Feb. 20 (UPI) — The seven competitors from Sunday’s upcoming Elimination Chamber Match met in a Gauntlet Match Monday night on Raw that began with Shield brothers Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns.
The rules of the Gauntlet Match, which took up nearly the entire broadcast of Raw, involved two Superstars competing until one was defeated with the winner moving on to challenge another opponent until all seven had entered.
Rollins and Reigns held nothing back against each other despite their friendship and gave the match their all. The Big Dog nearly won the opening round when he caught Rollins mid-air with a Superman Punch, but it wasn’t enough.
Reigns, who later had his Spear stopped by Rollins, was defeated by The Architect following a series of roll-up pin attempts by both men. Reigns smiled after he held been held down for the three count as his fellow Shield member moved on to face Cena.
The match between Cena and Rollins featured The Kingslayer pulling out all the stops against the 16-time World Champion including using Cena’s own move, the STF, to try and gain victory.
Rollins, not wanting to quit, put it all on the line and continued to use Cena’s moves when he delivered an Attitude Adjustment of his own for a close two count.
After a failed Phoenix Splash, Cena delivered an Attitude Adjustment, but instead of going for the pin, he rolled Rollins up for a second Attitude Adjustment that was reversed. This left Cena open for the Curb Stomp which Rollins nailed for the victory.
In round three, Elias rushed to the ring to try and quickly defeat a battered and exhausted Rollins who still wouldn’t quit. Elias ended Rollins’ impressive run, however, by using his Drift Away for the three count.
Finn Balor then took on Elias and defeated the guitar player by attacking his injured ribs with a Coup de Grace for the victory. Next up was Intercontinental Champion The Miz who won with The Skull-Crushing Finale with help from his Miztourage, leaving the A-lister to face Braun Strowman in the final round.
The Miz, despite his best efforts against The Monster Among Men, was no match for the towering giant and was defeated with a Running Powerslam. Strowman then called out Universal Champion Brock Lesnar and promised he would win the Elimination Chamber Match to meet The Beast at WrestleMania. Strowman then handed out Running Powerslams to the Miztourage.
Reigns, Rollins, Cena, Elias, Balor, The Miz and Strowman was face each other Sunday in the first-ever seven man Elimination Chamber Match to decide who will face Lesnar for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania.
Also on Raw, Nia Jax attacked Asuka; Titus Worldwide defeated Raw Tag Team Champions Sheamus and Cesaro in a non-title match; and Sasha Banks, Bayley and Mickie James defeated Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss, Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose.
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