The following is Jason Powell's "Live Coverage" review of the February 17, 2008 WWE No Way Out pay-per-view. Check back on Sunday night for Chris Shore's live coverage review of the 2014 WWE Elimination Chamber pay-per-view beginning with the Kickoff show at 6:30 p.m. CT. Dot Net Members can look forward to an exclusive audio review after the show on Sunday night. Become a Dot Net Member today by signing up via the Dot Net Members' Signup Page.

Aired live on pay-per-view
Las Vegas, Nevada

A video hyped the Elimination Chamber and the pay-per-view as the Road to WrestleMania... A graphic noted that the show is available in HD. Well, unless you have Comcast, I guess. Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler introduced the show... Joey Styles and Tazz took over on commentary and a video recapped the Chavo Guerrero vs. C.M. Punk feud. During the video, Tazz could be heard talking live briefly...

1. Chavo Guerrero defeated C.M. Punk at 7:14 to retain the ECW Title.Punk opened the match with a high kick to Chavo’s head. The live crowd was hot for Punk’s offense early on, but they didn’t buy it when Punk set up Chavo the GTS around 4:00. Chavo slipped out and had a momentary burst of offense. Punk took control and performed the dance that Eddie Guerrero used to do. He tried to follow up with the Three Amigos suplexes. A large segment of the crowd booed Punk for using those moves. Later, Punk went for a huracarana off the top rope, but Chavo held the ropes and Punk crashed to the mat. Chavo followed up with a Frogsplash for the win. The live crowd was split in cheers and boos over the finish...

Powell’s POV: The live crowd wasn’t noticeably anti-Punk before he used Eddie’s moves. They booed in direct response to him dancing and performing the Three Amigos. Good for them.

Michael Cole and Jonathan Coachman discussed the Edge vs. Rey Mysterio feud at ringside... Backstage, Mike Adamle asked Mysterio about crashing into Vickie on Smackdown. He said he would not apologize again. Adamle asked him about working with a torn biceps injury. Rey held up his right arm and showed off the bruises. Moments later, Rey used the same arm to high-five Floyd Mayweather when he walked onto the scene. Adamle wished Rey the best of luck as he walked off camera with Mayweather...

Powell’s POV: Adamle is horrible. His hand gestures are awkward and his questioning of Rey (not to mention wishing him the best of luck) was really forced.

2. Undertaker defeated Batista and MVP and Big Daddy V (w/Matt Striker) and Finlay and Great Khali (Runjin Singh) at 29:28. The announcers claimed the glass used for the pods is bullet proof. Tell that to Goldberg! Coach established that the last man in the match has a huge advantage. Batista and Undertaker opened the match while the other wrestlers were in their pods. The crowd didn’t really pop for the showdown because the introduction order gave away which two wrestlers would start the match, so they knew it would be Taker vs. Batista when Finlay was introduced.

Taker and Batista performed simultaneous kicks to the head and knocked each other to the mat just before it was time for the next man to enter. Big Daddy V’s door opened and he entered the match. At 7:30, V headbutted Taker, who stumbled backwards into the door, which opened, causing Taker to stumble to the floor in what appeared to be an accident. Taker was slow to get up, but he made it back inside the ring. Later, Taker DDT’d V on the steel section of the chamber. Batista covered V and got the pin at 9:09.

Enter Khali, who was taunted with loud “You can’t wrestle” chants from the crowd. He performed a double-armed chokeslam on Taker for a nearfall. Khali got some offense in, but Taker locked him in his new submission hold and caused him to tap around 12:30. Khali bled from the mouth.

Finlay entered the match at 14:30. At 18:00, Finlay rammed Taker into the bulletproof glass and it broke in what was probably another unplanned spot. Let’s hope WWE planned ahead by bringing more “bulletproof class” in the back. A minute later, MVP was supposed to enter the match. Taker waited at the door and MVP held it shut. Taker eventually got to MVP. However, MVP bloodied Taker by wrapping the chain he wears around his neck and striking Taker with it repeatedly.

Taker kept coming at MVP, who eventually ran away and climbed to the top of one of the pods. Taker reached up, grabbed him by the arm, and flipped him to the mat. Finlay pinned MVP at 22:30. One minute later, Hornswoggle poked his head through the ring and the steel grating. He handed Finlay a shillelagh, which Finlay beat Batista with. Batista bled. Taker chokeslammed Finlay onto the steel grating in a nasty looking spot and scored the pin, leaving Taker and Batista as the last two entrants.

