WWE Elimination Chamber PPV Evaluation
February 19, 2012

By Nathan Kyght, PWTorch specialist

BEST MATCH – RAW ELIMINATION CHAMBER

This was a solid pay-per-view offering from the WWE, I thought, and the opening match set the tone for an entertaining show. All of the men in the Raw Elimination Chamber match offered a good showing (in particular, I felt that Kofi Kingston stood out), and there were several great sequences and nice touches. (Hats off to Dolph Ziggler for doing pull-ups in his pod – I think it’s great when wrestlers stay in-tune to their character even when they may not be featured on-screen.) Also, I thought that the closing nearfalls of the match were especially convincing. After Chris Jericho was “knocked out,” I thought it was a given that he would sneak back in for the win, but in retrospect I like that WWE kept him and Punk apart a little longer. That match at WrestleMania has the potential to be a classic.

WORST MATCH – JACK SWAGGER VS. JUSTIN GABRIEL

I'm not sure if this was put out in order to kill time, but I just don't understand why WWE insists on booking unannounced matches with zero build-up. If WWE intends on airing a match, why would they not advertise it before the show? What harm could that do? The match itself was completely underwhelming, with neither wrestler seeming to find a “groove,” so to speak, and it didn’t help that the crowd was completely indifferent. There was no point to this.

BIGGEST SURPRISE – NONE

On the final pay-per-view before WrestleMania, I always think that it’s okay to book the show to expectations rather than to swerve the fans for a quick attempt at a Raw rating to find out what happened. C.M. Punk should have retained, and he did. Daniel Bryan should have retained, and he did. Cena obviously couldn’t lose heading into his match with The Rock, and he didn’t. All of the above were the right moves, and here’s hoping the next six weeks build the “Show of Shows” to fever pitch.

BIGGEST LETDOWN – SMACKDOWN ELIMINATION CHAMBER

It wasn’t the worst match on the show at all, and as soon as Daniel Bryan came out of his pod, I thought that the match got really good, but the first half? Oof. I like Big Show, I understand the spectacle of The Great Khali, and Wade Barrett is going to be a Superstar...but, for what seemed like an eternity, did this match ever drag. Perhaps I’m comparing it to what felt like non-stop action in the Raw version, but I thought the opening of the Smackdown Elimination Chamber was incredibly dull.

BEST QUOTE – JERRY LAWLER

[In response to Michael Cole saying an Ambulance weighed 9,000 lbs.] “Why would you weigh an ambulance?”

I actually laughed out loud.

BEST MOVE – JOHN CENA

If not just for the sheer physicality of it, Cena putting Kane across his shoulders and then walking up stairs was an awesome visual. Kane then reversing the move to send Cena through the announce table was a great moment in what I thought was a very entertaining main event.

BEST MATCH FINISH – RAW ELIMINATION CHAMBER

This ended exactly as it should: The Champion lands his signature move, and gets the decisive win. The crowd loves Punk, he’s as good as he’s ever been right now, and his match with Chris Jericho should be something else. I thought this was great. WrestleMania, here we come.

OTHER THOUGHTS

These vignettes with The Rock and John Cena to build to the main event of WrestleMania are just tremendous. A big thumbs up to everyone involved with these, and it’s refreshing to see WWE treat a match with such seriousness. Well done.

I thought Beth and Tamina had a really nice match for the Divas Title. They were unfortunately in front of a crowd that didn’t care, but a very good effort from both women, and I think Tamina has the potential to be great.

The John Cena and Kane storyline has been atrocious, but I thought the main event was very well done. I liked that they didn’t over-book it and factor Eve or Zack Ryder into the match, and the men had a good brawl to close the show. I just hope that the feud is over.

Does Michael Cole like Daniel Bryan now? Or not? And, does that make Cole the heel? Or not? My head hurts.

Oh no. They’re going to do John Laurinaitis vs. Teddy Long for control of both shows at WrestleMania, aren’t they?

I do believe I saw both Tyler Black and Consequences Creed training in the gym with John Cena during his hype video! Bring me your tired, your hungry, your ROH, your TNA... Good guy, that John Cena.

WHAT IT’LL BE REMEMBERED FOR

Not much. I don’t mean that as a slight, as I thoroughly enjoyed the show, but this pay-per-view was about maintaining a holding pattern. Six weeks. Here we go.

UPDATED 2012 PPV EVALUATION RANKINGS

1 - WWE ELIMINATION CHAMBER (2012-02-19)
2 - WWE ROYAL RUMBLE (2012-1-29)
3 - TNA GENESIS (2012-01-08)
4 – TNA AGAINST ALL ODDS (2012-02-12)

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