REVIEW: Elimination Chamber 2022: Now With A Purpose

Welcome to KB’s Previous Faculty (and New Faculty) Evaluations. I’ve been reviewing wrestling exhibits for over twelve years now and have reviewed over 6,000 exhibits. Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I’ll be posting a brand new evaluation right here on Wrestlingrumors.web. It might be something from trendy WWE to old style to indies to something in between. Be aware that I price utilizing letters as a substitute of stars and I don’t price matches below three minutes as actually, how good or unhealthy can one thing that brief be?

Elimination Chamber 2022Date: February 19, 2022Location: Jeddah Tremendous Dome, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaCommentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Pat McAfee, Byron Saxton, Jimmy Smith

We’re again on the opposite facet of the world this time and the cardboard is fairly stacked. There are two Elimination Chamber matches to go along with three girls’s matches as we prepare for Wrestlemania. That might go in a couple of route and the present appears a bit extra fascinating consequently. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Present: Miz vs. Rey Mysterio

Dominik Mysterio is right here with Rey. Miz knocks him down to start out and hits the early posing on the ropes. Again up and Rey headscissors him into 619 place however Miz isn’t fairly prepared for that. As a substitute Rey knocks him to the ground for the sliding splash, setting off a 619 chant. Dominik sends Miz again inside (twerp) however he breaks up one thing from Rey on the highest. They head outdoors once more with Miz sending him into the barricade, organising the operating kick to the face again inside.

The chinlock units up the YES Kicks however, as normal, the massive one misses. One other headscissors sends Miz into the put up and there’s the highest rope seated senton to drop him once more. Miz is again with a DDT for 2 however the Cranium Crushing Finale is damaged up. The 619 connects so Miz has to roll outdoors earlier than the highest rope splash can launch.

Miz grabs a chair, incomes himself a dive from Rey. Dominik grabs the chair and takes it away, so Miz fakes being shoved into the steps. That’s sufficient for an ejection of Dominik, however Rey counters the 619 right into a cradle for the pin at 9:15, proving that Dominik is in actual fact nugatory and a detriment.

Score: C+. These two work nicely collectively and placing Rey out there’s a good technique to open any present. The followers are going to answer him and the excessive flying/quick paced stuff continues to be greater than entertaining sufficient to look at. Odds are this units up Dominik beating Miz as nicely, as a result of Dominik will likely be a factor whether or not you want him or not.

Publish match Miz goes after Rey, which attracts Dominik again in for the save. A double 619 units up again to again frog splashes to depart Miz laying.

The opening video seems at how the Elimination Chamber is right here, which units us on the Highway to WrestleMania. The remainder of the matches get a glance as nicely.

We recap Goldberg vs. Roman Reigns for Reigns’ Common Title. Reigns is on the way in which to Wrestlemania and Brock Lesnar however he has to cease for a match towards Goldberg, who simply mentioned he was getting a title match.

Common Title: Roman Reigns vs. Goldberg

Reigns, with the remainder of the Bloodline, is defending. They stare at one another for a great whereas and the GOLDBERG chants are on. The massive energy lockup goes to Goldberg however Reigns begins punching him within the face. Goldberg is shipped outdoors however he sends Reigns into the barricade for a breather. Again in and the spear cuts Reigns down however the Jackhammer is countered right into a launch Rock Backside. The Superman Punch drops Goldberg once more however Reigns’ spear is countered by Goldberg’s spear. The Jackhammer doesn’t work although as Reigns reverses into the guillotine and Goldberg is out at 5:59.

Score: C. Completely satisfied days are right here once more as they will’t threaten us with this silly match anymore. It wasn’t precisely good however it was brief, which is a very powerful facet of any Goldberg match. I do know it will have been insane to vary the title right here, however it isn’t like they haven’t completed one thing nutty with Goldberg earlier than. This might have been far worse, which is in regards to the benchmark for many Goldberg matches nowadays.

Video on the Elimination Chamber.

Rhea Ripley vs. Doudrop vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Nikki Ash vs. Alexa Bliss

For the Uncooked Ladies’s Title shot at Wrestlemania. Nikki and Liv begin, leaving Alexa in her pod, full with swing (due to course). Liv will get despatched into the cage, the Plexiglas and the cage flooring till Doudrop is in after about two minutes. Doudrop is available in at #3 and drives Nikki into the cage again and again earlier than slicing off Liv for making an attempt to interrupt it up. A missed cost sends Doudrop into the put up although and Nikki is left alone within the ring as Rhea Ripley is in at #4.

The stalking is on however Ripley has to superkick Doudrop. Ripley sends Nikki into the cage and climbs the cage to pose a bit, organising Riptide to do away with Nikki at 6:18. Alexa Bliss is in at #5 and will get to scrub home, together with Insult To Damage for 2 on Morgan. Again up and Morgan knocks Bliss down and goes up however Doudrop shoves her off the ropes (with Morgan’s leg getting caught) for a crash. Ripley presents a distraction although and Morgan hits a sundown bomb to do away with Doudrop at 8:51.

