John Morrison def. Mustafa Ali, Ricochet and Elias to qualify for the United States Championship Triple Threat Match
John Morrison prevailed in a chaotic Fatal 4-Way Match on the Elimination Chamber Kickoff, earning a spot in the United States Title Triple Threat Match against champion Bobby Lashley and Riddle.
RETRIBUTION made their presence felt several times, though their involvement led to Morrison’s win.
JoMo nearly tasted victory soon after hitting Moonlight Drive on Ricochet, but Ricochet later evaded Starship Pain and landed a 450 splash on Ali, only for RETRIBUTION to once again interfere on their leader’s behalf. Attempting to take them all out with a tope con giro, Ricochet found himself caught by MACE and T-BAR and battered into the steel post.
With Ali preoccupied with RETRIBUTION doing his bidding, Morrison took advantage by stealing a pin out of nowhere for the chance to become United States Champion.
Match Review: 3.5/5. A great triple threat match, that was thrown as a last minute save because Keith Lee is injured. I wish Keith Lee all the best for speedy recovery. Morrison was impressive in the match.
Daniel Bryan won the Elimination Chamber Match to earn a Universal Title opportunity
Daniel Bryan is finally getting the chance against Roman Reigns that he wanted, but he went through hell and back to get it.
The “Yes!” Man outlasted five other Superstars to win the Elimination Chamber Match for the right to challenge Reigns.
Bryan went wire to wire to claim the win, starting the match against Cesaro, who was arguably the hottest competitor coming in. Bryan made The Swiss Superman quickly feel the wrath of the sadistic structure, launching Cesaro into the steel chains.
But Bryan was soon favoring his left knee, and King Corbin, the first Superstar to emerge from a pod, targeted it viciously after pummeling both Bryan and Cesaro.
Zayn entered next, though largely against his will. Already heated after having his documentary film crew ejected from ringside prior to the bout, Zayn forcibly kept his pod shut until Cesaro surprised him, entering Zayn’s pod from the other side and repeatedly bashing him against the paneling.
Cesaro later elevated Zayn atop the pod containing Jey Uso and immediately chased him upward. With Zayn climbing across the chains in an attempt to flee, Cesaro stomped his hands, sending him crashing to the floor of the Chamber below.
Cesaro remained on a roll, forcing Corbin to tap to the Sharpshooter for the first elimination.
Entering next was Kevin Owens, with whom Zayn immediately tried to negotiate a truce for old times’ sake, only to be sent flying into the pods by his former best friend.
Owens dominated much of the action until the entry of the sixth and final man, Jey Uso. Owens and Uso teed off on each other right away with Owens getting the better of the exchange. KO then took out all four opponents with a spectacular moonsault off the pod before hitting a series of Stunners, including one on Zayn to eliminate The Great Liberator.
But with Zayn exiting, Uso smashed Owens’ arm between the door and the Chamber, softening him up for a barrage of superkicks and a frogsplash before pinning KO, likely to the delight of Reigns.
Bryan and Cesaro fought tooth and nail with The Swiss Superman hitting a massive gutbuster off the ropes. However, Cesaro ate a superkick out of nowhere from Uso and found himself eliminated by a frogsplash as well.
Uso tried to seal the win as quickly as possible, following with another splash on Bryan, but The “Yes!” Man kicked out. Moments later, Bryan dug deep to connect with a Running Knee to claim victory, though it cost him dearly, and he was far from 100 percent for his ensuing matchup with Reigns.
Match Review: 4.5/5. One of the best elimination chamber matches of the modern era. Cesaro was GOAT of the match and everyone thought he will win the bout. However, I am not complaining and Daniel Bryan deserves it just as much. Great match.
Universal Champion Roman Reigns def. Daniel Bryan
The Head of the Table is still Universal Champion, though his toughest challenge yet may be imminent at WrestleMania.
Roman Reigns easily defeated an already exhausted Daniel Bryan by referee’s stoppage but was left lying afterward by Edge.
Seeking to pick the bones like a vulture following a brutal Elimination Chamber Match, Reigns immediately attempted a Spear, only for Bryan to masterfully counter into the “Yes!” Lock. But Reigns quickly powered out and blasted Bryan with right hands before locking on a Guillotine that sapped the last bit of energy Bryan had left.
It was one of the most ruthless displays of dominance the WWE Universe has seen from Reigns, but his night wasn’t over. The Rated-R Superstar surprised Reigns with a massive Spear, giving The Big Dog a receipt after taking a Spear from Reigns this past Friday night.
With a point to the WrestleMania sign, the 2021 Royal Rumble Match winner appeared to make his intentions clear for The Grandest Stage of Them All.
Match Review: NR. It was a quick and predictable fight the ended with submission. We got our main event for Wrestlemania 37. Edge Vs Roman Reigns!
Riddle def. Bobby Lashley and John Morrison to become the new United States Champion
Lashley looked virtually unstoppable for much of the bout, overpowering both foes early. Even after forging a temporary alliance of necessity, Riddle and Morrison struggled to slow down The All Mighty.
Riddle eventually caught Lashley in a head scissors to send him to the outside, and Lashley was hit with a corkscrew splash by JoMo, followed by Riddle’s Floating Bro.
Lashley reemerged but felt another Floating Bro, only for Morrison to level Riddle with a knee and hit the champion with Starship Pain for a two-count. Finding himself in a shouting match with MVP at Ringside, Morrison grabbed The Hurt Business’ CEO’s crutch and errantly swung at Lashley, only to end up in The Hurt Lock.
The Original Bro saw the perfect opportunity and snapped the crutch across Lashley’s back to leave him alone with Morrison. Connecting with the Bro Derek, Riddle got the pin and quickly fled the WWE ThunderDome to leave Lashley in disbelief with the end of his nearly six-month title reign.
