Fastlane Mini-Preview

Lots to get to. This is a stacked card; 8 matches when you include the Kickoff Show. That's pretty good for an event that's only on its third year and is a primer for later payoffs at Wrestlemania.

I feel like this will be a great night for heels, minus a couple exceptions. That too fits with this show being Wrestlemania's warm-up; the babyfaces have the chance at the big dance to avenge the losses they'll take here. (A recent example was Cena losing to the then unbeaten Rusev at Fastlane 2015, only to do the John Cena thing and overcome the Bulgarian Russian Bulgarian Brute later.

Let us begin.

1) Rich Swan & Akira Toozawa vs. The Brian Kendrick & Noam Dar



The undercard of 205 Live has seen a lot of Brian Kendrick welcoming new arrivals from Japan and offering them the chance to be cool and hang out with THE Brian Kendrick, only to be rebuked.

He can't be The Brian Kendrick if he doesn't win, to demonstrate why you should want to hang with him and do cool Brian Kendricky shit.

Prediction: Brian Kendrick & Noam Dar defeat Rich Swan & Akira Toozawa.

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2) Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax



This match is ready-made for my "heels will have a good night" scenario. Its course can chart a perfect mirror image to Cena-Rusev: Nia gets the win here, to set up Sasha to come back at Wrestlemania.

Although something tells me Sasha may exact her revenge sooner and make it back into the title picture with Charlotte and Bayley, perhaps as a rematch of the Triple Threat from last year. I could, of course, be completely wrong, but it depends on how WWE views "Wrestlemania moments" being divided among the former Four Horsewomen. More on that later.

In either scenario, Nia gets the win here.

Prediction: Nia Jax defeats Sasha Banks.

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3) Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. Enzo Amore & Big Cass

This would seem to be another bout positioned for a rematch at Wrestlemania after an Enzo & Cass loss, but I'm not so sure.

It may be just me, but it seems like the audiences aren't as enthusiastic lately for the Certified G's as they have been in the past. Case in point: Sheamus giving Enzo a Brogue Kick to the face at Raw in Los Angeles to shut Enzo up, with the crowd chanting "Thank you Sheamus!".

Might be a thing, might not be, but all this is to say I'm not sold that WWE is confident with handing Enzo and Cass the titles at Wrestlemania, having the Showcase of the Immortals be their moment.

WWE might even not be sold on Cass not being a singles star, with Enzo just being his cheerleader. (Cass vs. Brock Lesnar, with Cass being the main roster guy to finally beat Brock; damn, that is a money match waiting to be made. I still can't believe Cass vs. Rusev was botched the way it was. That could've been such a great angle with monster matches. An own-goal feud that should've been anything but.)

So I think WWE will let Enzo and Cass get the titles now to see how the audiences respond to them as the champs. If it works, the Certified G's can go on their own little run and maybe finally have a match with The New Day. If not, no harm no foul; the G's drop the titles at Mania and maybe WWE starts thinking about Cass vs. Brock.

(Yes, I just argued that because WWE is not super confident with the G's, they'll give them the titles. Don't judge....You're judging. Stop that.)

Prediction: Enzo Amore & Big Cass defeat Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson.

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4) Neville vs. Jack Gallagher

I feel like this one's a pretty easy call. Turnover with the title has been consistent in the Cruiserweight division since it debuted on Raw. I expect this match will continue the trend.

I would be shocked if whatever the Cruisers do at Wrestlemana isn't at least a Triple Threat match, especially with Akira Toozawa's debut and no likely room on the card for more than one Cruiserweight match. So anyone can walk into Wrestlemania as the Cruiserweight Champion and it's not likely to influence how WWE positions that match.

Thus, Jack Gallagher getting the win here gives Neville more reason to have a chip on his shoulder, and gives Gallagher a chance to do more of his goofy umbrella antics as the triumphant victor. Then they'll both walk into a match with Akira Tozawa, maybe Brian Kendrick too, at Wrestlemania.

