Hello Folks, how are y’all doing this week? I thought Raw was pretty disappointing. There were far too many video packages, which I had the privilege of skipping through. There wasn’t enough wrasslin’ but stats show that there is a declining amount of wrestling taking place on Raw now. There was 27 minutes 29 seconds of in-ring action which was down from last week. Maybe creative got tired and forgot to book some matches OR maybe it’s the fact that Triple H spent the opening of Raw showing two Undertaker video packages and trying to heavily enforce the fact that he “carried” the Undertaker at last year’s WrestleMania and to think people thought HHH had a big ego?! PFFT!
This week and next week I will be looking at the Elimination Chamber! This takes place on the 19th of February and personally is one of my favourite speciality matches the WWE has to offer. The Rumble as we all know from my mark out story is my favourite speciality match. I would probably consider the Elimination Chamber somewhat better than the Hell In A Cell match, simply because I feel that WWE have watered the HIAC down too much. You might say the same thing about the Elimination Chamber, but for me I feel the EC offers more excitement. I’m not gonna spend this article telling you the rules of the EC because I’m sure all you smarks know already and I’m sure Michael Cole will do a bad job at explaining the rules in the next week. I won’t know how bad he will do at that because I’ve took to switching my ears off whenever Cole talks… Believe me, it’s a useful trait! :p
Today I’m going to be looking at 5 of the greatest Elimination Chamber photos to ever grace your eyes; let’s start.
Survivor Series 2002
In Madison Square Garden; one of the greatest arenas in the world and the one that WWE that is most fond of. The match took place between Triple H (who was champion) vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho vs. RVD vs. Booker T vs. Kane for the World Heavyweight Championship. Eric Bischoff was credited as the Elimination Chamber creator therefore it only seemed fitting that the then Raw GM came out to explain the match rules and structure. I hated Bischoff but he was a heel for the most part of his career (maybe all of it, I’m unsure about that one) therefore hating him was only normal. Now that I think about him I remember that he was better than some (maybe most) of the wrestlers backstage at gaining heat with the crowds. I wonder what he’s up to these days? Anyways, the match was a spectacle because it looked so foreign but worked so well. One of the things many remember about this match was Shawn Michaels’ hideous hair cut and his awkward colour of tights. Shawn said in his book how his dressmaker (not an actually dress but damnit I don’t know what else to describe it as) had failed to complete the tights in time therefore he had no other option but to wear these manure coloured tights. I know I have had this photo in one of my articles before but it’s just too damn good a picture to leave out when talking about the EC. Shawn won the match after 39 minutes by giving Hunter a Sweet Chin Music and covering him for the win.
Elimination Chamber 2010
The Elimination Chamber 2010 PPV marked the start of the PPV gimmick for the EC match. The WWE no longer wanted to use No Way Out as the PPV name therefore like Money in the Bank & TLC PPV they changed the name of the PPV to that of the match speciality. Sheamus went into this match as champion, defending his title (as Vince McMahon only likes it referred to as) against Triple H, Randy Orton, John Cena, Ted DiBiase and Kofi Kingston. This photo has a lot of irony about it because John Cena actually won it (surprise surprise) therefore the roles of this photo were completely reversed at the end of the match. But fear not, John Cena needn’t get suited to his reign because moments later Mr McMahon would order a new championship match to take place and soon after Batista’s music erupted. The new champion Cena was forced to compete in a match after only winning the belt… I mean title! Batista won in 31 seconds crowning him the new champion. Hooray! Batista would then defend his title against Cena at WrestleMania the following month and I’m sure you can all guess who won that one… no seriously, guess now. After my emotional mark out story last week and my Wrestling Rambles comment picture you should know that Sheamus is my favourite therefore any photo like this will have me smiling from ear to ear. SHEAMUS > cena.