Bianca Belair is in at #6 to finish the sector as Morgan might need damage her knee when she acquired caught on the ropes. Belair hits a scary one armed gorilla press on Morgan and a handspring moonsault hits Bliss. We get the Ripley vs. Belair showdown however they cease to suplex Bliss and Belair as a substitute (with Bliss’ gown falling onto Ripley’s face whereas she’s the other way up). The staredown is on once more they usually commerce some arduous slaps to the face. The KOD is damaged up however Morgan hits a double Codebreaker.

Bliss is again up with what regarded like a operating Blockbuster to Morgan, organising Twisted Bliss for the elimination at 12:08. Bliss hits Ripley with a DDT and the KOD provides Belair the pin at 12:41, leaving us with Bliss vs. Belair. A Code Crimson provides Bliss two however Belair powers her down. The 450 misses however Bliss can’t hit her DDT. As a substitute Belair powers her up for a suplex, which is damaged up as nicely. One other DDT is blocked so Bliss rolls her up for 2. Belair has had it although and hits the KOD for the pin and the title shot at 15:35.

Score: C+. The time was all over right here and I imagine that is the shortest Elimination Chamber match ever. The nice factor is that they didn’t go nuts by having Bliss win in her return to push her straight to Wrestlemania. As a lot as I needed Ripley to win, Belair has unfinished enterprise with Becky Lynch so that’s in all probability the correct technique to go.

Video on Bobby Lashley.

WWE met with some Particular Olympians this weekend.

Naomi/Ronda Rousey vs. Sonya Deville/Charlotte

Deville has a foul arm coming in and consequently, Rousey has to have an arm tied behind her again. Rousey involves the ring in her judo gear for a special look. We get a video on Rousey earlier than we’re able to go. Deville and Rousey begin issues off and imagine it or not, Deville’s arm is out of the blue superb. Charlotte presents a distraction so Deville can bounce Rousey within the nook.

A kick to the top rocks Deville although and a knee to the top does it once more. Rousey desires Charlotte, who is ok sufficient to return in, solely to tag proper again out. Naomi is available in to leap Sonya however will get despatched arduous into the nook. A clothesline is prevented with a slide although and it’s again to Rousey, who tries the armbar on Sonya. That’s damaged up with a kick to the face although and Charlotte will get to cut away within the nook.

The double teaming continues, with Charlotte kicking Naomi off the apron. A hammerlock goes onto Ronda’s good arm however she manages to knock Charlotte down and convey Naomi again in. The springboard kick to the face rocks Charlotte however Rousey is knocked outdoors. Again up and the new tag brings in Rousey, organising Piper’s Pit to Deville. Charlotte is ok sufficient to look on as Deville faucets to the armbar at 9:12.

Score: C. It went a bit longer than it wanted to however they did what they wanted to do. There was no purpose to have Charlotte and Rousey do something essential right here they usually didn’t waste time. Rousey will get to appear like a drive and Deville will likely be superb after a fast promo the place she abuses her energy once more. It won’t have been nice, however it did its job.

We recap Madcap Moss vs. Drew McIntyre. Moss and Completely satisfied Corbin injured McIntyre’s neck and put him out for a couple of month so it’s time for revenge in a Falls Rely Anyplace match.

Drew McIntyre vs. Madcap Moss

Falls Rely Anyplace and Completely satisfied Corbin is right here with Moss. Corbin helps bounce McIntyre to start out and the combat heads outdoors. One other shot from Corbin wakes McIntyre up so the chase is on, with Corbin bailing to the again. Moss tries to leap the distracted McIntyre however he will get kicked within the face as a substitute. Corbin runs again out to maintain Moss from being thrown off the stage and it’s a double suplex to drop McIntyre.

Again in and McIntyre fights again, organising the reverse Alabama Slam, with Moss touchdown HARD on prime of his head in a terrifying crash. Corbin presents a distraction however Moss fees right into a stomach to stomach on the ground. McIntyre tells commentary to maneuver so he can suplex Moss over the announcers’ desk. Corbin is again as much as ship McIntyre by way of the barricade for 2 however McIntyre is ok sufficient to hit a superplex for his personal close to fall again inside. The Futureshock units up the Claymore (with McIntyre holding Angela the sword) for the pin at 9:11.

Score: C-. What else had been you anticipating right here? McIntyre wasn’t going to interrupt a tough sweat towards Moss and this was little greater than an prolonged exercise. I’m certain we’ll get McIntyre vs. Corbin at Wrestlemania and it gained’t be a lot better as a result of it’s simply ending this story off. I do know WWE thinks it’s a sufficiently big deal however who may presumably have an interest on this present?

We recap the Kickoff Present match with Rey Mysterio beating Miz, adopted by Dominik beating up Miz for a bonus.

