Top Three Moments From WWE Elimination Chamber 2021

The Elimination Chamber left us with three big moments at the end of the show.

Depending on the year, the Elimination Chamber event can turn out to be a glorified filler show or an event that generates genuine excitement for the upcoming WrestleMania.

While it would be a stretch to imagine Elimination Chamber 2021 being mentioned in any year-end lists, the show accomplished its purpose of generating excitement for WrestleMania and threw some curveballs at the early WrestleMania 37 card predictions in the process.

What moments stood out at this year’s Elimination Chamber?

3. Bobby Lashley’s United States Championship reign comes to an end

The scheduled Triple Threat between Bobby Lashley, Keith Lee, and Matt Riddle had some adjustments as Lee was pulled from the match last minute due to injury, allowing John Morrison to enter the fray via a four-way kickoff show victory.

Morrison—who had gone right back played a complementary role to The Miz upon his return—got a rare opportunity to show that he deserves a spotlight of his own.

Since Lashley claimed his second United States Championship from Apollo Crews in August, the Chief Hurt Officer had obliterated every challenger and brought consistency to a title lacking in that department.

Having gone into Elimination Chamber with the longest reign since 2014 and still looking just as formidable as he has at any point in his career if not more, Lashley’s loss not only ended a dominant reign but foreshadowed that the former MMA fighter’s wrath would be felt.

2. Edge choosing Roman Reigns as his WrestleMania opponent

Despite the teases of Edge challenging for the WWE Championship or the NXT Championship, the 2021 Royal Rumble winner opting to go after Roman Reigns’ Universal Championship was the favorable outcome from the moment “The Rated R Superstar” threw Randy Orton over the top rope.

Over the last few weeks, Reigns’ paranoia was evident as he realized his chances of main eventing WrestleMania for a whopping fifth time in seven years depended squarely on Edge. Taking Edge’s indecisiveness as disrespect, Reigns concluded the last SmackDown spearing Edge and standing tall as champion heading into Elimination Chamber.

After making quick work of a fatigued Daniel Bryan, Roman Reigns was met with a Spear courtesy of Edge, officially confirming the WrestleMania 37 main event in the process.

A scenario that was medically improbable ten years ago can now become a reality as Edge seeks to cap off his remarkable return with a 12th World Championship in his first WrestleMania main event in 13 years.

1. The Miz cashes in on Drew McIntyre to win the WWE Championship

Having dispatched Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, Kofi Kingston, Sheamus, and AJ Styles, Drew McIntyre appeared to have punched his ticket to walk into WrestleMania as WWE Champion, leaving potentially only “The Celtic Warrior” as his final obstacle.

Bobby Lashley’s sudden presence seemed to hint at the former US Champion wanting another shot at McIntyre—possibly at Fastlane—before The Miz rushed to the ring with a referee and the Money in the Bank contract in tow.

A seemingly inconsequential backstage discussion between MVP and The Miz earlier in the night resulted in the latter successfully cashing in his Money in the Bank contract to win the WWE Championship, mirroring his eventful cash-in 11 years prior.

The Miz’s decision to withdraw from the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber match—fully aware of his golden ticket to the title and his dwindling cash-in window—has paid off.

With eight weeks left to go until The Show of Shows, The Miz is in a solid position—barring Drew McIntyre’s inevitable quest for revenge—to walk into Raymond James Stadium as WWE Champion.