Watry’s WWE Elimination Chamber 2019 Review

Hi, I’m Justin Watry. You may remember me from such columns as March 2012’s “WWE WrestleMania 28: Sheamus Should Defeat Daniel Bryan In Less Than A Minute” and October 2016’s “WWE NXT: Bobby Roode, You’re Next.”

Backstory

Truth be told, I didn’t care for the pay-per-view build up too much. I didn’t have high hopes for this event nor did it seem to be really ‘relevant’ to the overall WrestleMania 35 picture. That is the issue with anything between January and April. It is either a shake up of monumental proportions due to unforeseen circumstances or a holding pattern. You can argue one way or another if that is a good thing or a bad thing, but nothing mattered on Sunday because WWE more than delivered. Let’s take a look at why…

WWE Elimination Chamber 2019

– Got home as the Kickoff Show was underway, thanks to the beloved Wisconsin weather. Another dang blizzard coming Tuesday night apparently! Yay. I don’t care for 205 Live nor do I even watch the product. However, there was a bit of an exclusive scoop from yours truly concerning the Cruiserweight Championship match.

EXCLUSIVE: Of all the title changes that were planned for tonight, you can add the Cruiserweight Championship to the list. Last minute audible called though. #WWEChamber

— Justin Watry (@JustinWatry) February 18, 2019

– I loved the idea of starting the main card with the Womens Tag Team Titles. Like most Elimination Chamber bouts, the company starts the PPV with one and ends with one to space out the fun. Makes the most sense. In this case, it makes even more sense for WWE to “make history” right away and get the buzz going early. Here are my thoughts on each team.

The IIconics: I keep waiting for more. Maybe it is just the case of another NXT act that works there but not in WWE? I have no idea. Both are clearly talented and have the perfect gimmick. Just has not entirely clicked quite yet. Maybe a move to RAW will help them in the Superstar Shakeup? You can write that prediction down right now by the way. I suppose it may not even matter if these belts are co-branded.

Fabulous Glow: A throw together tag team and pointless entry eliminated first. No real use discussing them in pertaining to the match. With all the outside noise right now concerning these two, it was obviously the right call. Not a major fan of either anyways. Both had duds of a title run in the past.

Tamina Snuka/Nia Jax: Ugh. Credit to WWE for making fans believe they would win…but no. This is Jinder Mahal as WWE Champion levels of groan. Thankfully, they were sent packing in a hurry.

Liv Morgan/Sarah Logan: Did a fine job. I guess we were supposed to think the Riott Squad were going to have a big night as a trio. Yeah, sure.

Sonya Deville/Mandy Rose: Another filler tag team here. Just heels there to get beat. No real complaints.

Sasha Banks/Bayley: The clear cut winners from the moment this match was announced. Instantly gives the titles some credibility and sets up two ‘big names’ to go across both brands if need be. A lot of potential opponents. Plus, it explains why their never ending breakup story line was scrapped. Still, we wait for the breakup. Funny how that happens. Cool flashback to last year’s Chamber as well with them. Good stuff and clearly an emotional moment that Beth Phoenix tied into a perfect bow on commentary.

The Miz and Shane McMahon lost the Smackdown Live Tag Team Titles to The Usos in the next bout. Between getting to the opening bell, congrats to Maryse. Awesome news and exciting announcement. Baby number two for the happy couple. Actually fits nicely into the ongoing story with Miz and Shane. For the most part, the bout was fine. Solid. Nothing really boring or really outstanding. Shane McMahon hit his big spots, and we got the kinda, sorta but not upset with The Usos becoming tag champs again.

Why wasn’t it a surprise? I will tell you why.

Well, most of you probably assumed The Usos would lose because of the Jimmy Uso arrest last week, right? Wrong.

Did you forget the last time an Uso was in trouble with the law? Yeah, the duo got the tag belts then too.

Remember that Jeff Hardy arrest last year? Became United States Champion upon his return to television.