Still on the Elimination Chamber 2010 PPV as we now look at events that were soon to influence how much we love WrestleMania 26. The SmackDown elimination chamber included champion The Undertaker defending his title against CM Punk (who may I remind you all is the best in the world), Chris Jericho (who may I remind you all is the best in the world at everything he does but really is best in the world at everything EXCEPT rock music), Rey Mysterio, John Morrison and R-Truth. Jericho would win the match but it would only be because of The Heartbreak Kid who kindly gave The Undertaker a Sweet Chin Music that would cost The Undertaker his championship belt which allowed Taker to change his mind and give the WrestleMania rematch from the year before go ahead. I loved this storyline because the first encounter between these two at the 25th WrestleMania was amazing and everyone wanted a rematch, but when Taker turned down Shawn’s request it was up to Shawn to take out all the stops in order for Undie to change his mind and we all thank Taker for accepting. Triple H could only wish his matches with Undertaker at WrestleMania could be half as good as HBK/Undertaker.
Elimination Chamber 2011
The Elimination Chamber 2011 PPV was one of my favourites last year simply because of the two EC matches. Both matches were great to watch. The first one I will look at will be the RAW EC match because I don’t think it was as good as the SmackDown one which is somewhat surprising but also a pleasing opinion. The 2011 RAW Elimination Chamber match was for an opportunity to headline WrestleMania against WWE Champion The Miz. The superstars included in this match were: John Morrison, Sheamus, R-Truth, CM Punk, Randy Orton and John Cena. Unsurprisingly John Cena was booked to win this chamber match. The match lasted 33 minutes and the last two superstars were John Cena and CM Punk who would also go on that year to claim one of the best matches of the year at MiTB. The best spot in this match was when the human Spiderman John Morrison scaled the side of the chamber and continued his way up to the centre of the roof. From there John Morrison landed a crossbody on Sheamus to eliminate him. In the photo you can see John Morrison perched at the top of the chamber looking down at Sheamus moments before he launched himself down onto the Irish Warrior Sheamoose. John Morrison’s moment of fame ended when CM Punk gave him a GTS and eliminated him shortly after the Sheamus elimination and Punk’s time was up shortly after that when Cena gave him an Attitude Adjustment.
The SmackDown Elimination Chamber was better or more exciting for me personally. For this chamber match the World Heavyweight Championship was on the line as Edge the current champion successfully defended his championship against Rey Mysterio, Wade Barrett, Kane, Drew McIntyre and Big Show. Edge and Mysterio started the match of in great style; I always thought these two had great chemistry together and I wasn’t wrong either. Wade Barrett would enter next, followed by Kane, who would then be followed by Drew McIntyre and then Big Show. The Big Show would first eliminate Wade Barrett but would then find himself targeted by the other chamber participants and would then be eliminated by a Kane chokeslam. Drew McIntyre wouldn’t progress much further than the Big Show as Kane replicated the chokeslam this time on McIntyre eliminating him in the process. Kane would then find himself next to be eliminated as he received a spear from Edge, despite Mysterio being on Kane’s shoulder. This then left Mysterio and Edge in the ring together. When you start something you have to be sure you can end it and these two certainly ended what they started, and in great fashion too! Edge would first hit a spear on Rey which Rey kicked out off; Rey then hit Edge with a 619 which Edge kicked out off. Rey followed up with another 619, climbing the top rope Rey jumped and was met with a mid-air spear which allowed Edge to successfully retain the title.
Let’s hope that the Elimination Chamber next Sunday can top these Elimination Chambers that I have looked at today. Although, with the Great Khali being in the SmackDown EC I’m not pinning my hopes on the SD EC. The line-up for the RAW EC looks better to me and let’s hope that Kofi Kingston can do one better than John Morrison in the 2011 RAW EC.
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That’s all from me this week, hope you had fun looking at the photos and watching the videos. Make sure to vote on the two polls about Kofi Kingston, let’s get discussion discussing.
