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Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing WWE Elimination Chamber PPV coverage from Phoenix, Arizona.
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Kickoff:
The panel is Renee Young, Booker T, Sam Roberts and Carmella.
They discussed The Naomi vs. Alex Bliss match for the WWE Smackdown Women's championship. Carmella was acting bored that the panel was talking about women other than her, which was pretty damn funny. Booker and Sam predicted a new champion would be crowd. Roberts said that Naomi would win but only if she's not thinking too forward about Wrestlemania. Carmella said she didn't really care because she wasn't in the match but if she had to pick, she would say Alexa.
They aired a video feature on Luke Harper vs. Randy Orton. The panel gave predictions Carmella picked Randy Orton because Harper looks like he's never cleaned his shirt. Roberts called a Luke Harper upset. Booker said Randy is going to be inside Harper's mind and that is too much to overcome. Renee agreed it will be Orton.
They next discussed the Tag Team Turmoil and from a storyline perspective, how hard it is to make it through the entire bout if you are starting out first. They noted that American Alpha was even willing to start. Carmella took over the segment. Renee predicted The Usos. Booker agreed. Sam said it was The Ascension. Carmella said it would be "the sexy cops", Breezango.
They then moved on to talking about Nikki Bella vs. Natalya. They aired a video on their feud. Carmella took credit for exposing Natalya for she really was. She said Nikki was too distracted by everything else she is doing and Natalya just picked up where Carmella left off. Booker said there are times in your career, you have to stake your claim and make your name. James Ellsworth showed up and said he bought Carmella tickets so they could go watch the show in a Skybox, so she left. The remaining members of the Panel discussed predictions. Booker said John Cena won't be able to help Nikki here and Natalya is going to win. Renee went the other way.
The panel moved on to the handicap match. Roberts said that the WWE Universe have been waiting for years to see this version of Dolph Ziggler. He said you can't be a nice guy if you claim to be a "Showoff."
They went to the Social Media Lounge where Dasha Fuentes presented Becky Lynch with social media questions. Lynch was looking forward to Disarm Mickie James. Lynch was. She was asked if she could team with anyone past or present, who would it be. Lynch said it would be Shawn Michaels because she could be the "Armbreak Kid" and because Michaels retired Charlotte's dad, Ric Flair. She was asked if she watched old James footage to prepare tonight. Lynch said that she won't take away what an important talent Mickie is but she took away Lynch's chance at the championship tonight. Tonight, she starts her journey back to the championship.
They noted JBL slipped while doing "The Texas Two Step" during his entrance as the broadcast was airing a commercial. Booker called for a replay and they showed it in slow motion. That was pretty funny.
Mojo Rawley vs. Curt Hawkins
Hawkins tried to stall a lot early on, ducking between the ropes. He was able to catch Rawley with a right hand but that only psyched Hawkins up. Hawkins was whipped into the corner and nailed with a three point stance into a tackle. Hawkins went to the floor but Mojo caught him and slammed him chest-first on the apron.
Hawkins kicked Mojo in the chest as he returned to the ring. Hawkins went to toss him into the barricade but a production person was in their way, so Hawkins turned him and ran him into the apron instead. Mojo made it back to the ring right before he was going to be counted out. Hawkins caught him and stomped him in the corner as they went to a commercial for Wrestlemania.
When they returned, Hawkins tripped up Mojo as he rebounded off the ropes and cinched in a side chinlock. Rawley used a jawbreaker to free himself but was nailed with a nice lariat for a pair of near falls. Hawkins drilled him with rights but Mojo fired up and made a big comeback. He nailed a series of shoulderblocks and a lariat. Mojo nailed a Stinger Splash and nailed a big slam but Hawkins got his shoulder up at the last second.
Hawkins nailed the Downward Spiral but Mojo kicked up. Rawley missed a clothesline and was hit with an enziguiri for another two count. Rawley nailed a big right hand and caught Hawkins with a tiltowhirl into an over the shoulder powerslam.
Your winner, Mojo Rawley!
You could see Mojo had some timing issues at times, but he showed some nice charisma. Hawkins is extremely underrated in the ring. Overall, a decent match that did what it was designed to do - try and spotlight Rawley.
They closed out breaking down the Chamber PPV.
WWE ELIMINATION CHAMBER 2017 PPV
The opening video featured a lot of piano and close-ups of someone's hands as they played. Matt Hardy is thinking, "I knew you watched."
Mickie James vs. Becky Lynch
They locked up and James muscled her down to the mat, even scoring a one count. They continued grappling and ended up rolling through the ropes to the floor and continued on the floor. James worked over Lynch's shoulder after they returned to the ring but Becky was able to grab an arm. James grabbed the ropes to force a break.
Mickie was sent to the floor. Lynch held the ropes open for her, daring James to return to the ring. When James got on the apron, Lynch grabbed her and slammed her into the buckles. James went to the floor. Lynch dove with a forearm. James caught her with a hard kick as Lynch returned to the ring and scored several two counts following a DDT.
James focused on Lynch's arm, trying to hurt her shoulder. James drilled her knees down on Lynch's arm. Lynch's arm was tied up around the middle rope as James drilled her with shots to the back of the shoulder. James cinched in a hammerlock and used a knee to the back to continue to soften up Lynch. Lynch made a comeback with a series of clotheslines and a leg lariat. She caught James with an exploder for a two count.
James missed a charge in the corner and was nailed with a Flapjack. James went to the top rope for a Thesz Press for a two count. She argued with the referee over a slow count. The crowd chanted for Lynch. Lynch fought her way out of the corner and nailed a nice missile dropkick on James for a two count. James was bleeding from the elbow.
James caught Lynch, with the Mick Kick but Lynch's leg was under the ropes, so no pinfall. They went back and forth with reversals until James was trapped by a jacknife cover and pinned.
Your winner Becky Lynch!
Good, solid back and forth athletic bout.
We went to a Skybox where James Ellsworth and Carmella were eating popcorn. Carmella said the wrong person won. Ellsworth said, "What she said."
Dolph Ziggler vs. Apollo Crews & Kalisto
Crews entered alone first. When Kalisto entered, Ziggler attacked him from behind on the stage and then tossed him hard into the digital board. Crews wasn't happy. So, it's a singles match. Crews attacked Ziggler and worked him over with punches in the corner. He was setting up to suplex Ziggler from the apron into the ring but was instead snapped throat-first onto the top rope.
Ziggler worked over Crews, using his boot to choke him in the corner before nailing a hangman's neckbreaker. Ziggler cinched in a side chinlock but Crews fought his way out. Ziggler went for a superkick but Crews caught it. Ziggler nailed Crews and snapped him down to the mat. Ziggler continued to control him and rode Crews' back with a rear chinlock.
Crews fought back but was snapped with anther neckbreaker. Kalisto began limping towards the ring. Ziggler complained to the referee, allowing Crews to nail an enziguiri from behind. Kalisto pulled himself up on the apron. Crews crawled to make a tag and finally did. Kalisto nailed a big kick and a springboard reverse seated senton for a two count. Kalisto nailed a handspring kick. Apollo tagged in as Ziggler was taking Kalisto down, so Crews slipped in from behind and nailed a sit-down spinning powerbomb for a two count.
Your winners, Kalisto & Apollo Crews!
OK match.
Ziggler attacked Kalisto after, wiping him out on the apron before hitting the ring and Pillman-izing Crews' ankle with a chair. He went and did it again, further cementing how far he's gone after turning heel. The crowd chanted, "Thank you Ziggler."
Coverage continues on Page 2!
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