The Elimination Chamber was a very well done and well–paced event for WWE. The women’s tag team championship match inside the Chamber had to create a little bit of impotence for Corey Graves since Mandy Rose’s team lost. The team that was expected to win did just that. I’m happy for Sasha and Bayley (even though I am not that entertained by Bayley), but no big surprises there.
On a side note, Naomi and Carmella have established themselves as the most entertaining tag team in the women’s division. I suspected that The Miz and Shane McMahon might have a short reign as tag team champions as I never imagined that Shane’s body would be able to hold up for a long time in the ring, but I suspected it might last at least until WrestleMania. But I guess it does make sense in hindsight since it is written in Shane’s contract that he is only required to wrestle twice a year and he has already fulfilled that. I have never seen Miz do a springboard move off the top rope. Congrats to him and Maryse on having a second baby.
I was very happy, and a little surprised, to see Finn Balor win the Intercontinental championship. It’s not surprising at all to see relations dwindle between Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush. I could see that one coming from a mile away. I hate to admit this, but Michael Cole and Corey Graves are right – Becky Lynch is starting to appear like the bad guy in her storyline, as she is starting to act a bit entitled just like the typical millennial. It’s a bit of a shame too because WWE could have really had something special in her and probably could have positioned her as the face of the women’s division. It seems that WWE is sacrificing Becky’s reputation (as well as Charlotte’s to a lesser degree) at all costs to protect Ronda Rousey’s persona as a babyface.
I also question the degree to which WWE is humanizing Braun Strowman. The whole reason he got over in the first place is because he was so much of a monster. Now WWE seems to be totally doing away with that, and as a result he won’t be nearly as over when he actually does become champion.
I have no idea what was up with Lacey Evans coming out for about 10 seconds – WWE is odd sometimes. I don’t imagine her character going over with the WWE universe. I could easily take her character and put it in a time machine, transport it back 50 years, and it would probably fit right in.
Everything impressed me about the main event, from Daniel Bryan’s promo right before the match to the way the match was paced. The only thing I’m a little disappointed in is that Kofi Kingston did not become champion. I don’t care when it is, he needs to become WWE champion before he retires, with or without The New Day. Vince McMahon always talks about how he likes to listen to his audience and give them what they want – well, they clearly want Kofi. He missed the boat in terms of capitalizing on Rusev Day and he needs to learn from that mistake.