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Welcome to PWInsider.com’s coverage of WWE’s Elimination Chamber from Chicago, Illinois.
Your host is Joe Tessiore and he is joined by Big E and Wade Barrett.
They run through the matches and some of the stories coming out of each match.
Jackie Redmond talks about CM Punk and why he wants to face Finn Balor ahead of the Reigns match at Wrestlemania.
Byron Saxton talks about AJ Lee and her desire to come back, but the pressure she has put on herself.
Cathy Kelley talks about the women's Elimination Chamber match.
Peter Rosenberg talks about the men's Elimination Chamber match.
The panel talks about Drew McIntyre and his impact on the men's chamber match.
We take a look back at the first Elimination Chamber match.
Peter is with Paul Levesque and he asks if he thought this match would continue through today.
Paul says they thought it was a cool concept but after seeing the structure, they regretted it. They felt the match was special and launched a new franchise with it. There is an incredible legacy with this match. It set the template for what would come with it.
He says you cannot prepare for this match. You are constantly prepped and you ramp things up on the Road to Wrestlemania. The chain is unforgiving. The grates are unforgiving. The pods are unforgiving. You hope to make it through the match.
Peter asks who has the most to prove in the women's match.
Paul says everyone feels the need to prove to others or to themselves. They want to keep striving for that next thing and that is what makes them great. Tiffany wants to prove she isin't a fluke. Raquel and Kiana are looking to prove they belong.
The panel discusses how last night's tag title match could affect Rhea in the chamber.
They talk about Tiffany's match against Kairi when Asuka decided not to wrestle last night.
Cathy is with Alexa Bliss.
She asks Alexa's game plan.
Alexa says she hasn't won in a long time but her strategy is the same. She says you have to survive and use the chamber. She says she hopes she will be successsful.
Cathy asks about Charlotte.
Alexa says Charlotte says she is fine and she is dealing with it. Alexa says she is there to boost her confidence.
Michael Cole talks about AJ Lee coming back to Chicago to wrestle. He also mentions that he interviewed AJ earlier.
Cole asks about AJ's return. He says a lot of people didn't expect her to come back.
AJ says she didn't think so either. She says when she is done with something, she is usually done. There was one day when it turned into a maybe. She knew that it would be a yes. She says she retired due to an injury and it affected her mental health as well.
Cole asks about Becky Lynch and why her.
AJ says Becky chose her. She came after her husband and maybe she thought it would get her out of retirement. She doesn't know if she would have come back against anyone else. She says that Becky is her Mount Everest.
Cole asks about it becoming personal.
AJ says she could have had the match at Wrestlepalooza and gone home, but she saw Becky bullying people. She says this has become a beautiful place and you have to stop people like Becky. She wants to beat her face in.
Cole asks what does Chicago mean to her.
She mentions getting a Cinderella homecoming in Chicago, but she also won her first title in Chicago.
Cole asks what would a title mean for her.
She says there became a moment that she felt she built a house but never lived in there. She wants to prove she is still championship material.
They talk about the women's Intercontinental Championship match
Peter and Byron are in the chamber.
Peter joins Big E and Joe on the panel.
The panel talks about the men's chamber match.
Corey Graves had a chance to talk to Finn Balor.
Corey asks Finn about his first night on Raw, beating Roman Reigns and then winning the Universal title at SummerSlam. What does he think about the people who says he peaked back then.
Finn says he is not doing this for the critics. He says he will shine wherever you put him on the card.
Corey asks what does Finn mean when he says he feels like an afterthought.
Finn says he might be partially guilty because of how he was raised. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. It is time that he gets the grease.
Corey asks about his match in Belfast and how does he think tonight is the night.
Finn says it was Punk's night in Belfast but it could have been his. When an opportunity falls his way, he proves that he can stand toe to toe with the so called best in the world.
Corey asks where does Finn stand with Punk.
Finn says he respects him but Punk is also in his way. Punk has to face the real Finn Balor. Leaving Punk laying was what Punk would have done to him. Finn says he got there first.
Coey asks if Finn realizes what happens if he wins and if it defines his legacy.
Finn says one match does not define a legacy. He has had a stain on his career because people ask what if. Tonight, he answers the critics. He has to rewrite the entire narrative tonight and prove that he can be champion.
We go to Chuy Martinez at the Super Store.
We take a look at WWE's work with Chicago charities.
We take a look at Je'Von Evans.
Byron is with Trick Williams.
He asks if Trick is nervous being in the chamber match.
Trick says he recognizes greatness. He says if he worries about what everyone is good at, he won't win. He says he has to focus on himself. He says he wants the gold, let's talk about it.
Cathy is with Kiana James.
Cathy asks how will she pull out a victory tonight.
Kiana says everyone in the chamber is a threat, including herself. She says she was not surprised that she pinned Charlotte. How will they react when she beats five of the top women. She says this is inevitable and she is inevitable.
The panel moves inside the arena.
Michael Cole talks about what happened last year at the end of Elimination Chamber.
We take a look at the history of WWE and wrestling and Chicago.
We take a look at CM Punk and Finn Balor.
The panel discusses what could happen to Wrestlemania if Finn wins the title tonight.
Your announcers are Michael Cole and Wade Barrett.