(Now watch WWE blow up my theory, keep the Cruisers a one-on-one match at Mania for the title, and toss everyone else into the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale. And have Neville win here too. Cuz they're dicks like that.)

Prediction: Jack Gallagher defeats Neville.

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5) Sami Zayn vs. Samoa Joe

Poor Sami Zayn.

Ever since his return from injury, Sami has been the guy who just happens to be opposite a wrestler on a sky high trajectory.

He took the pinfall against the debuting Shinsuke Nakamura in Sami's NXT finale.

It was a match for the ages, and there was no other way that it could end, but Sami still ate the pinfall.

Sami's main roster feud with Kevin Owens was unreal good. Once again for the ages.

...But Sami still took the pinfalls in two out of the three matches.

That feud with Kevin Owens was the last time it felt like WWE considered Sami to be a big deal. Since then he hasn't had any direction. His last "feud" was as the guy who gets beat up and tossed around by the red hot Braun Strowman.

And now Sami finds himself across the ring from Samoa Joe, another superstar on a post main roster debut super run.

This match almost certainly wouldn't have been made if Seth Rollins hadn't been injured.

And it almost certainly will just be another pinfall for Sami as Creative keeps him in limbo, while building Joe as the monster heel ready to wreck the roster.

Better luck for Sami in his next feud.

Prediction: Samoa Joe defeats Sami Zayn.

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6) Bayley vs. Charlotte Flair

Here we go again with heels' night.

Charlotte has now famously not lost in a title match at a pay-per-view, going 16-0 in those matches. (WWE will remind you if you forget, don't worry.)

Expect this to be no different. Charlotte will win with a heel move to once again snatch back the title, on a match not on Raw television.

I haven't cared for this approach in how it treats the other women of the division. It's much easier to remember and go back to watch a specific pay-per-view moment than it is to remember on which week of Raw something occurred.

So to never have the other women of the division get their wins on pay-per-views diminishes the value of those wins.

It all feels more like an exercise in padding Charlotte's numbers than it does in sharing the spotlight in the division. (Big E even joked about this, something along the lines of "Cena is a 16-time champion; Charlotte will be that in a month".)

Given Charlotte's pedigree it's understandable what they're doing in making her so dominant, but it's time to put it to rest.

Wrestlemania 33 is the perfect time to have her drop the belt on a pay-per-view. But the question then becomes, whom does she drop it to? Sasha, or Bayley? That's where I wonder if we're not going to see a rematch of the Triple Threat match from Wrestlemania 32, with a different victor. It's up to WWE to decide whom they would bestow the "Wrestlemania moment" to in that scenario. Do they follow the order the women debuted on Raw, and give it to Sasha? Or do they give it to perhaps the most over babyface on the roster, Bayley?

Either way, the villainess will have her night at Fastlane.

Prediction: Charlotte Flair defeats Bayley.

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7) Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman

This is a match that really is just marking time for both men.

Roman Reigns has been rumored to be facing The Undertaker at Wrestlemania. The "this is my yard" moment between Reigns and Taker at the Rumble, after Reigns eliminated The Dead Man (!) signaled pretty clearly that said match could be in the cards.

Braun Strowman is ready for a big push at some point, either for a title, or in a supermatch against Brock Lesnar.

There's no title on the line here and no big stakes.

I expect a DQ, either with Strowman going nuclear as he is wont to do and hitting Reigns with a chair, etc., or....Undertaker showing up to assault or threaten Reigns.

Either way, it's a disqualification finish with Reigns "winning". Neither man is going to take a pinfall here.

Prediction: Disqualification; Roman Reigns defeats Braun Strowman.

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8) Kevin Owens vs. Goldberg



Here we go. The big one.

