WWE Elimination Chamber PPV Results: 2-17-19
Results courtesy of
PWTorch.com (direct link to Keller's real-time report).
(1) WOMEN’S ELIMINATION CHAMBER MATCH TO CROWN WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS
Naomi & Carmella came out first, which was a little awkward for the announce team. Then Riott Squad’s Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan. Then the IIconics, who looked at the structure with some concern, but then suddenly went back to their cocky swagger until they were locked in the pod, at which point they suddenly looked worried again. Tamina & Nia Jax came out next. Then Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville came out. Graves interrupted Renee and said she was ruining things for her and said Mandy shouldn’t be in an unsanitary environment like a pod. Then Sasha Banks & Bayley. Beth mentioned that they were proponents of the Women’s Division for so long, so this is a big moment for them.
Bayley and Sasha opened against Deville and Rose. Bayley scored an early two count on Deville after a Sasha dive onto Deville on the steel platform at ringside. Cole talked about there only being one prior tag team match in the Chamber. Graves gushed about Mandy and Sonya, but the subtle change was he wasn’t drooling over Mandy in a lustful way, which always felt weird for a married man (and really, too over the top for anyone to the point of always seeming uncomfortable).
The first to leave a pod when the horn sounded were the Riott Squad members. They all knocked each other out. They went to an overhead shot of all six bodies down and not moving. The IIconics were then released from their pod. They eagerly went after the other women with an aggressive attack. They worked over Sasha and scored a near fall. They threw a screeching fit when Sasha managed to kick out. The crowd seemed restless with the way the match was playing out with so many women down and the IIconics just screeching obnoxiously with a methodical continued attack on Sasha and Bayley.
Next to enter were Naomi and Carmella. Lots of new potential team nicknames come to mind after the week these two have had. The action picked up, but it was those one-move-at-a-time parades while everyone else watched situations. Cole kept stressing that no one had been eliminated yet. Nia and Tamina pounded on the wall of their pod as everyone else struggled to regain their senses and stand up. As Cole talked about the Naomi-Mandy storyline when they faced off, Renee said Mandy deserves whatever beating she gets for stepping into the personal life of Naomi and her husband. Naomi hit a Rear View on Mandy, but the IIconics then rolled up Naomi for a leverage pin to eliminate her.
ELIMINATION #1: Naomi & Carmella.
Graves predicted the IIconics will win the entire match. The IIconics found themselves surrounded. Graves changed his prediction to there being no way the IIconics escape this predicament. Nia & Tamina came out next. Tamina and Nia were released from their pod and tossed everyone around. Nia let out a barbaric yell. The IIconics tried to hide in a pod. Nia and Tamina noticed and walked over and taunted them. The IIconics tried to convince them to beat up the others. Nia and Tamina eventually broke into the pod and yanked them into the ring. They hit stereo Samoan Drops to eliminate The IIconics.
ELIMINATION #2: The IIconics.
The rest of the women concentrated their attack on Nia and Tamina. Sasha and Bayley then got sustained offense against everyone else. They double teamed Mandy and Deville in a corner. Jax and Tamina took over again, taking out Sasha and Bayley. Riott Squad climbed onto the top of a pod. Renee called it a brilliant move to assess the situation and catch their breath. They dove off the pod onto Tamina, Jax, Rose, and Deville on the platforms outside the ring. Tamina came back and splashed both Riott Squad members for a three count.
ELIMINATION #3: Riott Squad.
Jax charged at ringside toward Bayley, but Bayley moved and Jax crashed thorough the walls of the pod. Yikes. She collapsed in the corner breathing hard but barely moving. Tamina looked on worried. Everyone went at Tamina. Bayley landed her flying elbow and all four covered her for the win.
ELIMINATION #4: Tamina & Nia.
The crowd was into it at this point, loudly chanting “Yes!” Graves said his daughters were glued to the TV knowing they were witnessing history. Fans sang “Na na na na good bye” at Tamina and Jax as they left. The pace and intensity picked up with the two remaining teams. Graves called Mandy “God’s Greatest Creation” when she saved Deville from a three count by Bayley. Bayley and Sasha climbed onto the pod to chase down Mandy. They rammed her into the wall and then set up a toss off the top. Deville began to climb to intervene. Bayley kicked her down. Mandy punched Bayley, knowing her to the platform. Deville then kicked Bayley into the support bean of the pod. Sasha dropped down to check on her. Mandy then gave Sasha a face plant for a believable near fall. She went right for another cover, but Sasha kicked out again. Deville went for a spear of Sasha, but Sasha moved and she speared Mandy instead. After Deville checked on Mandy, Sasha put Deville in the Bank Statement, but her shoulder hurt and it prevented the application of the hold. She shifted to using her leg instead and got the tapout.
