Random Network Reviews: Elimination Chamber 2014

Elimination Chamber 2014
February 23rd, 2014 | Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota | Attendance: 14,101

A month earlier, Batista returned to the WWE and sent the crowd into a frenzy when he won the Royal Rumble. The fans wanted nobody but Daniel Bryan in the main event spot at WrestleMania but they were staring a Batista/Randy Orton match in the face. Orton would have to survive the Elimination Chamber on this show though, which would be the final in the pre-WWE Network era. Also, in a match that probably should have been saved for WrestleMania, the two best stables in recent memory, the Shield and the Wyatt Family were set to collide.

The opening video package chronicles the six participants in the Elimination Chamber and their chance to headline WrestleMania against Batista. It’s well done stuff. Commentary consists of the always terrible Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and John “Bradshaw” Layfield.

WWE Intercontinental Championship
Big E (c) vs. Jack Swagger w/ Zeb Colter
The story here was that Jack Swagger’s partner, Cesaro, earned a spot in the Elimination Chamber so Zeb Colter worked for Swagger to get a shot at the IC Title. A “we want Ziggler” chant breaks out at the bell. They exchange powerful moves in the early stages with Big E getting the best from an overhead belly to belly suplex. Zeb trash talks the Champion but the manager interaction fails as Big E still tackles him into the steel steps outside. A lot of people around this time felt Swagger had a legitimate shot at winning, leading to the Real Americans split, instantly making this more interesting than a lot of Big E’s prior defenses. Swagger takes control and hits a sweet looking big boot. We go old school with a double clothesline spot. At some point, Swagger’s lip is busted and it turns his intensity up, which I appreciate. Big E goes for his splash but Swagger is up and spinebusters him for two. Now, the Swagger Bomb is countered and Big E goes for the Big Ending but Swagger blocks it and gets on the apron. Big E decides to bounce off the ropes and SPEARS SWAGGER THROUGH THE ROPES AND OFF THE APRON! Excellent spot that the crowd enjoyed. Inside, the big splash only gets a near fall. In an uncharacteristic move, Big E goes up top, so Swagger greets him with a massive belly to belly for two. Swagger takes out the knee and applies the Patriot Lock! Big E gets free, hits a body block and THE STRAPS ARE DOWN! Swagger though, grabs the leg and puts the lock back in! Big E gets to his feet and busts out an ENZIGURI before winning with the Big Ending.

Winner and Still WWE Intercontinental Champion: Big E in 11:51
Okay, so that was much better than I expected. It was just two powerful guys going at it early on before they turned it up. Jack Swagger has always been good, but Big E surprised here. The spear and enziguri were both surprise spots and this was a fun way to open. ***¼

Bad News Barrett and his podium interrupt Big E’s celebration. He mentions that Russia was beating the United States in the Olympics because they are superior. Did he just start the Rusev angle before even realizing it? Backstage, Daniel Bryan is interviewed about the Elimination Chamber tonight. Does he think he’ll win? Yes! That’s the gist of the promo.

WWE Tag Team Championship
The New Age Outlaws (c) vs. The Usos
To this day, I hate that the New Age Outlaws ended the reign of the amazing Brotherhood team the month before this. At the bell, the Usos overwhelm the Outlaws with their speed advantage, causing both Billy Gunn and Road Dogg to take breathers outside. The Usos go to dive onto them but they stop when the Outlaws move. The veteran Dogg, forgets Wrestling Rule #2 and tries to headbutt a Samoan. It fails, leading Jey to steal Dogg’s dancing gimmick. Dogg answers back by hip tossing Jey into the turnbuckles hard. It sounds painful. The Outlaws work some heat on Jey for a while now. Hot tag to Jimmy who lights up the champions and hits a Samoan drop. He goes for the Umaga ASS ATTACK that Michael Cole (as always) wrongly calls “shades of Rikishi.” He doesn’t hit it but a dive outside and superkick earn him two. He superkicks Dogg off the apron, allowing Gunn to school boy him and retain.

