WWE Elimination Chamber 2020 was a chaotic event that featured Shayna Baszler dominating her Elimination Chamber Match to earn the right to challenge Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch at WrestleMania, The Miz & John Morrison surviving against the odds to retain their titles in the SmackDown Tag Team Championship Elimination Chamber Match, The Undertaker rising to attack AJ Styles and The O.C. and so much more.
The Viking Raiders defeated Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins. (Kickoff Match)
It seems strange to say the Viking Raiders are coming off something of a drought, but after losing the Raw Tag Team Titles to Seth Rollins & Murphy and falling to The O.C. at WWE Super ShowDown, it may have been fair to wonder if Erik & Ivar lost a step. Elimination Chamber Kickoff, then, served as notice from the former Raw Tag Team Champions that they’re as dominant as ever, despite an impressive effort from Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins.
To help get their mojo back against a team that has run roughshod over them, Ryder & Hawkins opted for an unusually aggressive tactic, mugging Erik in a two-on-one attack that stretched the rules to their breaking point. They began to panic when Ivar received the tag, and Ryder’s aggression got the better of him when he accidentally dropped Hawkins with his own Rough Ryder. The Ultimate Broski’s shock didn’t last long, as he fell to the Viking Experience moments later and wasn’t in much of a position to feel much of anything. A noble effort, but the story between these two teams remains the same. (Via WWE.com)
To help get their mojo back against a team that has run roughshod over them, Ryder & Hawkins opted for an unusually aggressive tactic, mugging Erik in a two-on-one attack that stretched the rules to their breaking point. They began to panic when Ivar received the tag, and Ryder’s aggression got the better of him when he accidentally dropped Hawkins with his own Rough Ryder. The Ultimate Broski’s shock didn’t last long, as he fell to the Viking Experience moments later and wasn’t in much of a position to feel much of anything. A noble effort, but the story between these two teams remains the same. (Via WWE.com)
Daniel Bryan defeated Drew Gulak by technical Submission.
For one night only, the Wells Fargo Center turned into the Dallas Sportatorium, and the bells and whistles of sports-entertainment melted away when Daniel Bryan and Drew Gulak locked up in an old-school battle that seemed time-warped from NWA circa 1982. And for all Gulak’s insistence that his was the superior wrestling mind, it was Bryan who schooled the former NXT Cruiserweight Champion, though it’s fair to say The Philadelphia Stretcher kept the match razor-close.
In a match that almost took place entirely on the mat and where you could count the number of rope-runs on one hand, Gulak kept things basic and brutal. When he wasn’t twisting Bryan’s legs into pretzels, he was viciously targeting his surgically-repaired neck to set up his Gulock dragon sleeper. He got there eventually, but the five-time World Champion saved the match with a last-gasp effort, grabbing hold of a wrist, somehow rolling into the “Yes!” Lock and claiming the win when Gulak passed out.
Bryan couldn’t help but show some respect with a nod to the Philly product after the match, and there’s no point in disputing the props. If tonight was any indication, Gulak may well have the superior mind. The heart, however, is another story. (Via WWE.com)
In a match that almost took place entirely on the mat and where you could count the number of rope-runs on one hand, Gulak kept things basic and brutal. When he wasn’t twisting Bryan’s legs into pretzels, he was viciously targeting his surgically-repaired neck to set up his Gulock dragon sleeper. He got there eventually, but the five-time World Champion saved the match with a last-gasp effort, grabbing hold of a wrist, somehow rolling into the “Yes!” Lock and claiming the win when Gulak passed out.
Bryan couldn’t help but show some respect with a nod to the Philly product after the match, and there’s no point in disputing the props. If tonight was any indication, Gulak may well have the superior mind. The heart, however, is another story. (Via WWE.com)
United States Championship: UNITED STATES CHAMPION, Andrade (with Zelina Vega) defeated Humberto Carrillo.
Give Humberto Carrillo credit for persistence. The daring, dimpled scion of Latino wrestling greatness has doggedly chased the United States Championship almost since the second he came to Monday Night Raw. But for all that heart, it seems like Andrade simply has his number, as he once again turned back Carrillo at WWE Elimination Chamber to hold firm to the title as WrestleMania approaches.
