We are 2 days removed from Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event (PLE) and the Road to WrestleMania made a memorable pitstop at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia Saturday morning. The number one contender for WWE Women’s World Championship was determined in the first of the 2 Elimination Chamber matches. Bianca Belair, Becky Lynch, Liv Morgan, Naomi, Raquel Rodriguez and newcomer Tiffany Stratton rounded out this year’s Chamber roster. 6 male superstars entered the Elimination Chamber to determine who would be challenge WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin'” Rollins at WrestleMania XL. Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, LA Knight, Bobby Lashley and social media personality turned sports entertainer Logan Paul competed for the right to challenge the champ in a match marked in many controversies. Over the course of the event the Judgement Day had a lot on their plates as they defended their Undisputed Tag Team Championships against the New Catch Republic, Tyler Bate and ‘The Bruiserweight’ Pete Dunne in exhilarating tag team action. All eyes went to Australia’s own Grayson Waller as he hosted a riveting Perth Edition of The Grayson Waller Effect interviewing Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin'” Rollins. Australia’s WWE talent continued to show out as Aussie Indi Hartwell teamed with Candice LeRae to battle the Kabuki Warriors for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. The Judgement Day and Australia’s own Rhea Ripley took on juggernaut Nia Jax defending her WWE Women’s World Championship in the main event.
I sat down with the Wolfpac Podcast‘s own Jax, the Ginger Ninja to talk Elimination 2024 reactions, ratings and what may lay ahead on the Road to WrestleMania XL.
To start the PLE Australia’s own Indi Hartwell and her tag partner Candice LeRae challenged Asuka and Kairi Sane for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Indi Hartwell was front and center in the action as the hometown heroine got plenty of time to shine. In the end the Kabuki Warriors came out on top to retain their tag team championships.
CPG: I like Indi Hartwell a lot. I think she’s one of the better female talents WWE has. She did a great job as the gatekeeper for the NXT Women’s Division before winning the NXT Women’s title and ultimately having to surrender it after being called up to the main roster. I would have liked to see Hartwell and LeRae win here but with no build up to this match the ending was set before the bell.
Jax: As great as LeRae has been on the indies leading up to her signing with WWE, she’s failed to connect on the main roster. The Kabuki Warriors are a great tag team and are always are a viable duo for the championships, but being lumped into Damage Control’s drama I hope someone takes the titles from them soon if Iyo Skye loses to 2024 women’s Royal Rumble winner, Bayley.
The first chamber match was the women’s Elimination Chamber match to determine the number one contender for either Rhea Ripley or Nia Jax’s WWE Women’s World Championship. This match gave a lot high risk spots to the women, something WWE traditionally stays away from. All six women gave it their all however Becky Lynch would secure the victory to gain a Women’s World title shot at WrestleMania XL.
CPG: The women’s chamber always seemed to lack balance ever since the first women’s Elimination Chamber match in 2018. This year the chamber match had big spots that highlighted the talents of all women involved. Tiffany Stratton and Liv Morgan were phenomenal and stood out throughout this match. Becky and Liv were the two women with the most to gain with a win here. Becky’s win gives her the chance to regain the title and restore her confidence, while Liv Morgan can go heel if need be.
Jax: Tiffany Stratton was the Chamber’s MVP! It shows WWE is ready to invest in her in the future. I did feel like this match did expose some of her timing issues and that there is still some polishing before her inevitable push towards a major championship. I also wish Naomi went farther in the match. She’s coming off a great run in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and I hoped they’d swing that momentum towards her WWE return.
Next up was the Judgement Day defending their Undisputed Tag Team Championships against The New Catch Republic, Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne. In typical Judgement Day fashion there were shenanigans throughout the match. After being caught by the referee “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio was ejected from ringside. Although the match had an excellent showing for both tag teams, the New Catch Republic failed to claim the championships after a massive double South of Heaven Chokeslam from Damian Priest and a Coup de Grâce to the “Bruiserweight” from Finn Balor.
CPG: Man, the New Catch Republic are fun to watch, but the name is awful. Maybe I’m missing something but why couldn’t they just stick with British Strong Style? I also hope to see these two get legs on their own in singles competition sooner rather than later. Pete Dunne was phenomenal in NXT and NXT UK, and Tyler Bate has always been a reliable talent to produce top notch matches. I’m afraid of how Judgement Day is going to continue to hold the titles as Priest still has the Money in the Bank briefcase. Judgement Day is now a 2 year old stable, so time is ticking. Especially with JD being caught up in R-Truth’s comedic routine.
Jax: Pete Dunne and Tyler bate are both ready for the main event scene. They’re just that damn good. I’m with you on just wanting them to go by British Strong Style, that’s how a lot of fans were introduced to them stateside. I loved every bit of this match. Both teams really showed out. Dom (Mysterio) just gets nuclear heat anyway he goes. The moment he even grabs a microphone or motions to anything he’s booed by EVERY SINGLE person in the building. That’s incredible.
