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Elimination Chamber has ended and the path is clear for Monday Night Raw to earnestly build towards WrestleMania 34. In typical WWE fashion, the history-making event was touted as an incredible event!
While there was nothing really historic worth speaking of, the matches in question delivered and underwhelmed at the same time. A key segment also had ups and downs.
Whatever the case, whether good or bad; this is the direction WWE wishes to head into and so be it. Part of WrestleMania already promises to be a spectacle, we can now add some more to it. However major questions still remain, till then here is the first edition of our new feature; the Wrestle Wreview for Elimination Chamber 2018!
A few things to note
Before we kick off to the meat of the event, let's discuss what stood out during the event last night. For one, it is a relief to see Jonathan Coachman replace Booker T on commentary. He adds a sense of prestige and legitimacy to the calls making some sharp analysis during matches.
As for the kick off itself, it was a bit underwhelming, to say the least. There wasn't much in the way of conversation with superstars beyond Charly Caruso's interview of Roman Reigns. The match between Balor Club and Miztourage was nothing to write home about either.
Finally, I think there's a lot of remaining pieces to fill in WrestleMania and WWE did some great subtle foreshadowing for what that could be. If you didn't stick around for Raw talk, you missed a lot.
Blissful troll and women steal the show
A salute to the women of the WW. They once again managed to surprise with a thrilling Elimination chamber match for the most part.
I'd first like to give a shout out to the young rookies of Absolution. Though they made their follies as is expected; they managed to stir the crowd with some vicious surprise attacks and double team moves. Once they improve, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville could be the future stars. The rest of the field was admirable with a Lion King level betrayal by Sasha Banks on Bayley.
This is where I believe the match got killed, though the ensuing fight between the so-called best friends was perfect and Bayley showed gumption; she got eliminated before the final two. After this selling Banks as the face against champion Bliss was a huge mistake as the tempo just went down. In fact, by the end, Bliss got 'you deserve it' chants for her win, props to her manipulation of the crowd; hilarious through and through.
Also keen detailing on the show when Deville hit the satanic chain grill for the first time in the match, in women's history. The concern on all the competitors sold the concept like anything else.
Result: Alexa Bliss retains the Raw Women's Championship
Titus is far from going worldwide!
Too further bring the mood down, WWE had the defense of the Raw Tag Team titles next. Despite the commentators clearly pointing out that Titus Worldwide has The Bar's number, everyone in the audience knew that they'd never upset the tag champions. This especially affected the poor heat segment built on Apollo, a character no one cares about.
All in all, a lethargic victory made good only by the smooth delivery of the Bar. They are most likely headed towards a multi-tag match, hopefully, their last defense as a team. I say this because not only does Cesaro need to be pushed, but it seems like the neck issues are really affecting Sheamus. It'd be for the best that the Irishman retires before anything drastic happens.
Result: The Bar retains the RAW Tag Team Championship
The unstoppable Force nudges the immovable object
With WWE's penchant to stifle WrestleMania with multi-person matches just to fit everyone on the card, there was a slight fear that Asuka might not make it to the show with her streak intact. This was especially a concern, as Bayley broke Charlotte's PPV streak last year; just before 'Mania, where it would have been more appropriate.
Thankfully none of that happened, instead, Asuka won but just barely. In what was a thrilling contest. This provides an interesting wrinkle to things, as Asuka could end up contesting for the Smackdown women's title at Wrestlemania.
If this is the case, would she look weak for not confronting her near loss to Jax? Could Jax ascend to contender status and call of Asuka's fear of her? It'd make her lose a lot of her aura, but a rematch on tonight's Raw where Asuka dominates could equally kill Jax's building presence.
(PS: Nia Jax bulldozing Asuka after the match, breaking the barrier was brilliant and it prevents Asuka from once again announcing her intentions for Wrestlemania 34)
Result: Asuka rolls up Nia Jax for the win!
WWE is too rich to do the 'B' movie
It's sad how WWE have managed to waste the mystique that Bray Wyatt had built up during the early run of his career. While the character has always been hokey and Wyatt is far from an accomplished wrestler, their failure to pay off with his positives resulted in no one caring for a man who at this time last year was the WWE Champion.