Taker and Batista traded punches. The crowd cheered whenever Taker swung and booed when Batista threw punches. Late in the match, Batista speared Taker into the wall of chains. He tried again, but Taker blocked it. They tumbled over the top rope and back into the ring. Taker ended up on his feet and Tombstoned Batista for the win. Cool finish. Afterward, Taker pointed to the WrestleMania 24 sign...

Powell’s POV: A well-booked match. Khali and Big Daddy V came in and performed their offense and made quick exits. They never really brought the match down. This was not Taker’s night. First, the door opened and then he went through the glass. The live crowd’s reaction to Punk (when he used Eddie’s moves), Khali, and Batista means it’s probably going to be a long night for John Cena.

Backstage, Teddy Long entered Edge’s dressing room and informed him that Zach Ryder and Curt Hawkins were banned from ringside... The WrestleMania commercial with Mae Young aired... Highlights aired of Maria and Ashley appearing at the Playboy Mansion and meeting Hugh Hefner...

3. Ric Flair defeated Mr. Kennedy via submission at 7:13. Before the match, Kennedy stood on the stage and waited a few seconds for a mic to drop. He said fans were about to witness history and did his standard introduction. A shot aired of Floyd Mayweather cheering for Flair during his entrance. Kennedy worked over the knee from the beginning. At 3:30, he locked in a figure-four around the ring post. Ross said he hasn’t seen that move since Bret Hart performed it. Back inside the ring, Kennedy locked Flair in a figure-four and slapped him. Flair made the ropes. Flair came back and worked over Kennedy’s knee briefly. Eventually, he locked in the figure-four for the win. After the match, Flair took the mic and named himself the winner. In the process, he stated that he’ll never retire.

Powell’s POV: The live crowd never thought Flair’s career was in jeopardy. They didn’t buy into Kennedy’s nearfalls. The finish went over well, though.

Backstage, Finlay was lying on a trainer’s table. Vince entered the room and told him that the pain he was feeling from eating the steel was nothing compared to the pain Hornswoggle would feel on Monday night... A video recapped the Edge vs. Mysterio feud...

4. Edge defeated Rey Mysterio at 5:26 to retain the World Hvt. Title. Mysterio had a red protective wrap around his injured biceps. Cole referred to him as a “conquistador and a warrior.” Rey was one of the Conquistadors? They looked so much bigger back in those days. Edge smiled and mocked Rey’s injury to start the match. Rey performed a huracarana and grimaced afterward. “You have to wonder if Rey has ever competed with a torn biceps before,” Coach asked. What?!? At 4:00, Rey moonsaulted off the top onto Edge, who was standing at the time. Rey protected his arm by holding it near his chest. Later, Rey hit the 619, but he came up holding his arm. He tried to springboard off the ropes, but Edge speared him and scored the pin.

After the match, trainers tended to Mysterio at ringside. Big Show’s music played and he walked to the ring. He opened his jacket and showed off how much weight he lost. Show said it’s only a matter of time before he becomes a champion. “I’m out here to let you know that I’ve lost 108 lbs.,” he said. “I’m faster, I’m meaner, and I’m happy to be back in the WWE.” He climbed over the top rope and grabbed Rey by the throat at ringside. He looked at Mayweather and asked if he wanted to help Mysterio. Mayweather remained seated and shook his head in disgust.

Show dragged Rey into the ring by the throat. Mayweather stood up at ringside and had to be restrained by his entourage. Show picked up Rey for the chokeslam. Mayweather broke free and entered the ring. Show released Rey and had a staredown with Mayweather. Eventually, Show shoved Mayweather back into his entourage. Show knelt down on one knee to mock the boxer. Mayweather responded by throwing four or five punches at Show and ran out of the ring and into the crowd. Show bled from the mouth and nose. He chased Mayweather to ringside. Shane McMahon came out and stopped Show. They walked up the ramp together. Replays showed a couple of Mayweather’s punches connected...

Powell’s POV: Wow, great angle! Good performance by Rey despite his injury and the hottest angle I’ve seen in quite a while with Show and Mayweather. I’m assuming Show told Mayweather to tag him with a couple of legitimate punches to make it look good and it certainly did. Tremendous. That will garner some mainstream attention.

