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WWE Elimination Chamber 2018 Review: Rousey & Reigns Win Mania

February 28, 2018 | Posted by Justin Watry

Image Credit: WWE

“I have been reading your stuff on 411mania and nodq.com for the longest time now and I have never felt inclined to email in. The general consensus of you not being most popular is harsh at times but also can be well-founded too. But I still read your stuff because I do enjoy your articles and find your perspective interesting most of the time.

That said, your article about your friend Megan and trip to Wrestlemania was the greatest thing you have ever wrote. Forget about the predictions you brag about getting right. This is your crowning piece. Maybe it is because I can relate as going to Wrestlemania is my ultimate dream and it will be happening next year. But I genuinely loved your article.

Thank you for the great stuff.”

– Jay’s Ways reader

Backstory

Another pay-per-view in the books, another perfect predictions review to write. This is my final column of the month, so if you have a question/comment for me to respond to, now is the time to voice your opinion. I will be doing my monthly reader feedback column soon, and then I will also be writing about my LIVE experience at the Match 5th edition of Raw next week. For now, let’s discuss WWE Elimination Chamber 2018!

WWE Elimination Chamber 2018

– Had the Kickoff Show on in the background while doing dishes but didn’t really pay attention. The build to this event was meh, so I am happy with that decision. Nothing of note happened. If you care to watch, here it is:

– Funny how the Women’s Royal Rumble match main evented last month and got some backlash but didn’t this time around…and got some backlash. Figures. I was fine with one Chamber opening and one ending the pay-per-view. That is how it usually goes in with this gimmick folks, men or women. Alexa Bliss was my prediction, and that is exactly who won. Really, nothing else made sense. As much as I love Mickie James, this was not her moment. Same with Mandy Rose or Sonya Deville. That left the champ, Sasha Banks, and Bayley. Well, two of them are set to feud soon…so yep, that leaves Ms. Bliss retaining. Kinds writes itself. Good bout and good post match promo. I feel she deserves this moment and walking into WrestleMania 34 with a title for the second year in a row is earned. Not given.

– The Bar defeated Titus Worldwide to keep the RAW Tag Team Titles. An upset would have been tempting but not this close to Mania. Sheamus and Cesaro are the right choices to hold gold heading into the biggest event of the year. If this was in the summer time, giving Titus O’Neil and Apollo a run would have been okay. Anything that gets Dana Brooke more screen time. Okay match, just there to calm everybody does in between the major stuff.

– Asuka over Nia Jax. I admit. I was freakin’ nervous for this. While it seemed obvious that Asuka would win, there has been way too much talk over Nia Jax and the Raw Women’s Championship. Why? I have no idea why. Has BAD IDEA written all over it. Guess nobody learned their lesson from last year in Orlando and what a waste of time that was. Big Show from WrestleMania 2000, anybody? That negative aside, this was a great match helped immensely by the Las Vegas crowd. My assumption was Asuka would win in a bland kinda bout and move onto Mania with any problems. Instead we got a hot live crowd and plenty of false finishes that made you jump. Seriously, super impressed with both women here. I didn’t care for the beatdown afterwards but whatever, Asuka won. That is what I cared about. Full steam ahead to Mania and winning the title.

– Matt Hardy over Bray Wyatt. Another prediction nailed by yours truly, a theme for the night. Bragging aside, there was nothing to brag about here. This entire story line needs to end. Beyond played out and beyond lost the interest from fans. Not that I ever had much interest to start – you get the point though! Please don’t drag Jeff Hardy, an actual main event act, into this mess. He doesn’t deserve that at all. Nobody does.

– Ronda Rousey. Ronda Rousey ladies and gentlemen. RONDA. ROUSEY! Awesome, amazing, spectacular, intense, and VERY exciting segment. I loved everything about this and will certainly be raving about it later in the week (on another website). WWE hit all the right notes. No special treatment, no immediate title matches, and no travel accommodations for her. That was made very clear (in kayfabe of course), and best of all, Rousey said she wanted to PROVE her worth to fans and dedicate it to a legend and mentor, Rowdy Roddy Piper. All of the things she needed to say she said. I can’t praise her enough for taking a hostile Vegas crowd and getting them to cheer for her within seconds. That takes talent folks. Even as somebody ‘new’ to all of this, she hit a home run. Or a knockout if you will…

– As for Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, same to them. A great effort and added a ton to the segment. You knew something was up when they both appeared and were smiling ear to ear over the contract signing. Wow, were they pumped up! The perfect heels for this entire scenario. Trust me – not many people are going to be cheering for Steph over Rousey…or HHH over Kurt Angle. They are that darn good. I mention Kurt Angle because that appears to be Rousey’s assumed tag team partner in this battle. She was linked to him earlier in the show backstage, their Olympic backgrounds were mentioned and obviously, it was Angle who spilled the beans on what The Authority really wanted with Ronda. Perfect set up to what I assume is a tag team ‘special attraction’ bout, that had long been rumored with HHH/Angle at WM34.

– One more thing: I loved the WrestleMania 31 tie in and AGAIN Stephanie McMahon escapes the arm bar! Sorry folks, you must wait for that moment. A few more weeks until New Orleans…then she gets her arm ripped off into a million pieces. For now, we can get the image of Steph slapping Rousey and her mean staredown face that made millions for the UFC years ago. That scene was MONEY. The red face with a hand print and Ms. McMahon running for her life. WrestleMania 34 is sold.

– The main event of the evening was the #1 contenders Elimination Chamber match. Winner faces Brock Lesnar at WM34 for the Universal Title. We knew this outcome a year in advance, and it was the RIGHT decision. As I note over and over, just because something is predictable doesn’t make it wrong. Asuka winning at the Rumble was predictable but the right move. Shinsuke Nakamura winning the Rumble was predictable but the right move. Daniel Bryan winning the title at WM30 was predictable but the right move. I don’t see the internet complaining over that one. I wonder why! Braun Strowman destroyed everybody up to his path but fell to Roman Reigns in the final two. They’ve been fighting for over a year, so it was fitting that it came down to them. Exactly as I laid it out and everyone else got their moments to shine as well. Lots to play off here entering Mania Season. Bottom line is Reigns and Lesnar will lock up one more time. Years in the making. No Money in the Bank distractions this time. There must be a winner. The two top Raw Superstars wrestling over the top championship at the grandest stage of them all. Isn’t that what WrestleMania should be?

SUMMARY: I enjoyed this show a lot. Yeah, I got every prediction right (but will still be insulted and falsely accused of talking out of my backside on purpose). However, WWE hit all the right notes and delivered a Ronda Rousey moment to get the ball rolling with her. No real complaints and plenty to be jacked up for come April 8th.

NRW With Commentary!

It may have taken almost nine months, but the return of No Rulez Wrestling officially has match commentary added! Enjoy: