Welcome to Fightful.com's live coverage & discussion for WWE Elimination Chamber 2019.
We'll be bringing you full, match by match coverage of every bout on the card and you can watch along with us, sending in your feedback on our Disqus boards below!
Following Elimination Chamber, remember to tune into the post-show podcast too. Link:
Buddy Murphy defeated Akira Tozawa to retain his Cruiserweight Title
Boss 'n' Hug Connection won Elimination Chamber to become new Women's Tag Team Champions
The Usos defeated The Miz and Shane McMahon to become new SmackDown Tag Team Champions
Finn Balor defeated Lio Rush and Bobby Lashley to become new Intercontinental Champion
Ronda Rousey defeated Ruby Riott to retain her RAW Women's Title
Baron Corbin defeated Braun Strowman
Daniel Bryan won Elimination Chamber to retain his WWE Title
The pre-show is now officially underway. Our panel is hosted by Jonathan Coachman and includes Sam Roberts, Beth Phoenix and Booker T. We began with a promo from Mustafa Ali as he discussed losing his Elimination Chamber opportunity, and that transitioned to the panel's preview of that very match. Following that, Braun Strowman spoke out Baron Corbin's cowardice before we moved to a recap of this week's McMiz TV. That brought in The Bar and they called their recent title loss "a fluke" after predicting an Usos win. Heavy Machinery then arrived in response, picking McMiz due to their "wildcard" factor. An exchange between the teams followed until Coachman stopped them in order for a recap of this week's closing RAW announcement.
That then led into another viewing of Becky's injury from last night's live event. A Riott Squad promo came next, talking about their journey to this point until Charlotte Flair intervened. Flair encouraged Riott to "change the game" by inserting herself in the WrestleMania main event. After that, the panel previewed Rousey vs. Riott as well as Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush vs. Finn Balor. Following that, we got another Mojo Rawley promo as well as an Elimination Chamber preview from Alexa Bliss, she picked Nia Jax and Tamina. The panel then had their say too before we headed to the ring.
WWE Cruiserweight Title
Akira Tozawa vs. Buddy Murphy (C)
The champion's power earned him control early, grappling Tozawa to the mat and laughing off his chops too. A wild swing in retort cost Murphy though, with his hand flying into the ring-post as Tozawa briefly flurried. However, his dive was stopped in an instant, with Buddy catching Tozawa in mid-air for a suplex on the floor. Back in-ring, Murphy was now in control, battering his foe to the mat and taunting along the way as well. Meanwhile backstage, Big E and Xavier Woods spoke on Kofi's behalf, citing his resume and calling him a "legend."
Elsewhere, Tozawa briefly caught an Octopus Hold but Murphy powered free, rapidly regaining control. The challenger then fired back though, launching Buddy to the floor and landing a massive superkick too. The missile dropkick came next and a follow-up salvo of kicks for 2 as well. Tozawa then began to think Senton but Murphy cut him off, heading up himself but eating a spectacular hurricanrana for his troubles. Murphy quickly responded with an offensive explosion of his own regardless, culminating in a sharp suplex for another near-fall.
A strike exchange followed, with Tozawa's fake-out punch landing before he followed up with a massive lariat and German suplex for 2. The challenger then once again began to think Senton but Murphy cut him off, forcing Tozawa to adapt with a spike-rana that perfectly set up two of his trademark dives. Tozawa then hit his Senton to Murphy's spine but Buddy kicked out yet again. Following that, Buddy landed a brutal knee and then countered Tozawa's Octopus Hold too, landing Murphy's Law for the win.
Winner and STILL Champion: Buddy Murphy
Following that, Kevin Owens updates us on his rehab before saying that he's rooting for Finn Balor and The Riott Squad. He also became very disgruntled at his kids' pineapple pizza. We then wrapped the pre-show with a video preview of tonight's WWE Title Elimination Chamber match before Mark Henry was introduced on the stage. He complimented the Cruiserweight Title match and predicted wins for The IIconics as well as Kofi Kingston.
A video package opened tonight's main show, running through the key matches before we headed live.
