10 Relatively Unheralded Matches Worth A WWE Network Revisit

8. Daniel Bryan Vs. Cody Rhodes Vs. The Big Show Vs. The Great Khali Vs. Wade Barrett Vs. Santino Marella - WWE Elimination Chamber 2012

Sabu Rey Mysterio ECW one Night Stand 2006
WWE.com

The relatively weak field meant this match didn't have a chance to reach the heights set by its genre predecessors - but what it lacks in dynamism is ably equalised with a strong and consistent narrative through-line.

It doesn't start off particularly well - it's stymied by the odd choice to have Wade Barrett and The Big Show kick things off in plodding fashion - but the arrival of Cody Rhodes, who willingly takes reckless bumps into the steel, raises the pulse. Big Show then threatens Bryan from outside of his pod, promising to seek revenge for the theft of his World Heavyweight title a couple of months prior.

The Great Khali gets his two moves of doom in before thankfully being swiftly eliminated, at which point Show rips the chained roof of Bryan's pod apart to get at him. His vengeance is short-lived - his elimination at the hands of Cody Rhodes, followed by Rhodes' own seconds later, leaves only lowly Santino and Bryan left. Bryan, relieved by his latest feat of escapology, plays down his dubious threat with a pithy smirk.

What follows is one of the greatest finishing sequences in living memory - that Bryan was able to convince fans that a Marella win was imminent is emblematic of his considerable talents as a worker, and not merely a technician.

While it remains an indictment of and dire warning about the perils of a brand split, this match remains an understated gem, one which helped the wider audience fall in love with the Yes! man.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!