Goldberg's run has been sensational thus far. He's been a revelation on the mic, and WWE has booked him smart. The Spear & Jackhammer Heard 'Round the World at Survivor Series to squash Brock Freakin' Lesnar shocked pretty much everyone, and established Goldberg as a legit threat and a legit big deal anytime he appears for the company. Who knows? Maybe his run won't end at Wrestlemania as we'd figure. Where's this guy been for ten-plus years? He's awesome!

Conventional wisdom seems to be a Goldberg win, and quite possibly Goldberg squashing Kevin Owens via the usual two moves.

But I haven't been sold on that. It's so easy. They did it once. Why repeat it? Yeah Kevin Owens can bounce back from eating such a loss, but why do it at all?

I was expecting Lesnar to come in and screw things up for Goldberg, especially based on Lesnar's "close to the camera" promo a Raw or two ago.

But note that we haven't seen Chris Jericho on TV at all since Kevin Owens ended their bromance and beat his "best friend" up.

He's been on a live show. Getting beat up again by Owens. But other than that, total disappearance.

I think he comes back at Fastlane. Jericho comes back to distract Owens, leading to KO eating the spear and jackhammer from Goldberg.

So yeah, I think Goldberg wins. But I don't think he wins clean. He wins with help from Y2J getting his revenge to finally set up KO vs. Sparkle Crotch at Wrestlemania.

Prediction: Goldberg defeats Kevin Owens.

This should be a fun pay-per-view. I dig the Fastlane concept and it's delivered on cool moments in the past two years. Here's hoping for another great night.

Staying Hyped with Mikey: Elimination Chamber Recap

Curt Hawkins vs. Mojo Rawley.

Mojo wins I think. Good on WWE, they don't seem to want Mojo to lose momentum in the wake of Zack Ryder's injury.

-------------------------------


Hey, let's cut to commercial during our own pre-show match. On our own paid network.




Fine match pedigree for these Kickoff Shows. I mean, look what they did for Ryback's career.




Hey, 1 for 1. Mojo wins.

I'm counting that match dammit.




Becky Lynch vs. Mickie James.

I predict Mickie wins it with a heel move to set up Becky for the comeback win at 'Mania.




JBL, you fell flat on your ass like a dork when entering tonight. You don't get to rip on anyone.




Three women's matches on the card tonight.

Impressive. That's gotta be a first.

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Heh. So of course Lynch wins clean.

1 for 2.




Handicap match, Apollo Crews + Kalisto vs. Dolph Ziggler.

Ziggler wins with a heel move.

C'mon heels. Help me out here.




Well, I'm right that Ziggler does a heel move, which takes out Kalisto.

....That probably sets up Crews to get the win though.

No givesie backsies on predictions though. ;-)




Kalisto and Crews get the win. Kalisto made it back into the match.

....You're fucking it up for me heels.




Tag Team Turmoil Match.

Fuck if I know who wins.

Ascension wins. Why not?




The Usos take out Heath Slater and Rhyno.

For those popular two to get eliminated leads me to think that just maybe Creative might be willing to give a new tag team a shot. Maybe.

-------------------------------


Well, they're teasing an Ascension win pretty heavily.

...They're going to disappoint me, aren't they?

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Yep, WWE disappoints again. American Alpha retains.

20 minute-plus match just to be status quo.

What the fuck point is there to this division? Goddammit.




Nikki Bella vs. Natalya.

I think Nikki wins. Can't see them letting Nattie get away with all the below the belt promo shots on the former Divas Champion.




Double count out finish for Nikki vs. Nattie?

Tonight is a banner night for leaving things status quo.




Randy Orton vs. Luke Harper.

Even with tonight screwing up all my picks, THIS one has to be a Randy win.




Orton wins.

Glad to hear "this is awesome!" chants, even though this match and this entire angle (Orton with the Wyatts) has carved an obvious path since he joined them.




Naomi vs. Alexa Bliss.

I think Alexa wins. I don't think Mickie AND Alexa lose in the same night.




Wow, Naomi wins.

Good on her.




