The much-anticipated Elimination Chamber main event contested at the pay-per-view, Elimination Chambers 2018 on February 25, 2018 at T-Mobile Arena in Nevada, saw veteran John Cena along with six other WWE Superstars including The Miz, Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman, Elias, Seth Rollins and Finn Balor compete for a chance to face Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 34. As expected, Strowman dominated most part of the match and rightly so because of his agility in the ring and dominating physique. He eliminated The Miz, Elias, John Cena, Finn Balor and Seth Rollins – five competitors after delivering his Running Powerslam. However, Roman Reigns decided to stand tall against theMonster Among Men. Strowman and Reigns battled it out to secure a place at the main event at WrestleMania 34. It became a grueling contest as both Reigns and Strowman delivered their best to each other. However, after Stowman crashed into the glass of one of the chambers, giving Reigns an opening to intensify his assault. It took Reigns multiple Superman Punches and Spears before he could silence Strowman and pick the victory. What transpired at WrestleMania 31 on March 29, 2015, when Roman Reigns challenged Brock Lesnar for his WWE World Heavyweight Championship is going to happen again at WrestleMania 34 when Reigns will go up against the WWE Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar, for his title. However, fans did expect Strowman to deliver Reigns the Running Powerslam for the win and headline WrestleMania 34 against Lesnar. Although Reigns faced a mixed reaction after his win, Strowman did take out his frustration when he delivered Reigns with two Running Powerslams and sent him crashing into the glass of the chamber.
The 2018 Royal Rumble was an exciting event with a number of Hall of Famers and Legends making their presence felt. While Lita, Trish Stratus, Torrie Wilson and Mickie James were part of the first-ever 30 Women Royal Rumble, it was Rey Mysterio, who created an impact when he returned to in-ring entrant as a surprise number 27 entrant in the 30 Men Royal Rumble Match. However, Roman Reigns’ showdown with Shinsuke Nakamura during the final moments of his match was filled with boos for Roman and cheers for Nakamura. Eventually, Nakamura eliminated Reigns to win his first Royal Rumble match and winning the right to face the WWE Champion. During the Women’s Royal Rumble, Asuka became the first-ever female Superstar to win the Royal Rumble. While she was celebrating her victory in the ring with both Charlotte Flair (SmackDown Women’s Champion) and Alexa Bliss (Raw Women’s Champion), MMA fighter, Ronda Rousey, made her shocking appearance at the pay-per-view when she stood tall in the ring signaling at the WrestleMania sign.
Royal Rumble also saw The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro) become new RAW Tag Team Champions when Jason Jordon was out with an injury and Seth Rollins could not defend his team’s titles. Perhaps Seth and Jordon will not engage in a rivalry where Jordon could turn heel. How will RAW General Manager, Kurt Angle, react to this is still to be seen.
A match of intense physical dominance was for the WWE Universal Championship. A triple threat bout between Brock Lesnar (Champion), Braun Strowman and Kane, each superstar dominated the other during one point of the match or the other. However, after slamming Strowman through two announce tables and giving Strowman and Kane F-5s, Lesnar emerged victoriously and still the WWE Universal Champion. Perhaps now Lesnar would focus on other opponents since he has silenced Strowman and Kane for the time being. AJ Styles, WWE Champion on Smackdown, successfully defended his titles in a 1-on-2 handicap match against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. It seems both Brock Lesnar and AJ Styles will have much bigger matches come WrestleMania 34.
Now that Shinsuke Nakamura is the Royal Rumble winner, the King of Strong style may evolve into a deeper character for he envisions becoming the next WWE Champion. Who he will face is still to be decided but one thing remains sure, WrestleMania 34’s WWE Championship main event will be a must watch bout.
It was a night on Monday Night RAW when one of the most memorable reunions took place. The WWE Universe do remember when Triple H and Shawn Michaels joined forces to reform D-Generataion X in June 2006. However, later down the road when The Shield with its members Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose made their presence felt in the WWE, they emerged as the Hounds of Justice. Later, Triple H implemented his Plan B to compel Seth Rollins to turn against his team and join The Authority, comprising Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and Kane. Over the next few years all three Shield Members would enjoy a singles run with all three becoming WWE World Heavyweight Champion at one time or another. Of late, rumors were spreading that The Shield may reunite with Seth Rollins ending all differences with Reigns and Ambrose. On the October 9, 2017 episode of RAW as the WWE Intercontinental Champion, The MIZ was addressing the WWE Universe along with his The Miztourage, Roman Reigns came out followed by Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins. The three former Shield members destroyed the The Miztourage along with Sheamus and Cesaro. After Ambrose planted The Miz with the Dirty Deeds, Reigns, Ambrose and Rollins delivered the Triple Powerbomb to The Miz before joining their fists that The Shield has certainly reunited.
