The 2022 Elimination Chamber (known as No Escape in Germany) was the 12th Elimination Chamber professional wrestling live event produced by WWE. It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. The event aired on pay-per-view worldwide and was available to stream through Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network internationally, which made it the first Elimination Chamber to air on Peacock. It took place on February 19, 2022, at the Jeddah Super Dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
It was the seventh event that WWE held in Saudi Arabia under a 10-year partnership in support of Saudi Vision 2030. It was also be the first Elimination Chamber event to take place in Saudi Arabia, the first to take place outside of the United States, and the first to be held on a Saturday. It was also be WWE's first regular annual event to take place in the country.
Production[]
Background[]
Elimination Chamber is a gimmick event first produced by the American promotion WWE in 2010. It has been held every year since, except in 2016, generally in February. The concept of the show is that one or two main event matches are contested inside the Elimination Chamber, either with championships or future opportunities at championships at stake. The 2022 event will be the 12th event under the Elimination Chamber chronology and will feature wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown brands. In addition to airing on pay-per-view worldwide and the WWE Network in international markets, it will be the first Elimination Chamber to air on Peacock after the American version of the WWE Network merged under Peacock in March 2021.
In early 2018, WWE began a 10-year strategic multiplatform partnership with the General Sports Authority in support of Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's social and economic reform program. On January 17, 2022, the seventh event under this partnership was announced as Elimination Chamber, scheduled for Saturday, February 19, 2022, at the Jeddah Super Dome in Jeddah. It will in turn be the first Elimination Chamber event to take place in Saudi Arabia, the first to take place outside of the United States, and the first to be held on a Saturday. It will also be WWE's first regular annual event to take place in the country.
In 2011 and since 2013, the show has been promoted as "No Escape" in Germany as it was feared that the name "Elimination Chamber" may remind people of the gas chambers used during the Holocaust.
Storylines[]
The event included matches that result from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portray heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results are predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands, while storylines are produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.
At the Royal Rumble, Bobby Lashley defeated Brock Lesnar to win the WWE Championship. On the following episode of Raw, it was announced that Lashley would defend the WWE Championship in an Elimination Chamber match at Elimination Chamber. Lesnar then came out and demanded a rematch against Lashley that night as Lashley did not fairly win the title; however, on MVP's advice, Lashley declined. WWE official Adam Pearce then announced that Lesnar would be competing in the Elimination Chamber match. Later that night, Seth "Freakin" Rollins also announced that he would be one of the participants in the match. The final three spots were determined in qualification matches: Austin Theory, Riddle, and AJ Styles qualified by defeating Kevin Owens, Raw Tag Team Champion Otis, and Rey Mysterio, respectively.
Roman Reigns was originally scheduled to face Goldberg for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania 36 in April 2020; however, due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic shortly before the event, Reigns pulled out of the match due to his immunocompromised state from past battles with leukaemia. Goldberg faced another challenger at that event who defeated him for the title. Two years later on the February 4, 2022, episode of SmackDown, with Reigns now as champion after winning the title at Payback in August 2020, Goldberg appeared and challenged Reigns to a match for the Universal Championship at Elimination Chamber, which was made official.
At Day 1, Drew McIntyre defeated Madcap Moss, who was accompanied by Happy Corbin. Later backstage, Corbin and Moss attacked McIntyre, injuring his neck, which was reported to require surgery. At the Royal Rumble, McIntyre made a surprise return from his injury during the Royal Rumble match and eliminated Corbin and Moss. On the following SmackDown, McIntyre said he would continue to target the two due to them almost ending his career. A rematch between McIntyre and Moss was scheduled for Elimination Chamber.
On the February 7 episode of Raw, a women's Elimination Chamber match was scheduled for Elimination Chamber with the winner earning a Raw Women's Championship match at WrestleMania 38. Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Doudrop, Rhea Ripley, and Nikki A.S.H. were announced for the match, with one spot to be filled.
Event[]
Pre-show[]
During the Elimination Chamber pre-show. Rey Mysterio (accompanied by Dominik Mysterio) faced The Miz. During the match, Miz retrieved a chair, however, Rey performed a Crossbody on Miz. As Miz tried to use the chair again, Dominik thwarted Miz, however, Miz feigned getting attacked by Dominik. This resulted in the referee ejecting Dominik from ringside. In the end, Rey performed a roll-up on Miz to win the match. Following the match, Rey and Dominik performed double 619's on Miz.
Preliminary matches[]
The actual pay-per-view opened with Roman Reigns (accompanied by Paul Heyman) defending the WWE Universal Championship against Goldberg. Reigns cut a quick promo stating that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia must acknowledge Reigns before Goldberg made his entrance. At the start of the match, Reigns threw Goldberg out of the ring.
