The opening video package reminded us what led to Randy Orton vs. Shane McMahon, JBL vs. Shawn Michaels, and the Elimination Chamber matches for the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships.
This is the opening match for No Way Out 2009, and the first participant on his way out to the Chamber is Undertaker. Big Show follows him, then Vladimir Kozlov (undefeated in singles competition at this point) Triple H is next and he spurs his water at Big Show’s pod. Angering a giant doesn’t seem like a great strategy, but Triple H has been in more Elimination Chamber matches than me so who knows? Jeff Hardy and Edge complete the set in that order, and they start the match. Fourteen minutes into the broadcast.
Jim Ross and Tazz are on commentary for this match, and our ring announcer is Justin Roberts.
EDGE © VS. UNDERTAKER VS. JEFF HARDY
VS. VLADIMIR KOZLOV VS. TRIPLE H VS. BIG SHOW
(WWE Championship Elimination Chamber
WWE No Way Out 2009 (15th February 2009)
Edge and Jeff Hardy start the match, which is convenient because they’re feuding currently. Jeff Hardy’s rematch clause is also being used in this match, as he lost the WWE Championship the previous month at Royal Rumble (thanks to a chairshot from Matt Hardy. Brotherly love…)
Jeff Hardy goes straight after Edge, knocking him back into the corner. Hardy sends Edge off the ropes into a forearm before a pair of clotheslines. Edge reverses an irish whip and knocks Jeff down with a big boot. The fans chant for Jeff Hardy as Edge covers for 2. A stiff right hand knocks Jeff down, Edge chokes Jeff across the middle rope before a running body press forces Jeff into the rope and down to the mat for 2. Edge sends Jeff Hardy into the turnbuckle in front of Big Show. Jeff Hardy is sent across the ring, but Edge runs into a headscissors, Jeff hits an inverted atomic drop and trips Edge. A leg drop to the “lower abdomen” is followed by a basement dropkick to a seated Edge. They counter each other’s finishers. Jeff Hardy hits the Twist of Fate, but Edge avoids the Swanton Bomb. Edge sets up for the Spear, but he gets caught in a small package for 3! Edge is the first person eliminated, and they play the shock to kill time. Charles Robinson is the referee in this match, whilst I get a chance to mention it. We’re guaranteed a new champion as Vladimir Kozlov joins the match and readjusts Jeff Hardy’s jaw with a big boot. It seems more natural when he does it, compared to Edge. Vladimir Kozlov throws Hardy into the corner and goes to town. Jeff gets his knees up on a shoulder thrust and dropkicks Kozlov in the knee. Vladimir Kozlov cuts off an attack from the middle rope.
Jeff Hardy rolls out to the chamber floor, but Kozlov sends him into the chains. We see a replay of the battering ram that hit Jeff Hardy in mid-air, and Kozlov picks up Jeff, running him into the chain link side of the chamber. Jeff gets sent into the ring, and Kozlov covers for 2. Vladimir Kozlov connects with right hands on the mat and places Jeff across the top turnbuckle for some headbutts to the kidney. Why the hell not? Vladimir Kozlov lines up Jeff for a running boot, and that’s impressive flexibility. Jeff Hardy is sent across the ring with a fallaway slam, and he kicks out at 2. Vladimir Kozlov hits a backbreaker for 2 before more mounted punches. Kozlov gets a waistlock on the mat, which gives us a chance to see a replay of the backbreaker. Jeff Hardy is able to get to his feet and break the hold with right hands, but he runs into a brick wall in Kozlov. I’m starting to wonder when the next guy is going to come in as Kozlov hits an elbow drop. Jeff Hardy slips out the back of a running powerslam, and he dropkicks Kozlov into the middle turnbuckle. Jeff Hardy hits the running dropkick in the corner to a seated Kozlov. Jeff Hardy takes a breather before covering, and he gets 2. Vladimir Kozlov plants his feet on the irish whip attempt and sends Jeff Hardy into the corner. Jeff is able to climb the turnbuckles and hit the Whisper in the Wind and Big Show enters the match. Apparently, the 5-minute period restarted at Edge’s elimination.