Later during the night, The Shield emerged again wearing similar gear and attacked Braun Strowman. Reigns hit a devastating Spear to the Monster Among Men before The Shield delivered the Triple Powerbomb to Braun Strowman crashing him through the announcers table. It was an epic moment, perhaps the best to witness in recent memory. After the reuniting of DX in 2006 and the return of The Hardy Boyz at WrestleMania 33 in June 2017, the reuniting of The Shield is perhaps the moment that will reshape the landscape of the WWE. One wonders if, akin to Evolution back in 2003-04, The Shield members too will hold a title belt each and become one of the dominating force in the WWE today. I would personally like to watch The Shield raise havoc, win matches and titles and bring some attitude back in the WWE. Now that The Architect, Seth Rollins; The Big Dog, Roman Reigns and The Lunatic Fringe, Dean Ambrose are on the same page, the WWE Tag Team Division may not be the same again!
Since the breakup of The Shield in June 2014, Seth Rollins became a heel character when he joined The Authority. The Hounds of Justice, Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose and Rollins, were not seen together again. All three members of The Shield went on to become the WWE Champions. However, with Roman Reigns busy with his scuffle with Braun Strowman, it seems Ambrose and Rollins are trying to come on the same page. Recently, Rollins rejected Ambrose’s invitation to join his hands to make a team. On RAW’s episode of August 14, 2017, Ambrose again asked Rollins to team up. The verbal confrontation became physical when both Superstars attacked each other. They were interrupted by the WWE RAW Tag Team Champions Cesaro and Sheamus. The Champions overpowered Ambrose and Rollins however, the former Shield members regrouped to take over the Champions and throw them out of the ring. Moments later as the WWE Universe began its “Yes Chants”, Ambrose and Rollins bumped their fists, signaling the reunion of Ambrose and Rollins. The moment was somewhat akin to when Triple H and Shawm Michaels rejoined to bring D-GenerationX back into the WWE in 2007.Now that Ambrose and Rollins are back again, the WWE Universe will see more high flying, robust, aggressive action in and outside of the ring. Definitely, these two will take the WWE tag team division into another era, hopefully. We will have to see at what time Roman Reigns decides to join Ambrose and Rollins. However, it is too early to say if The Shield will be reborn.
It is reported and confirmed that at SummerSlam 2017, on August 20, 2017, Cesaro and Sheamus wil be defending their RAW Tag Team Championship title against Ambrose and Rollins. Will the team of The Lunatic Fringe and The Architect work in unison to beat the Champs or will the WWE Universe have to wait until they see Ambrose and Rollins wearing the Tag Team belts around their waists? In any case, their SummerSlam encounter will be a must watch!
Now that news is surfacing regarding The Undertaker’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2018, questions are rising as to who will induct the greatest WWE Superstar ever?
He wrestled on the very first episode of WWE Monday Night RAW on January 11, 1993. He wrestled at WrestleMania VII in 1991 and he wrestled at WrestleMania 33 in 2017. His legendary stature in the WWE has been no less than an inspiring one for the rookies and an entertaining one for the WWE Universe. He is an institution in himself – a league of his own – a legend by all means! He is The Undertaker.
Be it Monday Night RAW or SmackDown, The Undertaker has always delivered his best in the ring. Whether it’s Summer Slam, Survivor Series, WrestleMania or any other pay-per-view extravaganza, he has fought with his soul and poured out his blood and sweat inside the ring.
After being defeated by Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 33, The Undertaker took off his coat, gloves, and hat and placed them in the middle of the ring, signaling that this match might have been his last.