Winners and Still WWE Tag Team Champions: The New Age Outlaws in 8:37
Decent little tag team match. The Outlaws didn’t really have any standout matches during this run, even against an Usos team that pretty much did no wrong when it came to having good matches. Nothing special here. **

More bad news from Bad News Barrett, who promises that Daniel Bryan won’t leave with the WWE Title tonight. Then we get out WWE Network promotion, since it launched the next day. It wasn’t sickening promotion just yet but it is super annoying and the fans are just silent during this tutorial.

Darren Young vs. Titus O’Neil
THE PRIME TIME PLAYERS EXPLODE! Here is a case of the WWE splitting a team for no reason and having no plans for them after the breakup. While these guys do battle and trade early stuff, a “we want Lesnar” starts. At least, it sounds like that. Titus absolutely runs Young over with a shoulder block. Young clotheslines him over the top and actually gets the crowd to react. Young leaps from the corner and is caught with a backbreaker. Titus applies an abdominal stretch but open hand smacks Young’s chest multiple times. That’s a nice little addition. Shortly after, this ends with the Clash of the Titus.

Winner: Titus O’Neil in 6:17
Dull. First of all, nothing really happened throughout and to make things worse, the crowd didn’t care at all about this. *

Bad News Barrett is out again, and things are getting overdone by this point. Not only is his bad news getting lamer but the crowd seems to care less each time. We then move to the Kickoff Panel, featuring Josh Matthews, Rey Mysterio, Mark Henry and Miz. They recap the Kickoff show where Cody Rhodes and Goldust bested Rybaxel.

The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family
There is absolutely a big fight feel and we get “This is Awesome” chants before the bell. Dean Ambrose, being the lunatic, strikes first and we get a big brawl. The Shield send them retreating, taking the early upper hand. Things calm down and Seth Rollins starts with Erick Rowan. Rowan bulldozes Rollins and tags Luke Harper, who happens to be my favorite Wyatt Family member. We get a big time interaction between Roman Reigns and Bray Wyatt. It’s a fun exchange. Reigns wins a struggle for suplex supremacy with Harper and Ambrose is tagged. He fires away like a nutcase. It’s interesting that both teams are working a gang mentality and cutting the ring in half. It’s a brilliant way to show how evenly matched these guys are. Neither team is in trouble for too long so far. The Shield work a triple team on Harper and Ambrose gets two on a dropkick. A Rowan distraction allows Harper to bust out a dropkick. We get a bit of heat on Ambrose now. Seth gets the hot tag but ends up in a bad way up top. Harper tries a top rope German suplex but SETH LANDS ON HIS FEET! He knocks Harper outside and follows with a suicide dive! The red hot crowd is even hotter. He misses a knee and runs into a Bossman slam from Harper. It was impactful. With that, Seth now plays the face in peril for a bit. Bray plays the leader beautifully as he shouts orders to his followers. More athleticism from Rollins, who lands on his feet again and hits the Pele on Harper. Hot tag to Reigns, who takes out Rowan with a Samoan drop. Harper throws him outside, but he just runs around and hits his big apron dropkick on Rowan. Bray breaks up a pin and Ambrose leaps on him with shots. They go outside and Harper takes him out with a suicide dive! Seth follows with a front flip onto him! People are losing their minds as Reigns gets two on a school boy inside. Rowan and Reigns do a double clothesline spot and everyone it out. Seth is up first and sets up the Spanish announce table. Dean and Bray fight into the crowd, giving a precursor to their feud at the end of 2014. After Reigns is taken out inside, Rollins is alone with his three opponents. Harper and Rowan stand on one table and DOUBLE CHOKESLAM HIM THROUGH THE OTHER! They turn their attention to Reigns inside and pick him apart. Bray does his creepy exorcist thing and goes for Sister Abigail but Reigns overpowers him and hits a Samoan drop. He sends Harper outside and Superman punches the other two. Harper takes a Spear for Bray, which allows him to take out Reigns. He finishes off Reigns with Sister Abigail.

