By Jason Powell

Dot Net Members can look forward an exclusive audio review of the WWE Elimination Chamber pay-per-view with Jason Powell and Chris Shore later tonight. Take advantage of Prowrestling.net's 5th Birthday Sale pricing before it expires tomorrow. To access the coupon codes for $5 for one month, $30 for six months, and just $55 for a full year of Dot Net Membership, visit the Dot Net Birthday Sale Page.

WWE Elimination Chamber
Aired live on pay-per-view
New Orleans, Louisiana at New Orleans Arena

Pre Show

Tony Dawson and Matt Striker spoke at ringside and a shot aired from inside the arena concourse. The announcers ran through the pay-per-view lineup...

Backstage, Josh Mathews interviewed Randy Orton about the Elimination Chamber match. He said the thing more dangerous than the Chamber match is a man with nothing to lose and no regard for the wellbeing of his opponents. He said he will show everyone how dangerous he can be...

The announcers set up a video package on The Shield...

Rhodes Scholars made their entrance. Damien Sandow cut a promo on his way to the ring. He said there has been an outrage amongst "all of you halfwits" via social media for a Rhodes Scholars reunion. Cody Rhodes said that through all the litigation and red tape, they were able to make it happen. He demanded that the fans rise and give their reunion a round of applause. "You're welcome," Sandow concluded.

Brodus Clay, Tensai, Cameron, and Naomi made their entrance. Tensai debuted a new black hat during his entrance. One of the announcers questioned whether it was a beret. The announcers set up footage of the Tensai in a Teddy segment from Raw in Las Vegas...

1. Brodus Clay and Tensai (w/Cameron, Naomi) vs. Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow. Clay and Tensai hit a big simultaneous splash on Rhodes to get the win. They danced after the match...

Brodus Clay and Tensai beat Rhodes Scholars in 4:10.

Powell's POV: That was totally forgettable and missable. Those of you who chose to watch the taped version of the cable/satellite free preview missed nothing.

A WrestleMania video aired. We are 49 days away...

The announcers hyped the Elimination Chamber match. Striker gave it a hard sell by saying you will see men do things during the match that you won't see anywhere... An Elimination Chamber video aired...

Dawson and Striker spoke at ringside and continued to pitch the pay-per-view. A video showcased on The Rock and C.M. Punk to close the free preview...

WWE Elimination Chamber Pay-Per-View

The show opened with a video package and was presented by the GI Joe 2 movie featuring The Rock... Michael Cole introduced the show and noted that the sold out arena had 16,665 fans in attendance. Lilian Garcia introduced the opening match...

1. Alberto Del Rio (w/Ricardo Rodriguez) vs. Big Show for the World Hvt. Championship. Del Rio wore a red scarf to the ring. The Spanish broadcast team was introduced by Cole, who was joined on commentary by JBL and Jerry Lawler. Show hit an early Vader Bomb for a two count. Del Rio came back with the Cross Arm Breaker, but Show reached the ropes at 5:10 despite Ricardo trying to pull the rope back.

Show caught Del Rio with a chokeslam at 8:30 for another good near fall. The crowd was reacting to everything. Del Rio had the makings of a goose egg on his eyebrow from a shot taken during the match. Show would up for a knockout punch, but Del Rio rolled out of the ring. Del Rio caught Show with a DDT and then a big kick for another two count.

Del Rio applied the Cross Armbreaker in mid-ring at 10:45. Show struggled to reach the ropes. Show gave up on getting to the ropes. He stood up and picked up Del Rio, who was still applying the hold, and slammed him down to break it.

A short time later, Ricardo climbed onto the ring apron with the bucket. Show hit Del Rio and took the bucket and jawed at Ricardo while holding the bucket near his head. Del Rio tried to kick the bucket (no, not that way) and completely missed. He immediately did the spot again as the crowd groaned. Del Rio caught Show with another kick and then applied the Cross Arm Breaker for a third time. Show eventually tapped out...

Alberto Del Rio beat Big Show via submission to retain the World Hvt. Championship in 13:05.

Powell's POV: A good start to the show. The live crowd was hot for everything. The bucket kick miss was pretty bad. Show just acted like he didn't notice Del Rio and kept jawing at Del Rio until he performed the spot again. It didn't ruin the match for me, though. I assume Del Rio added the extra kick to put a little more time between the missed bucket kick and the final Cross Arm Breaker. A good match with one flub.

