WWE Elimination Chamber: A Potent Performance Delivered on Eve of Network Launch

Last night was a breath of fresh air. For months, we've witnessed creative dabble in its own bad ideas, often completely ignoring feedback from the universe it supposedly aims to appease. While the Randy Orton victory over a valiant Daniel Bryan in the Elimination Chamber was hardly a surprise, (even predicted how Bryan would eventually fall via Kane interference) that doesn't negate an overall stellar showing by the WWE.

Considering the network launches today, a performance of this magnitude could not have been more punctual. Last night was fun, it was fresh; last night was the first night in a while that the WWE allowed me to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the product. Frankly, it was cool to be a wrestling fan.

No forced awkward promos, few gimmicks—save the Santino WWE toy spot—and pure, unadulterated wrestling. It was a worthy package last night, minus a few Authority plugs. Let's dissect and discuss.

Big E Langston vs. Jack Swagger

Personally, I thought Big E's run was up. The commentary was sure to note that he had been champion since November on several occasions, which to me read as respect to Big E before he jobs for Swagger.

This Intercontinental Championship (IC) match was a model demonstration of brute strength. Massive belly-to-belly suplexes and plenty of high-impact slams that made the ring move. Neither performer was afraid to leave their feet, which made for an enticing show.

I was genuinely surprised when Big E hit the Big Ending and retained the title. Swagger was getting all the pops in this one. "We the people!" rang out from the Target Center, on two different occasions during the match, which is a surefire signal that fans are bored with face Big E and ready for something new. 

It would be criminal to end this angle after one match; there was a lot of potential. Swagger is a compelling opponent, and if they're going to keep the belt around Big E's waist, he'll need a worthy adversary. He's just not exciting enough by himself to make me care. Still, a solid match to begin the evening.

The Usos vs. The New Age Outlaws (NAO)

I thought an Usos victory was possible last night. But then I remembered that Triple H always takes care of his own, and that his poker buddies would definitely not have their WrestleMania appearance slighted.

The match was underwhelming at best. The NAO took a lot of punishment by the high-flying Usos before quickly sneaking a win via a Billy Gunn roll-up from behind. 

While I'm less surprised that The Usos will probably have to wait until WrestleMania to grab the titles, I'm a little disappointed that The NAO will be on the WrestleMania card. It's nothing against them personally; they simply cannot match the intensity of their opponents. And what's really unfortunate about that is the champions they replaced, The Rhodes Brothers, could equal the intensity of The Usos.

Of course, they fought in the pre-show. Creative again circumvents a high-potential feud for Triple H's inner circle. Oh well.

Titus O'Neil Vs. Darren Young

In one of two squash matches of the evening, this match was nothing more than the WWE marketing an up-and-coming Titus O'Neil, and I use "up-and-coming" because this push is coming whether we like it or not. Unless I'm watching Rick Steiner, I'm good on the barking beef-heads. 

O'Neil couldn't have had a more disposable opponent than he did. Darren Young promised to be "turnt," last evening, and I suppose he was at least honest. O'Neil "turnt" him a few times before mercifully ending this match to a chorus of crickets. 

Young jobbed and will probably be relegated to house shows and Main Event. We'll have to endure a few months of O'Neil while the WWE explores his potential. 

The Shield Vs. The Wyatts

This match alone deserves its own article. Before a single punch was thrown, the performers stood silently to a chorus of "This is awesome!"

A side note: I hope the WWE was really paying attention to these pops. These are the kind of pops the company should be getting before and after a WWE Championship match. These are the kind of pops that are supposed to accompany any "face of the company."

Dean Ambrose willingly ignited the chaos when he charged at Bray, and the much-anticipated brawl was on. While The Shield piled on early, Luke Harper stole the attention with a surprising drop-kick. It's just not often you see a guy his size, with his skill set, leave his feet.

It's impossible to denote any one performer who stole the show during this match. Seth Rollins is rapidly gaining a reputation for high-flying, and his flip over the ropes to outside the ring on The Wyatts was just awesome. 

That actually followed a stunning spot from Luke Harper, who literally launched himself at The Shield from inside of the ring right through the ropes. While Bray is undoubtedly the most compelling reason to follow the buzzard, Luke Harper demonstrated a wide, diverse skill set that separates him from other guys his frame.

Ambrose removed himself from the match as he and Bray Wyatt brawled well into the crowd. That left a beaten Rollins vulnerable for what was arguably the bump of the night. The Wyatt Family lifted Rollins from the American announce table and double-choke slammed him right through the Spanish table.