Winners: The Wyatt Family in 22:42
Okay, that was damn near perfect. There is your WWE 2014 match of the year. This had a big fight feel and absolutely delivered. All six guys got to do their thing and looked awesome. This is how you book two dominant factions facing each other. ****¾

Renee Young, in her absolute perfection, stops Christian to interview him about his recent losses heading into the Elimination Chamber tonight. He claims that if he wins tonight, nobody will remember those losses. Well, nobody really cares about wins and losses in the booking committee anyway.

WWE Divas Championship
AJ Lee (c) w/ Tamina vs. Cameron
Before the match, AJ Lee cuts a promo about being champion for 252 days and having no competition but being told she has to defend the belt tonight. Naomi was the number one contender but injured her eye and her replacement is her partner, Cameron. AJ even laughs at this. Cameron actually gets quick near falls and skips around like she’s AJ. She gets another on a split leg drop before running into a kick. AJ gets in control and knocks Cameron outside before stealing her pom-poms and doing a little dance. I appreciated and applauded it. Tamina goes to kick Cameron but hits AJ by mistake! Cameron slides AJ in for the pin but Tamina breaks it up and takes down Cameron.

Winner via disqualification: Cameron in 3:59
Completely filler contest. It was put here to allow the crowd to cool down after the Shield/Wyatts war. ½*

AJ Lee is not happy with Tamina but leaves with her anyway. More from Bad News Barrett now. This has totally run its course and I am someone who loves him. Cutting backstage, Santino Marella, Emma, Los Matadores, El Torito and the Great Khali play with WWE figures. They should be the new Oddities.

Alberto Del Rio vs. Batista
Alberto Del Rio walks out in street clothes, a neck brace and a crutch. He claims that he won’t be able to compete here, but then he attacks Batista with the crutch. No drama or build at all. However, due to the backlash of the Royal Rumble finish, the crowd is firmly behind Del Rio. It’s rather fascinating. Del Rio targets the arm, which is always a plus. He misses a spear and crashes into the post. Batista connects on his spear but the crowd is just taking a dump on this match. “Y2J” and “we want Lesnar” are two of the irrelevant chants we get. Alberto earns a near fall with a backstabber. Batista tries the Batista Bomb, but Del Rio slithers out and nails a beautiful kick to the skull for two. He calls for the Cross Armbreaker but Batista shoves him away. He nails the Batista Bomb scores the victory to tons of boos.

Winner: Batista in 12:54
It could have been good, but the crowd hated any offense that Batista got in. Batista didn’t hit his stride in this run until he turned heel. *¼

More nonsense from the KickOff Panel. None of them see Randy Orton retaining tonight because odds.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Elimination Chamber
Randy Orton (c) vs. Cesaro vs. Christian vs. Daniel Bryan vs. John Cena vs. Sheamus
The two men to start this are Cesaro and Sheamus, and I don’t think I could have asked for a better way. These two hit very hard. That’s exactly what we get here as they just hammer away on each other. Sheamus hits the ten beats and clotheslines him down. As Cesaro gets back on the offensive, he mocks John Cena to the crowd’s liking. Sheamus eats a bunch of uppercuts and screams for more, getting the hardest one possible. The buzzer sounds and Daniel Bryan enters to a massive pop. Double missile dropkick is his first offensive move and he fires away with kicks. He does his hot tag stuff before kicking each guy a bunch of times. He makes the classic little guy mistake of leaping from the top, allowing Cesaro to catch him with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two. We get our first extreme moment as Cesaro reverses an Irish whip and sends Bryan through the glass of a pod. He goes shoulder first, which is genius since it is taped up due to injury. Sheamus tries to one up him with a rolling fireman’s carry slam onto the steel on Cesaro.