Match Review: 3/5. A good match with a right winner. I am so glad WWE didn’t drop the ball on Matt Riddle after his recent comments against The Undertaker. It was a fast paced match, with Riddle coming out on the top with an impressive looking Bro Derek.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler def. Sasha Banks & Bianca Belair
The potent duo of SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks & Royal Rumble Match winner Bianca Belair flourished as a team but couldn’t unseat Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler as WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. And give an unintentional assist to Reginald.
Banks & Belair looked the part of a seasoned duo early with quick teamwork before Baszler took control and isolated Banks in her team’s corner.
The Boss eventually escaped their clutches and exchanged several blind tags with Belair to keep Jax & Baszler off balance. Belair even dropped Baszler with the K.O.D. only for Jax to break up the cover and avert disaster.
Banks found her way back into the ring with another blind tag, dropping The Irresistible Force with a top-rope Meteora for a near-fall.
Reginald made his way to ringside and handed Banks a bottle of champagne, seemingly for use as a weapon. With Banks bewildered and refusing to oblige, Jax took advantage and flattened her with a Samoan drop to retain the titles.
Match Review: 2/5. I was disappointed with the pace of this fight with the heels slowing things down to bad levels. Bianca looked impressive per se, and I am glad she got her moment to shine. Nia Jax winning the match for her team is no surprise. What is next for Women’s Tag Team Championship? They will do a NXT angle I guess.
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre won the WWE Title Elimination Chamber Match
Drew McIntyre turned in perhaps his most grueling victory as WWE Champion to escape the Elimination Chamber Match with the title, though his reign didn’t last much longer.
McIntyre was the third man in, as Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy, two Superstars with plenty of history. started the match. The Viper, one of the most prolific Elimination Chamber warriors of all time, immediately made use of his sinister surroundings to brutalize The Charismatic Enigma.
McIntyre emerged first from his pod, entering the structure for the first time in a decade and immediately going to war with Orton to renew their heated rivalry. Hardy felt McIntyre’s fury too, as the Scottish titleholder launched him face-first into a pod.
Kofi Kingston entered fourth and reignited his own rivalry with Orton, leading to perhaps the most shocking moment of the night. Kingston stunned Orton with a rollup to eliminate him, setting off The Viper like a firecracker. Orton didn’t leave before dropping Kingston and Hardy with RKOs out of frustration.
Looking to capitalize, AJ Styles instructed Omos to rip out the back wall of his pod, allowing Styles to enter the chamber through the door as Orton exited. But Styles’ attempt at cheap pins on Hardy and Kingston came up short, and Adam Pearce arrived to eject Omos from ringside.
With Sheamus finally entering as the final man, he and former friend McIntyre traded bombs in a furious battle before Kingston took both men out with a high-flying attack.
Kingston one-upped himself moments later, lying safe atop a pod as the other four combatants completed a Tower of Doom, only to be met by Kingston’s daring leap off the pod once they came back to their feet.
KofiMania2 was not meant to be, however, as Kingston took one too many risks. Sheamus caught another dive attempt, and while Kofi flipped out of his grasp, he ate a Brogue Kick and was eliminated.
Hardy caught fire next, dropping the competition with a series of Twist of Fates before connecting with a Whisper in the Wind off a pod onto McIntyre and Sheamus. He followed with a Swanton on Styles, but Sheamus floored him with a Brogue Kick immediately afterward for his second consecutive elimination.
Sheamus began to enforce his will on Styles and seemed to be poised for another elimination, only for McIntyre to catch him with a Future Shock DDT. But McIntyre’s ensuing Claymore attempt was met with a Brogue Kick.
Ever the opportunist, Styles immediately hit Sheamus with a Phenomenal Forearm to finally end The Celtic Warrior’s dominant run.
The Phenomenal One couldn’t find the mark on McIntyre, though, who countered Styles’ patented attack with a spectacular Claymore in mid-air, clearing the way for a victory-clinching elimination.
Match Review: 4/5. WOW! What an end to this exhausting match (in a good way). The finish to the battle was out of the world, although this chamber match was a touch below the first match. I wanted to see more of Sheamus Vs Drew McIntyre. Orton getting eliminated without any Bray Wyatt interference was interesting. Are we ending this PPV here? Oh Hell NO!
The Miz cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and def. Drew McIntyre to become WWE Champion
For months, The Miz has loomed as a constant threat to Drew McIntyre and the WWE Championship, and The A-Lister made the most of his opportunity at WWE Elimination Chamber.
With McIntyre absolutely spent following a grueling title defense inside the Elimination Chamber, Miz took advantage and cashed in.
McIntyre was not only broken down after his demanding Chamber battle, as Bobby Lashley seized upon him afterwards, savaging the WWE Champion with a ruthless beatdown and leaving him in a crumpled heap after the Hurt Lock.
Seeing his chance, The Miz sprinted to the ring with briefcase in hand. Though he first planted McIntyre with a DDT for only a two-count, Miz followed with the Skull-Crushing Finale to seal McIntyre’s fate and become WWE Champion for the first time in nearly 10 years.
Match Review: 1/5. YES! YES! YES! The Miz Did it. WOW! Sucks to say it might be a 1 day championship reign but this moment is again a memorable one for The Miz, and I marked out seeing one of my favorite winning the belt. Bobby Lashley moving up the ladder is exciting as he is in the best shape of his career. Bobby Vs Drew McIntyre Vs The Miz at Fastlane? Let’s see.
NYK Rating of WWE Elimination Chamber 2021: 8.75/10.
Three Stars of the Show
- Daniel Bryan
- Cesaro
- Drew McIntyre
- AJ Styles
- The Miz
(Sorry, I chose five!)