A GI Joe: Retaliation commercial aired... Antonio Cesaro made his entrance. Meanwhile, Josh Mathews interviewed actors DJ Cotrona and Adrianne Palicki from the GI Joe 2 movie. Adrianne had never been to a wrestling show. The Miz made her entrance...

Powell's POV: Adrianne is better known as "Tyra" to Friday Night Lights fans. Cotrona? Um, no clue, but he plays Flint in the new movie. I like to think that Adrianne hasn't been to a WWE event because she enjoys following along nude at home via Prowrestling.net.

2. Antonio Cesaro vs. The Miz for the U.S. Championship. Cesaro controlled the early offense and got some heat in the process. Miz's shoulder was heavily wrapped to sell the beatdown that Cesaro gave him. Miz eventually came back. Miz spread Cesaro's legs and went for a punch. Cesaro used his legs to take Miz's legs out from under him. Miz came down with a knee to the groin along with the punch. Referee Charles Robinson called for the bell because of the shot to the groin. Miz got pissed and kicked Cesaro low after the match...

Antonio Cesaro beat The Miz by DQ in 8:20.

Powell's POV: Well, that's one way to keep the feud going. Will we get a rematch at WrestleMania?

Backstage, Daniel Bryan accused Kane of being grumpy and ignoring him. Kane looked down at him and told him he looks like one of seven dwarves. Kane said he's focussed because he's never competed in the main event at WrestleMania. "So this is a big deal for me," Kane said.

Bryan suggested they watch each other's backs "Team Hell No" style. Bryan offered Kane a hand. Kane hugged Bryan. "Here's the deal," Kane said. "You watch my back and I'll watch my back too." Kane walked away and Bryan was left shaking his head...

An Elimination Chamber video was shown...

Jack Swagger entered to new music along with Zeb Colter. Zeb still has the jacket that William Shatner wore on the short lived "Shit My Dad Says" sitcom. Swagger said that when he holds the mic, he holds the power. "When I use this microphone I use it to shower you with truth," he said. "This man speaks the truth." Swagger said Colter is a great man and handed him the mic.

Colter said that on the eve of President's Day, he can't help but think about Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase. He said he can't help but think Jefferson would be disappointed to see what became of Louisiana and "our great country." Zeb said he defended the country of his life.

Zeb said WWE and the country are full of panderers and excuse makers. He complained about people crossing the border illegally, breaking laws, and asking for handouts. He said together we will make things right. He said a real American will win one for the good guys. "Mark my words, tonight marks the beginning of a Jack Swagger America," Colter said. "We the people."

Kane made his entrance followed by Mark Henry, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan, and then Chris Jericho. The first four men entered their pods...

3. Mark Henry vs. Jack Swagger (w/Zeb Colter) vs. Chris Jericho vs. Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Kane in an Elimination Chamber match for a shot at the World Hvt. Championship at WrestleMania 29. Bryan and Jericho started the match. After four minutes of back and forth action, the pod lights flashed and stopped on Swagger's pod, so Swagger entered the match.

Swagger aggressively worked over Bryan and then went after Jericho. He struck Jericho with repeated shots on the steel grating. Bryan recovered and caught Swagger with a knee off the top rope. Bryan threw Jericho inside the ring, suplexed him, and then missed a top rope headbutt. Kane's pod opened around 8:30.

Kane cleared Swagger from the ring. Bryan rolled up Kane for a two count. Bryan wanted a hug afterward. Kane yelled No!, while Bryan yelled Yes! Bryan pie-faced Kane, who responded with an uppercut. Jericho hoisted Bryan onto his shoulders and Kane clotheslined him off the top for a Doomsday Device.

Randy Orton entered the match at 12:40. Kane tried to chokeslam Orton, but he avoided it and slammed Kane into the steel fencing. Orton followed up with a hanging DDT onto the grating. Mark Henry checked into the match around 16:20. He performed the World's Strongest Slam on Bryan. Daniel Bryan was eliminated by Mark Henry in 16:35.

