source: WWE
In the aftermath of Sunday’s Elimination Chamber, we start to build new stories and further develop others for Wrestlemania, including Ronda Rousey’s attack on Triple H, the Miz’s IC title, John Cena’s plans, and Roman Reigns calling out a no-show Brock Lesnar.
source: WWE
Alexa Bliss, Mickie James, and Mia Jax vs. Asuka, Bayley, and Sasha Banks
Winners: Asuka, Bayley, and Sasha Banks
Alexa Bliss comes out to the ring with Mickie James, thanking Mickie and boasting about her victory from last night. She says she’s not a “selfish person”, but credits herself with the victory. Asuka interrupts as Alexa claims she can break the streak, and Alexa makes fun of her without her even saying anything.
Nia Jax runs out and attacks Asuka, and a brawl ensues. As Asuka is seemingly at a disadvantage, Sasha Banks and Bayley come to the rescue, and the numbers game is even. Wait a second, didn’t Sasha turn on Bayley the night before? Why are they on the same side again?
It also doesn’t make sense to me why Mickie is so willing to stay by Alexa’s side after being eliminated relatively early on in the Elimination Chamber. Is this a “if you can’t beat em, join em” thing or what? We were never given a proper reason.
This match turns into a six-woman tag match, and I’m still confused as to why Bayley and Banks are on the same team.
Alexa controls the beginning of this match as her partners cheer her on. Bayley reverses in the corner and takes out Alexa. She backs into her corner with Alexa under her arm, and Sasha smacks Bayley’s back to tag herself in. I’m glad they’re addressing the tension between Bayley and Sasha, even briefly.
Sasha attempts a couple roll-up pins, but doesn’t get a three count. Alexa rolls out of the ring, and as Mickie checks on her, Sasha kicks both of them through the ropes. Shortly after, Nia shoulders Banks and knocks her down while the referee is distracted.
Back from commercial, the heels have the advantage in the match. They utilize couple taming tactics and keep Sasha Banks in their corner. While Sasha is down, Alexa knocks Asuka down on the apron.
Hurt, Banks reaches for the tag to Bayley, and right before she gets it, Bayley drops down from the apron. The Hugger stares her former best friend down as James grabs her. She reverses it and tags in Asuka, who takes out Mickie and Nia. She goes for the pin, but Alexa breaks it up. Bayley enters and suplexes Alexa, and Asuka gets Mickie in a arm bar, causing Mickie to submit.
At first, I was weary of Bayley and Sasha being on the same team for this match. However, as Bayley and Sasha locked eyes after the match, it just made me even more excited for their match.
As Wrestlemania comes closer and closer, the Raw women’s division is looking better and better. It almost seems like a disgrace to keep anyone from the Raw roster from Wrestlemania. I wish I could say the same for Smackdown, but right now, Smackdown’s women’s division seems like a jumbled mess.
source: WWE
John Cena tells his plan for Wrestlemania
After “failing” at both the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber, John Cena comes out to tell fans that he felt sorry for himself for about five minutes. He knows he’s failed, but he says he’s figured it out. He puts out a Wrestlemania challenge to the Undertaker.
He hypes up the fans by saying that with 39 Wrestlemanias between them, they’d never come face to face. But then, he dashes our dreams, saying that he’s been told that match is impossible.
He says that as a free agent, his Road to Wrestlemania will run through Smackdown, and he will find an opponent there and earn a match. He drops the mic, and then leaves.
John Cena worked the fans so well, and I’m no exception. Thinking of Cena finally going one on one with the Dead Man himself gave me goosebumps, and it’s upsetting to think that it’s possible that that wont ever happen.
While it’s not an equal substitution, Smackdown is a good way to go. There’s tons of talent to choose from there, and he could really help someone. It remains to be seen what the other 5 men who lost in the chamber will do for Wrestlemania though.
source: WWE
Bray Wyatt vs. Heath Slater (and Rhyno?)
Winner: N/A (match never started)
Before the match even starts, Wyatt dismantles both Slater and Rhyno, showing no mercy. He grabs Slater and beats him senselessly before picking him up and dancing with him a bit before he gives him a Sister Abigail, then giving one to Rhyno too.
Bray calls out Matt Hardy, saying it’s his fault that he hurt these innocent men. He says the Great War is far from over, and he will face him again. He bursts into laughter, claiming he’s coming for Hardy.