After a discussion with the Tribal Chief WWE Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Grayson Waller held a special edition of The Grayson Waller Effect in his home country. His guests? WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin'” Rollins and 2023 and 2024 Royal Rumble winner “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes. After sharing a shoey with a fellow Aussie at ringside Waller immediatly got down to asking the tough questions to his guests as his friend Austin Theory watched from ringside. Rollins took the time to announce he is close to being medically cleared and will be ready to defend his World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XL. After some jaw-jacking from Austin Theory were he did his best impression of the Rock, taking jabs at Cody Rhodes, and running through the Rock’s catchphrases, he ultimately got a Cody Cutter and a Curb Stomp for his troubles. Cody than took the moment to officially challenge the Rock to match, any time in any place. Rollinsbthan backed the 2 time Royal Rumble winner in his crusade against the Bloodline.
CPG: I’m glad Waller got to do something in front of his home country. I’m not sure what happened with him and Theory. Usually those two go at people as a pair but he just sat back and let Theory get his head kicked in by the babyfaces. Could be setting up heat between the two for a match at WrestleMania XL. Maybe on the pre show or something. It also looks like Cody may be pulling double duty this WrestleMania, fighting the Rock Night 1 and then Roman Night 2. If that winds up being true, that’s crazy.
Jax: Man, I was confused by that whole segment. I mean, glad to hear Rollins is good to go. But Theory getting beat down with no assistance from Waller? It makes me wonder what Roman said to Grayson on Friday. Was it to shed Theory? OR did he just DEFY YOUR TRIBAL CHIEF??!? As cool as the prospect of a match between Cody Rhodes and the Rock is, the anytime, anywhere bit just begs the question of when and how, and we know Cody has to go over, so will it even matter? Rollins’ 180 on Cody also asks the question will his downfall be due to his focus on backing Cody against the Bloodline leaving room for McIntyre to get into his head and leave mania as champion.
The men’s elimination chamber took the spotlight before the main event. In a thrilling chamber match there were superstars flying all over the place. However this match did not go on without controversy, as both LA Knight and Randy Orton exited the chamber under less than ideal circumstances. AJ Styles made his presence known by attacking LA Knight, and Logan Paul knocked the “Viper” Randy Orton out cold with brass knuckles. As the dust settled in Perth Drew McIntyre will continue his quest to live CM Punk’s dream as he emerged victorious to claim a shot at Seth “Freakin'” Rollins’ World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XL.
CPG: Another good chamber match. The men’s and women’s chamber matches were neck and neck in physicality. First off though, Logan Paul continues to be an incredible talent in pro wrestling. Now that he’s on a full time contract he only has more time to get better. I don’t think there has been a better transition from a “celebrity” to a professional wrestler, ever. Orton did a great job at selling the back injury to get the other guys over. I wasn’t too onboard with 2 heel spots determining participant’s exits. I wonder if this culminates to 2 to 3 matches added to the WrestleMania XL card or are they laying the foundation of a 6 man latter match for SmackDown’s United States Championship?
Jax: You can tell Drew McIntrye loves being a heel. He’s been a workhorse on this run and there wasn’t a better man to win. I think he takes the title off Rollins at Mania. He’s too good at being a heel and it’s the ultimate foil for CM Punk once he returns. His heat will only grow as he continues to troll Punk and his loyal fanbase. It’s a good indication Drew is staying with WWE and not pursuing a contract elsewhere. He’s needed in WWE. I think with the interferences and implications this match should have gone on last but due to Rhea Ripley being your Women’s World Champion, this was her event.
MAINT EVENT TIME! Rhea Ripley’s entrance was electric. Standing across from Ripley was Nia Jax. Nia Jax has been a thorn in the champion’s side for a few weeks now. Nia has left Rhea lifeless in the middle of the mat on more than one occasion. This is as vulnerable as the champion has every looked since winning the championship from Charlotte Flair last WrestleMania. In a hard hitting bout the hometown champion finally laid the “Irresistible Force” out with an incredible show of strength hitting a superplex followed by a Riptide for the win. Emotions were high as Rhea Ripley then celebrated with family in the hometown crowd.
CPG: Rhea is so good, isn’t she? She’s got to be the strongest woman on the roster and she really got to show it. I was impressed with Nia’s improvement since returning to WWE. They’ve been smart and safe with her and that’s been a huge part of getting her over as an unbeatable monster. She really brought her A-game too, making this match with Rhea one of her best. I love seeing wrestler win in their hometown, Rhea was no exception. Solid match and impressive win.
Jax: The match got off to slow start, almost like her match with Flair at WrestleMania last year. Then they just clicked and it was nowhere but up for these women to go. Rhea is the strongest woman on the roster. The Riptide sealed that for me. Nia has come a long way. Looking forward to Rhea’s WrestleMania match with Becky Lynch,
CPG: Elimination Chamber Perth was a lot of fun. Another confrontation between Jimmy and Jey Uso would have worked wonders here as Gunther couldn’t travel for this event. A CM Punk appearance, I thought, would have been a given. However a limited and overall predictable card dragged this one down for me. 3/5
Jax: Fun show, gave us a lot of tidbits for future matches, mostly at WrestleMania in April. I needed the Bloodline there to really drive something forward other than Cody’s challenge to the Rock. Drew is a lock to win at Mania. This has been the most solid stepping stone to WrestleMania XL 4/5.
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