent Reigns through one of the pods and Strowman’s music played as he made his exit.