Elimination Chamber
WWE Women's Tag Team Titles
Boss 'n' Hug Connection vs. Fire and Desire vs. Fabulous Glow vs. The Riott Squad vs. The IIconics vs. Nia Jax and Tamina
Our two previously announced opening teams obviously got things started as Bayley and Sasha went right to work. This immediately included some tandem offense, with Banks even hitting a crossbody to the outside for 2. Deville then turned the tide though, powering Banks to the mat while Rose scored a backbreaker for 2. They then used the chamber to their advantage, throwing Banks and Bayley into the structure. Boss 'n' Hug fired back though, flooring their foes as The Riott Squad entered. They took control right away, targeting Banks shoulder and battering Bayley as well.
A brawl then commenced with Fire and Desire, exchanging strikes until Deville finally dropped Morgan after suffering a knockdown herself. Bayley then re-entered, running wild on all involved but then being cut off as a tower of doom spot left everyone floored. The IIconics were in next, looking for pins across the board but all to no avail. They then went after their foes, landing some tandem offense and eventually targeting Bayley. That forced Sasha to make the save, firing up with a brief comeback but being floored by Royce's spin kick for 2.
The IIconics then used the structure to continue their onslaught, battering Boss 'n' Hug and almost closing the show as well. Their dominance soon ended regardless, with Fabulous Glow coming in to clean house. That forced Morgan to save Logan but she ate a crossbody for troubles as things broke down in dramatic fashion, leaving everyone floored. Mandy and Naomi were suddenly the only women standing but with Naomi's focus elsewhere, The IIconics seized, scoring a quick double-team roll-up for the win. Their celebratory taunting was short-lived though, now surrounding as Nia and Tamina finally entered.
They were swarmed but took everyone out regardless. Well everyone except The IIconics of course, trapping themselves in a pod but eventually being caught and slung into the chamber too. Double Samoan Drops then ended their night, with The Riott Squad jumping on Nia and Tamina in response. That allowed Boss 'n' Hug to come back in though, taking out Liv and Logan and then going head to head with Fire and Desire. That culminated in stacked double knees but Deville kicked out nonetheless. In the meantime, Liv and Logan climbed up on a pod each, hitting simultaneous crossbodies to the floor.
Morgan was soon caught though, taking a Super Samoan Drop which allowed Tamina's Double Splash to send The Riott Squad packing. Bayley eventually evaded Jax though, sending her flying through the pod and leaving Tamina isolated. Everyone then came together, stringing together offense until Bayley's Elbow Drop pinned Tamina, ending Nia's night in the process. Only two teams now remained, immediately brawling until Boss 'n' Hug hit their tandem finish to force a late Mandy save. Now isolated herself, Rose climbed upon a pod as Boss 'n' Hug chased her up.
Deville came to Rose's aid though, allowing Mandy to fight free while Sonya flattened Bayley with the pod. Rose then seized, landing her finisher on Banks for yet another near-fall. Sasha then evaded Mandy, with Deville's Spear inadvertently taking Rose out as Banks applied an adapted Bank Statement for the win.
Winners and NEW Champions: Boss 'n' Hug Connection
Post-match, the champions were lost for words, with Banks eventually talking about their overall purpose of pushing this division forward.
WWE SmackDown Tag Team Titles
The Miz and Shane McMahon (C) vs. The Usos
Pre-match, Maryse was here for a big announcement, telling the crowd that her and Miz will be having another baby!
To the match now as Jimmy Uso and Miz got this one started. The result was a stalemate, with Miz then barely avoiding double superkicks before turning the tide by going to work on Jey. That allowed Shane's entry, almost scoring a quick roll-up win and with Miz by his side, flurrying big to clear the ring. The Usos then used a blind tag to turn the tide though, flooring Miz and isolating him as well. Now in control, The Usos used quick tags to nastily work their foe over. This even included Jimmy using some of Miz's own offense but the champion then fired back to create some space.
That allowed the tag to Shane McMahon, with him immediately running wild and landing a flurry of strikes to regain control. His DDT then followed but Jey kicked out at 2. Coast to Coast came next, first to Jimmy and then to Jey until instead, Uso took him out in mid-air, landing a violent superkick out of nowhere. That set up the big splash as well but Miz made the save and flurried with his own hot tag too. This begun with a springboard but was quickly halted via Samoan Drop. Even still, Miz came back right away, landing a sharp DDT for 2.