Someone explain to the part of Creative that can roll with change in the Women's Division that it's ok to have change with the Tag Teams.




Carmella's right. They should stop talking to her.




The Elimination Chamber match.

I think Bray Wyatt walks out tonight as WWE Champion. Which has been a long time coming.




Cena's Code Red move seems like it would be really rough on your neck. Ouch.




Wow, Cena with a two man suplex of Styles and Ambrose.

....(Yeah I know, the other guys have to jump to help the move, but still. Never not impressive-looking.)




Cena and Styles climb the chamber.

"You know we can't climb out of this thing like this, right?"

"Roll with it dude. ROLL WITH IT."




"Holy shit" chant off a double throw move, Ambrose throwing Styles and Wyatt.




Corbin hits End of Days on Styles AND Cena.

It's a new day, yes it is.




Heh. Right as I say that, Ambrose eliminates Corbin.




Corbin wrecks Dean after being eliminated, setting up Dean for the cheap pinfall from the Miz.

Corbin is the heel Reigns should have been.




Of course they let Cena get the cheap pop elimination of Miz, not Bray Wyatt.




Cena with the double Five Knuckle Shuffle on Bray and Styles.

Styles counters with the Clash.

Man, there's status quo "fuck you's", and then there would be letting Cena win this match.

-------------------------------


*jaw drop*

Bray HITS SISTER ABIGAIL on JOHN CENA and ELIMINATES HIM.

-------------------------------


Down to Bray and AJ.

-------------------------------


Bray with a wicked clothesline on Styles.

-------------------------------


Styles hits a 450 on Bray. He still kicks out.

-------------------------------


Wyatt blocks the Phenomenal Forearm.

Then HITS SISTER ABIGAIL and WINS!




About damned time. Congratulations Bray Wyatt!




Immediate tease of the Wyatt match with Randy Orton at Wrestlemania, to end the PPV.

Goosebumps man. Awesome.

Five Things: My Five Favorite Elimination Chamber Matches

 Since its creation in 2002 the Elimination Chamber has left an indelible mark on not only World Wrestling Entertainment but wrestling culture in general.

Championships have been contested, retained, and lost inside the demonic structure.

 Friendships have been dissolved in the quest for glory and survival.

Most importantly,  the men that have stepped inside never leave the same.  Their bodies endure unimaginable hell; their minds are altered and their very souls are often left behind.

So many thrilling moments have taken place and the match has been a long time favorite of fans across the globe. 

 In this edition of Five Things I present my five favorite Chamber matches.

These are in no particular order.


_____________________________________________________________________



2002

World Heavyweight Champion Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels vs.  Rob Van Dam vs Booker T vs. Kane vs Chris Jericho

Eric Bischoff  was a very busy man when he took the position of Monday Night Raw's General Manager in July of 2002.

He set out to remind every viewer at home and in the arenas that he was a creative juggernaut;  never more was that on display when he introduced the concept of the Elimination Chamber on October 21.

When he initially uttered the words "Elimination Chamber",  there was a bit silence and head scratching.  After all, nobody had ever heard of such a match.  What exactly would it entail and who would be entering into battle?

A few video packages later and it became very clear that this wasn't going to be a walk in the park for the six men chosen to compete at Survivor Series in Madison Square Garden.

After being gifted the World Heavyweight Championship, Triple H had embarked on a reign of terror and made a laundry list of enemies in the process.

His actions were so treacherous that best friend turned mortal enemy Shawn Michaels opted to make a full time return to the squared circle.

 Originally  he had meant to vanquish The Game at Summerslam and resume life outside the ring.  The opportunity to really hit his hated rival where it hurt the most  was too good to pass up.

Triple H conspired with mentor Ric Flair to screw over Rob Van Dam and Kane in their respective challenges, the latter seeing the Intercontinental Championship temporarily retired.

Chris Jericho was riding high having already been the first WWE Undisputed Champion so naturally he saw himself as the only logical winner of the first Chamber match.

Booker T had really found his groove as both a singles and tag team competitor after coming over from WCW the prior year.  The five time, five time, five time WCW World Champion looked to add a sixth under the WWE banner.

All those elements combined to deliver one of the best main events at a Survivor Series to date.

For nearly forty minutes, each man gave their blood, sweat, and tears engaging in what was truly war.

RVD came off the top of one of the entry pods with a five star frog splash onto Triple H, badly damaging his throat.   Miraculously Hunter kept on fighting and was one of the last two remaining.

Jericho had a stellar match eliminating both Kane and Booker with a Lionsault.

But it was the Heartbreak Kid who shone the brightest.  He went from a man nobody ever saw making a comeback to tuning up the band in a way he hadn't before.

One Sweet Chin Muaic later, Shawn captured his first world championship in five years. Ironically the prior title win also came at Survivor Series in 1997 when he exiled Bret Hart to WCW.

It was an amazing performance and is fondly looked back upon to this day.


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2009

World Heavyweight Champion John Cena vs. Edge vs Kane vs Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho vs Mike Knox

Edge's night didn't begin in stellar fashion at No Way 2009 on February 15, 2009

 In the show's opening match he entered as WWE Champion only to be eliminated from his Elimination Chamber title defense by Jeff Hardy in only 2:59 of the  35:55 bout.

It was a result that stunned everyone especially him.  He had been so certain that the path to Wrestlemania as the kingpin was paved on easy street,  a loss never crossed his mind.

Most men would have faded into obscurity, too embarrassed to even try and reclaim the gold.

Edge wasn't most men.

As Kofi Kingston made his entrance for the main  event,  a Chamber Match for the World Heavyweight Championship,  the ultimate opportunist saw his chance to simply end his night with a different title around his waist.

He brutally assaulted Kingston then locked himself into his designated pod.  Seeing no way in removing him, officials allowed him to compete in the match.

Edge inserted himself into a group of sharks and victory didn't seem possible to onlookers.

Yet there were spectacular moments of unexpected teamwork to rid the match of the toughest competition.

After absorbing many attacks from all angles, Kane was the first man eliminated by Mysterio after a seated senton off one of the pods.

Edge and reigning champion Cena were the fifth and sixth entrants respectively and as Jim Ross would say, that's when business really picked up.

Cena took the fight to anyone within reach but the mob mentality kicked in and descended upon him.

Jericho hit a codebreaker, Mysterio followed with a 619, and Edge finished him off with a spear.

After Mysterio eliminated Jericho, he and Edge went back and forth in quite the struggle.  

To the dismay of everyone, The Rated R Superstar pinned Mysterio with a spear and captured the championship.

  Very few, if any, men had ever rebounded from a devastating loss only to come out smelling like roses as the event faded to black.  It was another piece of the puzzle that formed his Hall of Fame career.

It was revealed that then-Smackdown General Manager Vickie Guerrero paved the way for Edge to enter the match proving friends in high places combined with ingenuity is a deadly combination.


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2011

World Heavyweight  Champion Edge vs Rey Mysterio vs Wade Barrett vs Drew McIntyre vs. Kane vs. The Big Show

Nobody knew that as Edge stepped into the Chamber once again that it would be not only his last one but his next to last match ever.

His neck as it turned out had been through the wringer after having it fused together in 2003 and he wound up being forced to retire a year earlier than he had planned.

As only he could though, Edge participated in one of the finest Chamber matches in company history.

Dolph Ziggler was originally slated to compete but he and Vickie Guerrero found themselves fired from Smackdown by then-GM Theodore R. Long.  The Big Show was eventually tapped to replace him. 

With one of the grandest championships on the line, a very interesting mix of brute force, speed, cunning, and youth all aimed to take the WHC away from the defending champion.

 Barrett was looking to continue the momentum set by fellow Corre members   Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel who had earlier brought tag team gold into the fold.

