By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Elimination Chamber
Aired February 19, 2022 live on Peacock, WWE Network, and pay-per-view
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Super Dome
Kickoff Show result: Rey Mysterio defeated The Miz in 9:15.
The main show opened with a video package… Pyro shot off on the stage and outside the domed stadium…
Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton were on commentary. Cole touted the venue as the largest concrete dome in the world. Cole noted that it was a late arriving crowd, but he said the event was sold out. Graves introduced the Arabic broadcast team that was seated next to them at ringside. The Arabic team spoke briefly…
A video package set up the WWE Universal Championship match…
Roman Reigns made his entrance and was joined on the stage by Paul Heyman, Jimmy Uso, and Jey Uso. Reigns wore a red lei and walked to the ring with Heyman while the Usos headed to the back. Once in the ring, Reigns told the “Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” to acknowledge him. The fans cheered loudly. Goldberg made his entrance to “Goldberg” chants.
Powell’s POV: The WWE ring posts are exposed. They don’t have the LED casing around them at this event, presumably due to the Chamber structure.
1. Roman Reigns (w/Paul Heyman) vs. Goldberg for the WWE Universal Championship. Ring announcer Mike Rome delivered in-ring introductions for the championship match. Referee Dan Engler stood between Reigns and Goldberg, almost begging them to listen to him while they stared at one another intensely. Once the bell rang, loud Goldberg chants broke out. Reigns looked at the crowd to sell the chants.
Reigns and Goldberg locked up to start the match. Goldberg started to back up Reigns, who broke it with a punch. Reigns headbutted Goldberg and tossed him to ringside. Reigns joined him on the floor and slammed his head onto the Arabic broadcast table twice. Reigns went for an Irish whip, but Goldberg won the power battle and sent Reigns into the barricade.
Goldberg threw Reigns back inside the ring and followed, but Reigns caught him with an uppercut. Reigns threw repeated shots at Goldberg and slammed an elbow on his back. Goldberg suddenly speared Reigns. Rather than go for the pin, Goldberg played to the crowd and signaled for his finisher. Reigns avoided the Jackhammer and countered into a uranage slam for a two count.
Reigns slammed his fist onto the mat and then blasted Goldberg with a Superman Punch. Reigns barked “I told you” to the live crowd, then went to the corner and let out a war cry. Reigns charged, but Goldberg beat him to the punch with a spear. Goldberg went for the Jackhammer, but Reigns stuffed it and applied the standing guillotine submission hold. Goldberg had a small cut on top of his head.
Goldberg drove Reigns into the corner, but he maintained the guillotine hold and then grapevined him. Goldberg drove Reigns into the corner, but Reigns still kept him in the guillotine. Goldberg faded and the referee called for the bell to end the match…
Roman Reigns defeated Goldberg in 6:00 to retain the WWE Universal Championship.
Powell’s POV: An enjoyable match for what it was. Goldberg never hit the Jackhammer, nor did he tap out, but Reigns still walked away with the dominant win. Those who feared that WWE would do something crazy by having Reigns drop the championship before WrestleMania can breathe a sigh of relief.
After some ads, imagery of Jeddah was show. Cole used the slogan “Jeddah is different”… A video package on the Elimination Chamber matches aired… The Elimination Chamber lowered around the ring…
Entrances for the women’s Elimination Chamber match took place. The women had their arms and legs covered, but they didn’t wear the baggy t-shirts that they’ve had to wear at past Saudi events. Alexa Bliss made the final entrance, but she did not start the match. Rather, she had a swing inside her pod…
2. Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair vs. Doudrop vs. Nikki ASH vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Liv Morgan in an Elimination Chamber match for a shot at the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania. Belair earned the right to enter the match last by winning a gauntlet match on Raw. Liv Morgan and Nikki ASH started the match while the other four entrants were in their respective pods.
The third entrant was Doudrop. ASH wanted to work with Doudrop and offered her a handshake. Doudrop accepted, but then pulled ASH in and ended up picking her up and running her into the cage. Once ASH was on her feet, Doudrop bounced off the ropes outside the ring and splashed ASH against the cage. Morgan went after Doudrop, but she was also put down and eventually hit with a senton splash. ASH dodged a charging Doudrop, who ran into the ring post.
The fourth entrant was Rhea Ripley, meaning Bliss would be fifth because Belair earned sixth entry. Ripley smiled and wanted to go after ASH. Doudrop tried to cut her off, but Ripley took care of her. ASH climbed the cage in hopes of getting away from Ripley, who joined her in climbing the cage. Ripley slammed ASH’s face into the cage, causing her to fall onto Doudrop and Morgan. In the ring, Ripley hit the Riptide on ASH and pinned her.
Nikki ASH was eliminated by Rhea Ripley in 6:20.
The fifth entrant was Alexa Bliss. She had a run of offense on Ripley and Morgan, and ended up getting a near fall on Morgan. A short time later, Mogan got her leg caught in the ropes briefly. Morgan caught Doudrop on the ropes and performed a sunset bomb and got the pin.
Doudrop was eliminated by Liv Morgan in 8:50.
The sixth and final entrant was Bianca Belair. She pressed Morgan over her head while standing outside the ring and then dropped her over the ropes and into the ring. Ripley and Belair looked like they were going to square off, but they opted to perform stereo suplexes on Bliss and Morgan.
Ripley slapped Belair, who returned the favor. Belair went for a KOD, but Ripley avoided it and landed on her feet. Morgan hit Ripley and Morgan with double knees. Bliss took out Morgan with a move and then went up top and hit her with Twisted Bliss and pinned her.
Liv Morgan was eliminated by Alexa Bliss in 12:10.
Ripley went for a Riptide on Bliss, who escaped. Ripley clotheslined Bliss, who had Ripley in position for a DDT, which triggered the move. Belair hit the KOD on Ripley and pinned her.
Rhea Ripley was eliminated by Bianca Belair in 12:45.
The final two were Belair and Bliss. Bliss picked up a quick near fall. Belair caught her going for a move outside the ring, then slammed her off the rope and into the cage a couple of times. Belair went up top and went for a flip move that Bliss avoided. Bliss went for a DDT, but Belair stuffed it. Belair went for a suplex that Bliss stuffed. Bliss went for a DDT, but Belair blocked it with a handspring. Belair did a handspring into the ropes and got a near fall.
Bliss came back with a couple of quick pin attempts that resulted in two counts. Belair hit Bliss with a forearm in the middle of the ring and then hit the KOD. Belair covered Bliss and scored the pin…
Bianca Belair eliminated Alexa Bliss in 15:45 to win the Elimination Chamber match to earn a Raw Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania.
Powell’s POV: A solid match that maintained a fast pace from start to finish. I’m surprised they brought Bliss back just to have her lose. I hope they can heat up Belair between now and her presumed match with Becky Lynch at WrestleMania. She’s certainly over, but the booking has cooled her off to some extent. Either way, I’m all for full length Lynch vs. Belair match on the big stage.
A Bobby Lashley video package aired… Footage aired of WWE personnel attending a Special Olympics event in Jeddah…
3. Ronda Rousey and Naomi vs. Charlotte Flair and Sonya Deville. Per the match stipulations, Rousey had to compete with one arm tied behind her back. Bliss wore a gi and the referee used a rope to tie her right arm behind her. Deville had one arm in a sling, but she removed the sling right after the bell rang. Cole questioned how Rousey could apply an armbar with one arm. Cole said she probably knows 2,000 ways to break someone’s arm. Rousey got the better of Deville and then called for Flair, who tagged into the match.
Flair opted against entering, and Naomi and Deville ended up in the ring instead. Naomi ended up bulldogging Deville into her corner and then tagged in Rousey, who performed a one-armed takedown of Deville. Rousey set up for a move, but Flair ran in and attacked Rousey from behind. The heels isolated Rousey for a stretch. Naomi eventually took a hot tag and worked over Flair. Naomi performed a corkscrew dive over the top rope onto Flair at ringside. Flair rolled back in the ring.