Thanks,
-Ry
Continue the discussion by sharing your opinions about my views, my articles or anything wrestling related at @Razor_WWE94
Can’t decide which I like more; HBK with the World Title, or him standing over a strewn out Taker.
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That is a dilemma! Personally I prefer the HBK/World Title photo. Although the HBK/Taker one shows how they got to WrestleMania.
It’s a tough one.
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The first EC match was the greatest in my opinion. Like, HBk back after 4 years in a wrestling ring and won, it was just so incredible.
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The first EC was probably the best, because it was so new, so different and nowadays everyone is just used to it. There’s not really a shock to it anymore whereas in 2002 people were thinking, what the fuck theyre gonna wrestle on that?!
& like you said, HBK had returned that year so it was a very special moment that he had won it.
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What wasn’t special about the first EC match were those brown pants HBK wore that year. hahaha
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Now that’s the truth LOL!
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I think the best EC matches were the one from Ney Year’s Revolution 2005, the Raw one from 2009 and last year’s from Smackdown. Anytime Edge and Rey were the last two, it was always awesome!!!
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Agreed! Rey & Edge could work the back legs off a donkey. They’re great when they work together. I think that’s why I enjoyed SmackDown’s EC last year, they started the match and ended the match and they were the stand out stars from that match.
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Yeah, those 2 have great chemistry together and Rey might be the best reversal guy in the WWE right now.
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Definitely Capt! I loved seeing them square off. When they had a match together you knew it wasn’t going to disappoint. I can’t wait for Rey’s return. He really deserves a WWE title run.
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I want more Rey/Cena matches. It’s fresh and the one they had in the summer was quite good.
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Captions will be postponed until tomorrow.(probably)
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Cool, look forward to it.
I can’t post anymore tonight, got home late and just wrecked. I got a column tomorrow and I think it’s better than last week. Hope so anyway.
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You had a wreck?!? Are you ok?
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Oh Shawn, what was you thinking with that hair and that attire!! Love the Edge/Rey photo, as well as the Sheamus/Cena one.
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I think Jericho talk’s about Shawn’s hair and attire from that show in his book. Lol.
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Yeah HBK talked about it in his book too. That’s where I originally read the story.
The Sheamus/Cena one is one of my favourites, because he’s obviously my favourite so to see that sort of photo is a win.
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Michael’s little bob is terrible in that photo.
I stayed up and watched that show and remember marking out when he won the belt. I still though, at that point, that has return would only be for a few months haha.
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Shawn talks about the pants in his book. Apparently, the attire making woman got sick or something, and couldn’t finish them on time.
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I can’t remember it exactly but in the end she didn’t get them done on time and he had to stick with those god awful tights. Personally, if I was booked to win the first ever EC match and the WHC I’d have a backup pair of everything; tights, boots etc. The haircut just couldnt be saved, it was horrible
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One of my fav PPV’s as well.
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I have to postpone again. Please don’t hit me!
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Okay, let’s do this!!! I won’t be doing the Edge/Rey one at the bottom, due to me also doing one for it recently.
HBK(holding title): Hey, guys! I can count to five!
HBK: Anybody like my Kofi wig?
HBK: Is there a spider behind me?
Sheamus(with Cena): Fear me! I am The Armpit Warrior!!!
Cena: Dude, lay off the drugs. Don’t make me get Punk after you!
Shemus: *evil laughing*
Cena: Laugh now, but you’ll be a face in a couple years.
HBK/Taker(top pic)
HBK: Was it as good for you as it was for me?
HBK/Taker(bottom pic)
Taker: Don’t leave me, Shawn! I’m so alone!
Morrison: I’m sure this spot will send me to the main event!
Morrison: A mouse! Get it!
Morrison: Little do the fans know, I’m really Vicky!
Morrison: Why must Del Rio and Richardo make out while in the ring?
Morrison: I can see down Kelly’s shirt from here!
Morrison: Fuck! My boot’s caught in the cage!
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