WWE Elimination Chamber 2023: Asuka Becomes #1 Contender for Raw Women’s Title
The contender to challenge WWE RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Beliar will be decided inside the Elimination Chamber cage as Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Carmella, Asuka, Nikki Cross, and Natalya clash at WWE Elimination Chamber 2023.
Storyline
On the January 30 episode of WWE RAW, Adam Pearce revealed that the final four runner-ups of the women’s Royal Rumble match would participate in the women’s Elimination Chamber with an opportunity to challenge Bianca Belair at WWE WrestleMania 39.
As a result, Liv Morgan, Asuka, Raquel Rodriguez, and Nikki Cross were announced as the first four participants. Natalya and Carmella won their respective triple-threat qualifying matches in order to get a ticket to the unforgiving structure.
Live Updates
Liv Morgan and Natalya kick off the match inside the unforgiving structure. Natalya starts things off with a headlock. It is followed by back-and-forth and roll-over pin attempts from both sides. They soon take things outside and Liv Morgan continuously pushed Natalya to the chamber. The Queen of Harts returns the favor by sending Liv Morgan through the pod several times. The crowd chants “one more time” and Natalya does the same.
The pod opens and Raquel Rodriguez enters the match. She takes control of the match in no time and starts dominating Liv and Natalya. Raquel picks both women outside, but Natalya counters her with a sunset flip and sends her into the chamber. Liv and Natalya continue the fights inside, Raquel joins them and catches Liv, and Natalya hits neck breaker to Li which becomes a code breaker for Raquel.
Nikki Cross is the second one to enter the match from the pod. She starts dominating the chamber match and sends Liv Morgan face-first into the pod before banging Natalya and Raquel into the chamber. Nikki Cross climbs to Carmella’s pod and jumps off on all three women.
Carmella is the next one to enter the match, and she tries to pin Liv and Natalya as soon as she enters. Nikki goes after her and she locks herself into her pod. Raquel Rodriguez picks up Nikki and breaks the pod. Carmella shifts herself into another pod. Raquel takes the cover and eliminated Nikki Cross.
Liv Morgan hits the code breaker from the second rope to Raquel, and then they start fighting outside. Raquel is on the second rope whereas Liv climbs to the top of the pod and hits Raquel with the sunset flip. Carmella tries to cover but Raquel kicks off.
Asuka finally enters the match, and she starts punishing Carmella. Asuka and Raquel face off before the latter takes her down with a shoulder tackle. Liv Morgan joins and takes down Asuka with a missile drop kick. Natalya puts Liv Morgan in the sharpshooter and Asuka puts on her submission as well. Liv fades out and the referee declares Liv to be eliminated.
Natalya puts Asuka in the sharpshooter, but Carmella attacks her from behind and eliminates Natalya. Carmella and Asuka work together and hits Raquel with several kicks before both of them cover and eliminate Raquel.
Asuka and Carmella are the final two inside the chamber. Both have a back-and-forth and several roll-up pin attempts before Asuka manages to put on the Asuka lock and eliminates Carmella.
Asuka wins the Women’s Elimination Chamber match and is going to WrestleMania to face Bianca Belair for the Raw women’s title.
Seems Triple H is finally pushing Asuka and I hope he puts her over the long reigning EST at WM 39! Having won the EC, all that is missing from her impressive resume is winning a title match at WM! Hard to believe but according to former WWE Creative writer Freddie Prinze, Jr., Vince held a cultural bias against his Asian superstars, and sure enough, Asuka has lost all 3 of her previous WM title matches?? Now is the time for the returning Kana version of Asuka to dethrone the EST and finally taste the glory of winning a title match at the biggest event of the year!! It’s been far too long and she deserves it!!