This might seem somewhat routine, but it's worth noting that the Minneapolis crowd was chanting "We want tables!" almost from the beginning of the match. The Wyatts happily obliged, much to the delight of everyone. A second "This is awesome!" ensued. And at this point, it had to; the performers were giving the audience no choice but to be entertained.

That set the stage for Roman Reigns to once again save The Shield and perhaps deliver a Survivor Series-esque performance. And he almost did. But after kicking The Wyatts aside and nailing Harper with a spear, he was grabbed by Bray and Sister Abigailed-ed, sealing an enormous victory for The Wyatt Family.

I can't say this enough: this is the hottest angle the WWE has going. It would be absolutely insane not to continue this rivalry into WrestleMania. The potential between these two stables is overwhelming. Consider the possibilities: the cage, tables, a ladder, the cell. These guys can take it there. It's up to creative to enable them. But for reasons I’ll cover later on, it probably won’t happen.

AJ Lee vs. Cameron 

Look, it's not that this match was bad, it's that it followed a match that set the bar ridiculously high. Impossible for any divas match to follow the brilliance of The Shield and The Wyatts. Booking did AJ Lee and Cameron no favors.

I'm just being honest. I watched with little concern before AJ Lee unsurprisingly retained the belt. Plenty of time to discuss the divas angles in the comments below for those in search of deeper diva insight.

Alberto Del Rio vs. Batista

Yes, squash match number two. We can argue the definition of squash if you'd like, but how could anyone consider this match anything other than that? The sole purpose of this match was to get you on Batista's side. Empathize for the big man. I mean, look, he was beaten mercilessly with crutches before the match even began! 

I knew Del Rio had no chance of winning. None. Not while Triple H and creative are in the middle of forcing Batista past our trachea. This made the match pretty boring for me. I simply cannot buy into what creative wants me to think about Batista.

Batista, at best, is a mid-card heel. That's really not my opinion, that's a reflection of the silence induced upon every Batista entrance. The fans are not connecting with him. Seeing this on a nightly basis, you'd think, would force creative to re-evaluate its strategy for WrestleMania.

But it's not happening. Batista "overcomes" a Del Rio beating and continues his march towards WrestleMania. Notably, the fans were chanting for Del Rio, the "heel" in this awful rivalry. Think about that as you gloss over the eventual WresltleMania Orton v. Batista propaganda.


The Elimination Chamber

It was everything it needed to be. The high spots, the high-impact slams on metal, flesh intertwined with chain. The chamber, in many ways, delivered that shot of extreme the WWE so desperately needed.

Rather than combing through the entire match, here are the notable moments that propelled this match to the height it reached:

• Antonio Cesaro and Sheamus had an entertaining aside that ended with them both going through the plexiglass of a pod.

• Sheamus brogue kicked Randy Orton through a pod's plexiglass. 

• Christian's frog splash from the top of the chamber was excellent. This move never gets old. If there's a high structure surrounding a wrestling ring, someone had better jump from it. Christian delivered in flying colors as he eliminated Sheamus.

• Daniel Bryan eliminated Christian with the flying knee.

• Cesaro's impressive Chamber debut was ended as he tapped out to John Cena's STF, a less than admirable end to an entertaining performance.

• Cena put Orton in the STF before the lights went off, and The Wyatts stole the show for the second time this evening. They rocked Bryan before decimating Cena, making this the second consecutive pay-per-view in which The Wyatts have ruined Cena. While this is an intriguing angle, I fear it disrupts an even more powerful feud with The Shield. 

• As I accurately predicted last week, the match was decided when Kane interfered with Bryan, who appeared to have the match won. He pulled Bryan out, allowed Orton to hit the RKO and end the match.

It was a great showing. The performers seemed all too eager to convince a hungry Minnesota crowd. It was the kind of performance that needed to happen on the eve of the WWE Network launch. For a refreshing change, the WWE didn't bore its universe, even if it did opt to tease us with another Daniel Bryan whiff of the WWE Championship (a good booking decision, in my opinion).

Though that does raise questions about when Bryan will re-enter the title discussion, as his attention will most assuredly shift right to Kane.

Sure, we'll still have to stomach one of the most boring, irrelevant WrestleMania main events in the history of the WWE, but there's just too much going on outside of the WWE Championship picture to stress on The Authority and its mundane direction for the WWE title.

I can’t say with confidence that the product is hot again. I can, however, say that last night’s pay-per-view delivered on many levels, even to routinely dissatisfied fans like me. To everyone who advises the dissatisfied to stop watching: last night was a necessary reminder of why that's just bad advice.