As expected, Cesaro & Sheamus will defend their titles against Titus O’Neil & Apollo. The Titus Worldwide team defeated the champions in a non-title match on Raw this past Monday and then challenged them in a post-show video, but WWE didn’t officially announce the match until today.
O’Neil & Apollo have beaten Cesaro & Sheamus in three non-title matches this year, but Cesaro & Sheamus retained against them on the January 29th episode of Raw.
The pre-show will also feature Raw’s tag team division, with Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson set to face Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas. Gallows & Anderson had been feuding with The Revival in recent weeks.
With Axel & Dallas helping him out, The Miz eliminated Finn Balor in Monday’s gauntlet match.
The card for Sunday now has six confirmed matches. Here’s the lineup for the show:
Braun Strowman vs. John Cena vs. Elias vs. Roman Reigns vs. The Miz vs. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor in an Elimination Chamber match (winner challenges for Brock Lesnar’s Universal Championship at WrestleMania)
Ronda Rousey signing her Raw contract
Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss defending against Sasha Banks, Bayley, Mickie James, Mandy Rose, and Sonya Deville in an Elimination Chamber match
Asuka vs. Nia Jax (Jax gets added to the Raw Women’s title match at WrestleMania if she wins)
Matt Hardy vs. Bray Wyatt
Raw Tag Team Champions Cesaro & Sheamus defending against Titus O’Neil & Apollo
Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas (pre-show)
Coming our way on the WWE Network from Las Vegas, NV, is Sunday’s WWE Elimination Chamber — the final Raw-only PPV on the road to WrestleMania that is built around two title matches and a contract signing.
The now seven-man Chamber match will decide who faces Universal Champion Brock Lesnar at Mania while the Raw women’s title will be on the line in the first-ever women’s Chamber match. However, the main attraction is former UFC women’s star Ronda Rousey signing her WWE Raw contract.
The four matches that have been booked for this show will shape the Raw side of the WrestleMania card. However, there seems to be a very high level of predictability with the outcomes that often happens on PPVs between the Royal Rumble and Mania. Here’s a look at how we arrived here and what’s at stake on Sunday.
“Woken” Matt Hardy vs. Bray Wyatt
If this program between these two is going to raise these guys to the next level, this is the match where it needs to happen. It all started back in November when Wyatt defeated Hardy in a Raw match which was the final straw to Hardy becoming “woken”. They had a three-minute throwaway match on the Raw 25 show, followed by both guys eliminating each other in the Royal Rumble match. You would expect this feud will not end here, but in order to keep people engaged, something needs to happen. Woken is definitely not Broken and before all is lost, Woken needs to wake up.
Nia Jax vs. Asuka
The biggest threat to Asuka’s long undefeated streak is Jax. These two will meet in Las Vegas with the stipulation that if Jax wins, she will be added to the Raw women’s title match at Mania. Asuka beat Jax back in January when Nia was “unable to continue” while clenching her knee. I can’t imagine that this is going to be the end of the Asuka win streak.
Women’s Elimination Chamber: Raw Champion Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley vs. Mandy Rose vs. Mickie James vs. Sasha Banks vs. Sonya Deville
It’s the first-ever women’s Chamber match and the fact Bliss has to put her title on the line in a Chamber match but Brock Lesnar doesn’t was the basis of her calling Raw GM Kurt Angle sexist on a recent edition of the show.
As for the actual match itself, it is the big stage for Rose and Deville. The two unlikely callups from the NXT brand have a chance to prove that they belong on the main roster. On a weekly basis, Deville has come across as the most likely of the two to have a breakout night.
Banks has looked great as of late in matches with Asuka and Bayley. She looks to get back the title she has held several times but never successfully defended. The two most unlkely winners are Bayley, who has struggled for relevancy but looks to be back up on the rise, and James, who aided Bliss on Monday.
All signs point to Bliss somewhat getting out of Las Vegas with the title still in hand.
Men’s Elimination Chamber: Roman Reigns vs. Elias vs. John Cena vs. Braun Strowman vs. Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins vs. The Miz
After a nearly two-hour gauntlet match, the longest match in WWE history, that saw Seth Rollins grab all the headlines, one thing was certain: Reigns is definitely still winning this match. There are no signs that Vince McMahon & Co. are going to deviate from that plan. Kudos to the WWE for finding a new way to do the Chamber by getting one more person added to the match. This match will start with three guys like a triple threat instead of the standard two that have been in all other Chamber matches.
After the injury to Dean Ambrose, Rollins was dying on the vine, stuck in a midcard program with Jason Jordan vs. The Bar over the Raw tag team titles. That all changed with Jordan’s injury and the marathon match this past Monday as Rollins is back to being a main event guy. The same can be said for Balor, who hasn’t done much since returning from injury. The first-ever Universal champion hasn’t been this close to the title since he held it for just 24 hours after winning it. Elias has been developing a great response to his version of “WWE”, but his matches haven’t been generating a ton of buzz. This is a chance for him to shine in the main event spot that probably belonged to Samoa Joe.