A video recapped the Randy Orton vs. John Cena feud...

5. John Cena defeated Randy Orton by DQ in 16:00. This won’t be such a tough night for Cena. The crowd was split 50/50 and both sides were very passionate. At 9:21, Cena stopped and pointed at the WrestleMania sign before connecting with the Five Knuckle Shuffle. He set up for the FU, but Orton slipped and and headed to ringside. They brawled there until the count of nine and then both men darted back inside the ring just in time. At 12:45, Orton went for the RKO, but Cena slipped out and caught him in the FU. Orton struggled and eventually reached the ropes in a good spot.

Orton headed to ringside and feigned a knee injury. He begged the referee to count him out. Cena went after Orton, but walked into an RKO. Orton rolled back in the ring. The ref counted to nine and Cena made it back just in time. Orton slapped the referee across the face and the ref called for the DQ. Afterward, Cena FU’d Orton and locked him in the STFU. Orton tapped repeatedly. He eventually passed out and Cena released the hold. A small group of Orton fans taunted Cena with the “Goodbye” song. Plenty of boos after the match. Lawler called it a cowardly act.

Powell’s POV: The finish drew a huge pop with my viewing party. Hilarious. They can always put the title on Cena sometime between now and WrestleMania if they want to. Either way, Cena not winning adds a little more mystery to the Elimination Chamber main event. Of course, someone needs to explain why Orton didn’t save himself time and abuse by getting himself counted out the first time around. Either way, I like the finish and expect a Raw rematch.

Shawn Michaels entered Triple H’s dressing room. They agreed it would be every man for himself...

6. Triple H defeated Jeff Hardy and Shawn Michaels and Umaga and JBL and Chris Jericho at 23:55 in an Elimination Chamber match. The order of ring entrances went Triple H, Umaga, JBL, Hardy, Jericho, and Michaels. HBK was one of the first two entrants in the Rumble and now he has to start the Elimination Chamber. The crowd was really flat for the opening round of the match with HBK and Y2J. Michaels went for a top rope elbow at 2:40, but Jericho lifted his knees. Jericho went for the Lionsault. Michaels lifted his knees, but Jericho dodged them by landing on his feet. Cool spot.

Enter Umaga, who woke up the crowd with a double Samoan Drop on Jericho and Michaels. “I’ve never seen that before in my life,” Ross exclaimed. At 8:30, Jericho caught Umaga in the Liontamer. HBK jumped in and locked Umaga in a crossface (no boos unlike earlier in the match when he went for the Sharpshooter).

Enter JBL, who immediately went after Jericho. Nothing too impressive before the countdown clock reached zero again.

Enter Triple H, who beat up all four of his opponents and scored a nearfall on JBL. Jericho took advantage of Hunter momentarily and went for the Lionsault, but Triple H moved. Hunter set him up for the Pedigree, but JBL caught him with a Clothesline from Hell. Moments later, Jericho hit the Codebreaker on JBL and pinned him at 13:45. JBL left the chamber and returned with two chairs. He hit all four of his opponents with chairshots to the head. JBL left the ring, but let a chair lying in one of the corners.

Enter Hardy. Michaels was a bloody mess at this point. We’re talking old school, cover of The Wrestler magazine bloody. With Jericho lying with his back against one of the pods, Umaga charged at him and slammed his backside into Jericho and through the “bulletproof glass.” Back in the ring, the babyfaces took turns hitting their finishers on Umaga. It concluded with Hardy hitting the Swanton off the top of the pod and Jericho covering Umaga for the win. Twenty seconds later, Hardy hit the Twist of Fate on Jericho for the win. At 20:26, Triple H used the Pedigree to pin HBK.

It came down to Triple H vs. Hardy. Jeff rammed Hunter’s head into the chains four or five times. He dove at Hunter off the top rope, but Hunter kicked him in the gut and set up for the Pedigree. Jeff broke free. However, Triple H caught him in the ring with the Pedigree around 23:00. Hardy kicked out. Moments later, Triple H set up Hardy for the Pedigree on the chair that JBL left in the ring. However, Hardy low-blowed Hunter. He went for the Swanton, but Triple H pushed him off and Hardy landed on the chair. Hunter connected with a Pedigree on the chair for the win.

Powell’s POV: The match had some dull moments early on, but it really picked up once Hardy entered the ring.

RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE: