WWE Elimination Chamber 2019 review: Highlights, takeaways and projections

Elimination Chamber Match for the WWE Championship

Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles

Order of entry: Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe, Kofi Kingston, AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy, Randy Orton

Order of elimination: Samoa Joe (AJ Styles), Jeff Hardy (Daniel Bryan), AJ Styles (Randy Orton), Randy Orton (Kofi Kingston), Kofi Kingston (Daniel Bryan)

Following a pointless 30 seconds that saw Lacey Evans walk down the ramp and walk right back out, it was time for the Elimination Chamber Match for the WWE Championship. This was so good.

As in the first Chamber bout of the evening, the execution was right on point. Well, maybe Samoa Joe being eliminated first wasn’t my favorite thing in the world but he looked really strong here nonetheless. Those chops to Daniel Bryan’s chest were brutal and I found myself cringing at points simply due to the noise. That was fun. Joe was eventually eliminated by AJ Styles.

As it happens in all great Elimination Chamber matches, every superstar got a chance to shine. We knew we’d get some sort of crazy spot from Jeff Hardy but I wasn’t expecting that. A Swanton from the top of a pod onto Styles, who was laid out on the top turnbuckle? Wow. Dangerous (and that goes really wrong if Hardy is even an inch or two) off but it looked spectacular, even if Hardy was eliminated five seconds later by Bryan.

Styles, who got in plenty of great offense during his time in, was out next after taking a great RKO from Randy Orton from the top rope. But The Viper was eliminated next at the hands of Kofi Kingston, who may not have won this match but, as he did last Tuesday on SmackDown Live, won the night with yet another outstanding performance. The one-on-one time he had with Bryan was excellent and there were times that I thought Kingston really would win the WWE Championship. The near falls were extremely believable. But in the end, he came up just short, with Bryan picking up the win. Kingston did get the ovation he deserved as Big E and Xavier Woods came out to get him to close the show.

What’s next: After the week he’s had, where do things go now for Kingston? The crowd was hot for him on Sunday, the reactions only rivaled by the Becky Lynch appearance, and it would be a shame to waste this opportunity. Kingston may never be a long-reigning WWE Champion but for a guy who has given us so many memorable moments in the last 11 years, would it be the worst thing in the world to give him a quick little run with the strap. After all, you know, that’s the same strap that they let Jinder Mahal carry around for way too long. Give Kingston the one-on-one at WrestleMania. It probably won’t happen but one more singles run would be great for Kingston, and he’s proven he’s still one of the most entertaining wrestlers on the planet.

Joe is obviously another contender for Bryan and I’m thinking that might be why they had him dominate the champion early on in the matchup. If not Kingston, I certainly wouldn’t object to Joe vs. Bryan at WrestleMania. I think Styles and Orton are on a collision course for a bout in New York as well.

What was your favorite match of the 2019 edition of the WWE Elimination Chamber event? What does your WrestleMania 35 card look like? Feel free to join in the conversation in the comments section below.