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With many highs and a few lows, RAW is less than six weeks away from WrestleMania 34. The directions for WrestleMania are beginning to look more and more clear, and here's what went down.
First-ever Women's Elimination Chamber match - WWE RAW Women's Championship
The entrants to the pods were Alexa Bliss, Sasha Banks, Mickie James and Mandy Rose. That meant that Bayley and Sonya DeVille started the match.
The crowd started hot, chanting for Bayley. In the early going, she threw Sonya DeVille against the door. Mandy Rose was the first to exit the pod, and Bayley quickly and smartly attacked Mandy Rose in between two ropes and even took out DeVille. She handled herself well two-on-one until she got a slick smack to the face by Mandy Rose and an incredible spear from DeVille.
Absolution quickly got the advantage and started teaming up, even slamming Bayley over three times into the chains of the Chamber. After a jumping knee strike to the head of Bayley by Mandy Rose, they placed her hands through the chains and ambushed her. Luckily for Bayley, Sasha Banks was entry #2 in the Chamber. The Boss took out Sonya DeVille and Mandy Rose.
Sasha and Bayley began working together and they slammed DeVille viciously against the chains of the Chamber.
Mandy Rose attacked Bayley and threw Banks in the ring. Unfortunately for her, The Boss countered her quick into a Bank Statement and Bayley took out DeVille before she could save her. Mandy was forced to tap.
Mandy Rose was eliminated by Sasha Banks
Mickie James was entry #3. The veteran was able to take everyone out and she attempted a climb to the top of a pod and even fought off Bayley to jump from the top of the pod onto Sonya DeVille, pinning and eliminating her.
Sonya DeVille was eliminated by Mickie James
There was no rest for Mickie as she was attacked by Sasha Banks and then given a Bayley-to-Belly, getting eliminated.
Mickie James was eliminated by Bayley
Bayley and Sasha Banks took their time to catch a breath and decided to team up against Alexa Bliss. The countdown had finished and she first tried to force shut the pod and then climb up the chamber to escape the duo.
She was ambushed wherever she went, and when she was on top of a pod, Sasha Banks kicked Bayley down, truly making it every woman for herself.
The trio battled it out and an incredible sequence saw Bayley hit the Bayley-to-Belly from the second turnbuckle, only to get rolled up and pinned by Alexa Bliss.
Bayley was eliminated by Alexa Bliss
It was down to Sasha Banks and the champion Alexa Bliss. Another incredible sequence saw Alexa Bliss hit a twisted bliss from the top of a pod onto Sasha Banks, only for The Boss to catch her right into a bank statement outside the ropes. She rolled her into the ring but Alexa managed to stand up.
When Sasha next found herself on the top turnbuckle, Alexa smashed her against the pod and hit a top rope DDT, winning the match.
Alexa Bliss last eliminated Sasha Banks to retain the RAW Women's Championship
After the match, Alexa Bliss was interviewed by Renee Young, and she faked an emotional speech about inspiring little girls before declaring that none of them could accomplish what she did
The Bar (Cesaro & Sheamus) vs Titus Worldwide (Apollo & Titus O'Neil) - RAW Tag team Champions
The Bar attacked Titus O' Neil and Apollo even before the bell had rung. Titus Worldwide got the better of them and after Apollo jumped on Cesaro & Sheamus outside the ring, the advantage was clear once the bell rung.
The Bar had managed to take the advantage in the early going. They isolated Apollo and for the longest time, prevented him from tagging Titus O' Neil in. Apollo finally managed to tag in Titus, who went on a roll, knocking Sheamus out of the ring and effortlessly outpowering Cesaro.
Sheamus made a slick tag which Titus didn't notice and they got the better of him until Titus managed to land a Clash of the Titus onto Sheamus, which Cesaro saved just on time.When Apollo was tagged in, he took out The Bar with a moonsault. He almost finished Sheamus inside the ring with his moonsault until Sheamus lifted his knees him. The Bar quickly finished Apollo with the white noise for the win.
The Bar defeated Titus Worldwide to retain the RAW tag team championship
Asuka vs Nia Jax
Nia Jax dominated Asuka from the get-go. She hit her face first and three leg drops on her to try to finish Asuka, but she was unsuccessful. Asuka tried to counter her throw into a kneebar, but The Irresistible Force outpowered her in every turn, even delivering a Samoan drop.
Nia would soon go for a banzai drop in homage to Yokozuna, but she took too much time and Asuka rolled out of the way. The Empress Of Tomorrow attempted counters after counters and Nia even outpowered her into a submission.
Asuka's counter of Nia's powerbomb managed to successfully transitioned into a roll-up pin, beating Nia and keeping her undefeated streak alive.
Asuka defeated Nia Jax
After the match, Nia Jax viciously assaulted Asuka, driving her through the barricade.
Alexa Bliss laughed as she looked on backstage, telling Renee Young that no one is ready for Alexa.
"Woken" Matt Hardy vs Bray Wyatt
This was undoubtedly the sleeper match of the night. The crowd was very bored and threw around beach balls and chanted "Rusev Day".
When Matt Hardy went for the twist of fate, Wyatt countered it. Wyatt landed a DDT and Hardy went for the cover, but Hardy kicked out. Wyatt put Hardy in a headlock. He drove Hardy's face into the apron after a few right hands. Wyatt then landed a huge clothesline on the outside and covered but Hardy kicked out.
After landing a splash, Wyatt went for the Sister Abigail, but Hardy countered and landed a Twist of Fate for the win.