Big Show connects with a body shot to Jeff Hardy in the corner before throwing him across the ring. Big Show steps over Jeff Hardy and connects with a headbutt. Jeff is knocked into Vladimir Kozlov, who had been resting in the corner. Kozlov headbutts Jeff in the sternum. Big Show hits Jeff in the midsection, and Kozlov follows with a knee. They’re trying to one-up each other, using Jeff as a target. Commentary catches on at the same time as I do, Big Show slams Jeff, and Kozlov follows suit. Jeff Hardy is brought back to his feet by Big Show, and he starts to fight back. Jeff Hardy breaks free from Big Show’s grasp and knocks Kozlov back into the corner. Big Show knocks Hardy down with a headbutt. Kozlov hits an elbow drop, Big Show connects with an overhand chop to Hardy’s chest as JR says Big Show hasn’t left his feet yet. Vladimir Kozlov and Big Show stare eachother down before Big Show throws Jeff into the corner. Vladimir Kozlov is still staring a hole into Big Show as Show connects with another overhand chop on Hardy. Big Show turns around into a running shoulder tackle from Kozlov. Big Show gets to his feet and they lock up Big Show sends Kozlov back, and they exchange strikes. This was at the point where Big Show was afraid to hit people in the face because he broke Floyd Mayweather’s nose, but he still got the better of Kozlov.
Vladimir Kozlov blocks a suplex but is backed into the turnbuckles as the countdown to entrant #5 begins. Vladimir Kozlov dodges a running splash and connects with shoulder thrusts. Big Show plants his feet and counters the irish whip, knocking Kozlov down with a terrible clothesline as Triple H enters the match. Triple H ducks a right hand from Big Show and connects with some of his own. Big Show sends Triple H into the ropes but gets caught with the facebuster on Triple H’s knee. Triple H ducks a clothesline from Kozlov and hits the “Harley Race High Knee” as JR used to call it. I haven’t seen many Harley matches, but I don’t think I’ve seen him use that move. Triple H goes back to Big Show in the corner, Big Show uses his weight advantage to send Triple H into the corner but the running splash hits the turnbuckles again. Triple H hits the Spinebuster! Jeff Hardy has woken up but his Twist of Fate is countered, Triple H knocks Jeff down with a clothesline. Vladimir Kozlov charges at Triple H but gets low-bridged. Triple H follows Kozlov out of the ring but Kozlov blocks the chain-link chamber. Vladimir Kozlov runs into the support beam for one of the pods, and Triple H thinks he has an opportunity to hit the Pedigree. Big Show grabs Triple H’s hair, which is as extreme as you can expect and Elimination Chamber to be in the PG Era. Big Show brings Triple H back into the ring with an overhand chop, and neither Jim Ross nor I is sure how good a strategy that is in this match, even for Big Show.
Vladimir Kozlov crawls back into the ring and targets Jeff Hardy as Big Show keeps Triple H in the corner. Big Show sends Triple H into the ropes, but he connects with a knee lift on Big Show. Big Show catches Triple H in a sidewalk slam as Kozlov connects with right hands on Hardy in the corner. Big Show covers for 2 as Undertaker gets impatient in his pod. Triple H tries to fight back in the corner, but Big Show connects with an overhand chop. Jeff Hardy seems to have no fight in him right now. The crowd chants for Undertaker as Triple H counters a Chokeslam and connects with right hands. Triple H hits the ropes but gets lifted over Big Show’s head and slammed to the mat. That’s at least 12 feet in WWE measurements. Big Show headbutts Triple H, and he staggers out of the ring. Jeff Hardy swings the momentum back his way in the background as Triple H meets the side of the chamber. Jeff Hardy goes high risk, but he lands in Big Show’s arms. Big Show plants Jeff next to Triple H, but they both move out of the way of the running splash. That move really isn’t working for Big Show tonight. Triple H and Jeff Hardy crawl back into the ring, they both duck a clothesline from Kozlov, and they hit a double suplex on him. Jeff Hardy hits the Whisper in the Wind on Triple H as we begin the 10-second countdown to Undertaker entering the match.