Miz is livid and guarantees to get a accomplice to assist take care of the Mysterios. He’s off for a telephone name.

WWE Superstars had enjoyable in Jeddah, as a result of it’s totally different right here.

Uncooked Ladies’s Title: Becky Lynch vs. Lita

Lita is difficult and shoulders Becky down to start out, incomes a YOU STILL GOT IT chant. The Twist of Fame is damaged up and Becky snaps the again of Lita’s neck throughout the highest. The stomping is on earlier than Becky kicks away on the ribs. Becky’s center rope Fameasser brings Lita out of the ropes for 2 and the Bexploder will get the identical. One other Bexploder is countered right into a DDT for 2 and the comeback is on. Lita hits a center rope crossbody for 2 they usually go to a pinfall reversal sequence.

Lynch will get caught grabbing the rope so Lita pulls her right into a sleeper, which Lynch wants the rope to flee. A powerbomb out of the nook provides Lita two and she or he busts out a Trish Stratus Stratusfaction. A snapmare driver provides Lita two however Becky is again with the Disarm-Her. That’s blocked as nicely, so Becky hits the Manhandle Slam for 2, with Lita getting a meals on the rope. Lynch misses a moonsault so Lita hits a Twist of Destiny into the Litasault for her personal close to fall. Again up and Lynch hits a fast Manhandle Slam to retain at 12:14.

Score: C+. Contemplating Lita has barely wrestled in years, this was a reasonably entertaining match. Lynch wasn’t about to drop the title however they gave Lita so much right here, as they need to have. I do like bringing in these legends to face the champions from time to time, as it’s a good technique to bridge the hole between the main title defenses. Typically it’s okay to have a fast story with out the drama and that’s what they did right here.

Publish match Becky leaves and Lita will get a little bit of a sendoff.

Undertaker is within the Corridor of Fame and we get the identical lengthy kind video from this week’s Smackdown.

Smackdown Tag Staff Titles: Usos vs. Viking Raiders

The Usos are defending…..in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later as they bounce the Raiders on the ground and lay them out. No match.

Video on Seth Rollins.

We recap the lads’s Elimination Chamber for the WWE Title. Bobby Lashley beat Brock Lesnar to take the title on the Royal Rumble so Lesnar needed a rematch. That is pretty much as good as he can get, which appears to go well with him simply superb.

WWE Title: Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Riddle vs. Seth Rollins vs. Austin Concept vs. AJ Kinds

Lashley is defending and it’s Seth Rollins beginning with Austin Concept. Throughout Lesnar’s entrance, Cole used the road “taking part in with the home’s cash” for the third time tonight. Rollins hits a Sling Blade to start out however Concept is again with a launch fisherman’s suplex. Some superkicks put Concept down and it’s a Buckle Bomb into Lashley’s pod to depart Lashley and Riddle laying.

Riddle is in at #3 and beats on Riddle as Lashley is helped out of the Chamber. Rollins catches Riddle on prime for a reverse superplex and there’s a frog splash to present Rollins two. AJ Kinds is in at #4 and powerbombs Rollins down for a quick two. A double superplex is loaded up however Concept makes the save and powerbombs Rollins and Kinds down. It’s imagined to be Lashley in subsequent however since he isn’t right here, Lesnar kicks his pod open and begins wrecking folks. The F5 finishes Rollins at 9:48 and one other F5 finishes Riddle at 10:13.

On the similar time, we’re informed that Lashley won’t be again, that means that there will likely be a brand new champion tonight. One other F5 eliminates Kinds at 10:57 and it’s Lesnar vs. Concept for the title. Concept tries to cover in a pod however Lesnar breaks it open and suplexes Concept onto the cage. Concept will get in a low blow and a rolling dropkick, organising a DDT for 2.

Lesnar glares at him so Concept climbs the Chamber and manages to get midway out of the highest earlier than Lesnar pulls him again down. Lesnar slams him head first into the Plexiglas on prime of the pod after which F5s him down onto the Chamber flooring. That’s sufficient for Lesnar to win the title at 14:52.

Score: C. It was brief and to the purpose, which imagine it or not was Lesnar will get one other World Title, as a result of he hasn’t had one among of some weeks now. I’m curious to see how Lashley is tied into the entire thing as he has a case to get one other title shot, although it wouldn’t shock me to see it ignored so we will do Reigns vs. Lesnar. Once more. For each titles. Since nobody else in WWE issues. Once more.

Lesnar poses for a very long time to finish the present.

Total Score: C-. It was higher than many of the Saudi exhibits however it was about as ho hum of a card as you might have had. There have been some adequate matches, however the focus was on organising Brock Lesnar, Becky Lynch, Roman Reigns and Charlotte for Wrestlemania as WWE continues to depend on the identical folks again and again. There wasn’t a foul match on the present, although the reserving continues to not precisely be essentially the most thrilling factor on the earth. I’ll take it over the Crown Jewel and Tremendous Showdown exhibits although so not less than it’s a step up.