WWE: 5 Missed Opportunities from the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match
By Everndran
Credit: WWE.com
2. An unpredictable format
The WWE creative team tried their respectable best to create tension between all the participants inside the Elimination Chamber and while that tension was developed through the endless stream of tag team matches and backstage segments, the company had weaved some intricate storylines that would’ve played out perfectly inside the punishing structure. WWE built up various narratives that looked like they had the same ending, but, if booked smartly they could’ve all had ambiguous conclusions.
As storylines such as Sasha Banks and Bayley’s building tension that was on the verge of implosion, the strength of Absolution’s alliance, and Alexa Bliss manipulating her way into the trust of Mickie James, could’ve all have been implemented in an unpredictable manner, instead of the standard route WWE eventually took. The unpredictable route would’ve turned the tables on those angles of unbreakable friendships, strong alliances and the stability of wavering trust.
An alternate scenario could’ve seen of both members of Absolution drawing the first two spots, Bayley fending off Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose but with a twist, or Alexa Bliss entering the match first instead of last. Those situations would have raised important questions, such as: would Absolution tear each other apart for championship gold or would they stay on the same page to destroy the rest of the fray? Would Sasha Banks help her supposed best friend or would she let Absolution destroy her to lessen the field? And finally, would Alexa Bliss fall to her cowardly ways or would she develop the heart of a champion and go the distance?
Instead of booking those thought-provoking scenarios, WWE laid the foundation for a predictable affair, as parts of the match that included Absolution’s dominance on a babyface, Sasha Banks coming out to even the odds and Alexa Bliss being the cowardly heel that came out last was all too predictable and disappointing. That is why it would’ve been a fresh change of pace if WWE explored many themes that weren’t touched on. That of partner vs partner, survival of the brave and trusting your supposed friend, would’ve all have been defined by the themes of betrayal, courage and disloyalty, which would’ve made for a narratively excellent match.