Naomi went up top and executed a cross body block on Flair. Flair caught Naomi going for a huracanrana and powerbombed her, which led to a two count. Flair applied the figure four. Rousey ran in and kicked Flair to break the hold. Deville tossed Rousey to ringside and then tagged into the match. Deville hit Naomi with a running knee and covered her for a two count. Rousey tagged in again and ended up putting Deville down with a Samoan Drop. Rousey put Deville in an armbar and got the submission win…
Ronda Rousey and Naomi beat Charlotte Flair and Sonya Deville in 9:15.
Powell’s POV: It wasn’t pretty to say the least. It was asking a lot of Rousey to work the match in a believable fashion with one arm tied behind her back. Heck, it might have been too much to ask her to work a believable match with both arms free at this point given how rusty she looked at the Royal Rumble. But this approach lowered expectations and bought her more time to knock the rust off before her match with Flair at WrestleMania.
A WrestleMania video aired. We are 42 days away from the two-night event… A video package chronicled the issues that Drew McIntyre has had with Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss…
4. Drew McIntyre vs. Madcap Moss (w/Happy Corbin) in a Falls Count Anywhere match. Graves told a terrible joke that he claimed Moss told on the flight to Saudi Arabia. McIntyre brought his giant f’n sword to the ring with him. Ugh. Referee Jessika Carr wore long sleeves and a baggy ref shirt. The bell rang to start the match and then Corbin joined Moss in attacking McIntyre, which was legal per match stipulations. For some reason, Corbin went to ringside and then McIntyre quickly took offensive control.
Corbin got involved again. McIntyre chased him up the stage and to the back. Moss ran toward McIntyre, who put him down with a big boot. McIntyre set up for a powerbomb on the stage, but Corbin returned and hit McIntyre. The heel duo executed a double suplex. Moss covered Corbin on the entrance ramp for a two count. Moss followed up with a fallaway slam on the ramp and got another two count while Corbin watched.
McIntyre and Moss returned to the ring. McIntyre came back with a suplex, but he ran into a big boot in the corner. McIntyre shrugged that off and performed an inverted Alabama Slam that Moss took by landing on his head. The referee checked on Moss. Corbin pulled Moss to the floor. McIntyre chased Corbin around the ring. Moss got up and went after McIntyre, who suplexed him on the floor. McIntyre barked at Cole’s crew, causing them to scurry. McIntyre suplexed Moss onto the broadcast table.
Corbin hit McIntyre with a chair. Moss and Corbin ran McIntyre through the barricade in front of the timekeeper. Moss covered McIntyre and got a two count on the floor. Back in the ring, McIntyre rallied with a superplex for a near fall. Corbin got involved again. McIntyre grabbed his sword and swung it, but Corbin ducked it and fled to ringside. McIntyre held up the sword and did his countdown, then hit the Claymore Kick on Moss and pinned him while holding onto the sword. McIntyre stood with a foot on Moss and got the three count while glaring at Corbin…
Drew McIntyre defeated Madcap Moss in 9:05 in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
Powell’s POV: Here’s hoping that Moss will be okay. He took that inverted Alabama Slam in a way that drove the top of his head right into the mat. It was beyond scary. Hopefully he dodged a bullet and this won’t be a case where he starts to feel it once the adrenaline wears off. On a much lighter note, Corbin is apparently the dumbest character in WWE. He knew he could interfere at any time, but he opted to pick his spots rather than just turn this into a handicap match. If you could get past that (and I couldn’t) and the frightening spot, this was fine for what it was. I’d have interest in Baron Corbin vs. McIntyre at WrestleMania, but I have no interest in Happy Corbin vs. anyone.