The two fought at ringside where Goldberg threw Reigns into the barricade. Back in the ring, Goldberg performed a Spear on Reigns. As Goldberg attempted a Jackhammer, Reigns countered into a Uranage for a nearfall. Reigns performed a Superman Punch on Goldberg. As Reigns attempted a Spear, Goldberg countered into a Spear of his own. Goldberg attempted another Jackhammer, however, Reigns countered into the guillotine submission hold on Goldberg. Goldberg passed out thus Reigns retained the title.
Next, the women's Elimination Chamber match was contested where the winner would earn a Raw Women's Championship match at WrestleMania 38. Nikki A.S.H and Liv Morgan started the match. The third entrant was Doudrop. The fourth entrant was Rhea Ripley. Ripley went after Nikki where both climbed the Chamber wall and fell onto Morgan. Ripley performed a Riptide on Nikki to eliminate her. The fifth entrant was Alexa Bliss. Morgan performed a Sitout Powerbomb on Doudrop to eliminate her. The last entrant was Bianca Belair, who earned the opportunity to enter last by winning a gauntlet match on Raw. Ripley and Belair performed double vertical Suplexes on Bliss and Morgan respectively. Bliss performed Twisted Bliss on Morgan to eliminate her. Belair performed Kiss Of Death on Ripley to eliminate her. In the end, Belair performed a Kiss Of Death on Bliss to win the match and earn a Raw Women's Championship match at WrestleMania 38.
After that, Naomi and Ronda Rousey faced SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair and WWE official Sonya Deville, and Rousey wrestled with one arm tied to her back. In the end, Rousey forced Deville to tap out to the arm bar to win the match.
In the fourth match, Drew McIntyre faced Madcap Moss (accompanied by Happy Corbin) in a Falls Count Anywhere match. In the end, McIntyre performed a Claymore Kick on Moss to win the match.
In the penultimate match, Becky Lynch defended the Raw Women's Championship against Lita. Lynch performed a Man Handle Slam on Lita to retain the title.
Match Preview[]
Results[]
- Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.
- (c) refers to the champion(s) heading into the match.
- Pre-Show: Rey Mysterio (w/ Dominik Mysterio) defeated The Miz (9:15)
- Roman Reigns (c) (w/ Paul Heyman) defeated Goldberg by submission to retain the WWE Universal Championship (6:00)
- Bianca Belair defeated Alexa Bliss, Liv Morgan, Rhea Ripley, Doudrop and Nikki A.S.H. in a Elimination Chamber match for a WWE Raw Women's Championship match at WrestleMania 38 (15:45)
- Ronda Rousey & Naomi defeated Charlotte Flair & Sonya Deville by submission (9:15)
- Ronda Rousey will have to wrestle with one arm tied behind her back.
- Drew McIntyre defeated Madcap Moss (w/ Happy Corbin) in a Falls Count Anywhere match (9:05)
- Becky Lynch (c) defeated Lita to retain the WWE Raw Women's Championship (12:19)
- The Usos (Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso) (c) vs. The Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) ended in a no contest in a WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match
- Brock Lesnar defeated Bobby Lashley (c), Seth "Freakin" Rollins, Austin Theory, Riddle and AJ Styles in a Elimination Chamber match to win the WWE Championship (14:55)
Women's Elimination Chamber match[]
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Entered | Eliminated by | Method | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikki A.S.H. | 1 | Rhea Ripley | Pinfall | 6:20 | |
| 2 | Doudrop | 3 | Liv Morgan | Pinfall | 8:50 | |
| 3 | Liv Morgan | 2 | Alexa Bliss | Pinfall | 12:10 | |
| 4 | Rhea Ripley | 4 | Bianca Belair | Pinfall | 12:45 | |
| 5 | Alexa Bliss | 5 | Bianca Belair | Pinfall | 15:45 | |
| Winner | Bianca Belair | 6 | ||||
Men's Elimination Chamber match[]
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Entered | Eliminated by | Method | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seth "Freakin" Rollins | 2 | Brock Lesnar | Pinfall | 9:50 | |
| 2 | Riddle | 3 | Brock Lesnar | Pinfall | 10:05 | |
| 3 | AJ Styles | 4 | Brock Lesnar | Pinfall | 11:00 | |
| 4 | Austin Theory | 1 | Brock Lesnar | Pinfall | 14:55 | |
| Winner | Brock Lesnar | 5 | ||||
Other on-screen talent[]
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Also See[]
- List of WWE pay-per-view events
- World Wrestling Entertainment/Event history
- Elimination Chamber
- Event gallery
DVD release[]
External links[]
Elimination Chamber 2022 Official Website
Elimination Chamber 2022 Kickoff Show on WWE Network
Elimination Chamber 2022 on WWE Network- Elimination Chamber 2022 Kickoff Show at CAGEMATCH.net
- Elimination Chamber 2022 at CAGEMATCH.net
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