 McIntyre was coming off a successful run as Intercontinental Champion and sought to further cement his status as "The Chosen One"

Barrett held his own but a KO from Show made him the first to be eliminated. 

 Adding in the devastation brought forth by Kane and Big Show and the tenacity of Mysterio and it was no surprise the match was a classic.

Kane lived up to the Big Red Monster moniker with a pair of eliminations;  both Big Show and McIntyre had their ends ended with a choke slam.

Edge could have been thrown off by the looming threat posed by the dangerously brash Alberto Del Rio but instead he channeled everything within him to add another major victory to his legacy.

He took out Kane with a spear and for a second time the match came down to him and Mysterio.

Rey gave all he had as well and very nearly captured his third world championship with a 619 and a springboard splash.  Incredibly Edge kicked out at the last second.  

Following a second 619 Mysterio came off the top rope only for Edge to spear him out of mid-air and score the victory.

 It all proved to be bittersweet.  Edge would turn back Del Rio's challenge at Mania and then announce his retirement the next night on Raw.

To paraphrase his theme song.. On this day we saw clearly just how gifted and special he was to the wrestling world.

Thank you Edge!


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2014

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton vs John Cena vs  Sheamus vs Cesaro vs Christian vs  Daniel Bryan

Conspiracy and intrigue surrounded  this star studded championship match. 

 Daniel Bryan had been left out of the 2014 Royal Rumble and had to get into the Chamber on his own pure skill and a little interference from The Wyatt Family in his qualifying six man tag match; he, Sheamus, and Cena defeated The Shield via DQ on an edition of Raw.

Cesaro was experiencing  something of a career resurgence under the tutelage of mastermind Zeb Colter and was the one the majority wished to see emerge victorious.

Christian was never one to turn down.. One.. More.. Match and was no pushover.  A former two time World Champion and multi-time champion overall, he was set to do battle and possibly upset the entire field.

Surprisingly the underdog going into the match was the defending champion himself.  

Forced to compete against his challengers in singles matches, Orton had lost to Bryan,  Cena and Cesaro via pinfall and Sheamus via DQ.  Only Christian fell victim to an RKO.

 With all  that  swirling in his head,  The Viper was in no rush to enter the fray when his pod opened (the last to do so).  It took Sheamus and a Brogue Kick to destroy the pod to get him involved.

The action came hot and heavy as one would expect given the participants. 

 Christian eliminated Sheamus with a frog splash off a pod before Bryan took him out with a running knee.

 The Wyatt Family made their presence felt once again when they turned up inside the Chamber.  They beat on Cena allowing Orton to hit an RKO and send his greatest rival packing.

He also took advantage of another's assistance; Kane cleared the Chamber of Bray and his disciples only to also assault his former tag team champion partner Bryan as well.

Orton went on to hit an RKO and hold onto his title until Wrestlemania where Bryan would avenge all prior losses to him in New Orleans.

In a sad irony, this proved to be Christian's last Chamber match just as 2011 was Edge's.

 Captain Charisma was sidelined with several concussions leading to WWE retiring him as an active competitor.  He definitely had a Hall of Fame career and I hope he eventually joins his best friend in being honored.

Thank you Christian!


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2010

World Heavyweight Champion The Undertaker vs. Chris Jericho vs. C.M. Punk vs. John Morrison vs. R-Truth vs.  Rey Mysterio

  If anyone ever doubted the toughness of The Undertaker, this night on February 21, 2010 silenced them permanently.

 On his way to the ring, The Dead Man suffered first and second degree burns to his chest and neck when mistimed pyro resulted in his jacket catching fire.

Being a true American Bad Ass, he was able to compete after being evaluated and wrestled as if he had only stubbed his toe.

 Five challengers awaited him and  the 35:40 epic encounter saw many twists and turns.

Punk was in the midst of his Straight Edge crusade and opted to deliver a speech. In between his preaching he managed to eliminate Truth in the opening three minutes.

