Two nights ago, SmackDown Live hosted Elimination Chamber, its last pit stop toward WrestleMania. While the show wasn’t incredible, we got two huge moments by way of title changes. First, Naomi would defeat Alexa Bliss to become the new SmackDown Women’s Champion. Second, and most importantly, Bray Wyatt defeated five other Superstars to become the new WWE World Champion.
Opening Segment
To celebrate his new championship victory, Bray Wyatt opens the show with a promo and welcomes the WWE Universe to the Era of Wyatt. John Cena, Wyatt’s opponent when he invokes his rematch clause later tonight, interrupts the Eater of Worlds to give his two cents. Cena wants the title match to take place immediately, but they are interrupted by AJ Styles.
Styles is still owed a one-on-one championship rematch, and General Manager Daniel Bryan realizes that both Cena and Styles are equally deserving of a rematch. In that case, Bryan changes the WWE Championship match tonight to a triple threat match: Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena vs. AJ Styles.
American Alpha vs. The Ascension
The Ascension were starting to gain momentum going into the SmackDown Tag Team Championship Tag Team Turmoil Match (wow, that’s a mouthful), but at Elimination Chamber, that seemed to be squandered. The Usos beatdown American Alpha before The Ascension came out to finish the job, and the former NXT Tag Team Champions failed to do the job. If Konnor and Viktor can get a victory tonight, their momentum will go from 0-100 fast.
The Ascension look for a double team on Chad Gable, but Jason Jordan pushes Konnor out of the ring, which leads to Grand Amplitude. Winners: American Alpha
Dean Ambrose vs. James Ellsworth (w/Carmella)
Dean Ambrose spent the entire night looking for Baron Corbin, after Corbin essentially ruined Ambrose’s chances of winning the Elimination Chamber. Ambrose wanted to take out his frustrations on Ellsworth, but Corbin assaults Ambrose on the stage, and throws him through a table near some electrical equipment. Luckily for James Ellsworth, the match never happens.
Backstage Segment
Daniel Bryan is talking to Nikki Bella about how to finally end her situation with Natalya, when Natalya interrupts them. Unsurprisingly, this ends in a brawl, with Daniel Bryan coming up with a solution. Next week, the two women will face each other in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
Becky Lynch vs. Mickie James
Out of the three women’s matches that took place this Sunday, Mickie James and Becky Lynch put on the best in-ring performance. Lynch won the match with a roll-up, and James is still trying to get the respect that she feels she deserves. It’s hard to argue with her, since she is a former six-time Women’s Champion and a former Divas Champion.
Mickie James fakes a shoulder injury, and suckers Becky Lynch in for the Mick Kick. Winner: Mickie James
In-ring Segment
Naomi celebrates her SmackDown Women’s Championship victory, but apparently she suffered an injury during the match. The champion doesn’t disclose what the injury actually is, and she is interrupted by Alexa Bliss. Bliss accuses Naomi of faking the injury, and gives her a week to forfeit the title or defend it.
Bray Wyatt (c) vs. John Cena vs. AJ Styles – WWE Championship
It is unclear whether or not this is the only rematch opportunity AJ Styles and John Cena will get, but nonetheless, this will be a great match with a lot riding on it. AJ Styles could capture his second WWE Championship leading to a main event WrestleMania match, and John Cena could capture his record-breaking 17th WWE World Championship.
Before the WWE Champion (notice they’ve dropped “World” out of the title’s name) enters the ring, Luke Harper appears when the lights come on. Harper, no longer under the spell of Wyatt, attacks him and sends him crashing into the barricade. The triple threat scenario is already a disadvantage, but Wyatt has another obstacle to overcome in this match.
Cena knocks AJ Styles off of the tope rope to prevent the Phenomenal Forearm, then Cena runs right into Sister Abigail for the second time this week. Winner, and STILL WWE Champion: Bray Wyatt
After the match, Randy Orton comes down to the ring and pledges his allegiance to Bray Wyatt. As long as Wyatt is WWE Champion, Orton does not want to challenge for the championship at WrestleMania.
