WWE Elimination Chamber 2022 review: Eli-meh-nation Chamber

After a vastly disappointing Royal Rumble that came up sorely lacking compared to 2022’s, the WWE heads back to Saudi Arabia for the first time since one of their best Premium Live Events of 2021, Crown Jewel. And with an interesting enough card and the teases of some shake ups, could this be a palette cleanser for the controversial Rumble, and could this kick WrestleMania season into gear? Let’s recap the night and find out…

1. Rey Mysterio w/ Dominik Mysterio vs. The Miz (Kickoff Show)

Both these guys are capable of great things so having them start things out was sensible, and while this match was not great it was solid enough, there to advance the ongoing story, as Miz pulled his usual tricks but Rey Mysterio overcomes, cradling Miz for the win.

The opening video package hypes the high stakes Chamber matches and the Saudi Arabian setting.

2. WWE Universal Championship Match

Roman Reigns (c) w/ Paul Heyman vs. Goldberg

Start out with a big match I guess…in the long delayed clash that was meant all the way back at WrestleMania 36, and which The Fiend character was sacrificed needlessly for. I was not sure whether WWE would pull a big thing here but if anyone is immune to a Goldberg title loss it is Roman Reigns and needless to say the Tribal Chief wins again. The match was short but lethargic, with Goldberg on lesser form than his last match and Roman phoning it in. All told this was pretty pointless and as sacrilegious as it may be to say – and I have fought this feeling but can fight no more – I am growing incredibly bored of Roman’s schtick really.

3. Women’s Elimination Chamber Match

Alexa Bliss vs. Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Nikki A.S.H vs. Liv Morgan vs. Doudrop

The insertion of Alexa Bliss into that mystery slot suggested more than was the case in this predictable but enjoyable (if short) women’s elimination chamber match to determine Becky Lynch or Lita’s WrestleMania opponent for the Raw Women’s Championship. Everyone got some moments in but it did feel a lot more rushed than it needed to be, and while Rhea Ripley did some fantastic work here and deserved the win, this spot was never going to be anyone’s but Bianca Belair’s, who is reigniting her history with “Big Time Becks” clearly and that makes sense.

4. Ronda Rousey must compete with one arm tied behind her back

Ronda Rousey and Naomi vs. Charlotte Flair and Sonya Deville

Ronda Rousey donned her judo gear for this bout, which had that old heel boss stipulation in place – boo hiss! Did it improve Sonya Deville and Charlotte Flair’s chances however. Hell no! At near ten minutes this card-filling affair felt longer than it was by some stretch and while it was nice to see Naomi finally vanquish her heel boss foe, this was clearly water treading for Flair and Rousey’s forthcoming Mania title match and had very little else to it.

5. Falls Count Anywhere Match

Drew McIntyre vs. Madcap Moss w/ Happy Corbin

Credit where it is due. I am not sure anyone – and I mean anyone – cares about this (or any for that matter) Happy Corbin feud that Drew McIntyre finds himself ensnared in at the moment. However, this falls count anywhere match with Madcap Moss was better than their utterly irrelevant Day1 match. Did we need to see it again? Well, you can answer that yourself folks but it had some decent action, not to mention a genuinely hands over the mouth head-spiking moment that had us all concerned for Moss’ safety. Thankfully he was fine, as the match routinely finished with a Claymore and McIntyre victory. Duh.

Backstage The Miz was being interviewed and was still ticked off about how he lost on the kickoff, and promised he would find a tag partner who was a “Global Superstar” to help him fight back against “the cheater” Rey Mysterio and his son Dominik Mysterio.

6. WWE Raw Women’s Championship

Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lita

Finally! A match of the evening. Lita’s entry into the title picture caught many of us off guard but with a legend’s return, there is always that fear that they will not be the person you remember or endanger themselves by stepping back in there after so long. Well, no problem because the influential women’s legend blasted off that ring rust rather well in a highly fun match with the ever excellent Lynch that was easily match of the night. The crowd were well behind Lita and at times she seemed near to a victory but Lynch withstood her barrage, even an impressive moonsault, to blast the legend with a Manhandle slam and pick up the title retaining win. Following the match Lita received a well deserved ovation from the crowd and after this effort, I hope we see her in the ring again, as she has indeed still got it. 

WWE cheekily pops the crowd with The Undertaker’s theme music, when in fact, all they are doing is showing that brilliant career video retrospective in occasion of Taker’s deserved and long long overdue entry into the Hall of Fame this year. 

The Usos were scheduled to defend the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championships against The Viking Raiders but before a match could take place they attacked Erik and Ivar, meaning the match was called off. Not sure how they were running short on time but this was just utterly pointless.

7. WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Match

Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Austin Theory vs. AJ Styles vs. Riddle vs. Seth “Freakin” Rollins

So we arrive at the main event and once agin it was short and somewhat unusual. Things got strange early on, as Chamber starters Seth “Freakin” Rollins and Vince McMahon’s chosen one Austin Theory got into it, leading to Seth power bombing the young ‘un through Bobby Lashley’s chamber pod, not only incapacitating the current champion in the process but taking him out of the match entirely. This was a pretty confusing turn of events which was intended to mask a legitimate injury for Lashley as best they could I guess. Anyway, things trotted along with Riddle entering the fray next, followed by AJ Styles, until Brock Lesnar got tired of waiting and broke the hell out of his pod (literally) early. He then decimated all the field with F5’s and pinfalls, leaving just he and Theory in the end. The ending sequence was particularly of note as The Beast chased the kid up the Chamber walls like a mountain goat (easy to forget just how jaw-droppingly athletic Brock is) atop the pod and F5’d him off the ruddy thing, the result a Lesnar win and a new WWE Champion crowned. Because Reigns, Lesnar and Lashley are the WWE. Seriously though this had a fun car crash quality to it, and it is fun to watch Brock wreak havoc. After the Rumble, this was to the point at least. 

Overall, WWE Elimination Chamber 2022 was a bizarre show. Aside from Becky Lynch and Lita and Lesnar going Beast mode nothing else really stood out at all. Clearly we are all in for Reigns vs. Lesnar Winner takes all but one match does not a WrestleMania make, so I sincerely hope WWE has more in store for their “stupendous” two-night extravaganza than that! A missable show to be honest. But less soul crushingly disappointing than the Rumble. Nothing was outrageously terrible but aside from the aforementioned match and main event climax, nothing stood out.