Throughout his career in the WWE that began in 1990, The Undertaker has had countless matches of all types. His gimmicks have also changed over the years that included Western Mortician, The Deadman, Lord of Darkness, leader of the Ministry of Darkness, The American Bad Ass, Big Evil, The Phenom and The Last Outlaw. Where his gimmick of The Deadman led him to create his Lord of Darkness and The Phenom persona, it was his American Bad Ass gimmick that earned him much admiration. Cladded in jeans and jacket, wearing sunglasses and bandana, The Undertaker would enter the arena riding his motorbike. Those were the good days.
The Undertaker was one tough competitor. He knew the WWE inside out. However, his winning streak at WrestleMania, the grandest stage of them all, gave him the legendary status he holds today. He enjoyed 21 consecutive wins at WrestleMania from WrestleMania VII on March 24, 1991, to WrestleMania 29 on April 7, 2013. Perhaps the most shocking moment in WWE and WrestleMania history came forth on April 6, 2014, at WrestleMania XXX when Brock Lesnar defeated The Undertaker, ending his streak. Michel Cole’s words still echo as if it were yesterday, “The Streak, is over!”
Now that news is surfacing regarding The Undertaker’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2018, questions are rising as to who will induct the greatest WWE Superstar ever?
In all honesty, I believe there are only three WWE Superstars who are worthy enough to induct The Undertaker. First, it is Kane, with whom The Undertaker reigned supreme as The Brothers of Destruction and won WWE Tag Team titles twice. However, it was the energy and electricity Kane and The Undertaker brought to the ring with them when fighting together. Their strength, agility, speed and height advantage over their opponents made them a force to reckon with.
Then there is Shawn Michaels. Michael became obsessed with The Undertaker and vowed to beat The Undertaker at WrestleMania and end his streak. He fought two amazing matches against The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25 (April 5, 2009) and WrestleMania 26 (March 28, 2010). However, he could not get the job done. Later, Shawn Michaels’ partner in DX, Triple H, stood up against The Undertaker and fought him at two consecutive WrestleManias to end his streak. He first tried his luck at WrestleMania 27 (April 3, 2011) and later at WrestleMania 28 (April 1, 2012).
The Undertaker vs Triple H at WrestleMania 28, also known as ‘End of an Era’ match contested inside Hell in a Cell with Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee was one defining moment in WWE history. At one point even Michaels tried to influence the decision by hitting The Undertaker with a Sweet Chin Music followed by a Pedigree by Triple H. However, The Undertaker kicked out. Following the end of the match, the sight we saw was beyond comprehension as it is still etched in memory. Triple H was unable to walk up the ramp on his own strength. The WWE Universe and the world saw Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker help Triple H walk out of the ring. The three competitors hugged each other before exiting the arena, leaving millions of memories behind.
I personally believe both Shawn Michaels and Triple H should induct The Undertaker. They were part of the End of an Era match, and they should induct The Undertaker into the WWE Hall of Fame for he has led and defined an Era in the WWE more than once.
However, I also believe that The Undertaker should continue making appearances on Monday Night RAW or SmackDown even if his in-ring career has come to an end. The best decision by the WWE could be to bring back the American Bad Ass gimmick and make The Undertaker the General Manager of SmackDown. Now that will be the beginning of a new Era in the WWE!
World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) Wrestlemania 33 was indeed a showcase of the immortals held under the clear sky of Orlando, Florida, USA. Appearing in this year’s Wrestlemania were The New Day as the Hosts who, being a tag team of the New Era in the WWE, could not overshadow the legends of the WWE’s Attitude Era who made their presence felt at WrestleMania with panache and force.
Among all the matches held at WrestleMania 33, I believe fivedid turn out to be memorable ones.
1. AJ Styles VS Shane McMahon
Winner: AJ Styles
Following their rivalry at SmackDown Live, AJ Styles and Shane McMahon decided to settle the score inside the squared circle. After an intense match during which Shane also delivered the infamous “Coast to Coast” on AJ Styles, it was Styles who cashed in the match after delivering his Phenomenal Forearm.
2. Fatal Four-Way Tag Team Match: The Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy) defeated Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson (c), Cesaro and Sheamus, and Enzo Amore and Big Cass
Winners: the Hardy Boyz
Just when the three teams of the match, originally on the cards as a Triple Threat Match for the WWE RAW tag Team Championships, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, Cesaro and Sheamus and Enzo Amore and Big Cass were waiting for the bell to ring, the New Day informed of a fourth team to make their way to the ring. As soon as The Hardy Boyz’s entrance music hit, the Camping World Stadium in Orlando erupted into a frenzy of excitement. After making their return to the WWE after nearly seven years, The Hardy Boyz beat all odds to become the new WWE RAW Tag Team Champions.