An ad aired for Broken Skull Sessions with Steve Austin interviewing Ron Simmons, and then the broadcast team recapped Rey Mysterio beating The Miz on the Kickoff Show…
The Miz was interviewed by Kevin Patrick in the backstage area. Miz accused Rey of cheating his way to victory via his son Dominik. Miz said he would find a tag team partner. He said it would be a global superstar. Miz said he had someone in mind and needed to make a phone call…
Footage aired from WWE’s royal kingdom dinner that included a stick dance that the wrestlers took part in… Lita made her entrance and had her arms covered, but she wore gear that looked true to her persona. Cole touted WWE’s female wrestlers being on billboards in Saudi Arabia. Becky Lynch made her entrance. She was back to being confident after acting rattled on Raw…
5. Becky Lynch vs. Lita for the Raw Women’s Championship. Mike Rome delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Lita went for an early Twist of Fate that Lynch stuffed. Lynch took offensive control while Cole told the story of the champion weathering the early Lita storm. Lynch targeted Lita’s neck, and the broadcast team played up Lita’s history of neck issues.
Lynch set up for a move that Lita stuffed and countered into a DDT. Lita hit a series of clotheslines, including one in the corner. Lita put Lynch down and then performed a cross body block from the middle rope for a near fall. Lynch went for a Disarmer, but Lynch rolled her into a pin for a two count, then Lynch reversed it and got a two count of her own. Lynch did the spot where she held the ropes for leverage, but Lita was able to kick out. Lita caught Lynch in a sleeper, but Lynch rolled to the ropes to break it.
Lita caught Lynch on the ropes and powerbombed her for a two count. Lita went up top for her moonsault finisher. Lynch rolled to the floor to avoid it. Lita followed Lynch to the floor and slammed her head off the table. Lita returned to the ring and Lynch was on the apron. Lynch clotheslined Lita over the top rope. Lynch went to the ropes, but Lita performed a head-scissors takedown. Lita hit a Twist of Fate for a near fall.
Lita went to the ropes, but Lynch cut her off. Lynch applied the Disarmer. Lita scrambled and neared the ropes. Lynch released the hold and put Lita down with a Manhandle Slam. Lynch covered her for the pin, but Lita put her foot on the bottom rope. Lynch showed frustration and slammed Lita’s head on the mat repeatedly, then acted like she didn’t know what to do next.
Lynch positioned Lita in the ring and then went to the top rope and went for a moonsault that Lita avoided. Lita kicked Lynch and put her down with a Twist of Fate. Lita went up top and moonsaulted Lynch for a good near fall. When they got to their feet, Lynch hit the Manhandle Slam and scored the pin. “Becky Lynch survives,” Cole said.
Becky Lynch defeated Lita in 12:15 to retain the Raw Women’s Championship.
Lynch spoke to Lita after the pin and then went into her celebration. Lita got emotional as Lynch left the ring and backed up the ramp. Lita played to the crowd and they applauded her and then chanted her name. She was going to leave the ring, but they played her entrance theme, so she returned to the ring and played to the fans again. Both broadcast teams stood up and applauded her…
Powell’s POV: It took some time for the crowd to get into the match, but there were some “this is awesome” chants by the end. There were a couple of clunky moments early, but this was fun. It was a real treat to see Lita again, and it was obvious that this match meant a lot to both wrestlers.
The broadcast team touted Undertaker entering the WWE Hall of Fame. The Undertaker video package set to Metallica’s “Sad But True” aired. The crowd cheered after the video package concluded…
The Viking Raiders made their entrance for the Smackdown Tag Title match. Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso ran out and attacked them from behind. They put Erik down, and then suplexed Ivar on top of him. The broadcast team said there was no way the Viking Raiders would be able to compete…
Powell’s POV: All four of those guys made the long trip to Saudi Arabia for that. I hope it paid well. I was looking forward to that match. I’m sure they’ll end up having it at some point, but here’s hoping it’s at WrestleMania rather than on television. The build to the match was lackluster and perhaps this is why, though it’s possible it was simply a time crunch casualty. Either way, it gives the creative forces more time to get the build right.