Henry's tirade continued as he slammed Orton through the glass on one of the pods. The glass didn't break, rather it came off the hinges. Moments later, Henry performed the World's Strongest Slam on Kane. Kane was eliminated by Mark Henry in 18:20. Henry turned his attention to Jericho.

Jericho slipped off Henry's shoulder and shoved him into the corner of the chamber. Swagger and Jericho teamed up to perform a double suplex on Henry, which might make Jericho a Real Canadian who doesn't like people who don't look like he does. Or not.

The pairing didn't last long as Jericho and Swagger went after one another. Jericho got the better of the exchange and went for the Lionsault, but Henry recovered and grabbed Jericho by the throat as he was going for the springboard part of the move. Henry slammed Jericho into the steel mesh, picked him up, and threw him onto Swagger inside the ring. Orton was still in the pod at 22:35.

Henry set up Jericho and Swagger on top of one another. Henry went to the second rope for a splash, but both men rolled out of the way. Swagger caught Henry with a kick to the face an then Jericho performed the Codebreaker. Orton recovered and performed the RKO on Henry and pinned him. Mark Henry was eliminated by Randy Orton in 23:20.

Powell's POV: Great sequence with big moves from three men. A surprising elimination that protects Henry. The announcers did a good job of pointing out that it took three men to eliminate Henry. Even the crowd applauded Henry as he was leaving the Chamber. Wait, he's back.

Henry returned to the Chamber and performed World's Strongest Slams on all three men. Booker T and Teddy Long came out and joined six referees in ordering Henry to leave the Chamber. JBL applauded Booker for taking care of business as a general manager and getting Henry to leave.

Jericho, Orton, and Swagger were on the mat at 25:55. Swagger tried unsuccessfully to pin Orton. Jericho and Orton teamed up to throw Swagger through the second and third ropes. Swagger's heard hit the pod and he sold at ringside while Orton and Jericho went at it in the ring. Jericho jumped off the top rope and Orton dropkicked him for a two count.

Swagger went for the Swagger Bomb, but Orton put his foot up. Swagger landed on his feet and applied The Patriot Act (ankle lock). Jericho broke up the ankle lock with a kick. JBL questioned why he would break it up. Later, Orton performed a double hanging DDT on Jericho and Swagger at 30:35. Orton played to the crowd, which popped big as Cole said it was WrestleMania Fever.

Orton set up for the RKO, but Jericho pushed him off. Jericho went for the Lionsault, but Orton blocked it and RKO'd Jericho. Chris Jericho was eliminated by Randy Orton in 31:20. Swagger immediately rolled up Orton and pinned him. Randy Orton was pinned by Jack Swagger in 31:25.

Jack Swagger beat Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, Mark Henry, Kane, and Daniel Bryan to win the Elimination Chamber match in 31:25.

Powell's POV: A very good Elimination Chamber match. Things really picked up once Henry entered and the action from the last three was very good. Zeb's pre-match promo immediately had me reconsidering my prediction that Mark Henry would win the match. I thought they would take their time establishing Swagger and Zeb, but it's pretty cool to see two guys in Swagger and Zeb that no one was thinking about during the Royal Rumble suddenly featured in a World Title match at WrestleMania. It seemed fairly obvious that was where it was going once Henry was eliminated, but it was still a hell of a lot of fun to watch them get there. I really like the way Henry was made to look like such a badass even though he was the third man eliminated.

A WrestleMania video was shown... Cole said there are limited tickets still available for WrestleMania 29... A video set up The Shield vs. John Cena, Ryback, and Sheamus...

4. John Cena, Ryback, and Sheamus vs. The Shield in a six-man tag match. The babyfaces made their entrances first. The Shield entered through the crowd. The babyfaces jumped out to a hot start and performed a triple standing suplex. No word on whether The Miz was watching backstage to learn how not to drop someone on their head.

The Shield eventually took control of the match and got the better of Cena, who was very talkative in apparently calling out spots. Reigns dropped Cena with a clothesline and went for a pin. Sheamus broke it up. Reigns stood up and jawed at Sheamus. Reigns hit a Samoan drop on Cena for a two count. Cena came back with a backdrop that Reigns took poorly. Cena got up and charged at Reigns, who caught him with an open hand to the neck/chest.

