Elimination Chamber: World Heavyweight Champion Struck with HeartBreak

Chris Jericho's sixth chamber = sixth World Title; John Morrison's performance praised

Rey Mysterio, in his fourth World title attempt since returning from his suspension, hyped the Scottrade Center for the final Elimination Chamber match of the night. He willingly entered the first pod with hopes of walking out as the World Champion. Then came John Morrison, strutting down to the ring, entered the chamber and gazed at the magnificent structure, as if he were starring up at the Sistine Chapel. Chris Jericho's confidence on becoming the next World Champion was axiomatic; he followed suit by filling in the next pod. And finally, The Undertaker had the most unforgettable entrance of the night because instead of gliding down the ramp as he is most known for, he stormed into the chamber, filling the final pod. Was Undertaker anxious to start the match, or was there a more pressing matter?

C.M. Punk, accompanied by the Straightedge Society, methodically called out each entrant locked securely behind the plate glass capsules, advocating that these pods were symbolic of the imprisonment of their addictions. Then R-Truth, the final entrant, was skipping and jumping without neglecting a beat as he made his way towards the chamber. This being R-Truth's first shot at the World Title, one would assume that he would take things more seriously? In a way he did, when he started the match he continually Irish whipped Punk against the steel chained barrier of the chamber, followed by a Senton Bomb from off the top turnbuckle. However, R-Truth was unable to state his claim to fame as he was eliminated by C.M. Punk with a GTS.

C.M. Punk's self-righteous arrogance forced him back onto the mick and asked that everyone at home pledge to live a straightedge life; which was until Rey Mysterio, who has been on the end of many Straightedge Society attacks, exacted retribution by eliminating him at the 10 minute mark. Unlike the RAW Chamber match, where all 6 entrants were fighting before witnessing an elimination, the SmackDown competitors were eliminating threats one-at-a-time.

Rey Mysterio only had seconds to pull himself together before facing Chris Jericho. Many recall that these two had a standing rivalry during their days in WCW, but most recently, during the summer, these two, now primed main-eventers, grudged over the Intercontinental title and Mysterio' mask. Mysterio looked to get the upper hand by evading Jericho's lionsault, and setting up for the 619. However, Jericho rolled onto the steel grate, where no pinfalls can occur, and Mysterio launched himself past Jericho and unto the chamber wall. Mysterio resembled a fly on the wall, until Jericho slammed him back first unto the steel grate. Jericho continued to punish Mysterio with a Walls of Jericho in the center of the canvas.

Entering just seconds before Mysterio could tap out, John Morrison attacked both Jericho and Mysterio. Truly a match setting where it is every man for himself, Morrison and Mysterio would go back and forth. Morrison connected with a pele kick during a mid-air collision with Mysterio; and Mysterio returned the favor by pushing Morrison back-first into the pod. And much like John Morrison's Rockstar DVD ends with a win over Mysterio, JoMo evades a Hurricanrana and connects with Starship Pain for the elimination.

Lastly, The Undertaker emerged from the pod and dominated the remaining opponents. Battle tested, and the freshest man in the chamber, Taker viciously attacked Jericho, who tried hiding in one of the pods, with a series of punches and kicks. Undertaker, comfortable with his surroundings, reverted his attention to John Morrison, who mustered a flying chuck to the skull. Morrison should have gone for the cover but instead went for Starship Pain, which was countered with a double knee lift by the Undertaker.

Chris Jericho and John Morrison, having feuded before, found a common enemy with The Undertaker, and teamed up to evade a double chokeslam, and connect with a suplex. Chris Jericho, later on, would use the distraction from Morrison to drive Undertaker into the pod; yet, Morrison executed a flying chuck to Jericho - truces can only go so far.

John Morrison is no doubt a future World Champion, but emphasis on future, because after being knocked out with a clothesline over the steel grate, UT dragged Morrison into the ring to pin him for the 3-count. Morrison's performance should be praised as he fended off attacks from both Jericho and the Undertaker, not to mention having eliminated Rey Mysterio.

The final encounter between Jericho and Taker was it's own main event, as these two guys gave a stellar performance after a grueling match thus far. Pound for pound, Jericho willed out of a Last Ride and Hell's Gate, while Undertaker kicked out of a Code Breaker and the Walls of Jericho. Each implementing a finisher and a submission move a piece, neither could find the strength to capitalize. My heart was dead set on Jericho escaping the chamber with the strap in order for Edge and Jericho to have the epic encounter that only WrestleMania could contain. Yet, when all hope was lost, from out of the steel grate rose "The HeartBreak Kid" Shawn Michaels delivering some Sweet Chin Music to The Undertaker. Similar to the astonished look on Edge's face when Matt Hardy struck Jeff with a steel chair, Jericho pensively waited for the go ahead to go for the cover. In Jericho's sixth Elimination Chamber, he walks away with his sixth World Title.

A WWE Championship match between John Cena and Batista sounds horrible, so at least give the WWE Universe a match worth watching: World Heavyweight Champion, Chris Jericho versus Edge at WrestleMania.