LECLAIR’S WWE ELIMINATION CHAMBER 2025 REPORT: Alt perspective, detailed coverage of men’s and women’s Chamber matches, Owens vs. Zayn, more

LECLAIR’S WWE ELIMINATION CHAMBER 2025 REPORT
MARCH 1, 2025
TORONTO, ON AT ROGERS CENTRE
AIRED LIVE ON PEACOCK

Announcers: Michael Cole & Pat McAfee & Wade Barrett

-The show opened with an outdoor shot of Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada. Michael Cole then talked over arrival shots of a number of wrestlers. The chamber began to lower over the ring as the broadcast faded to an opening video package.

-Michael Cole welcomed the audience to the Rogers Center and said over 37,000 are in attendance for the “final stop on the road to WrestleMania.” At the desk, he welcomed his partners, Pat McAfee and Wade Barrett. McAfee said they have the two most stacked Elimination Chamber matches in history, and then admonished Canada for booing the U.S. national anthem. Cole tossed to Alicia Taylor.

-Alicia Taylor introduced the women’s Elimination Chamber match, saying the winner would face either Rhea Ripley or Iyo Sky at WrestleMania 41. Alexa Bliss was first out. Cole mentioned that Bliss won the first ever women’s chamber match in 2018. Bliss stepped into the structure and stared up toward the ceiling with a grin. She rounded the ring post and stepped inside the southwest pod.

Roxanne Perez entered next. Cole gave the NXT Superstar props for breaking the record for longest time in a women’s Royal Rumble match last month. She entered the northwest pod. Cole said that Perez is the only woman in this match without any Chamber experience. Bayley was third out. She slapped hands with fans on both sides of the ramp as she marched toward the ring. She jawed at Perez on her way past her pod. Bayley entered the southeast pod.

Bianca Belair entered next, the last to begin the match inside a pod. She danced to the ring, spinning her braid. Belair looked around at the structure and her opponents. Barrett talked about how tough the Chamber matches are, and said that after he experienced it once, he dreaded the second and third time. “And then I chose retirement,” he concluded. Belair entered the northeast pod. Liv Morgan entered, wearing her freshly-won Women’s Tag Team title. The announcers talked about Morgan’s prolific history with the Chamber, holding the record with six appearances including tonight’s.

Naomi was last to enter. Bayley and Belair danced to her music from their respective pods.

(1) NAOMI vs. LIV MORGAN vs. ALEXA BLISS vs. ROXANNE PEREZ vs. BAYLEY vs. BIANCA BELAIR  – Women’s Elimination Chamber match

Naomi and Liv Morgan circled one another for a brief moment, but then Jade Cargill’s music hit. She marched to the ring with purpose. Conveniently, the referee had yet to close the chamber door. Cargill held it open and climbed in the ring. Morgan looked absolutely horrified. Jade looked like she was about to attack, but she quickly pivoted and struck Naomi. Cargill was enraged. She beat Naomi senseless, tossing her outside the ring and throwing her violently into a pod wall. Bianca Belair looked on in horror, begging to be released.

“I told you so!” Morgan said, prancing around the ring. Naomi tried to crawl away from Cargill, but Jade followed. Officials spilled into the ring. Cargill slammed the door of the chamber into Naomi’s neck. Naomi went limp. Jade left the ring voluntarily. Paramedics rushed to ringside, hauling a stretcher. Alicia Taylor announced that Naomi had been eliminated due to injury. Morgan knelt in front of Belair’s pod, laughing maniacally. The clock began to count down, and Bianca Belair was released from her pod just before 4:00.

Belair immediately rushed to the door area, where officials had loaded Naomi onto a stretcher. Morgan quickly attacked Belair from behind, tossing her violently into a pod. Liv threw Belair into the ring and covered her for a quick two count. She worked Bianca into the southeast corner and stomped her repeatedly. Morgan caught Belair with a running elbow. She tried for another, but Belair booted her. She lifted Morgan and gave her a Spinebuster, followed by a handspring standing Moonsault for a cover and two count just after 7:00. Cole said it feels like the air was let out of the balloon in the Rogers Centre after Cargill’s shocking return and attack.

The timer struck :00 again, releasing Roxanne Perez from her pod. She cornered both Morgan and Belair and littered them both with running strikes. She leapt off Morgan’s back to give Belair a ‘rana. Belair spilled to the outside. Roxanne climbed the turnbuckles and dove onto Bianca’s shoulders. Belair tried to hoist her into the air, but Perez held onto the steel wall of the chamber. She slid down her back and pulled on Belair’s braid, eventually using it to deliver a Russian Leg Sweep into the wall. Morgan returned to the fold with a flying dropkick out of nowhere. She slid Perez back in the ring for a quick cover and two count.

Perez rolled through a leap frog attempt off the middle rope from Liv. They wound up taking each other down with a clothesline. The crowd counted down for another entrant at the 10:30 mark. Bayley was next to be released. Perez was waiting for her, but Bayley easily took control. She pulled Roxanne into her pod and bounced her head of the pod wall repeatedly. Bayley moved onto Morgan, ducking a clothesline then tossing her into the steel wall. She followed up with a knee to the side of Morgan’s face, then she caught Perez with a Bayley-to-Belly.