A Seth Rollins video package aired… A WrestleMania ad aired. The broadcast team discussed the show, and then set up a video package for the Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship…
Entrances for the main event took place. Theory took selfies once he was in the ring. Lesnar made the final entrance to a massive pop. Cole noted that it was Lesnar’s first Chamber match. Lesnar entered the ring and smiled at Lashley, then took a lap around the ring and ignored Riddle before taunting Styles. Lesnar entered a pod just before the match started…
6. Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins vs. Riddle vs. Austin Theory vs. AJ Styles in an Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship. The first two entrants were Rollins and Theory. The crowd chanted Rollins’ entrance theme briefly. Theory performed a fisherman’s buster suplex and covered Rollins, who immediately kicked out.
Theory went for his finisher, but Rollins slipped away and superkicked him. Rollins kicked him again and dropped him to his knees, then superkicked him again. Rollins tossed Theory outside the ring and then ran him into the cage. Rollins powerbombed Theory through Lashley’s pod wall. Lashley sold it for a moment while Graves said it seemed like Lashley was staring at Lesnar and didn’t realize Theory was coming.
The third entrant was Riddle. Cole pointed out that medical personnel were tending to Lashley. Riddle got hung up in a tree of woe. Rollins kicked him and then went up top for a move, but Riddle sat up and suplexed him from the ropes. Riddle stood up on the ropes, but Rollins came up behind him and gave him an inverted superplex for a near fall.
Adam Pearce and other officials helped Lashley leave the Chamber. Meanwhile, Rollins performed a top rope splash on Riddle and got a near fall.
Powell’s POV: All signs point to this being a work to get Lashley out of the match. I suppose they could be setting up a dramatic return at some point too, but I assume it’s an out for him not winning the match either way.
The fourth entrant was Styles, who worked over Rollins and Riddle while Theory remained down outside the ring. Theory ended up returning to break up a double suplex attempt. Riddle ended up performing a double draping DDT and then went into Viper’s Pose mode.
The fifth entrant was supposed to be Bobby Lashley, but he was not in the cage. Lesnar broke out of his pod and entered the match early as the sixth entrant. Lesnar hit an F5 on Rollins and pinned him.
Seth Rollins was eliminated by Brock Lesnar in 9:50.
Cole said Lashley was in the concussion protocol and would not be able to return to the match. Lesnar hit an F5 on Riddle and pinned him.
Riddle was eliminated by Brock Lesnar in 10:05.
Lesnar roughed up Styles and then gave him an F5 and pinned him.
AJ Styles was eliminated by Brock Lesnar in 11:00.
The final two entrants were Lesnar and Theory. A petrified Theory tried to hide inside a pod, but Lesnar kicked through it. Theory hit Lesnar with a low blow outside the ring. Lesnar returned to the ring. Theory dropkicked Lesnar and followed up with a DDT that led to a two count.
Theory climbed the cage outside the ring. Lesnar climbed up under him and then brought him down so that both men were standing on top of one of the pods. Lesnar slammed Theory’s face into the plexiglass wall multiple times, then gave him an F5 move off the top of the pod. Lesnar didn’t go down with Theory, who crashed onto the area outside the ring. Lesnar dragged Theory back inside the ring and pinned him. Lesnar pretended to take a selfie of himself and Theory.
Brock Lesnar eliminated Austin Theory in an Elimination Chamber match in 14:55 to win the WWE Championship.
After the match, Cole read a tweet from Roman Reigns, who said Lesnar would acknowledge him. Lesnar celebrated with his title belt while a graphic listed Lesnar vs. Reigns for in a champion vs. champion, title vs. title match for WrestleMania. Cole said it was the tenth world championship win of Lesnar’s career. Lesnar held up the championship while pyro shot off outside the stadium. Theory was still being tended to by referees in the ring. Lesnar left the ring and posed for photos with some fans at ringside.
Powell’s POV: The F5 was essentially Lesnar throwing Theory off the top of the pod, as Lesnar remained on top of the pod. Theory landed on his feet, so it was a safe bump for Theory aside from the risk of injuring and ankle or knee. The match was pretty much what most expected in terms of Lesnar going over to set up the title vs. title match. They did a good job of protecting Lashley, which keeps him strong for an eventual rematch with Lesnar or even a match with Reigns at some point.