The action then spilled to the floor, with Miz causing a misdirection that sent Jimmy flying into Jey. Miz seized, setting Jey up for Shane's brutal elbow drop through the announce table. That left only Miz and Jimmy, with Uso landing a superkick and heading up top to close the show. Miz got his knees up though, almost catching a quick roll-up but instead, scoring Skull Crushing Finale. At 2 though, Uso countered, catching a roll-up of his own to regain The Usos' grip on the tag team titles.
Winners and NEW Champions: The Usos
Post-match, Miz and McMahon helped each other to the back, with Miz apologizing along the way.
Off backstage next as Lio Rush scoffed at the claim that he's "the weak link" tonight. Rush explained that they have the advantage and claimed that Finn simply can't win.
WWE Intercontinental Title
Lio Rush and Bobby Lashley (C) vs. Finn Balor
The champion immediately took control, powering Finn to the mat until he fired back with a running forearm. The numbers game continually halted Balor though, with Lio eventually running Finn directly into a Lashley tackle on the outside. Now in control, Rush came in to briefly continue their onslaught until Balor responded with some offense of his own, forcing Lio to tag Lashley in for a sudden clothesline to maintain control. That allowed Rush's return, applying the abdominal stretch until Balor countered, once again forcing Bobby's re-entry.
Lashley went right to work, violently slamming Balor the mat and thinking Spear until Rush tagged himself back in. His Final Hour missed though, allowing Finn to corner him and run wild as well. The big dive followed, flooring both of his foes before isolating Rush again. Balor then closed the show, landing Coup De Grace for the sudden win.
Winner: Finn Balor
Post-match, Lashley went after Lio, throttling him and after changing his mind, then flattening Rush with a vicious slam to the mat.
Following that, we transitioned to a recap of the recent events involving Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair before 'The Queen' made her way to the ring. It was there that Charly Caruso asked Flair for more information about Monday's announcement. Charlotte said that life is good, as she's headed to WrestleMania and last night, she decimated 'The Man.' She claimed that Becky seeks the fans' approval whereas Flair simply knows that she's the best.
WWE RAW Women's Title
Ruby Riott vs. Ronda Rousey (C)
The challenger immediately went to work with some strikes but Rousey fired back right away, landing some judo throws and forcing Ruby to bail. Riott then returned to very briefly flurry but Rousey again floored her with a throw, next landing Piper's Pit and scoring the win via Armbar.
Winner and STILL Champion: Ronda Rousey
Post-match, Rousey and Flair went head to head while through the crowd, Becky Lynch arrived on crutches. After a brief stare-down, Lynch went after Flair, battering her with the crutch while Rousey watched on. Ronda then picked up Becky's other crutch, resulting in a stand-off until Lynch basically offered Charlotte up to the champion. Before Rousey could attack Flair though, Lynch attacked her from behind, continuing the attack until at security's delayed request, she proudly headed back through the crowd.
No Disqualification Match
Baron Corbin vs. Braun Strowman
After being floored early, Corbin retrieved a kendo stick and went to work, targeting Braun's legs to take early control. Strowman quickly fired back though, stringing together strikes and then shattering the kendo stick too. Braun's running tackle followed, with Strowman next lapping the ring only to run directly into the steel steps. Corbin then used the steps as a weapon, flooring his foe and mocking him too. Back in-ring, Corbin continued to control things, landing hard right hands but soon being wiped out nonetheless. Braun's big boot came next, flooring Baron in an instant.
Strowman then shifted his focus, setting up a table in the corner and running powerslamming Corbin through it. Before he could pin Baron though, Drew McIntyre made his entrance with a steel chair in hand. The stare-down allowed Bobby Lashley to assault Braun from behind, with both men then going to work with chairs as they eventually left Strowman laying. They then returned their focus to the steel steps, using their numbers advantage to stay on top and retrieving two tables as well. After a Claymore flattened Strowman once more, the trio stacked the two tables.
They then stood upon the steel steps, landing a triple power-bomb to send Strowman through both tables, giving Corbin the win.
Winner: Baron Corbin
Backstage, Shane McMahon was receiving medical attention while Miz apologized. Miz was enraged by the loss but Shane told him to calm down and go home. He'll see him Tuesday.