Bayley turned her attention toward Bianca Belair in the ring. The crowd began singing to Bayley. The two jostled for position briefly, then Bayley tossed Belair to the outside. She gave Belair an elbow, then pulled her back in the ring. Bayley hit a Sunset bomb into the corner for a cover and two count at 12:40. Bayley climbed the northeast turnbuckle and delivered an elbow onto Belair for a cover and two count. She tried climbing again, but Perez grabbed her leg and pulled her into a big Powerbomb onto the chamber floor. Bayley slid back in the ring while Perez ascended the turnbuckle. She caught Bayley with a Frog Splash for a cover and near fall. Perez screamed with frustration, then got caught with a Codebreaker from Morgan for a cover and two count.

The camera cut to Alexa Bliss, waiting inside her pod. The crowd began to count down, anticipating her release. Bliss sauntered out of her pod. Cole said it looked like she was in a trance. She toppled Morgan quickly and mounted her for quick punches. She grabbed Perez by the throat and slammed her to the mat. Morgan tried to intervene, but Bliss gave her a hard dropkick. Bayley rolled up Bliss for a two count. Bliss popped to her feet and clocked Bayley hard on the jaw. Bayley fell against the middle rope. Bliss caught her with another knee, then a flipping neckbreaker for a cover and near fall just before 16:00.

Alexa hit Bayley with her signature double knees, then got tossed to the outside by Perez. Roxanne tossed Bliss into the chain wall. In the ring, Belair and Bayley traded punches. Bliss climbed the southeast turnbuckles and dove onto both Bayley and Belair. They caught her and dumped her to the outside. Bayley tossed Belair onto Bliss, then dove onto both opponents. Morgan returned, tossing Bayley into the northeast pod. Bayley recovered quickly, twisting Morgan’s arm and giving her a Rose Plant on the outside. She tried to roll her in for a cover, but Perez rolled her up instead, trying to steal a pin. Bayley kicked at two.

Perez tripped up Bayley and applied a Crossface. Bayley wisely rolled her body through the bottom rope and to the Chamber floor, eventually using the chain wall to grate Perez’s hands and force her to break. “You were never my role model!” Perez yelled as she shook out her hand and slammed Bayley into the chains. They battled back into the ring. Bayley went for a Rose Plant, but Perez blocked it. She dumped Perez over the top rope. Morgan immediately leapt onto the ropes and caught Bayley with Oblivion for a cover and three count. Bayley eliminated at 19:10. Morgan immediately turned her attention to Belair. The two battled onto the turnbuckles and up onto the southeast pod. Morgan nearly fell off at one point, but used Belair’s braid to steady herself. Bianca ripped it from her grasp and whipped Morgan with it. Liv fell to the floor. Belair waited for more bodies to join before leaping onto the women below.

Belair began dragging women into the ring for pinfall attempts. She tried Perez first, then Morgan. Barrett noted that Liv’s mid-section was bleeding from the hair whip. Belair set up Bliss on the southeast turnbuckles. Morgan and Perez came in underneath them for a tower spot. All four women were down. Perez went for Pop Rocks on Belair, but she shoved her away. Morgan caught Perez with a Codebreaker. Bliss immediately came off the top with a handspring press for a cover and three count. Roxane Perez eliminated at 23:07.

Three women remained. Bliss said in the center of the ring, smiling. Belair grabbed her, looking for the K.O.D. She flipped her into the waiting arms of Liv Morgan, who dumped her. Morgan set up and delivered the Three Amigos on Belair. She finished the sequence with a step-up Enziguri. Morgan called for a 619, but Bliss picked her off in a set-up for Sister Abigail. Morgan slipped free and rolled up Bliss for a two count. Bliss popped up and kicked Morgan away. Liv launched Belair into the grip of Bliss, who dropped her with Sister Abigail. Morgan then flipped over Bliss with  Sunset Bomb for a a three count. Alexa Bliss eliminated at 25:35.

Morgan smiled and waved at a shocked Bliss. She turned back to Belair and grabbed onto her braid, dragging her to the outside. Morgan used Belair’s braid to repeatedly whip her into the wall of the chamber. She tossed her back in the ring and covered her for a two count. Morgan sized up Belair, looking for another Codebreaker. She charged, but Belair caught her with a Spear. Bianca covered for a two count.

Both women spilled to the outside. Bianca pulled Morgan into Powerbomb position. Liv used the chamber wall to block the attempt. She tried to transition into a Hurricanrana, but Belair held onto her and swung her violently into the pod glass repeatedly. She Powerbombed Morgan back into the ring. Belair climbed the turnbuckles and went for a 450, but Morgan got her knees up. Belair shrugged it off, looking for the K.O.D. Morgan flipped through it and tried for the Codebreaker. Belair blocked, but stumbled into the ropes. Morgan saw her opportunity, charging for Oblivion. Belair held onto the ropes and Morgan, hoisting her into position and finally hitting the K.O.D. for a cover and three count.