Undertaker charges at Big Show, attacking with lefts and rights on his way to the ring. Kozlov eats some shots from ‘Taker too before being sent into the corner. Undertaker hits a rough-looking Snake Eyes on Kozlov, but the running Big Boot goes without a hitch. Undertaker hits a running clothesline in the corner on Triple H and Jeff Hardy, goozles them both and allows Vladimir Kozlov to run into a Big Boot. Big Show is pissed off that Undertaker can hit something in the corner and he interrupts the double Chokeslam attempt. Undertaker is sent off the ropes by Big Show, but he ducks the clothesline and hits his jumping variation. Undertaker sits up for the pop. Undertaker softens up Triple H’s shoulder and climbs the ropes for the Old School, but he jumps into Big Show and hits a DDT on the Chamber floor. Undertaker hits the Old School on Triple H now there’s no distraction on the outside, and follows up with a Big Boot to Jeff Hardy. Vladimir Kozlov knocks Undertaker down and connects with bodyshots and shoulder blocks in the corner. Kozlov climbs to the middle rope and connects with right hands and elbows to Undertaker, but he gets eliminated with the Last Ride out of the corner for 3.
Big Show Chokeslams the Undertaker, but he has nothing left to capitalise. Triple H attempts a Pedigree but is sent over the top to the steel floor. Just as Triple H makes it back to his feet, Big Show launches Jeff Hardy at him, but Jeff lands high on the cross body. Big Show exits the ring and sends Triple H into the chains. Jeff Hardy climbs to the middle rope. Big Show tries to send him into the side of the chamber, but Jeff catches himself and gets to the roof of a pod. Big Show gets in the pod and pulls Jeff Ankle through the gaps in the chains. Big Show makes his way to the middle rope to keep up the pressure on Jeff Hardy. Undertaker breaks up the party and superplexes Big Show. That’s 700lbs from the corner to the middle of the canvas. Triple H hits a Pedigree on Big Show, Jeff Hardy makes it to his feet and hits the Swanton Bomb from the top of the pod. Triple H covers Big Show for 3. Triple H connects with right hands to Undertaker in the corner, Undertaker switches with Triple H in the corner and connects with his combination of punches before sending Triple H into the turnbuckle and out to the chamber floor. Undertaker tries the Old School on Jeff Hardy, but Triple H hits the rope to cut him off.
Jeff Hardy jumps off of Undertaker’s back into Triple H, like a reluctant Poetry in Motion. Undertaker lifts Jeff Hardy back into the ring and hits the Tombstone Piledriver for 3. Either Triple H or Undertaker will leave this match as the WWE Champion as we see a replay of the Tombstone. Triple H and Undertaker face off. Triple H runs into a Big Boot. Undertaker goes back to strikes in the corner, taking his time as if it’s his entrance. Undertaker misses a running boot and goes over the top to the floor. Triple H send Undertaker into the side of the chamber and climbs to the top rope, as Undertaker crawls into the ring. Triple H lands in the goozle and is Chokeslammed for 2. Undertaker sends Triple H into the corner but runs into his boot. Undertaker hits the Snake Eyes but runs into a Spinebuster. Triple H cover,s but Undertaker kicks out at 2. Undertaker drags Triple H out of the ring but gets sent into the chains. Undertaker trips Triple H on the Pedigree and catapults him into the chains. Undertaker lifts Triple H onto his shoulder, Triple H shifts his weight as they lean back in the ring and they counter Tombstone attempts until Undertaker hits one. 1, 2, Triple H gets his foot on the bottom rope at 2.9! We get a replay because the crowd counted 3, and it was close. Triple H hits the Pedigree, Undertaker’s turn to kick out at 2.999. Triple H and Undertaker exchange right hands, Triple H gets knocked down but reverses the irish whip.
Triple H connects with mounted right hands in the corner. Undertaker walks him out for the Last Ride, but Triple H is able to slip out of it. Triple H hits the Pedigree for the 3 and wins the WWE Championship.
WINNER: TRIPLE H (NEW WWE Champion)
This was a decent Elimination Chamber. The shock early-exit of the champion did limit the likely winners, but they were able to keep the suspense throughout the match. Vladimir Kozlov did give us a couple of rough moments, but it wasn’t anything too drastic and he looked dominant for a good portion of the match. [***1/2] 7/10
After the match, Edge complains to Vicki Guerrero backstage about his elimination, but Vickie says it’s his fault and he lost. She apologises immediately, but it’s difficult not to agree with her.
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