Following that, Lacey Evans made her way to the ring before turning around and immediately heading backstage.
Elimination Chamber
WWE Title
Kofi Kingston vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe vs. Daniel Bryan (C)
Pre-match, Daniel Bryan claimed that WWE management is punishing his genius by making him first. In the midst of his rant though, referees told Erick Rowan that he has to go to the back, angering Bryan even more. Nonetheless, Bryan is suffering for the greater good because the planet needs him.
Bryan's first opponent is Samoa Joe and as a result, the champion quickly bailed. Initially refusing to engage, Bryan's kick was soon caught as Joe transitioned to a sudden knee-bar out of nowhere. Bryan escaped but was then caught on the outside, eating a salvo of violent chops for his troubles. Joe next applied multiple submissions, seemingly edging close to an elimination until Bryan attacked his knee. The champion used the pod to his advantage as well but a strike exchange soon left him floored regardless. Bryan fired back but as he did so, Kofi Kingston arrived.
He immediately run wild on both, hitting a frogplash on Joe's spine for 2. Bryan quickly cut him off though, landing a big knee drop but then enraging Joe in yet another ill-advised move. His next choice was smarter either way, climbing up on a pod but soon being met there by Kofi while Joe watched on. As they climbed around the structure, Joe yanked Bryan down but that only allowed Kingston to land his signature trust fall on both. Kofi continued to build momentum in-ring as well but before long, Joe regained the upper hand. That didn't last long though, with AJ Styles coming in next to take immediate control.
In response, Bryan once again began to look for higher ground but AJ stopped him in his tracks, landing a Phenomenal Forearm to his back. Styles and Kingston then went head to head, with AJ landing Ushigoroshi for 2. In the meantime, Joe had recuperated, coming back in and catching Kofi with the Coquina Clutch. Kingston countered though, stunning his foe and allowing AJ to land Phenomenal Forearm for the elimination. Jeff Hardy was in next, flurrying with his signature offense and via Kingston's unintentional help, even landing Poetry in Motion too.
Styles' Pele halted his momentum though while in the meantime, Bryan and Kingston brawled at ringside. Elsewhere, Hardy landed Swanton Bomb on the prone Styles while he laid on the top rope but then just moments later, Jeff found himself eliminated by Bryan's trademark knee. Bryan was now firmly in control, going to work on both of his challengers until AJ landed a German suplex that left all three men floored. In perfect time, Randy Orton's pod then opened, with 'The Viper' entering to keep all three of his foes floored.
A dropkick eventually stunned Orton too though, allowing Kofi and AJ to briefly go back and forth until Randy RKO'd him Styles of nowhere for the elimination. While Orton celebrated, Kingston almost caught a quick roll-up but Randy regained control, landing his signature DDT as well as a powerslam on Bryan. Kingston then turned the tide though, scoring Trouble In Paradise to eliminate Orton and leave only two men standing. A wild brawl commenced from there, with Kingston refusing to wilt while landing kicks of his own.
Bryan then took his leg out but Kofi fired back, landing SOS for 2 but next being sent head first into the turnbuckle. Bryan seized, flurrying with kicks but then running into a double foot-stomp for 2. Kingston then began to think Trouble in Paradise but Bryan bailed, resulting in a brawl on the outside as Kofi repeatedly slammed his foe into the structure. However, Kofi's desperation then cost him, going violently into the pod as Bryan returned things to the ring. His signature knee came next but Kingston somehow kicked out regardless!
Enraged, Bryan then unleashed a violent salvo of stomps but Kofi still kicked out. He then countered too, landing Trouble in Paradise but failing to get the win as Bryan almost scored a quick roll-up of his own. Bryan then secured the LeBell Lock but after an immense struggle, Kingston made it to the bottom rope. The pair then fought to the top of a pod, with Kofi violently slamming Bryan into the glass before thinking super-super-plex. Bryan countered though, returning the favor and thinking suplex himself until Kofi fought free, somehow kicking Bryan back to center ring.
However, Kingston's follow-up splash missed, with Bryan suddenly closing the show with his trademark knee.
Winner and STILL Champion: Daniel Bryan
Post-match, New Day consoled Kofi Kingston and helped him to his feet while the crowd thanked him for his effort.