Matt Hardy defeated Bray Wyatt
Ronda Rousey's contract signing
Kurt Angle entered followed by the surprising return of Triple H, accompanied by Stephanie McMahon. He acted more as a face, high-fiving the fans.
The crowd was hot for Triple H, chanting his name. He hyped Ronda Rousey and introduced her. When she came out, she cut a frankly bad promo and everything was awkward.
In fact, it's not even a negative tone, but this segment has been unanimously criticised as awkward and cringy. Before she signed, she asked Kurt Angle if he wanted to say anything, and Kurt declared that Stephanie and Triple H were manipulating her so they could get revenge for their confrontation at WrestleMania 31.
Triple H awkwardly said that Angle had the flu and escorted him outside the ring. Again, Kurt Angle outside the ring awkwardly said that Stephanie told him that Ronda Rousey is a "has-been". Ronda confronted Stephanie and Triple H came on time to separate them and escorted Stephanie outside the ring. Right before she left, he went towards Ronda to calm her down and Ronda sent Triple H through the table!
Stephanie slapped Ronda hard and escaped quickly while the crowd told Stephanie that she messed up. They didn't say "messed", but the word they said, we can't say.
That final spot undoubtedly saved the segment.
Men's Elimination Chamber match
The participants were Elias, Braun Strowman, John Cena, Roman Reigns, The Miz, Seth Rollins & Finn Balor.
Elias was in the ring and the crowd was hot for him. He turned the crowd around very fast and got them to boo the living daylights out of him. When he threatened to stop playing and go into the pod, the crowd went nuts.
Braun Strowman would cut off his song, much to the pleasure of the crowd. John Cena entered next and then Roman Reigns entered the final pod. The final participants The Miz, Seth Rollins and Finn Balor (in blue gear) entered and started the match.
The Miz tried to give Balor the "too sweet" to team up against Rollins, but Balor and Rollins both laughed it off and attacked him together. It soon became the three-way it should've been.
The crowd was hot and the three went at each other before John Cena was entry #1. He had a stare-down with Rollins and soon took him out, along with the Miz. He did a double-five knuckle shuffle onto both Rollins and Miz.
Cena would go for an Attitude adjustment on both Balor and Rollins, but Balor escaped on time and Rollins countered the AA into an enziguri. There was a double suplex spot, where Cena suplexed Balor and Rollins suplexed The Miz.
With all four men down, Roman Reigns was entry #2. He cleared the ring and had a stand-off with Rollins, which was interrupted by The Miz. Balor and Reigns would have a back and forth until Reigns neutralised him with a powerbomb.
Reigns stood all and the crowd chanted "get these hands" knowing well who was next. The countdown began and Braun Strowman was entry #3. He stared at Reigns while he threw Rollins into the chains. He took out everyone in the ring except The Miz, who first went to the corner to avoid Braun.
The Miz would then climb up to escape The Monster Among Men but Braun climbed up, smashed The Miz's face against the bullet-proof glass thrice and then threw him down onto all five other competitors.
Braun would continue to wreak havoc in the structure and would hit the powerslam on The Miz. Sending him out first.
Braun Strowman eliminated The Miz
Elias was the final entry and he hid in the pod. As Braun turned around, he was ambushed by the other four competitors. They attacked him and hit a quadruple Shield powerbomb, only for him to kick out and send them all flying. The four-hit their finishers onto Braun but he rolled outside. After Balor hit the coupe-de-grace, Cena hit the AA on Reigns and things broke down. Elias tried to pin all competitors but failed to do so.
Elias continued to impress, being the freshest competitor of the lot. After he hit a sit-out powerbomb on Reigns, he was confronted by Strowman. Strowman ran into the post after Elias moved out.
Elias made a dumb move, trying to pick up Braun's weight on his neck for a sit-out powerbomb. Strowman was too heavy for him and he powerslammed Elias, eliminating him.
Braun Strowman eliminated Elias
Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Finn Balor and John Cena all attempted jumping attacks on Strowman. After Cena tried, he was caught and hit with the powerslam, getting eliminated.
Braun Strowman eliminated John Cena
Braun Strowman brought on all-comers and he was pit up against Balor, who put on a tremendous effort, avoiding the powerslam. He even hit a coup-de-grace on the back of Braun's head, unsuccessfully.
Balor was on the verge of eliminating Roman Reigns after hitting him with a coup-de-grace, but Braun picked him up and powerslammed him.
Braun Strowman eliminated Finn Balor
Rollins and Reigns teamed up to take on Strowman, but Rollins attacked Roman when he saw the opportunity. Rollins attacked Roman Reigns and they were evenly matched, neutralising each other. When Strowman picked Rollins up, The Architect clung onto the chains to escape and get on top of the pod. Roman hit a semi-Samoan Drop onto Braun when he attempted the ascent to the pod.
With Braun in the ring and Seth Rollins on top of the pod, he hit a frog splash, unsuccessfully. Seth Rollins hit two desperate superkicks onto Strowman and after going for the stomp, he was caught and hit with a powerslam.
Braun Strowman eliminated Seth Rollins
A truly record-making performance by Strowman. With five eliminations, his performance is already the most dominant performance in Elimination Chamber history.
Strowman invited Reigns to get these hands. They had an intense back and forth exchange and Reigns sent him over the top rope, taking full advantage of his momentum.
It took Roman Reigns two spears to unsurprisingly finish the match and pin Strowman.
Roman Reigns eliminated Braun Strowman to win the Men's Elimination Chamber match
Roman Reigns will face Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania 34
After the match, Strowman picked Reigns up, hit two powerslams on Reigns and sent him through two pods, standing tall but not victorious.
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