WINNER: Bianca Belair in 29:15

Belair celebrated both in and out of the chamber. When she reached the top of the entrance way, Rhea Ripley emerged behind her. She and Belair stared each other down. Iyo Sky joined the fray as Cole talked up the match between she and Rhea on Monday’s Raw.

(LeClair’s Analysis: This was a lot of fun. The opening salvo between Jade Cargill and Naomi was excellent. Cargill got a huge reaction and the beatdown of Naomi looked brutal. The crowd ate it up. Unfortunately, the first several minutes of the match suffered as a result. Cole even noted on commentary that the life had been sucked out of the building because of Cargill’s surprise return. These women worked incredibly hard to get the crowd back in it, and succeeded tremendously in the back half. Liv Morgan had an excellent showing – bumping like crazy for nearly everyone and taking that insane whip from Belair on top of the cage. Belair was the only logical winner here, and I’m very intrigued to see how they weave her upcoming feud with Belair into the story they’re telling with Cargill and Naomi.)

-Trish Stratus and Tiffany Stratton were shown walking backstage, followed by Nia Jax and Candice LeRae doing the same. Cole tossed to a video package for the upcoming tag team match.

Nia Jax and Candice LeRae headed to the ring first, jawing with fans along the ramp. McAfee continued to lament about Toronto booing the national anthem. Trish Stratus entered to a decent reaction. Barrett admonished her for putting her body on the line as a Hall of Famer. Tiffany Stratton followed, holding up her Women’s Championship. Cole said that Nia just licked the rim of McAfee’s entire cup. “She contaminated my water!” McAfee yelled. Cole said tonight will be the first time her children see her wrestle live.

(2) NIA JAX & CANDICE LeRAE vs. TIFFANY STRATTON & TRISH STRATUS

Trish Stratus began the match with Candice LeRae. Candice charged the legend, but Trish immediately took her down with a press and punches. Nia Jax entered the ring, so Tiffany Stratton got involved, too. She and Trish dropkicked Nia out of the ring. Trish walked Candice to the corner and tagged in Tiffany Stratton. Just then, Jax tripped Stratus and pulled her to the floor. Candice attacked Stratton from behind and tossed her into the steel steps. She rolled her back in the ring and pounded on her back.

LeRae walked Stratton to the heel corner and tagged in Nia Jax. She tossed Stratton toward the corner and Jax leapt into the air to catch her with a Senton. Jax threw her arms out, soaking in boos from the crowd. Nia draped Tiffany over the middle rope and choked her with her hips, mocking Stratton the whole time. Nia whipped Stratton to the corner and squashed her, setting up for the Annihilator. Stratton popped to her feet and pulled Jax off the turnbuckle. Tiffany leapt to the corner and tagged in Trish.

The Toronto native caught Jax with a number of quick chops. She hit the ropes and spun up the body of Nia to catch her with a Tornado DDT for a cover and one count just before 4:00. Stratus hooked Jax, looking for Stratusfaction. Nia gave her a back drop instead, covering for a two count. Jax pulled at Trish’s hair, chanting “U.S.A.” while doing so. She jawed at Stratton, then kicked at Trish. Nia put Stratus in a Stretch Muffler and tagged in Candice. She whipped Trish’s head into the middle turnbuckle, then spun her around for LeRae to drop her with a missile dropkick for a cover and two count. LeRae grounded Trish with an arm lock. Trish tried to fight to her feet, but was quickly overcome. Candice covered her for a two count.

After a snap Suplex, LeRae tried another cover. Trish kicked at one this time. LeRae dragged Trish to the heel corner and tagged Jax in again. A “we want Tiffy” chant built in the crowd. Nia smothered Stratus with her backside against the bottom turnbuckle. She tagged in Candice, who continued the beat down. LeRae charged and knocked Stratton off the apron. The brief reprieve allowed Trish to explode out of the corner with a clothesline. Stratton hurried back onto the apron and Trish was able to reach her for a tag. Stratton dropped Candice and whipped her to the corner. She delivered a handspring back elbow, then knocked Jax off the apron. She gave LeRae and Alabama Slam. Jax got in the ring, but Stratton dropped her with a Spinebuster. Tiffany covered LeRae for a two count.

Stratton set up for the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, but LeRae popped up and kicked her legs out. Tiffany fell awkwardly to the mat. Candice tagged in Jax, who squashed the ailing Stratton with a leg drop. Nia tagged LeRae again. Stratton recovered and gave Jax a back drop. Tiffany tagged in Stratus, who toppled LeRae. Jax returned to the ring and flattened Stratus, then dragged the downed Candice to her corner to tag herself in. Jax began climbed the turnbuckles. Stratus stood and kicked Jax. She climbed the ropes and hit Jax with Stratusfaction off the top rope. Trish covered, but Candice came flying in with a springboard Moonsault. Stratus saw it coming and let off the cover, causing Candice to connect with her own partner.

Trish tagged in Tiffany. Stratton hoisted LeRae up and over the top to the floor. She hit Jax with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever for a cover and three count.