Mysterio eliminated Punk and flew around the Chamber in a battle of aerial  assault with Morrison.

His rivalry with Jericho was renewed and the two exchanged counters of their respective signature moves.

Morrison eliminated Mysterio and hung around into the final three.  Taker was the final entrant and choke slammed the Guru of Greatness onto the Chamber's steel grate section to eliminate him.

 Despite the unodly pain he must have been in,  Taker was poised to finish off Jericho when an unexpected face arrived.

 For weeks Shawn Michaels had been trying to get  a Wrestlemania rematch with Undertaker, each time being denied.

 Seeing that a simple request wasn't going to work, HBK took a  more direct approach.  He emerged from under a grate and delivered Sweet Chin Music as if it were Survivor Series 02 all over again.

A clearly shocked Jericho made the cover and captured his last World Championship to date.

 It was also the last time to date Undertaker has reigned atop the mountain as well.

At least he was able to retire Michaels at Wrestlemania 26 in one of the greatest matches in the event's history.

__________________________________________________________________________

That wraps up this edition of Five Things!

What are your five favorite Chamber matches?  Feel free to chime in!

 Until next time, always look at wrestling on the Bright Side!!

Seth Rollins Injured

Multiple press outlets and Rollins' own Twitter account are reporting that he re-injured his knee on Raw, and his status for Wrestlemania is "up in the air".

Goddammit.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Seth+Rollins+injured&atb=v34-1b_&ia=news

Mikey Likes It: Smackdown 1-31-17

Looks like we might finally get a Bray Wyatt singles title run, and for the WWE Championship no less.

Bray has always had the talent and charisma to be a potential successor to The Undertaker. But WWE has seemingly gone out of their way to book him so he loses and looks like a paper tiger. They've had two opportunities to put Bray over at Wrestlemania. Him losing to Undertaker was one thing; 'Taker would have lost mystique and Lesnar would've lost being the 1 in 23-1. (Although, the pile-on loss at Survivor Series to 'Taker and Kane didn't need to be.) But Bray losing to Cena was ridiculous. Cena would've lost absolutely nothing from it, and Bray would have finally been credible as a fearsome villain.

Hopefully, HOPEFULLY, now is the time that they're going to set things right for Bray in time to salvage his career. My ideal scenario would be him winning at Wrestlemania finally, either to get the belt from Orton or to retain it after having won it at Elimination Chamber. Bray having a short title run from Elimination Chamber to Wrestlemania would be a decent consolation prize; but just like Cena, Randy does Not. Need. To be put over. Hopefully someone in Creative gets it.

Predictable stuff otherwise with the Elimination Chamber fracas, but everyone delivered. Definitely easy to forget just how good the wrestling is night in and night out, particularly with former staples like chair hits to the head and Lucha Underground-esque dangerous spots being banned. These guys still deliver despite the (reasonable) limitations.

Mikey Likes It: Raw 1-30-17

Great debut for Samoa Joe, of course. He'll be a perfect stand-in for Triple H against Rollins at Fastlane, to build towards the big match at Wrestlemania between The Cerebral Assassin and The Architect.

It figured that Reigns was going to show up to DQ Braun Strowman's championship shot. I thought it was a little silly for Roman to not take any bumps from either Strowman or Owens in the process. But, let's be honest, the Superman Punch always has looked a little silly. This dinky air punch takes out the Eater of Alligators Strowman? I know, roll with it. #ItsRealToMe

Looks like the feud between Cass + Enzo vs. Rusev is over. Missed opportunity. Cass vs. Rusev should've been a money match. They pulled the trigger on this feud way too soon if they weren't going to do it right. Neither Cass nor Rusev gained anything here.

Pretty status quo otherwise. Paul Heyman is always fantastic. Off the cuff he can basically write a sports column with his promos. You could have him talk for the whole three hours and it would probably not get old.