Cena continued to sell as Ambrose checked in and DDT'd him. Ambrose was brilliantly animated as he waited for Cena to stand up. The fans chanted Feed Me More and he moved Ambrose twitched along with it. Ryback ended up taking a hot tag from Cena. Ryback got the better of The Shield briefly.

At ringside, Reigns speared Sheamus through the timekeepers area. Inside the ring, Ryback had Seth Rollins up for a powerbomb, but Ambrose punched him in the gut to break it up. Moments later, Cena hit the Attitude Adjustment on Ambrose. Ryback had Rollins up for Shellshocked, but Reigns ran in out of nowhere and speared Ryback, causing Rollins to fall onto Ryback and get the pin.

The announcers questioned whether anyone saw that coming. Cena looked baffled. Sheamus was holding the back of his head, which appeared to catch an office chair when he was speared into the timekeeper's area. Ryback stormed away in frustration...

The Shield defeated John Cena, Ryback, and Sheamus in 15:15.

Powell's POV: Another wild brawl from The Shield and a finish that will have the diehard fans happy for 24 hours until they panic over the thought of The Shield losing to someone at WrestleMania. The finish was great. Just when you thought the face team was going over, Reigns hit that finisher out of nowhere. I love the way they set up the simultaneous finisher spot on Raw only to make that a big part of the finish tonight.

A Don't Try This At Home video aired... The announcers put over The Shield winning at ringside. Cole said they are an absolute team and they believing in what they are doing...

Dolph Ziggler, AJ, and Big E Langston headed to the ring. Dolph said they were on the road to WrestleMania, yet he wasn't booked. He said it was great of Swagger to return from his lengthy vacation and to win the Elimination Chamber match. He said Swagger probably thinks he's guaranteed the World Hvt. Championship, but his Money in the Bank contract actually does. Ziggler continued to vent until he was interrupted.

Booker T's music played and he walked out and eventually named Kofi Kingston as Ziggler's immediate opponent...

5. Dolph Ziggler (w/AJ, Big E Langston) vs. Kofi Kingston. Kingston caught Ziggler with Trouble in Paradise and went for a cover. Langston broke it up by pulling Ziggler out of the ring. Kingston followed up with a high cross body block on Langston at ringside. Langston appeared to hit his head on the barricade. Later, Ziggler hit his finisher on Kingston for the win.

Dolph Ziggler beat Kofi Kingston in 3:55.

Dolph and company started to leave the ring. Langston returned to the ring and worked over Kingston with punches and a big clothesline. He picked up Kingston and hit him with repeated knees to the gut. Langston performed the Big Ending and left Kingston lying...

Powell's POV: Poor Kingston. Remember this moment the next time they give him a secondary title win and you start to think this might be the time they are taking his push seriously. There's no shame in losing to Ziggler and having Langston set up as a future opponent, it's just that Kingston appears to be undercard fodder with no direction. The crowd actually chanted "One More Time" after Langston hit his finisher.

Backstage, Brodus Clay played with new WWE action figures while Cameron and Naomi giggled. Clay called Tensai by the name of Sweet T. He didn't care for it. Tensai said the writing on his face means honor, but with his luck it's probably from a Japanese menu...

The announcers spoke at ringside and once again showed viewers how to download the app...

6. Kaitlyn vs. Tamina Snuka for the WWE Divas Championship. The bell rang and the crowd was quiet. They showed all five additional members of the Divas division watching on a backstage monitor. Sad. Tamina missed a superfly. Kaitlyn speared and pinned Tamina...

Kaitlyn pinned Tamina to retain the WWE Divas Championship in 3:10.

Powell's POV: Wait, we can order pay-per-view events, but we don't know how to download apps? I went beyond the call of duty by emulating the way the average viewer watches Divas matches. how the average viewer watches it. I took a piss break. I finished and the match was ending. How many pro wrestling website writers will go to such great lengths to give you that type of analysis?

A video set up the main event... Entrances for the main event took place with C.M. Punk and Paul Heyman coming out first. Punk brought the WWE Championship with him. Justin Roberts begrudgingly introduced Punk as "The People's Champion." Punk knelt in his corner and Heyman spoke to him. The Rock's music hit and he made his entrance. Roberts handled the in-ring introductions...