As ever, Carrillo kept the match close. (He’s very, very good.) Charges into the ring post, sprinting back elbows and a full-bore set of running knees into the corner couldn’t keep him down. Neither could the threat of another Hammerlock DDT to the arena floor. But a familiar sequence of events led to Humberto’s defeat, as Andrade — much like Humberto’s own cousin Angel Garza — stacked up his challenger after a series of roll-up attempts and grabbed a handful of tights to steal the win. And for Carrillo, the story remains the same where the U.S. Title is concerned: So close, and yet somehow, farther than ever. (Via WWE.com)
As ever, Carrillo kept the match close. (He’s very, very good.) Charges into the ring post, sprinting back elbows and a full-bore set of running knees into the corner couldn’t keep him down. Neither could the threat of another Hammerlock DDT to the arena floor. But a familiar sequence of events led to Humberto’s defeat, as Andrade — much like Humberto’s own cousin Angel Garza — stacked up his challenger after a series of roll-up attempts and grabbed a handful of tights to steal the win. And for Carrillo, the story remains the same where the U.S. Title is concerned: So close, and yet somehow, farther than ever. (Via WWE.com)
SmackDown Tag Team Championship: SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONs, The Miz & John Morrison defeated The Usos, The New Day, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode, Heavy Machinery and Lucha House Party. (Elimination Chamber Match)
The Miz & John Morrison are still SmackDown Tag Team Champions, having been the first Superstars of the night to survive the dreaded Elimination Chamber Match against one of the more stacked fields in recent memory.
The champs had the benefit of some crazy-good fortunes. For all the agony the Chamber dishes out, they entered the match fourth out of six to a field that had entirely taken itself out. Lucha House Party thrilled the WWE Universe with a high-octane, death-defying performance, highlighted by Lince Dorado’s jaw-dropping backflip plunge from the roof of the Chamber. The eliminations came soon thereafter, with Heavy Machinery taking out the Luchas to record the first ouster.
Unfortunately, Heavy Machinery were the next out, as Tucker fell to Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode after Otisplowed through the wall of the chamber in an attempt to obliterate the date-stealing Ziggler. New Day and The Usos joined forces to toss Ziggler & Roode moments later, but their temporary alliance quickly fizzled, and the champions again capitalized by swooping in to pin a battle-worn Kofi Kingston after he missed his target with a leap from the top of a pod. Miz & Morrison found the road harder in a straight-up battle against The Usos, but they used the anything-goes lawlessness of the Chamber to their advantage, earning the deciding pinfall with a jackknife rope-assisted double roll-up of sorts.
That’s the name of the game with this anything-goes match, and especially this team. Nobody should be jealous of what they did to keep the titles, but unfortunately, everyone must simply be jealous that they still have them. (Via WWE.com)
The champs had the benefit of some crazy-good fortunes. For all the agony the Chamber dishes out, they entered the match fourth out of six to a field that had entirely taken itself out. Lucha House Party thrilled the WWE Universe with a high-octane, death-defying performance, highlighted by Lince Dorado’s jaw-dropping backflip plunge from the roof of the Chamber. The eliminations came soon thereafter, with Heavy Machinery taking out the Luchas to record the first ouster.
Unfortunately, Heavy Machinery were the next out, as Tucker fell to Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode after Otisplowed through the wall of the chamber in an attempt to obliterate the date-stealing Ziggler. New Day and The Usos joined forces to toss Ziggler & Roode moments later, but their temporary alliance quickly fizzled, and the champions again capitalized by swooping in to pin a battle-worn Kofi Kingston after he missed his target with a leap from the top of a pod. Miz & Morrison found the road harder in a straight-up battle against The Usos, but they used the anything-goes lawlessness of the Chamber to their advantage, earning the deciding pinfall with a jackknife rope-assisted double roll-up of sorts.
That’s the name of the game with this anything-goes match, and especially this team. Nobody should be jealous of what they did to keep the titles, but unfortunately, everyone must simply be jealous that they still have them. (Via WWE.com)
Aleister Black defeated AJ Styles (with The O.C.). (No Disqualification Match)
AJ Styles sent a message to The Undertaker, and The Undertaker must have been listening. The Deadman once again reared his head in the deciding moments of Styles’ No Disqualification bout against Aleister Black, thwarting The Phenomenal One for the second straight pay-per-view and giving Black a measure of payback against the Superstar who handed him his first-ever post-NXT singles defeat.