Christian is in next and goes right after Bryan’s shoulder, which he injured originally. Cesaro and Sheamus are down because they’ve beat the hell out of each other throughout. Outside, Cesaro goes for the popup uppercut but Christian latches onto the chains like Spider-Man! Cesaro brings him down and powerbombs him into the glass, but it doesn’t break. An uppercut follows and somehow Christian kicks out. You would think that after that, nobody should just lose to a regular finisher. John Cena joins in next and seemed ready to start hot but Bryan kicks him and hits a top rope hurricanrana. He now lights up Cena’s chest with kicks but Christian stops him before the roundhouse and hits the Killswitch. Bryan is able to kick out though. Cena sends Christian into the corner and goes for the Five Knuckle Shuffle but Sheamus hits him with White Noise. It’s like, everyone banded together and decided that Cena shouldn’t get in his stuff. Sheamus takes a combination from Cesaro and Christian that sends him outside. Christian gets two with a tornado DDT on Cesaro. Again, Cena comes in, desperate to hit his stuff but Cesaro stops the FIVE MOVE OF DOOM with a beautiful popup uppercut for a near fall. Everyone now just pounds away on each other.

Our last entrant, Randy Orton enters and we’ve had zero eliminations. I think this is a first for the Chamber. All five guys are down as Orton taunts. He misses the punt on Bryan and ends up in the middle of all five challengers, so he runs back into his pod. Most guys start fighting, but Sheamus isn’t having that and he Brogue Kicks through the pod! This leads to Orton getting hit with the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cesaro tosses him and swings Orton for THIRTY ROTATIONS! Christian charges at Sheamus and gets slammed. His Brogue Kick hits Cena instead and Christian rolls him up for two. Outside, Sheamus goes to kill Christian but he escapes and climbs atop a pod. Orton hits a second rope suplex on Sheamus which Christian follows with a pod splash to eliminate him at 26:00. Christian can’t celebrate for long though as Bryan hits the running knee and he’s gone at 27:12. Bryan and Cena take out Cesaro and Orton, before facing off, giving us a SummerSlam 2013 redo. They exchange shots in the middle of the ring with Cena escaping the Yes Lock. He gets Bryan up for the AA but Cesaro GERMAN SUPLEXES CENA WITH BRYAN ON HIS SHOULDERS! Cena and Cesaro now counter each other, ending as Cena AAs Cesaro onto the steel outside. He locks in the STF and Cesaro submits at the 30:10 mark. Did he really have to submit? STF is now applied on Orton when the Wyatt signature hits. The lights come on and the Wyatts are in the Chamber. Bryan attacks but is laid out. They turn their attention to Cena and decimate him. A “Thank You Wyatts” chant breaks out as they leave. Orton wisely preys on Cena and eliminates him in 32:38. Kane appears to toss the Wyatts, and Bryan leaps onto him. Orton takes advantage and puts him through a pod before trying a superplex. Bryan slips free and gets him in the tree of woe, firing away with kicks. Orton comes back with the VINTAGE ORTON DDT. Orton pounces but Bryan ducks and hits the running knee! Kane pulls out the official before the three could be counted. He kicks Kane, allowing the RKO to strike! 1-2-NO! Bryan somehow kicks out and the crowd loses their collective minds. Bryan wraps him up in a small package for two and kicks him in the head. Kane gets in a cheap shot and the second RKO is enough.

Winner and Still WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Randy Orton in 37:33
A fantastic Elimination Chamber. One of the best in history as everyone did their part well. I just wish that Randy Orton was booked a bit stronger. He played his role right, but the role should have allowed him to look better. Still, an absolute scorcher with big spots, good wrestling, cool moments and they took the crowd on an emotional roller coaster. ****¼

6.5

The final score: review Average

The 411

I feel like this show is highlighted by three very good to amazing matches and three that weren’t really needed. The Intercontinental Title match was a surprising outing but isn’t memorable. Most other matches were crap but the real reason I recommend this show is for the six man tag. Easily the greatest six man tag match in WWE history. Not only that, but the main event is one of the better Elimination Chambers ever. This gets a thumbs up from me.