Drew McIntyre cut a pipebomb. CM Punk said Seth Rollins looked like an oven mitt. Logan Paul came out to John Cena’s music. And, Damian Priest, well, he was there too. But in all seriousness, Friday’s Elimination Chamber go-home show brought together five of the six combatants from the men’s chamber match and boy, did they not hold back.
It began with Drew McIntyre, who expertly entered from the crowd in the middle of a video recap of John Cena declaring his entry into the Elimination Chamber. McIntyre demanded production cut the music as he said no one wanted to hear Cena. McIntyre then addressed Big John saying “you either die the hero or live long enough to see yourself become the hypocrite.” It was a fantastic line, but McIntyre wasn’t done. He dug the knife deeper and not just into Cena either. McIntyre said that Cena told everyone they had several weeks to say whatever they wanted about him and his choice to declare himself for the chamber without needing to qualify. And in that time, no one did anything save for Punk offering a throwaway line in a promo a while back. McIntyre thought that was ridiculous so he decided tonight, he was going to do what no one else did, what they were scared to do, he was going to address Cena.
McIntyre walked to the commentary desk, sat cross-legged and began to offer his own pipebomb. And much like the first, it was in part directed at the man who can’t be seen. McIntyre wondered what the Cena of 15 years ago would think about the Cena of today and what he would say. McIntyre guessed he would tear his current self apart for leaving for Hollywood and coming back only to walk away. Also he’d say his bald spot deserves its own area code. And as McIntyre told the booing crowd, they shouldn’t boo him, these weren’t his words, they were young Cena’s. Expert stuff. McIntyre then said he would tell Cena how he feels and it’s that he’s not scared of him. He used to be scared of him because everyone knew the political power Cena had. He could make your career disappear in a second. McIntyre said things had changed now though and at Elimination Chamber, he’s going to bury him. An apropos choice of words given the golden shovel Cena was accused of wielding for many years. McIntyre said people like Cena created the monster he’s become and he’s not stopping. McIntyre reminded the fans that last time he was in Toronto, fans cheered the “Toronto Screwjob…”
It was now McIntyre’s turn to be cut off as Damian Priest made his way to the ring. In a promo battle with Drew McIntyre, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, and even Logan Paul, it’s tough to stand out. Priest was okay but he’s kinda in the middle here with most people seemingly neutral toward him. Unlike the others, who its very definitive how the crowd feel. Paul gets booed but he gets a reaction. Punk is beloved. Priest, eh, he was just kinda there. Priest arrived to confront McIntyre and told him to stop complaining and crying as the fans see through his delusions. McIntyre said he wasn’t delusional and challenged Priest or anyone else to find the lie in anything he’s said. Priest said McIntyre knows the real truth and it’s that sure McIntyre won the world title last year, but it was Priest who cashed in and took it from him because of his obsession with Punk. McIntyre said he didn’t have an obsession with Punk, all the while sitting cross-legged on the desk. Priest called him out but McIntyre didn’t flinch saying he does the pipebombs now. The crowd began to chant for Punk as Priest told McIntyre last time they were in the Scotia Bank ring, he dropped him and he’d gladly do it again tonight. McIntyre shrugged and seemed willing to mix it up with Priest but they were interrupted by the first surprise of the night, Seth Rollins crossing brand lines to appear on SmackDown.
Rollins is a fan-favorite 90 percent of the time. The only time he’s not getting cheered is when he’s feuding with Punk. But in that moment, the crowd was fully behind him as they sang him to the ring and he soaked it all in. Rollins acted jovial saying it was the three amigos back together. They all were reminiscing about Money in the Bank and since he was at the scene of the crime, he wanted to join in. Rollins said if it wasn’t for questionable officiating, Punk’s arrival, and McIntyre having the worst cash-in attempt of all-time, he would have beaten Priest for the world title. But Rollins said he wasn’t there to talk about the past. He was there to talk about the future and this isn’t the same Rollins who barely made WrestleMania last year. Rollins said he felt as good as he looked (mind you, he was wearing one of his more questionable outfits) and no one else stood a chance at the Elimination Chamber.
The crowd continued to chant for Punk and like Joe Hendry, if you say his name, he appears. Punk too enjoyed the crowd serenading him to the ring and chanting his name. He didn’t waste time. Punk looked at Rollins and couldn’t believe his eyes. He said if Rollins felt as good as he looked that was good for Punk because he looked like an oven mitt and Punk cooked him on Raw and will cook him again in the chamber match. Punk turned to Priest and said he had no issue with him, but if the door opened to his pod, he’d be collateral damage. On to McIntyre. Punk said McIntyre was obsessed with him but he was obsessed with his WrestleMania main event and was going to do whatever it took to get it starting by winning the Elimination Chamber. Punk said someone is buying souls but he already took McIntyre’s soul at Hell in a Cell. Punk said it was time to get serious. This wasn’t about them, this was about him.
Then the chaos ensued as everyone started verbally going after each other. Rollins said Punk would never main event WrestleMania, not over his dead body as McIntyre promised to re-injure Punk. Punk responded telling McIntyre he’s kicked his ass for duty, profit, and at the chamber it would be for fun. Priest said McIntyre shouldn’t even be talking because after the chamber, he’s just going to complain more anyway. Rollins said Punk’s chants are going to die after he loses in the Elimination Chamber, just like his WrestleMania dreams…
And that’s when it happened. John Cena’s music hit and the crowd went wild. Only to find out they were duped…by Logan Paul. Paul laughed as he entered to Cena’s music and graphics. He asked the crowd if they actually expected Cena to show up as they began booing him loudly the way that has been the case for pretty much his entire WWE tenure, but certainly over the last few months. Paul said Cena doesn’t care about Canada. Toronto may not be able to see Cena tonight, but they can see him. Paul pointed at the ring and acknowledged the fulltimers being there when Cena couldn’t show up. Classic celebrity wrestler. That was his best line in an other wards pretty solid exchange. Paul began addressing his opponents. He called Rollins the peacock of WWE and that he wore curtains to work. Paul said Rollins is a great wrestler but he dresses like “Lady Gaga threw up on a coat hanger.” On to McIntyre. Paul says he’s right at home. He can’t win a title and neither can the Toronto Maple Leafs. Paul always gets boos but these were massive. Next up was Priest, who Paul said he barely knew because Priest was irrelevant and Paul couldn’t relate to that. But Priest did win a title, which Paul thought was crazy that even with a priest in a ring, he was still the answer to WWE’s prayers. Finally, back to Punk. Paul says he’d want to smack the stupid expression off his face but he already did that on Raw. Punk starts to chase Paul to the back as he begs him on.
And that’s where things are left headed into the Elimination Chamber.
The segment was lengthy and pretty chaotic at points but it drove home the narrative that really anyone of these guys (except for Priest) could win the match and reasonably go on to have a solid program leading into ‘Mania. Obviously, Cena and Punk are the obvious choices but WWE really couldn’t go wrong with Paul, Rollins, or McIntyre either. Priest is the one who’s kinda just there. It’s not a slight to him perse. The field is just so stacked that someone had to fade into the background a bit. That’s his role in this Elimination Chamber match and it showed on Friday as he got lapped in the promo battle that ensued. But Priest is still a fine wrestler and could very well shock the world on Saturday. If the Royal Rumble taught us anything, it’s that WWE isn’t afraid to pull off the huge surprises on the Road to WrestleMania.
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