Styles didn’t exactly hide the fact that Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson were going to be at ringside, and the 3-on-1 advantage came into play at the tail end of a match that had already included Kendo sticks, tables and chairs. Black finally sized up Styles for the Black Mass when the good brothers interfered, dropping Black with a Magic Killer and holding him in place for the Phenomenal Forearm. The gong tolled before Styles could soar, and The Deadman appeared in Black’s place, snatching AJ out of midair for a Chokeslam before disappearing from whence he came.
A stunned Styles wandered straight into the path of Black Mass, which dropped him like a rock for the three-count. The Dutch Destroyer staggered up the ramp bearing the wounds of his battle, seemingly caring little that he had had the most formidable of assists. Either way, he had gotten what he came for. And AJ Styles, in a way, did too. (Via WWE.com)
Styles didn’t exactly hide the fact that Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson were going to be at ringside, and the 3-on-1 advantage came into play at the tail end of a match that had already included Kendo sticks, tables and chairs. Black finally sized up Styles for the Black Mass when the good brothers interfered, dropping Black with a Magic Killer and holding him in place for the Phenomenal Forearm. The gong tolled before Styles could soar, and The Deadman appeared in Black’s place, snatching AJ out of midair for a Chokeslam before disappearing from whence he came.
A stunned Styles wandered straight into the path of Black Mass, which dropped him like a rock for the three-count. The Dutch Destroyer staggered up the ramp bearing the wounds of his battle, seemingly caring little that he had had the most formidable of assists. Either way, he had gotten what he came for. And AJ Styles, in a way, did too. (Via WWE.com)
RAW Tag Team Championship: The new, RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS, The Street Profits defeated Seth Rollins & Murphy.
Seth Rollins came into WWE Elimination Chamber hoping to reclaim the Raw Tag Team Titles alongside Murphy and get his mission back on track. Instead, The Monday Night Messiah found himself besieged by a series of nonbelievers who thwarted the plans of the self-styled prophet, allowing The Street Profits to retain the titles and keep Rollins’ crusade stuck in first gear.
The first interlopers were The Viking Raiders, fresh off a win over Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins on the Kickoff show, who charged down the ramp and neutralized AOP, brawling with the former Raw Tag Team Champions to the locker-room area. The second was Kevin Owens, who marched down from the concourse with a box of popcorn, casually took a seat atop one of the announce tables and threw a handful of the snack into the face of an incensed Rollins.
Angelo Dawkins did the rest, pouncing The Monday Night Messiah into the barricade and leaving Murphy with no backup. The Street Profits dispatched the former NXT Cruiserweight Champion with a combo of a spinebuster and Frog Splash, and Owens provided the exclamation point, Stunning Rollins after the match and dumping popcorn on Murphy as he exited. Rough week for he who would change the world, but nobody said changing hearts and minds was easy. (Via WWE.com)
The first interlopers were The Viking Raiders, fresh off a win over Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins on the Kickoff show, who charged down the ramp and neutralized AOP, brawling with the former Raw Tag Team Champions to the locker-room area. The second was Kevin Owens, who marched down from the concourse with a box of popcorn, casually took a seat atop one of the announce tables and threw a handful of the snack into the face of an incensed Rollins.
Angelo Dawkins did the rest, pouncing The Monday Night Messiah into the barricade and leaving Murphy with no backup. The Street Profits dispatched the former NXT Cruiserweight Champion with a combo of a spinebuster and Frog Splash, and Owens provided the exclamation point, Stunning Rollins after the match and dumping popcorn on Murphy as he exited. Rough week for he who would change the world, but nobody said changing hearts and minds was easy. (Via WWE.com)
Intercontinental Championship: Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro defeated INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION, Braun Strowman. (3-on-1- Handicap match)
Let this be a lesson to all who underestimate Sami Zayn: Don’t do that. Despite being all but counted out by Braun Strowman in an Intercontinental Championship 3-on-1 Handicap Match, The Great Liberator scored the deciding pinfall, bringing the title back to his stable around the waist of its very founder.
That’s a little surprising since it was Shinsuke Nakamurawho held the championship before Strowman, but nobody can say Zayn didn’t play this perfectly. He goaded Strowman into a frenzy the entire time, always allowing Nakamura and Cesaro to do the heavy lifting.
