John Cena: Huge divide in WWE Universe as Austin Theory wins Elimination Chamber Match and teases WrestleMania feud with 45-year-old legend

This year's Men's Elimination Chamber Match saw Austin Theory successfully defend his United States Championship against top RAW Superstars.

The match featured challengers Seth Rollins, Bronson Reed, Montez Ford, Damian Priest, and Johnny Gargano. The six superstars delivered an intense bout that saw each one enjoying a moment of glory inside the Elimination Chamber.

The match's closing moments saw Austin Theory and Seth Rollins as the last remaining contenders. However, Logan Paul made a surprise interference in the contest when the gates were opened for the medical staff to assist an injured Montez Ford on his way out.

He hit The Architect with a Buckshot Lariat and followed it up with a Stomp. Austin Theory capitalized on the moment and delivered an A-Town Down to seal his victory.

WWE fans were divided in their opinion towards Austin Theory's win. While several praised his transformation since his last match inside the steel structure, others demanded Montez Ford receive a push. However, almost everyone was excited as Theory teased a potential feud with John Cena on the Road to WrestleMania.

Below is how the WWE Universe reacted to Austin Theory's big win at Elimination Chamber 2023:

The last time Austin Theory competed in an Elimination Chamber, Brock Lesnar subjected him to a brutal F5 off the top of the pod. A year later, Theory successfully retained his championship inside the hellacious structure.

Austin Theory issues an open challenge after Elimination Chamber

After retaining his gold at the recently concluded premium live event, Austin Theory issued an open challenge. Edge answered the challenge during the post-show press conference, and the two superstars are seemingly set to lock horns for the title on RAW.

The Rated-R Superstar teamed up with his wife and WWE legend Beth Phoenix to take on Finn Balor and Rhea Ripley in a mixed tag team match. The Hall of Famer emerged victorious and seemingly got the last laugh over The Judgment Day.

However, it will be interesting to see if the Finn Balor-led faction will come after Edge again on RAW, especially during his title match.

About the author

Shruti Sadbhav is a WWE writer at Sportskeeda Wrestling. With a triple major in Journalism, English Literature, and Psychology, she has always been drawn to writing. As an avid sports lover, writing about sports was the finest way to combine her passion with her prowess.

Whenever she writes, Shruti puts herself into the shoes of fans to see how she would appreciate an honest account of anything related to something she follows wholeheartedly with engaging and relevant information to cater to the readers' needs.

Shruti has seven years of experience. She previously worked as a content manager at Fox Sports Asia and as an assistant manager and digital marketer at Kickstart FC. Shruti previously worked in multiple roles in Sportskeeda, where she was a WWE features writer, editor, and content manager. She has over 40 million+ reads across all her writer profiles, giving her an immensely diverse audience across WWE and football.

When it comes to pro wrestling, Shruti does not particularly remember the first match she watched. However, she recalls accompanying her brother and getting hooked when she saw The Undertaker – a fascinating wrestler that she, like thousands of others, believed in.
Her views on pro wrestling evolved as she grew older and understood the intricacies of the business. This allows her to appreciate those who dedicate themselves to the craft and, once in a while, it does become what it has always been touted to be – magical. Her favorite wrestler is Finn Balor due to his persistence.

When she is not working as a writer, Shruti loves to read, enjoy a good cup of coffee, and let Manchester City dictate her weekend plans.

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