I could list a few more examples but all you had to do was look at WWE”s statement to the media last week saying the talent was responsible for his own actions – which is absolutely true. That right there was the company saying they would proceed with their plans and not let things get screwed. No different than Seth Rollins’ little scandal before WrestleMania 31. WWE released the same statement, wiping their hands clean of the situation, and made him the top star shortly thereafter on the biggest stage of them all.

Then you add in the All Elite Wrestling interest and expiring contracts. Kind of self explanatory there. Even if you think reports are getting overblown of talent looking to jump to AEW, our opinions don’t matter. What matters is the bosses at WWE. If they think the threat is legitimate, that is that.

Most importantly though, Shane McMahon and The Miz are not a tag team. We got through this every single time two solo acts ready to clash are made tag champs. We act surprised when they lose the titles fairly quickly after winning them. Shane and Miz are seemingly on a collision course for Mania. Thus, any supposed ‘smart’ wrestling fan online should know they were not going to be tag champs for long. It either had to happen on Sunday or Fastlane. Not a whole lot of time. Now is better than later. Let the McMiz story continue…

– Another new champion crowned with Finn Balor becoming IC Champion. I didn’t care for the handicap match stipulation but understood it was done to keep Lashley looking strong. You can probably say goodbye to Lio Rush doing anything of note. If I were WWE, he should stick with Lashley, but clearly there may be other plans in mind. Balor deserved a bigger and better moment to get the belt, but this works too. All in the followup to Mania to determine if this was the right move or not.

– Ronda Rousey defeated Ruby Riott to remain Raw Womens Champion in two minutes. A lot of fans have complained about The Rowdy One looking TOO strong over the past year. If anything, I would argue she has not strong enough! Yeah, that is right. Rousey should be having more of these out sided beatdowns. Think Mike Tyson. Think Ryback wrecking multiple local talent at the same time. Think Bill Goldberg running over guys in 30 seconds. That is Ronda Rousey going toe to toe with others for ten minutes. I was more than satisfied with the quick victory. As for the after match shenanigans…

– Big ups to Rousey, Charlotte, and Becky Lynch for the brawl. This story continues to be amazing. I can not say enough good things about the entire Raw Womens Title story heading into WM35. WWE still has Fastlane to go before going full speed ahead to the final payoff. Ronda Rousey will lose to Becky Lynch, and it will be straight fire.

– Wow. What to say about the NoDQ(.com) match between Braun Strowman and Baron Corbin? I know this is just a speed bump on the Road to WM. I know Braun will eventually get his revenge. I know this was just a moment for the heels to get one over the dominant face. I am well aware of how this all goes. I get it. However, can we just get a few things straight? WWE did not pull Braun from the Rumble because of his health. He was cleared and competing a week later. That was just BS. Also, Braun was not pulled from the Rumble because Vince McMahon didn’t want him losing. He JUST LOST! AGAIN! TO CORBIN! I said from the beginning he had lost momentum, and it was noticed backstage, thus the last minute switch to Finn Balor back in January. Same here. What do I think will happen? Well, Lashley and Drew McIntyre interfered and appeared to be mocking The Shield. Any chance Strowman calls up Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns for a six man tag? Hmmm…

– Shane and Miz are sore and know their tag titles are gone. I am writing this Monday morning, so I wonder what happens Tuesday. Interesting to note Cleveland is hosting Fastlane next month I believe.

– Lacey Evans is much too classy to compete at Elimination Chamber.

– Easy call to have the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber match go on last. There was no other option in my mind. Like the opener, I will discuss the main event star by star.

