WWE Elimination Chamber 2012: How the Main Event Ruined the PPV

Sunday's WWE Elimination Chamber PPV, it seemed, was an experiment to see what would happen if you booked a pay-per-view backwards. The event started with the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber match and ended with John Cena vs. Kane in the second ever Ambulance Match.

Watching the Kane vs. John Cena match, it seemed to drag on. Sure, the crowd got into it as it went on, but I never got into the match like I did all the others on the card. Cena would get the babyface reactions he usually gets, but they would be short-lived at best. So, other than those short-lived pops, it felt like we were watching a heel vs. heel match.

The entire time, I was waiting for the match to be over so I could see whatever aftermath would take place. After all, something big had to happen to warrant Cena and Kane getting the main-event slot on an event named Elimination Chamber, right?

After a 20 minute back-and-forth brawl, Cena made his classic Superman-like comeback to win the match. Cena's victory was not surprising to many, but it was the lack of a follow-up that left a bad taste in this fan's mouth. Personally, I was hoping for something big that would lead into the final stretch before WrestleMania.

Instead, what we got was Cena standing in the ring, looking at the WrestleMania 28 sign as the PPV went off-air.

It left fans wanting more, but not in a good way. After all the focus the Kane vs. Cena feud has demanded, there was virtually no payoff other than Cena's victory. Many fans, including myself, were expecting some sort of transitional event to shift Cena's focus from this feud to his WrestleMania feud with The Rock. The WWE failed to deliver on that. For that reason alone, I believe that Kane vs. Cena ruined the memory of the 2012 Elimination Chamber PPV.

From top to bottom, this year's Elimination Chamber show was far from Road to WrestleMania expectations, but it was not terrible. It did prove the impact that the order of matches has on the show. In my opinion, the awful finish to the show had an adverse effect on the show as a whole. And understandably so, because the finish to a PPV is generally the most memorable part of the show.

Kane vs. John Cena had no reason for main eventing. Had Elimination Chamber ended with CM Punk retaining his WWE Championship after a very exciting and fun Elimination Chamber match, I feel that this PPV would be remembered in a much better light. 

Thanks for reading. As always, I appreciate any feedback on my writing. Feel free to spark a conversation with me regarding what was discussed in this column by commenting or reaching out to me on Twitter @MikePW247. Also, be sure to tune in to This Very Ring every Sunday night at 11 p.m. eastern to listen to myself and Stan Grubb discuss all things pro wrestling.