WINNERS: Tiffany Stratton & Trish Stratus in 11:41

(LeClair’s Analysis: This worked for what it was. The crowd was surprisingly less into Stratus than I would have anticipated, greatly favoring Tiffany Stratton. The women’s champion looked great, hitting a number of big power moves on Nia Jax that commentary sold well. Candice and Nia have developed solid chemistry both in the ring and in general as a team, and I wouldn’t mind them moving into the tag division now that Jax’s feud with Stratton has concluded. I’m glad they went with a clean win for Stratton over Jax. It would’ve been easy to shortchange Tiffany by having her pin LeRae, and they’ve frequently gone out of their way to protect Nia Jax. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case here. This was a nice pit stop for Stratton as she firmly establishes herself as a babyface while on her way to a clash with Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania.)

-Michael Cole talked over locker room shots of Drew McIntyre, Damian Priest, and Seth Rollins. They then showed Cody Rhodes sitting in his bus, contemplating his future. Cole tossed to a hype video for The Rock.

Cole and company wondered whether Cody Rhodes would sell out to The Rock later on tonight. They displayed the attendance as 38,493, then tossed to a video package for Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens.

Alicia Taylor announced the match as unsanctioned, saying WWE is absolved of responsibility for anything that occurs. Referee Rod Zapata was shown in plain clothes, already wearing gloves. Even the WWE logo on the turnbuckles were covered. Sami Zayn entered first, visibly nervous. Cole talked about Sami and Kevin’s history, even referring to past battles between El Generico and Kevin Steen. Cole mentioned the status of Zayn’s neck, the reason for the match being unsanctioned. Kevin Owens’ music hit and he sauntered through the curtain and down the ramp way. Owens stopped as the barricades opened up to ringside, never taking his eyes off his opponent. Cole said it’s about to come full circle.

(3) SAMI ZAYN vs. KEVIN OWENS – Unsanctioned match

When the bell rang, the ring lights were darkened. Sami Zayn pounced on Kevin Owens immediately, hitting him with quick punches. Owens shrugged them off and dropped Sami with a back elbow. Zayn shot to his feet and grabbed at his neck, adjusting and shaking out. McAfee said both men should want to end the match early. Owens scooped up Sami and gave him snake eyes over the top turnbuckle. He followed up with a quick standing Senton. He kicked Zayn to the outside.

Rounding the corner of the ring, Owens slammed Zayn into the ringside barrier. Sami shook it off and bounced Kevin off the edge of the ring. He retrieved a few steel chairs from underneath the ring. Owens got hold of one first and drove it into Zayn’s ribs. Owens cracked the chair across Sami’s back three times, then went for a head shot. Sami ducked. The chair hit the top rope and ricocheted back into Kevin’s face, dropping him. Zayn picked up the chair, denting it across Owens’ back.

Trying to escape the attack, Owens rolled to the floor as the match crossed 3:30. Zayn followed him, using the chair across the back again. He tossed Owens back into the ring and continued to beat him with the chair. Sami slid outside and began digging under the ring for weapons. he found a hockey stick. Zayn cracked the stick across Owens’ back repeatedly. Kevin rolled to the outside to protect himself. Sami followed, retrieving a table from underneath the ring. Zayn set it up adjacent to the southeast ring post, near the timekeeper’s area.a Owens attacked Zayn from behind, then retrieved the hockey stick. He choked Zayn with it and bit his forehead. Kevin shook with anger.

“This guy is nuts!” Cole exclaimed. Owens retrieved another table and stacked it on top of the first one. Zayn caught Owens in the ribs with the hockey stick, knocking him into the timekeeper’s area. They brawled past Alicia Taylor and onto the stadium floor. Zayn gained control at the back of the floor. Owens began climbing the steps of the lower field seats. Zayn followed with a trash can. He hit Owens in the back with it, working him back toward the floor. On approach, Owens caught Zayn in the head with a bottle. Sami shook it off, ducked a clothesline from Owens and delivered a Blue Thunder Bomb through a table. He walked him to another table covered with bottles, cans, and popcorn and hit the move again. Trash covered Owens as he crashed through the table.

Zayn walked Owens back through the crowd, hitting him repeatedly with a trash can lid as the match crossed 10:30. Once back in the timekeeper’s area, Owens surprised Zayn with the ring bell to the head. He retrieved the trash can lid and bent it over Zayn’s head. Owens retrieved a headset from the commentary desk and hit Sami with it. He rolled Zayn back in the ring and began climbing the southeast turnbuckles. Zayn rose to meet him. The two teetered on the middle rope, tables beneath them on the outside. Owens slid out between Zayn’s legs and pushed him over the ring post, through both tables at ringside.