ELIMINATION #5: Deville & Rose.
WINNERS: Bayley & Sasha in 33:00. (***1/2)
It dragged a bit at the start, but the last half once everyone was in the match was really strong. Big spots, well-timed drama, and the right winners.
(2) THE MIZ & SHANE MCMAHON vs. THE USOS – Smackdown Tag Team Title match
Miz stepped out and dedicated the match to his daughter, his dad, and Maryse. Then out came Maryse. Miz said they have another big announcement. “We’re having another baby!” she shouted. Miz and Maryse seemed genuinely excited to share the news. Fans chanted “You still got it!” Miz said, “Yes, I do still got it!” Shane McMahon came out next, wearing the Smackdown Tag Title belt as he danced out. They opened with Miz against Jey Uso. Miz stayed in his Miz & Mac button up shirt. The Usos tried to double super kick Miz, but he backed out of range into his corner.
Shane tagged in a minute later. He rolled up Jey for a near fall. He threw some punches and an elbow and then tagged Miz back in. Phillips praised the early teamwork of Miz & Shane so far. They clotheslined both Usos over the top rope to the floor. The Usos reentered and took control, settling into a chinlock on Miz. Shane led the crowd in clapping. Miz eventually hot-tagged Shane who knocked over Jimmy and then attacked Jey in the corner. He turned and pump kicked Jimmy which showed a lot of light. He backdropped Jimmy and then danced around him. He got some boos. Then he punched Jimmy. Jey entered and Shane gave him a DDT. He did the same to Jimmy for a two count. Shane climbed to the top rope and delivered the Coast to Coast on Jimmy. Not much a crowd pop. Shane climbed to another top turnbuckle went for a Coast to Coast on Jey, but Jey kicked him and then top rope splashed him. Miz broke up the pin attempt at two.
Miz tagged in and went after Jey and scored a two count after a DDT. They took it to ringside. Miz began taking apart the Smackdown announce desk and cleared it of equipment. Jimmy dove at Miz, but hit Jey by mistake. Shane leaped off the top rope and elbowed Jey through the announce desk. Neither moved much after impact. The ref checked on them. Miz threw Jimmy not the ring and went for a Skull Crushing Finale. Jimmy escapade and superkicked Miz with a kick that showed a lot of light. Jimmy landed a top rope splash for two count. Miz then hit a Skull Crushing Finale. Jimmy leveraged Miz’s shoulders down for the victory. Graves said Shane and Miz fought their hearts out, but it didn’t work out for them.
WINNERS: The Usos in 14:00 to capture the Smackdown Tag Team Titles. (*3/4)
Not a match you’d want to show at a video clinic for crisp smooth wrestling that looks realistic. This was mainly a showcase for Shane to hit three big spots. It was awkward for the crowd who weren’t really sure who to root for or against, which worked against a lot of crowd heat and the general psychology of the match never found a groove.
(3) BOBBY LASHLEY & LIO RUSH vs. FINN BALOR – Intercontinental Title match
They threw to some other announce teams during ring entrance. Rush opened against Balor, but then tagged out before any contact. Lashley took Balor down and then flexed his arms. Balor came right back with a flying forearm. Rush dropped to the floor. Lashley joined him to regroup. Back in the ring Lashley took over for a minute until Balor avoided his charge, leaped over the top rope, and surprised Lashley with a kick. Rush distracted Balor, then Balor attempted a sunset flip. Lashley held onto the top rope and then took control again. Balor backdropped Lashley to the floor. Rush grabbed his leg as he ran the ropes. Balor went after him at ringside. Lashley caught Balor and shoved him back-first into the ringside barricade.
Lio tagged in and kicked away at Balor in the ring. Lashley and Rush tagged in and out, working over Finn for several minutes. Balor eventually came back against Rush, and wouldn’t let him tag out to Lashley. He cornered him and then grabbed his leg to keep him from reaching Lashley. When Lashley interfered, Balor clotheslined him to the floor. Balor then flip dove onto both Lashley and Rush at ringside. He threw Rush back into the ring and immediately hit him with a running dropkick. He then hit the double stomp off the top rope for the three count. Cole said Balor just became IC Champ fro the first time. Graves said it’s a tainted victory as he beat the hype man, not the actual champ.
WINNER: Balor at 9:30 to capture the Intercontinental Title. (**1/2)
The match was okay, but nothing special. It had some nice athleticism with Balor and Rush, but in the end it felt gimmicky and the victory for Balor did feel like something less than a big statement win.