Overall, this was a predictable show, but that’s usually the case at this time of year when they are so close to WrestleMania. Jake Barnett and I will team up for a Dot Net Members’ exclusive audio review later today. Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below and by voting for the best match.
Roman isn’t dropping that title until they find the person worthy of a massive push. We may be 2-3 years away from that (like for Steiner)
Did you notice how over Alexa still is? Decent match. Wish it had gone a little longer but decent work by the women. They also looked better than the flannel PJs from crown jewel
Reigns vs Goldberg was what it needed to be.
The women’s chamber match was pretty good and Bliss is still a star. The crazy stuff with Lilly has absolutely not hurt her at all.
Charlotte looks like an 80s masked jobber that forget their mask and Rousey wearing a gi in this setting is so obvious I’m disappointed I didn’t realize she would do it.
“Charlotte looks like an 80s masked jobber that forget their mask”
I just spit my drink. Awesome
Charlotte looks like an 80s masked jobber that forget their mask”
That gave me a good chuckle.
You drop the shitty gimmick and Moss looks like he might have some real talent. I’m not sure he’s ever gonna get that opportunity tho
Not if he keeps taking Alabama Slams to the top of his head.
That bump on the head was brutal. Corbin and Moss could be something if they keep moving them to more serious roles and drop the forced hysterical laughter bit.
Well,might as well turn it off Lesnar’s winning!lol
Despite what the neckbeard elite think, Lesnar is still a huge star and second only to Roman when it comes to TV ratings. Hopefully this is a move towards unifying all the belts so there’s only one set, and Lashley now has a built in reason to demand a title shot after WM.
Not the way I would have done it, but still something that will appeal to the casual fan.
So the one (part-time) guy WWE doesn’t need to give any belt or prize to because he will always be seen as a star anyway has now won an MITB match he wasn’t a participant in, an Elimination Chamber where nobody else was allowed an elimination, and a Royal Rumble that he logically shouldn’t have been in but got number 30 because reasons. How strange that new stars never manage to break through.
They really build this whole 2 night Mania around one match. Wow.
With all of the other big spots/bumps guys have taken in wrestling history now suddenly there is a concussion protocol for this one moment? Lame!
Calling it now: night one will have two world title matches, with the winners meeting on night two to unify the titles.
Lesnar vs Lashley for the WWE title.
Reigns vs Rollins for the universal title.
Lesnar vs Reigns to unify the titles.
“They really build this whole 2 night Mania around one match. Wow.”
Nah, they’ll go for a mega build for Rousey vs Charlotte as well. I suspect Becky vs Bianca will get a lot of attention also.
But, that’s how the most successful PPVs have always been built. The main event is the focus. You build it first and have 1 or 2 co-main events that get a lot of attention. Everything else is just filler.
“I’m surprised they brought Bliss back just to have her lose.”
well someone has to lose…also I noticed Lily wasn’t with her and if she is with her then Bliss will be successull so said her DR.
They already announced the title versus title match, so that’s not happening.
Don’t call Mania a one-match show, remember Johnny Knoxville will be wrestling too!
>68 minutes of wrestling on an almost 3 hour ppv is inexcusable & pathetic. This could’ve been a Monday & achieved the same results. Speaking of, the gauntlet from Monday could’ve been for the RAW Women’s shot @ Mania & not only achieved the same result, but made the women involved look better & given the 30min to the rest of the card instead of that complete waste of time.
BTW, good job WWE for falsely advertising a title match that didn’t happen…again.
Hope Moss is okay, hope Lashley is okay, hope Seth Clown Shoes Napier stops using that powerbomb before he ends someone’s career, oh wait…
And I hope Brock leaves Mania with both toy belts so WWE can take advantage of his sporadic appearances to build a main event roster, because all they have currently is a bingo tumbler with the current roster labeled: “Pretend to get behind for 4 weeks”.
Ah yes, another neckbeard jackass thinks that the amount of time spent wrestling has any bearing on the quality of the PPV.
The show was a success to everyone except the dipshits who live with their moms and think Jay White and Trent Joberretta spending half of a 15 minute “match” outside with suplexes on chairs and other moronic shit is good.