WWE Elimination Chamber 2019 review: Highlights, takeaways and projections

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Bobby Lashley (c) & Lio Rush vs. Finn Balor

There were many different stories surrounding this WWE Intercontinental Championship Match. There was the talk that Finn Balor couldn’t win the big one, which really doesn’t make sense to me seeing as how he was the first-ever WWE Universal Champion. There was also the issue surrounding Lio Rush and if he was the weak link in this two-on-one handicap match. Well, that’s quite obvious, isn’t it? Just look at Rush standing next to Lashley. It’s not a knock on Rush as he is a solid wrestler. But Lashley is just an incredible specimen. So we knew that Lashley losing the Intercontinental Championship even if he wasn’t pinned or submitted himself was going to come up, which is exactly what happened and that’s part of the problem.

This really wasn’t a great match by any stretch of the imagination. Yes, there were a few good spots here and there, but things really never hit that next level. Balor tried his best to keep things interesting but he was never the focal point and that was a mistake of the booking. If they were really trying to make this into a “big match” situation, creative failed on that end. Rush got cocky and did end up taking the pin after Balor hit him with the Coup de Grace and then took a beating from Lashley afterwards. Tonight has produced three new champions in three matches.

What’s next: Here’s the problem I have with how this went down: As I mentioned, there so much talk that Balor couldn’t win the big match and couldn’t win another championship. So, he puts all of that to bed by not even defeating the champion himself? Have Balor take the loss and get down on himself. Drag this out to WrestleMania, have Balor summon The Demon for a one-on-one match on the grandest stage of them all and give him his big moment. I’m certainly not against Balor being the Intercontinental Champion as he’s the perfect person to hold that title and he’ll now need a big contender for that big-time match. Perhaps we get another multi-person ladder match in New York in seven weeks? Do we see a one-on-one Lashley vs. Balor match at Fastlane?

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