WWE Elimination Chamber 2012 Results: Winners, Twitter Reaction and Highlights

The 2012 WWE Elimination Chamber is going to be remembered for some exciting moments, but nothing special. There were no major announcements, no epic matches and little advancement on future storylines.

Regardless, this is the WWE, and there were plenty of exciting moments that remind you why you are, in fact, a fan to begin with. Here is a recap of all of the action from Milwaukee on Sunday night.

WINNERS:

In what was billed as the road to WrestleMania, for some reason the featured match of the night ended up being the very first one.

WWE Championship (Raw) Elimination Chamber: CM Punk vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. R-Truth vs. Chris Jericho vs. The Miz

This star-studded event was intense from the very beginning. Punk was smashing Kofi into Jericho’s pod before Y2J even entered the ring.

R-Truth had a disappointing quick exit that makes you wonder what the future holds for the one-time rising star.

Kofi tossed around Punk at first, only to lose steam as more participants entered the ring. The most memorable moment was a Punk roundhouse kick that drilled Jericho in the head, knocking him out of the match.

When it was down to just Punk and The Miz, a GTS sealed the deal for Punk after he narrowly avoided a pin. It was pretty predictable, with Punk remaining the champ.

WINNER: CM PUNK

Beth Phoenix vs. Tamina Snuka

Tamina got off to a quick start but Beth retaliated with a strong choke hold. She mimicked the “Superfly” pose and looked to be in complete control.

Yet, Tamina was able to fight her way out of it and slam Beth to the ground. Her attempt to drop the Superfly Splash backfired for Tamina, and Beth ended up hitting her with a superplex.

Finally, after an incredibly even match, Beth nailed Tamina with a Glam Slam, and the match was a wrap.

Winner: Beth Phoenix

World Heavyweight Championship (SmackDown) Elimination Chamber: Wade Barrett vs. Big Show vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Santino vs. Santino Marellav vs. Great Khali vs.  Daniel Bryan

This was as reminder of why SmackDown pales in comparison to Raw. The match was incredibly generic and bland with only the Big Show asserting himself for the entire first part of the match. It was just a bunch of lesser name guys roughing each other up until Daniel Bryan emerged for his pod as the last contestant.

After taking some serious punishment from Barrett, Santino helped bail out Bryan, but was then greeted with a big black boot from Barrett.

Just when you thought there was going to be an upset, Santino distracted Barrett just long enough for Bryan to deliver a punishing flying headbutt. It knocked down Barrett and Santino collected the easy pin.

Santino had an impressive performance up to that point, but was destroyed by Daniel Bryan when the elimination came down to the two of them. Santino was able to duck a flying headbutt, and pull out the cobra on Bryan, but he couldn’t get more than a two count.

Bryan’s superior conditioning ends up the difference, as he eventually pinned a fatigued Santino.

Winner: Daniel Bryan

Jack Swagger vs. Justin Gabriel

What a bore. Swagger took care of business quickly after a brief brawl outside the ring. Swagger secured him with an ankle lock and a pinfall.

Winner: Jack Swagger

John Cena vs. Kane

The ambulance match was all about using your environment in any way possible. Both men were hitting each other with stretchers and a back board, among other objects.

Kane was able to shake off a five-knuckle shuffle and suffocate Cena into falling asleep. Kane threw Cena in a wheelchair and was hitting him with equipment like a MacBook Pro. Huh?

Cena eventually got on his feet and used steel steps as a weapon before slamming Kane’s head into a door. After one last hit with a piece of the stage, Cena tossed Kane in the ambulance and slammed the door shut.

Winner: John Cena

TWITTER REACTION:

The general consensus of how fans felt about the festivities can be summed up into one word: Yawn.

"

No Jericho swerve. No Rock swerve. No Ryder swerve. No Kharma swerve. #whataboringppv #WWE #Chamber

— Cena Heel Turn (@CenaHeelTurn) February 20, 2012"

Even Justin LaBar, host of Wrestlezone and Wrestling Reality 1 on 1 believes it was an event that was nothing more than an attempt by the WWE executives to make their pockets even fatter:

"

Elimination Chamber is biggest example of being a "all about the $ show" and a last minute "out" for creative to change things before Mania

— Justin LaBar (@JustinLaBar) February 20, 2012"

Despite the unoriginality, that didn’t keep the fans from screaming their lungs out at the following five wrestlers who received the biggest cheers:

"

Top five fan favorites #eliminationchamber were 1. Cena 2. Santino 3. Big Show 4. CM Punk 5. The Great Khali? Which one does not fit? lol

— Henry (@MohrHen) February 20, 2012"

Santino wasn't even supposed to be here but took full advantage of the opportunity given to him. 

In wake of the ultra-predicable Cena-Kane match, I think this sums up the thoughts of most of us:

"

I hope the Cena and Kane feud is over and the Cena and CM Punk feud begins!!!!

— *The Viper's Venom* (@cenationlover97) February 20, 2012"

While the details on Jericho’s injury haven’t been released, there is a sentiment building that the Punk-Jericho feud has already ran its course:

"

Tonight ruined the Punk-Jericho rivalry, I now have no faith in it. I'm not even interested anymore...

— Keenan Lush (@peroxwhyLUSH) February 20, 2012"

Well WWE has roughly 40 days to change your mind judging by the tweet Jericho sent out in the middle of the night: 

"

Revenge is a dish best served Punk....#bestintheworldateverythingido

— Chris Jericho (@IAmJericho) February 20, 2012"

Meanwhile Punk is the champ and already thinking about random dudes to wrestle as he sits on top of the WWE world:

"

I would like @chrisbrown fight somebody that can defend themselves. Me curb stomping that turd would be a #wrestlemaniamoment.

— CM Punk (@CMPunk) February 20, 2012"

Now that would rake in the PPV sales. 

HIGHLIGHTS:

Jericho’s Injury

Punk’s performance will surely be one of the lasting memories of fans, but so will the injury to Jericho. A roundhouse kick to the face by the world champion is going to hurt—I don’t care who you are.

I wonder how severe the injury really was and if Jericho was actually supposed to win instead of Punk. Regardless, Y2J can use this loophole to declare he has never officially lost to the champ.

Jericho vs. Punk in WrestleMania is Official

Jericho was unable to comment after the night and it remains to be seen just how hurt he is, but regardless of his status, he will be battling Punk for WWE Champion on April 1^st.

Daniel Bryan Retains World Title

The field certainly didn’t give him the greatest of competition, but Bryan took care of business and did so without the glitz and glamour that so many wrestlers get consumed with. If you are new to WWE and looking for a regular guy that still is incredibly dominant in the ring…Bryan is your guy right now.

Sheamus Chooses Daniel Bryan

This was a no-brainer.

Everyone knew who the Royal Rumble winner had his eyes on, and the victory in the Elimination Chamber was all of the proof Sheamus needed to challenge the World Title holder for a showdown at WrestleMania 28.

John Cena Cruises Past Kane

In the most obvious outcome of the night, Cena crushed Kane in the ambulance match that wrapped up festivities at the end of the night.

Nothing has changed for Cena, who is now counting down the days until his April 1^st WrestleMania showdown with The Rock.

WHAT’S NEXT:

No sleep for the weary. Monday Night Raw will give us a Jericho injury update, a recap of all of the festivities and an appearance by The Undertaker in some way, shape or form.

While the Elimination Chamber may have failed to live up to the hype, it’s time to start counting down the days until WrestleMania.