On the other hand, there is 'Woken' Matt Hardy. Though initial legal setbacks prevented him from portraying his popular character, WWE's inability to let him go out has resulted in a horrid program. The problem is not only in the amount of effort placed, but WWE's commentary that sells Hardy's ramblings as that of a madman struck with middle age crisis.
WWE's too much of a class product to get the grindhouse/B Movie style of the 'Broken' Hardy's that made them such an innovative act in Impact Wrestling. This match was an absolute bore and the fans knew it.
Result: Matt Hardy wins with a Twist of Fate
Am I the only one disappointed by this?
I'm not a fan of how the contract signing went down. WWE consistently played up Rousey's signing with Raw, which made me think that there might be a swerve and Shane McMahon would offer her a Smackdown contract.
Instead, WWE built towards a mixed tag match for 'Mania between Rouse and Angle versus Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. The last portion of the segment was brilliant with the 'Rowdy' Ronda Rousey resurfacing, destroying Triple H and nearly killing Stephanie. The rest of it was completely illogical and sports entertainment at its worst. While Ronda's inadequacies on the microphone were expected, she spoke from the heart and it was touching.
Kurt's revelations of the Authority couple's master plans felt a bit too weird especially with Triple H pushing Kurt out for having a cold (what was that?!). His eventual return and break down of the situation also felt poorly played as it made Triple H and Stephanie look like fools, for telling him their master plan for Ronda. It all worked out in the end, as the crowd went rowdy for Ronda but all of it seemed like a mess. Color me unimpressed.
Result: Stupidly enough Ronda still signs the contract for Raw, despite the Authority wanting just that!
The road not taken
It's not that hard to make a star in a match, and even without a bias, one can see this match did Roman no favors. The fact that WWE managed the same just a few days ago with Seth Rollins stirring performance in the gauntlet should tell you they have the ability to make stars.
Despite the predictable end result, the match was decent though nothing surprising. There were fun moments with most of the story revolving around Braun Strowman and his five eliminations. WWE should be careful with him, as eventually not completely pulling the trigger on him may cause them to lose out with fans.
Other narratives played well, from Elias's ascension to main event levels to Cena's inability to clear a path to 'Mania. Even Seth, Balor and Miz got decent mileage in. Eventually Reigns won, but Braun stood tall; yet's it not enough, not anymore.
Result: Roman Reigns beats Braun Strowman and wins to head to Wrestlemania 34
Road to Wrestlemania 34 Pt. 1
As mentioned before, WWE pretty much laid out a subtle road for Wrestlemania at least for the Raw side of things last night. On Raw Talk after the show, they featured even more hints as to where things could do.
John Cena in one of his best promos wondered what was next and a scheme (the kind Cena would never make) hatched in his mind. He's a desperate man and one could see Cena using his Free Agent status to hope to Smackdown for a WWE title shot or maybe challenge Shinsuke Nakamura for his Royal Rumble position.
Either way, it was all beautifully laid out in comparison to the other two guests. Though Stephanie seemed vindictive towards Ronda, she didn't sell this as much as she should have.
Road to Wrestlemania 34 Pt. 2
As for the final guest on the talk show, Roman Reigns made his intentions clear; he is going to right the wrong of Wrestlemania 31 and beat Brock Lesnar. The WWE are in stasis waiting for this coronation for three years, it's finally set to come and we might as well get on with it.
Roman did sell the other competitors especially Braun Strowman, but his path doesn't seem so clear-cut. My belief is that apart from Cena and Reigns, the rest of the Elimination Chamber field will meet each other once more in a ladder match for Miz's Intercontinental Championship.
As for the women, there's no doubt Asuka is heading to challenge Charlotte for the Smackdown Women's Title. What this means for either Bliss or Nia Jax and the title is unclear as neither can play face. Maybe they add Sasha Banks and Bayley to the mix?
All in all, Wrestlemania looks to be a mixed bag but overall fun outing!
Overall Show Rating:
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