Wyatt seems to have an even creepier demeanor, but will that save this feud? Wyatt can be as convincingly creepy as he wants, but it doesn’t necessarily mean he can keep fans entertained for yet another match against Matt. I hope that these two are able to revitalize this rivalry before fans turn on it completely.
source: WWE
Seth Rollins vs. the Miz
Winner: Seth Rollins
The Miz comes out and brags about how he’s the best IC champ ever, and he’s disgusted that he’s in Anaheim instead of LA. He claims that he’s treated worse than other superstars, with no mercy and no pictures in promos for shows.
He complains that Angle forced him to start the chamber match with two people who didn’t deserve to be in the match anyway—Finn Balor and Seth Rollins. He angrily screams about how he was told he “might” get an opportunity at Wrestlemania, and says he’s going to beat up whoever his opponent is. Seth Rollins comes out to challenge him.
Rollins controls the beginning of the match, and we’re reminded of his amazing feat in last week’s gauntlet match. He goes for a suicide dive to the Miz, but the Miztourage distracts him. Back in the ring, he gets distracted again, allowing Miz to capitalize.
The Miz utilizes his “it” kicks, but after he celebrates, Rollins tries a roll-up pin. Rollins chops Miz a couple times, but Miz launches Rollins over the top rope and onto the floor. In the ring, Rollins rallies with a slingblade and a blockbuster off the top rope.
Miz goes to the top rope, but Rollins takes out his legs. Seth superplexes Miz off the top rope and delivers a Falcon Arrow immediately after, but it doesn’t put Miz away. Rollins takes out the Miztourage after yet another distraction, and sends Miz out of the ring after them, giving all three a suicide dive.
As Miz lay almost on the complete other side of the ring, Rollins jumps off the top rope and all the way across the ring onto him, getting him the victory. Seth’s celebration is cut short, though, when Finn Balor’s music hits.
source: WWE
Finn Balor vs. The Miz
Winner: Finn Balor
After commercial, Finn Balor starts a match against the Miz. Not a moment later, the Miztourage attack Finn, resulting in a disqualification victory for Balor. The 3-on-1 didn’t last long, though, and Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows run to their friend’s defense.
Miz is standing over Finn Balor when Kurt Angle comes on the screen He tells Miz that he told him that Balor would be his opponent, not Seth Rollins. He ejects both the Miztourage and Gallows and Anderson from ringside, restarts the match, and tells Miz that if he loses, he could lose his a Wrestlemania match.
The match restarts, and Miz fails in his attempt to get a quick pin. Balor gains control and elbows Miz in the chest. Miz reverses a roll-up pin with a neckbreaker. He goes for the “it” kicks, but Balor dodges and gets in some of Daniel Bryan’s “yes” kicks.
Balor drives Miz into the barricade outside the ring and sends Miz back in the ring, giving him two dropkicks that set him up for a Coup De Grace. Rollins is interviewed backstage, telling Renee Young that he doesn’t understand what Balor was trying to do by beating Miz. Seth challenges Miz for the Intercontinental Championship at Wrestlemania.
A match between these three at Mania will undoubtably be fantastic. All three men know how to get fans excited for something, whether its cutting a promo or putting on a great match. Finn clearly has unfinished business with Miz after the gauntlet match, and Rollins is on a quest to be the star of the show yet again. These three are more than deserving of a Wrestlemania match, and while some may not always be excited about triple threat matches, I have no doubt that they’ll entertain at Wrestlemania.
source: WWE
Roman Reigns calls out Brock Lesnar
Roman Reigns tells fans that even though it was announced that he would be. He calls Brock an “entitled piece of crap who hides behind his contract”. He points out that we’re six weeks from Wrestlemania and the champion isn’t here, and he was in Las Vegas last night, but was with Dana White of the UFC instead of at Elimination Chamber.
Sidebar: this is fantastic already. Finally, someone calls out Lesnar for being a part-time champion and points out that he doesn’t seem to have his heart in it. I’m trying not to be biased when it comes to Lesnar (he is not my favorite, if you couldn’t tell), but the WWE has been sitting on this story for a long time now.
Reigns says Lesnar just shows up when he wants to when the money or the city is right (he’s not wrong), and says that he will be there. Roman says there’s a fine line between business and respect, and he doesn’t respect or fear Brock.
He says he’s going to get in trouble for saying all of this, but he doesn’t care, because he actually respects this place. This was arguably Roman’s best promo of all time—he seemed real and passionate, and I actually wondered if he would get chewed out after he said what no one else would say. The commentators didn’t have anything to say after, adding to the realism—no one wants to say anything bad about Brock except Reigns.