Match Number One: Women’s Elimination Chamber Match: Alexa Bliss versus Asuka versus Tiffany Stratton versus Rhea Ripley versus Raquel Rodriguez versus Kiana James
Entering the pods are Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Raquel Rodriguez, and Rhea Ripley
Starting the match will be Kiana James and Tiffany Stratton.
They circle each other before locking up. Tiffany with an arm wringer. Kiana with a waist lock and Tiffany with a side head lock. Tiffany with a springboard side head lock take down. Tiffany with handsprings over Kiana and she inquires about the time. Kiana wants a test of strength and Kiana kicks Tiffany instead and sends Tiffany into the turnbuckles. Kiana with shoulders in the corner. Kiana with a running boot to the head for a near fall. Tiffany with a drop toe hold to send Kiana into the ropes. Tiffany with a running hip to the back and a drop kick for a near fall. Kiana with a standing moonsault for a near fall. Kiana with a kick to the knee and she sends Tiffany into the turnbuckles a few times. Kiana with an elbow to the back of the neck and a kick to the midsection. Kiana snds Tiffany out of the ring. Tiffany avoids being sent into the chains. Tiffany blocks suplex attempts and Tiffany suplexes Kiana onto the platform. Tiffany misses a handspring back elbow and hits the pod when Kiana moves. Raquel lets out a hearty laugh.
The next entrant is Asuka
Kiana with a spear into Asuka in her pod. Kiana sends Tiffany into the ring. Asuka kicks Kiana and then Asuka sends Kiana's head into the pod. Asuka kicks Tiffany and she sends Tiffany into the pod many times. Asuka with a kick to Kiana and a bulldog on Tiffany and a clothesline to Kiana. Asuka chokes both women against the chamber. Asuak goes up top and hits a double missile drop kick and she gets a near fall on Kiana and then on Tiffany. Asuka with kicks to Tiffany and Kiana. Tiffany blocks a kick and avoids kicks. Tiffany with a forearm and she sends Kiana into the turnbuckles. Tiffany with a handspring back elbow to Asuka and then to Kiana. Asuka with a pop up knee and she gets a near fall.
The next entrant is Alexa Bliss
Alexa stares down Asuka and drop kicks her and Kiana. Alexa with a head scissors take down to Asuka. Alexa with a tornado DDT to Kiana. Tiffany waves to Alexa and Alexa is caught on a cross body. Tiffany with a Finlay slam but Alexa stops Tiffany when she goes for the Prettiest Moonsault Ever. Asuka with a drop kick to Tiffany in the tree of woe followed by one from Alexa. Kiana with a knee into Asuka when Alexa moves. Alexa gets a near fall on Kiana. Kian with a knee to Tiffany. Kiana sends Tiffany into the chamber and Kiana with a catapult into the pod.
The next entrant is Rhea Ripley
Rhea with a drop kick to Kiana and she head butts Alexa. Rhea with short arm clotheslines to Asuka. Rhea with a back heel kick and a face plant to Asuka. Rhea with a head butt to Tiffany and she hits a Razor's Edge into Asuka. Rhea sees Alexa and Alexa with a tornado DDT attempt but Rhea blocsk it and Rhea goes for a suplex. Alexa escapes and she sets for Sister Abigail but Rhea escapes. Rhea goes for RipTide but Alexa gets to the platform. Rhea with a kick and Rhea tries for RipTide on the platform but Alexa gets to the chamber. Kiana with a shoudler to Rhea against the chamber. Kiana with a drop kick to Asuka. Kiana with forearms to Tiffany and Rhea with forearms to Asuka. Alexa with Twisted Bliss onto everyone else. Kiana sends Alexa into the chamber and then into the ring. Kiana with a super kick to Alexa and Kiana is caught by Alexa or Sister Abigail but she takes too long and Asuka mists Alexa.
Kiana gets the three count.
Alexa Bliss eliminated
The final entrant is Raquel Rodriguez
Raquel blocks a rana from Tiffany and she swings TIffany into the chamber. Raquel with a clothesline to Kiana and then Raquel with an over bomb hot shot to Rhea. Tiffany, Kiana, and Asuka punch Raquel but Raquel pushes them off. Rhea sends Raquel out of the ring but Raquel tosses Rhea into the chamber a few times. Raquel sends Asuka into the pod. Raquel tosses Kiana around. Rhea with a forearm and she goes for a rana off the turnbuckles but Raquel catches her and Raquel with a slingshot power bomb using the chamber. Asuka sends Raquel into the chamber and she connects with a series of strikes. Raquel with a fallaway slam to Asuka. Kiana and Raquel fight into a pod. Raquel with an Oklahoma Stampede through the pod. Raquel sends Kiana into the ring.
Asuka misses a round kick and Raquel with a Tejana Bomb onto Kiana and Raquel pins Asuka and Kiana.
Kiana James and Asuka eliminated
Matches Announced for Elimination Chamber:
Men’s Elimination Chamber Match: Cody Rhodes versus Randy Orton versus Je’Von Evans versus Logan Paul versus LA Knight versus Trick Williams
Men’s World Championship Match: CM Punk versus Finn Balor
Women’s Intercontinental Championship Match: Becky Lynch versus AJ Lee
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