Zayn rolled out of the wreckage, clutching at his neck and checking for feeling in his fingers. Owens grabbed him and tossed him back in the ring. Kevin opened a chair in the center of the ring and gave Zayn a Fisherman Buster right on the chair. The seat collapsed on impact. Owens covered for a near fall. Owens was shocked. Sami writhed on the mat, mustering enough energy to slap Owens in the back of the head. This only enraged Owens. He kicked at Sami’s head repeatedly, then tossed him to the ropes for a Pop-Up Powerbomb. Zayn blocked it and caught Owens with an Exploder onto the open chair. Owens fought to his feet, stumbling toward the corner. Zayn charged him for the Heluva Kick. Owens pulled Rod Zapata into harm’s way at the last moment. Owens followed up with a Stunner on Zayn. He covered him and referee Charles Robinson rushed to the ring. Zayn kicked out at two. Owens, frustrated, gave Robinson a Stunner.

A third referee rushed to the ring to clean up some of the wreckage. Owens set up a third table, this one in the ring. He threw a chair at Sami’s head. Cole pleaded with Zayn to give up. Owens laid Sami out on the table and put a chair over his chest. Owens sat atop the northeast corner. Zayn threw the chair at Owens’ head, stunning him. He punched Kevin in the head, then climbed the turnbuckles. Owens hooked him and delivered a Fisherman Buster off the middle rope, through the table. Owens rolled onto Sami for a cover and a two count.

“I am begging you to just stay down,” Cole called out to Zayn. More officials spilled from the back, asking Owens to relent. KO just stared at them blankly. He threw a chair at Sami again, then grabbed at his hair and beard. “It’s all your fault!” he told Zayn repeatedly. Owens ran for the opposing corner, but Zayn followed and surprised Kevin with a Heluva Kick. Zayn fell onto Owens for a near fall just past 20:00. Zayn stumbled several times just trying to return to his feet. He rolled to the outside and pulled out more chairs. The last one was wrapped in barbed wire. Barrett wondered who placed that under the ring. Cole pleaded for someone to take it away.

KO charged Sami, but ate a kick to the gut. Sami cracked the barbed wire chair over Owens’ back twice. Owens screamed in agony. Zayn opened the chair up and positioned it in the center. Owens charged him again. Sami caught Kevin with a drop toe hold right onto the seat of the chair. Owens grabbed at his face, complaining about his eye. Zayn created a bridge with two chairs and placed the barbed wire one between them. He gave Owens a Blue Thunder Bomb onto the bridge. Owens’ stiffened awkwardly. Zayn covered him on the barbed wire for a near fall.

Both men struggled to stand. Owens stumbled into the southeast corner. Zayn charged him for another Heluva Kick, but Owens exploded out of the corner and caught Zayn with a Pop-Up Powerbomb. Zayn immediately rolled to the floor, clutching his neck. Owens shook off the cobwebs and found Zayn on the floor. He placed Zayn’s head between the opening of a steel chair and ran him into the ring post twice. “There is a hush that has come across the Rogers Centre,” McAfee said solemnly. Owens gave Zayn a Powerbomb on the edge of the ring.

More officials came to ringside, surrounding Owens. He shoved them away. Owens went for another Powerbomb on the edge of the ring. Zayn blocked it this time. He punched desperately at Owens, trying to save himself. KO regained control and hit the Powerbomb. He rolled Zayn’s limp body back in the ring and covered him for a three count.

WINNER: Kevin Owens in 27:37

“I hope you’re happy, Kevin,” Cole said. He said Sami might have a broken neck. Officials and paramedics rushed into the ring and immediately put a neck brace on Sami. Security surrounded Kevin Owens and made sure he left the ring. Owens looked to be leaving on his own accord, but stopped and turned in his tracks, pushing away security. He marched back to ringside and pulled Zayn out of the ring. Owens peeled back the padding on the floor and set Sami up for a Piledriver on the exposed concrete.

Suddenly, Randy Orton’s music hit. Owens let Sami go and rolled into the ring, looking toward the entrance. Randy Orton sauntered to the ring, eyes locked on Owens. He slid in the ring and traded blows with KO. Orton quickly dropped him with an RKO. A huge “Randy” chant broke out. Orton grabbed a chair. He looked around at the crowd, then down at Owens. Kevin reached lackadaisically at Orton’s boot. Randy tossed the chair out of the ring. Instead, he pulled down his knee pad. Orton set up for the punt. He charged, but security flooded into the ring to protect Owens. They immediately grabbed Randy. Another crew pulled Owens to safety and quickly walked him to the back.

Orton began hitting RKOs on all the security team. He posed on the ropes to a huge ovation.

(LeClair’s Analysis: A lot of this was a fairly standard WWE walk and brawl, but I thought they did a pretty great job with the unsanctioned aesthetic. Covering the turnbuckle pads was a cool touch, and having the referee in plain clothes with gloves out of the gate sold the idea that this was going to be something different. WWE has been quite good at the little details in this era, and this was another great example of a small change doing a lot of heavy lifting. Zayn and Owens are always great together, and I thought they sold the emotional stakes quite well. The final ten minutes or so were violent and heavy. This was one of those instances where I think adding some blood would have taken things up just that extra notch to really sell the depravity of Owens and the desperation for revenge from Sami. Orton’s return also felt significant, and set the table for a match with Owens at WrestleMania. The biggest question, though, is where does that leave Sami? The issue with Kevin seems far from over, and a match with, say, Karrion Kross would feel like a pretty significant downgrade.)