No one has looked better and more impressive than Strowman over the last several months. The crowd is into everything he does whether it’s his dropkicks, picking up vehicles, or destroying announcer tables. Strowman is the man the people love. This will be his first Chamber match and I look forward to what destruction he may cause (maybe a pod or two?). Since he isn’t winning, look for something big to happen to him where he still ends up looking like the man despite not being the one to win the match. If The Miz vs. Braun Strowman at Mania for the Intercontinental title is the plan, I look for these two do something special. We also hope to get an answer to what is next for Cena as well…or at least a nod toward that answer.
But we all know that it’s all about Roman Reigns at the end of the night.
Ronda Rousey signs her contract
By far, this is the moment I am looking the most forward to. Rousey is the most exciting thing the WWE has going on right now, and this moment is all about what is in store for her at WrestleMania. Will it be a title match? Will it be something with Stephanie McMahon & Triple H? This contract signing may not give us the answers officially, but it wil give us some strong indications.
Follow along with Dave Meltzer’s live coverage of the Chamber on Sunday night.
Coming out of tonight’s go-home edition of Raw, there are only four matches officially announced for the Elimination Chamber.
Matt Hardy vs. Bray Wyatt was added to the pay-per-view’s card tonight. Though they’ve been feuding since Hardy became “Woken,” this will be their first singles match on PPV.
Wyatt distracted Hardy during his Elimination Chamber qualifying match earlier this month, leading to Hardy losing to Elias. Hardy then got his revenge after Wyatt’s qualifier against Roman Reigns. They were both involved in a second chance fatal-four way last Monday, which ended with Seth Rollins and Finn Balor pinning Wyatt at the same time.
While the Tag Team title match for the PPV hasn’t been confirmed, Titus O’Neil & Apollo defeated champions Cesaro & Sheamus on Raw tonight. The Revival and Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson have also been feuding in recent weeks.
The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will host Sunday’s Elimination Chamber show. Here’s everything that’s been announced for it up to this point:
Braun Strowman vs. John Cena vs. Elias vs. Roman Reigns vs. The Miz vs. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor in an Elimination Chamber match (winner challenges for Brock Lesnar’s Universal Championship at WrestleMania)
Ronda Rousey signing her Raw contract
Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss defending her title against Sasha Banks, Bayley, Mickie James, Mandy Rose, and Sonya Deville in an Elimination Chamber match
Asuka vs. Nia Jax (Jax gets added to the Raw Women’s title match at WrestleMania if she wins)
All seven of the participants in the men’s Elimination Chamber match will be taking part in the gauntlet. Those wrestlers are: Braun Strowman, Elias, John Cena, Roman Reigns, The Miz, Seth Rollins, and Finn Balor.
WWE hasn’t announced the entry order for the gauntlet, but the match type starts with two people facing off, then another person takes the place of whoever loses until there’s only one wrestler left standing.
Rollins and Balor became the last additions to the Elimination Chamber lineup after they both pinned Bray Wyatt at the same time during a fatal five-way match last Monday. The winner of the men’s Chamber will go on to challenge Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania.
The Miz will be the first person to enter the Elimination Chamber during the match, with Elias set to enter last.
Monday’s Raw will also set up the rest of the card for the pay-per-view. All that’s been announced so far are the men’s and women’s Elimination Chambers, Asuka vs. Nia Jax, and an appearance by Ronda Rousey where she’ll be “signing her Monday Night Raw contract.”
There will be an additional participant in the upcoming men’s Elimination Chamber match.
An advertised fatal four-way qualifying match ended up turning into a five-way on Raw tonight as Seth Rollins was added. It also included Finn Balor, Apollo Crews, Bray Wyatt, and Matt Hardy, and Rollins and Balor pinned Wyatt at the same time after giving him a powerbomb during a Tower of Doom spot.
The show went off the air with an angle where Rollins and Balor argued over who won, but WWE quickly followed up on the finish in a Facebook Live video. After they continued to argue and lobby for the final spot, Kurt Angle said both Rollins and Balor deserve to be in the Elimination Chamber and announced that there will be seven men in the match.
WWE didn’t reveal what the logistics for the Elimination Chamber will be now that there’s a seventh person. It could either start with three people or an additional pod could be added.
Rollins, Balor, John Cena, Elias, Braun Strowman, Roman Reigns, and The Miz will be the seven wrestlers in the Elimination Chamber. The winner will challenge for Brock Lesnar’s Universal Championship at WrestleMania.
As a result of matches that took place over the last two weeks, The Miz will be the first person to enter the Elimination Chamber and Elias will be the final participant let into the match.
The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is set to host the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view on February 25th.
When Ronda Rousey appeared at the end of the Royal Rumble, it inevitably raised a few questions about what’s next for her in WWE.