I'd have Kofi Kingston get to the end with Daniel Bryan at #WWEChamber but ultimately lose. Playing the 2012 Santino Marella underdog role…

— Justin Watry (@JustinWatry) February 17, 2019

Mustafa Ali: Let me just say though break kid. Geez, can you imagine? I have no doubt the hour long Gauntlet run from last Tuesday was meant for Mustafa Ali. Just as I have no doubts he was going to be the under dog runner up to Daniel Bryan inside the Chamber. Tough break. Tough, tough break. I wrote a column for 411mania two weeks ago that was never posted for whatever reason. Inside, I talked about Ali and how he is going to be a breakout star in 2019. This is not a temporary spotlight or anything to sweep under the rug in a few months. He is the real deal and has a great chance to make waves for the blue brand in 2019. Sucks that he was pretty much replaced and forgotten about now.

Samoa Joe: Oh well. First person gone. That is a devastating blow to his potential WrestleMania 35 plans. He is a guy who deserves that big WM Moment. His career all but demands it. Hoping everything gets back on track soon.

Jeff Hardy: I have been writing in columns and griping on Twitter for weeks now about who will face Daniel Bryan at WM35 for the WWE Title. In my opinion, Jeff Hardy was right there all along. Not Shawn Michaels. Not Batista. Not another AJ Styles match. Not Shinsuke Nakamura or Samoa Joe again. Not Mustafa Ali (although that works too). Not a returning Bray Wyatt or Luke Harper. Jeff Hardy is RIGHT THERE! Disappointing not much has been done with him since the entertaining Randy Orton feud. Good stuff as usual from Jeff Hardy. Glad he and Matt are sticking around for another year.

AJ Styles: I am shocked to read he may be involved with the WWE Championship scene some more. I call BS on that. It seems a feud with Randy Orton is up next, hence the RKO elimination. Hurt or not, I would move him down the card for a bit. No shame in that at all. He will ne phenomenal regardless.

Randy Orton: Exactly how he should have been used. Legend walks in confident as the final entrant and gets sent packing quickly. I have noted before he is now the Chris Jericho or Christian guy in the company. Need a tag team competitor? Randy Orton can do it. Need a big heel turn? Randy Orton can do it. Need a face pop? Randy Orton can do it. Need a last minute replacement? Randy Orton can do it. Need a shocking Raw draft move? Randy Orton can do it. Need a mid-card feud with a newcomer? Randy Orton can do it. Need a main event on short notice? Randy Orton can do it. I’d have him battle Styles at Mania and give them 20 minutes to tear the house down.

Daniel Bryan: I was live in the arena for Elimination Chamber 2012. I was there when the World Championship match came down to Daniel Bryan and Santino Marella. I was there when the audience lost their minds over The Cobra almost beat the current champion. I was there when the comedy under dog was half a second away from headlining Mania with a major title. I was there for that in Milwaukee, so I totally understand Houston buying into all hysteria on Sunday night. We all bought it hook, line, and sinker. Bryan is THAT good. He won clean in the end, as he should have but also made his lesser opponent look amazing in the process. Big props all around.

Kofi Kingston: THIS is what I want from The New Day! THIS is what I have been asking for! THIS is what I want from Big E, Xavier Woods, and Kofi Kingston! THIS, ladies and gentlemen, is not about pancake power, trombones, booty cereal, dancing, silly jokes, or any of that nonsense we have seen the past two years. Nobody can tell me with a straight face they want THAT garbage New Day act versus what we saw at the conclusion of Elimination Chamber. I was beyond thrilled with the final 15 minutes of the PPV. That was magic. That deserves all the praise it is receiving. It is less than 24 hours since that match, and I have already re-watched the closing moments twice. Big round of applause to Kofi and WWE. They were dealt a bad hand with Ali getting hurt but more than made up for it. Bravo!

SUMMARY: Pretty blah PPV for the most past but was saved by the title changes and excellent Bryan/Kofi showdown. How about The New Day vs. Daniel Bryan, Erick Rowan, and another at Fastlane, with Kofi getting another title match if The New Day wins? Sounds good to me. I have no idea if the post-match scene with Kofi was a teaser for Mania or if it was truly a one off. I am anxious to find out though because as noted for weeks now, WWE needs a good face to wrestle Bryan come WM35. The road continues…

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Twitter: @JustinWatry
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