-Logan Paul and CM Punk were shown backstage, heading toward gorilla for the men’s Elimination Chamber match. At ringside, the chamber was shown being lowered into place. Cole tossed to a video package for the match.

Alicia Taylor explained the rules, noting the winner will face Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41. Logan Paul’s music rang out first, prompting a chorus of boos. After emerging through the stage, he briefly went back down into the tunnel, coming back with an America flag. Another big round of boos followed. McAfee said “fortune favors the bold, shout out to America.” Paul entered the southeast pod. Damian Priest was out next. He stared down Paul as he removed his entrance gear. Priest was enclosed in the southeast pod.

CM Punk was next out. He turned his back to the camera to look at the crowd behind the stage, tapping his wrist and then marching backward toward the ring, arms out. Punk slapped hands with fans as he approached the Chamber. Cole said it’s been thirteen years since entered the Elimination Chamber. Punk climbed the turnbuckle in front of Logan Paul and gave him the “go to sleep” taunt. “Yeah, we’ll see,” Paul said. Punk climbed the chamber wall and bit the steel before setting up shop in the northeast pod.

John Cena entered to a massive ovation. “There’s a vibe in here tonight, Stu!” he told the camera. He saluted and ran to the ring, tossing his hat and shirt to fans at ringside before entering the structure. Cole said there’s ten months left in the illustrious career of John Cena, and tonight, he enters the Elimination Chamber for the last time. Cena was locked into the northwest pod.

That left Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins to begin the match. Drew McIntyre was introduced first. He marched to the ring slowly. Cole and Barrett talked about Drew’s history in the chamber, including his win last year. Barrett said he drew the short straw this time. McIntyre first fixed his gaze on John Cena, then stepped through the ropes to jaw with CM Punk through the pod glass. McIntyre posed in front of Damian Priest while the latter talked trash.

“Burn it down!” rang out and Seth Rollins danced up the steps and into view. He marched to the ring while flames shot up from atop the entrance. McAfee said Rollins has done it all, but he’s never won inside the Chamber.

(4) DREW McINTYRE vs. SETH ROLLINS vs. LOGAN PAUL vs. DAMIAN PRIEST vs. CM PUNK vs. JOHN CENA – Men’s Elimination Chamber match

Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins looked around the solid steel structure as the bell rang. McIntyre launched himself at Rollins, looking for an immediate Claymore. Seth moved and went for a quick Stomp, trying to return the favor. Drew moved out of the way. The two battled into the northeast corner. Rollins mounted McIntyre and punched at his forehead, then bit him. Drew fought him off, scooped him up and tossed him clear out of the ring onto the chamber floor. CM Punk looked on from his pod, smiling.

After slamming Rollins into the chamber wall, McIntyre turned to Punk and shared words with him. Rollins recovered, slamming McIntyre’s head against the pod glass repeatedly. “More! Harder!” Punk yelled, clapping with glee. Rollins tossed Drew back in the ring and caught him with a springboard knee for a cover and quick two count. Logan Paul was shown drawing on his chamber pod with a marker. McIntyre hit Rollins with a back breaker and covered him for a two count. Seth rolled to the outside. McIntyre followed. He went for a Suplex on the Chamber floor. Seth blocked it briefly, but a few punches to the ribs allowed Drew to complete the move.

McIntyre posed for the crowd as the match crossed 4:30. He kicked Seth in the gut, then pulled his body underneath the steel rod of the turnbuckle. He gave Rollins a guillotine right into it. Punk applauded more. The crowd counted down for the first pod opening. It was Damian Priest. He climbed into the ring and came face to face with McIntyre. They began trading blows, then chops. Priest hit two lifting kicks, then a spinning chop. He kicked Rollins into the corner, then dropped Drew with a leaping Flatliner. He gave Seth a clothesline, then set Seth up for a Razor’s Edge. He tossed Rollins clear over the top, into the waiting arms of McIntyre on the outside. Priest charged at Drew, but McIntyre caught him with a Glasgow Kiss. Drew gave Priest a neckbreaker, then kipped up. He counted down for the Claymore, but Seth cut him off with a Superkick.

Rollins caught Priest with a rolling elbow, then ate a Spinebuster from McIntyre. Drew covered Seth for a two count just after 7:30. McIntyre hoisted Priest onto the top turnbuckle in front of Punk. Priest knocked him into Tree of Woe position. Rollins climbed McIntyre’s body and hooked Priest for a Suplex. Drew pulled himself up by the legs and hooked Rollins for a German Suplex tower spot. The clock counted down again, releasing Logan Paul at 8:45. The crowd booed him heavily. Paul leapt into the ring with a springboard cross body on McIntyre for a cover and two count. He caught Priest with a standing Moonsault for another two count.

