You didn't see it (pun intended) coming and it was absolutely awesome.
People will remember the John Cena heel turn at Elimination Chamber 2025 for the next 20+ years. Like the Hogan heel turn in 1996 to form the NWO, while it's right up there it's not quite there but regardless, this was a generational heel turn for the ages and it can't be understated.
And now it's all gas and no brakes on that long road to Wrestlemania for Triple-H and WWE.
When pro wrestling hits just right there is nothing like it and shows like last night at Elimination Chamber is the prime example of that. It wasn't just Cena's heel turn, even though the biggest part, but the whole night just hit it out of the park. I can't even bring myself to hate on the Trish/Tiffy tag match other than it just didn't even belong on the show but we'll get there in a sec. The Women's Chamber match was way better than I expected it was going to be. KO and Sami Zayn beat the ever loving shit out of each other. Then Men's Chamber match gave us a Punk/Cena moment or 2, and a surprisingly early exit of rumored favorite Drew McIntyre.
But enough of the long-winded crap .. let's get into this recap.
Before anything even happened once all the ladies got into the chamber Jade Cargill made her return to fake out Liv Morgan and DESTROY Naomi and send her out of the match on a stretcher.
It was the BEST Jade has looked while with WWE and it's the exact way she should be presented going forward. It looks like her and Naomi will have a match at Mania. The segment was great and set the tone for the rest of the night.
The match itself was really good and all the ladies involved worked their asses off. Liv Morgan basically carried the match working with everyone. I was expecting a clunky match but that was not the case. It was surprisingly physical, hard-hitting with really good spots from Alexa Bliss hitting the Twisted Bliss and Sister Abigail, Bianca whipping Liv with her pony tail on top of the pod then diving off the pod.
Belair was really the only choice here because it was hard to think WWE would run it back with Ripley going against Liv. Rhea vs Bianca is the biggest and best match they have left as far as the women's division is concerned. Iyo Sky might make it a triple threat but they've been slightly teasing Rhea/Bianca for a couple years now and never got there. So it looks like they're going with it this year and I'm here for it.
Good stuff by all in this match.
And then we got the "Go get snacks & Bathroom Break" match ....
I'm not gonna spend any energy breaking this down.
It was a good house show match that really made no sense on this show other than showcasing Trish Stratus in Toronto with her kids watching, which is cool for her and her family, but WTF are we doing here then? Even Charlotte Flair showing up at the end to confront Tiffany Stratton in some way would at least give a good reason for it happening ... but nope.
Moving on
Then we got to the good shit. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn beat the holy hell out of each other and it was glorious. I've seen these 2 do this in NXT and multiple times on the main roster on major ppv's or even on Raw and Smackdown. Many have seen them do this on Ring of Honor and possibly even further back on the indies. Somehow, someway, people do not get tired of these two being the best frenemies pro wrestling has ever seen.
KO and Sami Zayn were meant to do this forever and they know it and they are able to turn up their rivalry to another level every single time and this was no different. Tables, table stacked on top of another table hockey sticks, throwing each other through steel chairs, barbed wire wrapped steel chair. Then it's just two dudes beating the ever loving shit out of each other because this is what they do!
They hooked everyone with the fact that the match isn't going to end until one of them ends their career and even that won't finish things between them. Owens got the win it wasn't good enough for him.
My only minor gripe is in all of this anything goes unsanctioned fight there was no blood. I know the reason why and I get it but it would have put this match on another level if it did. But it's not a big deal because they're probably saving that for another match down the line.
This match was great and met expectations. This will be added into their montage of matches when they are inducted into the Hall of Fame together.
The aftermath was great with a returning Randy Orton getting a piece of KO only to be stopped by security. Why was security able to stop this but no Owens when he was bouncing Sami off the ring apron??? We'll just let that go because we got Orton just RKOing everyone he could get his hands on.
Main Event into the Main Event
As far as matches are concerned, I'd be willing to say the Women's Chamber was better than the Men's other than the ending sequence. But this Men's match had the better storytelling.
Going in we knew Damian Priest and Logan Paul were there to eat pinfalls. I figured somehow this was going to set up CM Punk and Seth Rollins for Wrestlemania.
After that I didn't know what was going to happen with Drew McIntyre or John Cena, who were the only 2 you kept hearing might come away with the win. Even then I had my doubts about Drew winning because he just doesn't win anymore and how do you sell that as a main event at Mania.
I loved A LOT about this match, Rollins outfit not being any part of that.
Drew being the first to get eliminated threw me off especially because I had figured he would have been Rock's guy by the end of the night ... boy was I WRONG LOL.
John Cena turning back the clock and looking great.
Then Cena and Punk in the ring ... coming to you at SummerSlam this year. BOOK IT!
Cena and Punk actually teaming up to do the Hart Foundation's finisher the Hart Attack popped me, but then they teamed up to put Rollins away with a GTS into an AA.
Then it comes down to CM Punk and John Cena. Everyone focused on these 2 people were going nuts for it, Cena goes in for another handshake only for Punk to hoist Cena up to hit him with a GTS and Cena kicks out at 2. Cena hits Punk with an AA but then Punk kicks out at 2. Then Cena tries to put Punk in an STF but Punk pulls away, stumbles into the ropes, tries to get back up ... then GETS STOMPED by Rollins who never left the chamber and everyone forgot he was there!
Cena uncharacteristically, but you ignore it because you know he desperately needs to win, does not hesitate to grab Punk and put him in the STF and Punk passes out.
John Cena wins the chamber match and is going on to face Cody Rhodes at Wrestlemania 41 to win a 17th World Championship. That would be good enough for people to get into.
Babyfaces being stupid Babyfaces LOL
Cena celebrates and that brings out Cody Rhodes, which you think this is your standard Mania stare down for future promotional use and then we'll go into Rock coming out.
Rock comes out with ... check's notes ... Travis Scott
They get in the ring and I did a screencap and I quickly said "Quite The Scene". Not really thinking too much into it.
Then Cody tells Rock to "go fuck yourself" which pops Cena but then everyone kind of stands around, Cena then daps up (is it dap up or daps up?) Cody gives him a hug. The camera zooms in on Cena's face and then the "oh shit" moment in my head happens. Rock gives a throat slash and then boom! Kick to the balls and a beatdown happens.
Whoever pulled the trigger on this to happen needs to be given massive love. HHH, Rock, Cena, Cody, producers, the camera guy zooming in on Cena's face! Take a damn bow.
Amazing stuff. Truly amazing stuff.
This is the shit you love about pro wrestling. Things like this.
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