3. Seth Rollins Vs. Triple H
Winner: Seth Rollins
Triple H along with Stephanie McMahon entered the ring on a badass looking motorcycle, which I guess was a tribute to The Undertaker’s American BadAss gimmick during the early 2000s. HHH was fighting against Seth Rollins in a non-sanctioned match to settle their scores. The highlight of the match was when HHH accidentally threw Stephanie off the ring apron making her crash through the table. This was enough distraction for HHH when Rollins delivered The Pedigree for the win.
4. Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt for the WWE Championship
Winner: Bray Wyatt
Former tag team champions, Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt fought for the coveted WWE Championship. Orton had earned the right to compete in this match following his win at the 30-men over-the-top match at the Royal Rumble. Despite Wyatt’s evil ways to intimidate his opponent, Orton prevailed the onslaught and defeated his former tag team partner to become the new WWE Champion.
5. Roman Reigns vs. The Undertaker
Winner: Roman Reigns
There is not a single WWE Superstar could ever match the thrills The Undertaker sends down the spine of the WWE Universe when making his way to the ring at Wrestlemania or on RAW and SmackDown. Following his first-ever loss at WrestleMania by the hands of Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 30 in April 2014, it was evident that The Undertaker would soon be hanging his gloves. At WrestleMania 33, The Undertaker wrestled against Roman Reigns, the former Shield member and The Big Dog in the WWE. The Undertaker gave a decent fight and delivered his signature moves, however, Reigns emerged victorious and cashed in the biggest win of this career by defeating The Undertaker at WrestleMania. Following the match, as the sold-out Camping World Stadium was clapping for The Undertaker and chanting “Thank You Taker!”, The Undertaker took off his gloves, leather robe and hat to place them in the middle of the ring. As he left the right, he broke character to hug his wife before making his way up the ramp. It is evident that this was perhaps the last match of The Undertaker’s illustrious wrestling career in the WWE. However, it would be great to see The Undertaker becoming the SmackDown General Manager not as The Deadman but as The American BadAss!
The 30th annual Royal Rumble took place at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on January 29, 2017. The highlight of the evening was the supercharged matched between AJ Styles and John Cena where Styles was defending his WWE Championship. When it seemed AJ Styles will retain the title, Cena – eyeing a 16th World title win – delivered two consecutive Attitude Adjustments to Styles to win the World title, hence tying Ric Flair’s record of 16 World Championship title wins. In another one-on-one confrontation, Kevin Owens successfully defended his WWE Universal Championship belt against Roman Reigns, after Reigns was beaten up by Brawn Stroman. The referee could not do anything as the match had a ‘no disqualification’ stipulation attached to it.
Video Source: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdfEuCGoVdDIbkiqC_RppgQ
The 30-men over the top Royal Rumble was the match everyone was waiting for especially after The Undertaker made his presence felt on Monday Night RAW with Goldberg and Brock Lesnar standing in the same ring. WWE fans were pondering over to who will eliminate these three legends of the sport.
Lesnar and Goldberg’s confrontation at the 2017 Royal Rumble, during the 30-men elimination match, was a Deja Vu moment following their match at Survivor Series (2016), where Goldberg defeated Lesnar in one minute and 26 seconds. At the Royal Rumble, however, Goldberg took a little time in dismantling The Beast after hitting him with a Spear and throwing him over the top rope. Minutes later, after delivering a Spear to The Undertaker, it was the Dead Man who eliminated Goldberg. However, Roman Reigns, made history – or perhaps a mistake – by eliminating The Undertaker from the Royal Rumble. With Randy Orton winning the 30-men over the top Royal Rumble match and securing his main event status at WrestleMania 33, he will face the WWE Champion, John Cena, in renewing one of the most heated rivalries in recent memory.
Moreover, we will soon find out what matches will take place at WrestleMania now that we have multiple storylines brewing up where The Undertaker could face Roman Reigns, Goldberg could face Brock Lesnar, or perhaps – in a dream match – we could have a triple threat encounter at Wrestlemania with Goldberg Vs. Brock Lesnar Vs. The Undertaker. Let’s see what WrestleMania has in store for the WWE Universe.
MOI WRITES 
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