Logan Paul cornered Seth Rollins and hit him with a number of quick jabs. He hit a swinging Fisherman’s neckbreaker and covered Rollins for a two count. Paul pounded his chest and posed to more boos. Unbeknownst to him, Priest was lying in wait behind him. He clapped Paul’s ears, tossed him to the outside and began slamming him into the pod door. Priest raked Paul’s face across the chain wall. McIntyre broke it up. He and Priest traded blows. Priest twisted McIntyre’s arm and climbed the ropes for Old School. Paul took down Priest, cutting him off. Logan slid back in the ring and dropped Rollins with a hard right hand for a cover and two count.

The timer counted down again, releasing John Cena at 12:00. He exploded into the ring, immediately hitting Damian Priest with an Attitude Adjustment, Rollins charged him and ate one as well. Cena gave Paul the spin-out back drop, then hit the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena gave Paul the Attitude Adjustment, and then immediately got blasted with a Claymore from McIntyre. Cena rolled under the bottom rope. McIntyre tried to grab him. Priest rolled up McIntyre for a surprise three count. Drew McIntyre eliminated at 13:05. McIntyre rolled to his feet, incensed. He gave Priest a Claymore, then left the ring enraged.

Paul recovered from his run-in with Cena. He climbed to the top of Punk’s pod and hit a frog splash on Damian Priest for a cover and three count. Damian Priest eliminated at 14:20. Logan Paul celebrated, then turned toward CM Punk as the clock counted down for the final time. Punk’s pod was opened and he and Paul immediately came to blows. Punk bounced Paul’s head off the pod door repeatedly, then climbed the chain links to point at the WrestleMania sign.

When CM Punk turned around, John Cena was waiting for him in the ring. Cena smiled, giving a sly point at the sign himself. He and Punk traded words in the center. Rollins came into frame and kicked Punk in the face. Cena tried to pull him away. “Why don’t you go back and film some more movies? He’s mine!” Rollins told Cena. He turned back to Punk. Cena grabbed Rollins, hoisting him up for the Attitude Adjustment. Seth slid down his back. The two began trading punches for several moments. Logan Paul flipped into the ring and hit Buckshot Lariats on them both. Paul sized up Punk for a Buckshot, too. Punk ducked it. He scooped Paul up and gave him the Go To Sleep for a cover and three count. Logan Paul eliminated at 18:28.

Three men remained. Punk mimed shoveling dirt onto Paul as the social media star rolled out of the Chamber. Cole said the three men left in the match have a combined 26 world titles. Punk, Rollins, and Cena stood slowly, looking around at each other and the crowd. Rollins threw punches first, going after both Punk and Cena. Cena and Punk entered into a temporary alliance, punching Rollins back and forth between them. Cena hoisted Seth up, Punk hit the ropes and caught Rollins with a clothesline, sending him to the outside.

Cena and Punk stepped toward each other in the center again as the match crossed 21:00. Cena offered Punk a handshake. Punk gave him a hug instead. They came to blows immediately after. Punk missed wildly with a clothesline. Cena caught him with a shoulder tackle. He went for the back drop, but Punk blocked it. He whipped Cena to the corner and caught him with the running knee strike. Punk went for the bulldog, but Cena hoisted him into the back drop. He went for the Five Knuckle Shuffle, but Punk kicked him in the face. Punk set up for the GTS, but Cena countered it into the STF. Punk writhed on the mat, hand shaking just inches from a tap out. He managed to get his hand between Cena’s grip and turn the hold over into the Anaconda Vice. Cena rolled him into a cover for a two count.

Punk struggled to his feet, climbing to the top rope. Rollins stood up on the outside. Punk dove onto him, then climbed right back up. He dove at Cena for a cross body. Cena held on, rolled through, and hoisted Punk up. He caught him with the Attitude Adjustment and hooked the leg, but Punk just managed to kick out. All three men were down as the match crossed 25:00. Cena was the first to stir. He climbed the northeast turnbuckles. Rollins cut him off and pulled him into Powerbomb position. He gave Cena a buckle bomb onto the chamber wall, then ran him right through a pod door. Cena collapsed in a heap, shielded by the dislodged sheet of plexiglass.

Seth returned to the ring to finish off Punk. Punk rolled him up for two. Seth shot to his feet and caught Punk with a Pedigree for a cover and near fall. Punk rolled under the ropes to create some separation. Rollins followed him. Seth stood over the writhing Punk and dragged him to his feet, setting up for a Pedigree on the floor. Punk backdropped Seth into the ring. He climbed the northeast turnbuckles. Seth leapt up to meet him. Punk gave him a front release Suplex off the top, then a top rope elbow drop.

CM Punk called for the Go to Sleep. Rollins slipped free, first into a roll up and then into position for a Buckle Bomb. He hit it, then immediately crushed Punk with a Stomp for a cover and very close near fall just before 29:00. Rollins pounded the mat in frustration. “CM Punk has taken about five ‘best shots’ already in this match-up,” Barrett said. Rollins got an idea. He climbed to the second rope, looking for a Super Stomp. Cena pulled him off the ropes into Attitude Adjustment position. Seth slid free. Punk gave him a GTS. Rollins stumbled into the arms of Cena. John gave him an Attitude Adjustment, then collapsed. Punk covered Rollins for three. Seth Rollins eliminated at 29:55.