It took a couple of weeks to get some of those answers, but we now know when her next appearance will be and which brand she’ll be joining. Kurt Angle revealed on Raw tonight that Rousey would be “signing her Monday Night Raw contract” at the brand’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view on February 25th in Las Vegas.
The next step will be WWE confirming Rousey’s plans for WrestleMania. Dave Meltzer reported last month that Rousey teaming with a partner against Stephanie McMahon & Triple H was the plan at that time, with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson being the first choice to partner with Rousey if it’s possible for him to do the match.
Triple H noted on a call with WWE investors last week that the company was in the process of finalizing Rousey’s actual contract. Triple H said it would be a multi-year deal and pro wrestling would be her first priority.
After showing up at the Royal Rumble, Rousey returned to Colombia to finish filming the movie “Mile 22.”
With one more spot remaining going into the episode, the lineup for the men’s Elimination Chamber will be finalized on Raw next week.
Finn Balor, Matt Hardy, Apollo Crews, and Bray Wyatt will face off in a fatal four-way for the final spot in the Chamber match. All four of those wrestlers lost their initial qualifying matches. Kane, who was defeated by Braun Strowman in a qualifier, was involved in an injury angle after his loss.
The winner of the fatal four-way joins Strowman, John Cena, Elias, Roman Reigns, and The Miz in the Elimination Chamber. Elias will be the last person to enter the Chamber during the match after defeating Cena and Strowman in a triple threat on Raw tonight by stealing the pin from Strowman.
The men’s Elimination Chamber will decide Brock Lesnar’s challenger for WrestleMania.
Alexa Bliss will also defend her Raw Women’s Championship against Sasha Banks, Bayley, Mickie James, Mandy Rose, and Sonya Deville in an Elimination Chamber match at the February 25th pay-per-view. Asuka vs. Nia Jax has been announced as well, with the stipulation being that Jax will be added to the Raw Women’s title match at WrestleMania if she wins.
Alexa Bliss’ Elimination Chamber challengers were confirmed on Raw tonight, plus another match was made official for the pay-per-view.
Kurt Angle announced that Sasha Banks, Bayley, Mickie James, Mandy Rose, and Sonya Deville would be challenging for Bliss’ Raw Women’s Championship in the Elimination Chamber. He noted that Nia Jax wasn’t included in that list, then revealed that Jax would be facing Asuka at the PPV.
If Jax wins, she’ll be added to the Raw Women’s title match at WrestleMania. Asuka hasn’t indicated whether she’ll be challenging the Raw or SmackDown Women’s Champion in New Orleans, with the storyline being that she can choose which one she’ll be facing.
During Angle’s announcement, Bliss accused him of being sexist for making her defend her title at the PPV when Brock Lesnar doesn’t have to. Angle responded by pointing out that Bliss hasn’t had a title defense since October and asked the audience if they wanted to see the women’s Chamber match.
Braun Strowman, Elias, John Cena, Roman Reigns, and The Miz have qualified for the men’s Elimination Chamber, with one more spot remaining. That match will decide who challenges Lesnar for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania.
Elimination Chamber 2018 will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on February 25th. Those three matches are all that’s been announced so far.
Following last night’s women’s Royal Rumble, the WWE women’s division is already set for another first-ever match.
Stephanie McMahon opened Raw tonight and confirmed that Alexa Bliss would be defending her Women’s Championship in an Elimination Chamber match on February 25th in Las Vegas. None of the other participants have been revealed yet, but there will be five challengers for Bliss’ title.
Asuka, the winner of the women’s Royal Rumble, was also in the ring when Stephanie made the announcement. The storyline is that Asuka is able to choose whether she’ll face the Raw or SmackDown Women’s Champion at WrestleMania, and Stephanie told her that Bliss may not be champion then due to having to defend her title in the Elimination Chamber.
The T-Mobile Arena, which will be hosting the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, had been indicating that there would be two Chamber matches in their advertising for the event. And the Sporting News reported earlier today that the women’s Elimination Chamber would be happening.
Brock Lesnar’s challenger for WrestleMania will be decided in the men’s Elimination Chamber match, with six qualifying matches set to take place in advance of the PPV.
John Cena vs. Finn Balor, Braun Strowman vs. Kane in a last man standing match, and Matt Hardy vs. Elias are scheduled for tonight’s episode of Raw, with the winners advancing to the PPV. Cena vs. Balor will be the first time the two have ever faced off in a singles match, though Cena did eliminate Balor in last night’s Royal Rumble.
While WWE has yet to announce the three remaining qualifying matches, Roman Reigns has been expected to be Lesnar’s WrestleMania challenger for nearly a year. Dave Meltzer reported last March that Lesnar vs. Reigns was the plan for WrestleMania 34.
The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada will host Elimination Chamber on February 25th. The show is the final Raw-exclusive PPV before WrestleMania, and the venue has indicated in their advertising that there will be two Elimination Chamber matches.