For the longest time, fans have criticized Reigns for being the “company guy” who WWE wants to get over so badly. Opening the fans eyes to Brock Lesnar, the real “company guy”, might actually get Reigns over.
source: WWE
The Bar vs. Titus Worldwide
Two out of Three Falls Raw Tag Team Championship Match
Winners: Sheamus and Cesaro
Right when the match starts, Cesaro creates a distraction, allowing Sheamus to deliver a Brogue Kick to Titus O’Neil, getting them the first fall. Apollo tags in to start the second match, going to a pin four times straightaway. Sheamus and Cesaro tag in frequently, and once Titus is fresh, so do Apollo and Titus.
Apollo picks up Cesaro and drops him and gives him a standing shooting star press, earning a near fall. Titus gets the advantage over Sheamus, chopping him and slamming him down. He takes out Cesaro before giving him a Clash of the Titus. He can’t get a pin, and when Apollo is tagged in, he can’t either.
Apollo goes to the top rope, but Sheamus capitalizes and double teams him, getting them the second fall. The Bar stands tall again in another title opportunity for Titus Worldwide that seems pointless now. The champions give a promo about how they’re the best team, wondering who there is to face if there’s no one left to beat.
In my opinion, this opportunity for Titus and Apollo seemed pointless if they were never supposed to win. The excessive celebration by the Bar after the first fall would only make sense if Titus Worldwide were able to get the second fall, but instead, they couldn’t make it in a championship match.
If I had to guess who’s next for Sheamus and Cesaro, I would say that the Revival will get the opportunity. I don’t know if they’ve earned it or not, since they’ve just had pre-show matches and have been decimated by WWE legends at Raw’s 25th anniversary show. However, Dash and Dawson surely wont be a fan of all of the talking that the Bar has been doing and could be looking to shut them up.
source: WWE
Elias vs. Braun Strowman
Elias claims that he wasn’t going to sing tonight, but he heard that Braun Strowman called his music “noise pollution”. He says that Strowman is jealous and wants to be him, so he insulted his music. He sings a song about how he will beat Strowman and make his face uglier than the people of Anaheim (when is this guy not fantastic?).
Strowman comes out, and when the match starts, Elias flees and runs around the ring. Elias gains a brief advantage before Strowman’s boot to the face shuts him down. Elias retreats to under the ring, and when Braun pulls him out, he uses a fire extinguisher to blast Strowman in the face.
Elias sends Strowman into the post, and then beats him up inside the ring. Braun gets a hold of Elias’ neck, choking him and standing up himself. As Elias walks up the ramp, Strowman attacks him from behind, not allowing him to escape. The Monster Among Men clears off the announce table (sort of), but Elias pokes him in the eyes and runs away before he can be sent through it.
The action continues backstage, as Elias literally runs out of the arena. Braun screams, saying he’s not finished with him. As Braun walks away, a limo rolls into the arena.
source: WWE
Triple H Stephanie McMahon demand an explanation from Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey
Stephanie tells the fans that Kurt Angle has double pneumonia, so it makes sense as to why he would say such absurd things last night. She understands why Ronda would believe him, so she’s there to clear the air.
She says she had to get physical with Ronda to remind her of the hierarchy with WWE. McMahon says that Rousey reports to her, and that they own her. Stephanie calls for Kurt Angle to come out and apologize, but Ronda Rousey storms out instead.
Ronda says she refuses to be disrespected and she is no one’s property. Kurt Angle tells her that he needs this job, and he lied—he had pneumonia and misheard Triple H and Stephanie. He apologizes to them, and Steph starts to leave the ring.
Rousey stops her, saying that they haven’t addressed Stephanie’s slap from last night. She demands an apology, or else she will rip her arm out of its socket. McMahon says she is so sorry several times before backing out of the ring. Triple H punches Kurt Angle in the face before the couple retreats up the ramp, leaving a floored, sick Angle and an angry Rousey in the ring.
This build gets better and better each week—while Ronda has seemed a bit heistant and nervous at the start of each promo, she quickly finds her footing and is an intimidating force. Stephanie is clearly intimidated by her, and she and Triple H look as heel-ish (maybe even more so) than they did in the Authority.
The concept that the WWE now “owns” Ronda Rousey creates an argument in itself, and could even be thought about in reality. It looks like Kurt Angle will be Rousey’s partner at WM, which isn’t a bad thing at all.
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