John Cena and CM Punk remained. John asked for a handshake. Punk took the hand, but pulled him right into the GTS. He covered for a near fall. Punk was shocked. He dragged Cena to his feet. Cena scooped Punk up and gave him an Attitude Adjustment for a near fall of his own. Both men crawled around the mat. Cena rose first, catching Punk’s ankle. Punk dragged himself to the ropes to prevent the STF. Seth Rollins, not yet having left the ring, stomped Punk right through the ropes. Punk was out cold, draped across the bottom rope.

Cena pulled Punk to center and applied the STF. Rollins watched on, screaming “die!” Cena said he was sorry as Punk passed out and the referee called for the bell.

WINNER: John Cena in 32:27

(LeClair’s Analysis: This certainly felt like the most star-studded, consequential Elimination Chamber match in many years. I think they largely delivered on expectations. Lots of good, main event style WWE action and some clarity regarding WrestleMania. This always felt like a two man toss up between Cena and Punk, with either option offering a number of positives and negatives. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins and Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre now feel like obvious directions, though that brings about big questions for Roman Reigns. It felt like all six guys got a number of good moments here, and the eliminations felt well timed and earned. This match has lost a lot of its steam over the years, but I think this was just about as good of a Chamber as one could get or expect in modern-day WWE.)

John Cena celebrated with a seat of fireworks. He pointed to the WrestleMania sign and thanked the crowd. Cody Rhodes’ music hit and he headed to the ring. Cena opened up the ropes for him, but Cody opted to climb the steps and enter on the opposite side. He and Cena exchanged words briefly, then shared a handshake. Then, The Rock’s music hit.

Travis Scott entered first, carrying his custom Hardcore title. The Rock followed closely behind. He walked to the ring slowly as Cena and Rhodes looked on. Rock stepped to Cody and caressed his cheek. “Cody Rhodes, the time has arrived…” Rock said. He said he’s going to open his arms, and Cody will embrace him and become his champion. He told Rhodes that he needs his mind, body, and soul. “If the answer is yes, then the American Nightmare will live forever.”

Rock said that if the answer is no, the dream dies tonight, again. Cena, in the background, shook his head in disgust. He pointed at the crowd, at himself, and the WrestleMania sign. Cody looked up and paused. “I want it all, Rock.” He said his soul no longer belongs to him. He said he gave his soul to this ring and these people a long time ago. “Hey Rock, go f— yourself!” Cody said, unedited. Cena was ecstatic.

The Final Boss took a step back and smirked. Cody turned around to face Cena. They shook hands and hugged. Cena’s expression turned blank. He looked at The Rock. The Rock gave a throat slash gesture. Cena backed out of the hug and kicked Cody between the legs. He pounced on Rhodes and began beating him senselessly. Cena clocked Rhodes in the head with a microphone. He picked up the WWE title and hit Rhodes in the head. Cody came up bleeding. He ripped Cody’s shirt off, but kept his tie around his neck. Cena choked him with it. Blood poured down Cody’s face. Cena invited Travis Scott to join in. Scott held Cody down. Rock removed his “Cody’s Soul” belt and whipped Cody with it repeatedly. Travis Scott lit sage over Cody’s body. Cena stepped on Cody’s head and posed with The Rock.

“You sold out!” the crowd chanted. Rock wiped blood from Cody’s face and smeared it on the weight belt. He hit him with it one more time. Cena tossed the WWE title across Cody’s back and left the ring. Rock nodded to Scott. “We’re out,” he said. Cena and Scott began sauntering up the ramp. Rock followed closely behind. Michael Cole left the desk to check on Cody in the ring. The camera cut back to a smiling Rock, then faded out in silence.

(LeClair’s Analysis: One of the most shocking moments I can recall in recent memory. With this angle closing the show, you knew they had to have something big. It seemed, perhaps, that it’d be Cody Rhodes who sold his soul. Instead, the pipe dream of the Internet wrestling community for the last twenty years finally came to fruition. This played out masterfully. The possibility of Cena playing a heel seemed so impossible that it was hard to imagine it even as they telegraphed it during the hug. What was a moderately interesting proposition of Cody Rhodes and John Cena squaring off in a babyface vs. babyface match instead becomes a blood feud with tons of intrigue, completely fresh creative and a world of possibilities. There are gaps in logic to address – like what if Cena hadn’t won? What if Cody had said yes? I do hope they have explanations in mind, but in the moment, nothing mattered other than the raw emotion and shock and awe permeating the crowd, and, undoubtedly, all of us watching at home.)

FINAL THOUGHTS: Prior to the show closing segment, I had this as an easy thumbs up based on match quality and story advancement alone. Two strong chamber matches, noteworthy returns for Jade Cargill and Randy Orton, and clear directions for a number of WrestleMania’s top feuds. The shocking conclusion, though, should put this show in the history books for delivering an all-time swerve that instantly puts mega heat on the main event of WrestleMania. Participants in the live PWTorch post-show likened the moment to Hulk Hogan joining the nWo, and while it’s impossible to say how this will all play out long term, it certainly felt like a moment that could rise to that level of infamy in wrestling culture.