Still, it was a true team effort that finally felled the Monster Among Men, with the trio executing a double suplex-Helluva Kick combo that dropped the big man. Zayn made the cover to win the title, much to Strowman’s visible, and understandable, anger. In a battle of brains over brawn (Braun?), it was clear who had the stronger strategy. It was also clear which of them was most willing to settle the score in a straight-up fight (Hint: It wasn’t Sami). But those are the rules of the match. To the victor, go the spoils. (Via WWE.com)
That’s a little surprising since it was Shinsuke Nakamurawho held the championship before Strowman, but nobody can say Zayn didn’t play this perfectly. He goaded Strowman into a frenzy the entire time, always allowing Nakamura and Cesaro to do the heavy lifting.
Still, it was a true team effort that finally felled the Monster Among Men, with the trio executing a double suplex-Helluva Kick combo that dropped the big man. Zayn made the cover to win the title, much to Strowman’s visible, and understandable, anger. In a battle of brains over brawn (Braun?), it was clear who had the stronger strategy. It was also clear which of them was most willing to settle the score in a straight-up fight (Hint: It wasn’t Sami). But those are the rules of the match. To the victor, go the spoils. (Via WWE.com)
Shayna Baszler defeated WWE Women's Tag Team Champion, Asuka, Liv Morgan, Natalya, Sarah Logan & Ruby Riott. (RAW Women's Championship #1 contendership Elimination Chamber match)
Shayna Baszler is going to WrestleMania, and it wasn’t even close.
With a Raw Women’s Title Match against Becky Lynch at stake, The Queen of Spades routed the entire field in the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match, eliminating all five of her opponents to earn the fateful match against The Man on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
With all due respect to Natalya, Ruby Riott and Sarah Logan, their early scrap was just a preamble for Baszler’s entry at No. 4. The two-time NXT Women’s Champion submitted Ruby and Logan within the span of 60 seconds and brutalized Natalya with a Chamber pod door to set up her own submission. Liv Morgan put up a fight, but she went quickly as well, passing out in a Kirifuda Clutch in full view of Asuka, the last Superstar to enter the Chamber and the one who was hungriest to fight The Queen of Spades.
While The Empress of Tomorrow briefly trapped Baszler in the Asuka Lock, The Queen of Spades escaped the hold and torqued Asuka’s injured wrist to leave the former SmackDown Women’s Champion screaming in pain. Shayna applied the Kirifuda Clutch to her as well, putting The Empress of Tomorrow to sleep and setting her WrestleMania match in stone.
Needless to say, Becky Lynch had eyes on the match, watching from a monitor in the locker room area. The Man seemed somewhat satisfied that Baszler was the Superstar who escaped the Chamber to earn a fight against her at WrestleMania. It was, after all, exactly what she wanted. If tonight was any indication, however, anyone who seeks a fight with Baszler ends up much the worse for wear. As they say, be careful what you wish for. (Via WWE.com)
With a Raw Women’s Title Match against Becky Lynch at stake, The Queen of Spades routed the entire field in the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match, eliminating all five of her opponents to earn the fateful match against The Man on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
With all due respect to Natalya, Ruby Riott and Sarah Logan, their early scrap was just a preamble for Baszler’s entry at No. 4. The two-time NXT Women’s Champion submitted Ruby and Logan within the span of 60 seconds and brutalized Natalya with a Chamber pod door to set up her own submission. Liv Morgan put up a fight, but she went quickly as well, passing out in a Kirifuda Clutch in full view of Asuka, the last Superstar to enter the Chamber and the one who was hungriest to fight The Queen of Spades.
While The Empress of Tomorrow briefly trapped Baszler in the Asuka Lock, The Queen of Spades escaped the hold and torqued Asuka’s injured wrist to leave the former SmackDown Women’s Champion screaming in pain. Shayna applied the Kirifuda Clutch to her as well, putting The Empress of Tomorrow to sleep and setting her WrestleMania match in stone.
Needless to say, Becky Lynch had eyes on the match, watching from a monitor in the locker room area. The Man seemed somewhat satisfied that Baszler was the Superstar who escaped the Chamber to earn a fight against her at WrestleMania. It was, after all, exactly what she wanted. If tonight was any indication, however, anyone who seeks a fight with Baszler ends up much the worse for wear. As they say, be careful what you wish for. (Via WWE.com)