7. The Rock vs. C.M. Punk (w/Paul Heyman) for the WWE Championship. At 3:40, Rock and Punk jawed in the middle of the ring. Punk slapped Rock across the face and then Rock bat up Punk in the corner. Punk stood up and spit in Rock's face with the early intention of getting Rock so upset that he would get himself disqualified. The announcers told that story and called out for Rock to calm down.

The next couple minutes were slow paced as Punk had Rock in a chin lock. Rock stood up and fired punches at Punk, who put him right back down with a leg lariat and got a two count. Punk reapplied the chin lock. The pace was slow and the announcers sounded half asleep until the action picked up. Punk performed a springboard clothesline for a two count. Mark it down, Punk executed a springboard move without it backfiring! Punk went right back to the chin lock that he held at 10:00.

Rock got to his feet and threw punches at Punk. He charged at Punk in the corner. Punk put his foot up, but Rock saw it and punched him again. Rock backed off per the Rock's orders, but Punk came back with a knee. Punk followed up with a high knee in the corner and a clothesline. Punk went to the top rope, checked his pulse, and connected with an elbow drop.

At 12:00, Punk went to ringside and started to pull the Spanish announce table apart. Punk told JBL to move his hat. JBL obliged and gave him the thumbs up. Rock recovered and attacked Punk at ringside, but Punk came right back with a kick and got another two count.

Punk dumped Rock to ringside. Heyman stood on the apron and bickered with the referee. Punk stood up Rock on the table and performed a Rock Bottom. The table didn't break. Punk returned to the ring and the ref counted. Rock returned to the ring just in time to beat the ten count. Punk struck him with repeated punches.

Punk blew a kiss at someone and then ran the ropes, but Rock caught him with a Samoan drop. Rock kicked in the offense going into 16:00. He set up for a Rock Bottom at 16:30, but Punk blocked it and struck Rock with repeated elbows to the back of the head. JBL raved that Punk had the perfect game plan so far.

Punk went back for a springboard move, but Rock caught him in position and executed the Rock Bottom for a really good two count. Heyman yelled encouragement to Punk, who rolled out of the ring. Rock went after Punk and rolled him back inside the ring. Heyman jawed at the referee. Meanwhile, Punk ended up running Rock into the referee, who was bumped off the ring apron.

Punk hit the GTS on Rock and covered him at 18:10. The referee was still out and couldn't make the count. A trainer checked on the ref. A second ref came out and helped check on the first ref. Heyman told the second ref to get in the ring. Punk called for the second ref, who was still on the floor checking on the first ref.

Rock came back with a spinebuster and a People's Elbow and went for a pin. The second referee entered the ring and made the count, but Punk kicked out for another really good near fall. Punk went to get up and rolled over the second referee's leg. The second referee sold the ankle at ringside.

Heyman grabbed the WWE Championship and then held Rock in place. Punk tried to hit Rock with the belt, but Rock broke free and Heyman took the shot. Rock hit the Rock Bottom and covered Punk. The first referee recovered and made the three count. Cole noted that Rock is going to WrestleMania as WWE Champion. JBL said he's not sure we saw justice today.

The Rock pinned C.M. Punk in 20:55 to retain the WWE Championship.

As Rock was celebrating, the announcers hyped The Rock vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 29. JBL said they are two of the greatest icons in sports history. Rock continued to celebrate with the title to close the show...

Powell's POV: A decent match with more gimmickry than I'd hoped for. The first ten minutes were slow and Rock appeared to be breathing heavily just a few minutes in when they stood face. It got better after the ten minute mark, but the crowd wasn't as excited for the finish of the match as they seemed to be going into the match. The slow pace early and the ref bump gimmicky seemed to take them out of it a bit, though they were into the near falls. Punk was protected in that he can point out that he had Rock pinned while the referee was out and cry conspiracy over the second referee not entering the ring to count the pin, which was really odd.

Overall, the middle of the show entertained me more than the last hour. The Elimination Chamber and the six-man tag matches were very entertaining and both had outcomes that surprised me. I didn't hate the main event, but I wasn't wowed by it either. It just wasn't memorable. Thanks for watching along with me tonight. I will be back with Chris Shore later tonight for a Dot Net Members' exclusive audio review.

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