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The Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week 2/17: WWE Elimination Chamber, Jey Uso Returns, More

By Matthew Fowler • Published 17th February 2023
wwe raw bobby lashley brock lesnar

Welcome back, TJR readers! Did you spend all day Friday shooting things out of the sky, and missed WWE Smackdown? Perhaps you spent all day Monday trying to order last minute flowers, and missed Raw.

Worry not for I have returned with another edition of the Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week.

Before beginning The Top Ten List this week, I would like to take a moment to remember legendary wrestling promoter Jerry Jarrett. Jarrett unfortunately passed away at the age of 80 this week from esophageal cancer. Jarrett was the promoter of the famous Memphis territory for years, as well as one of the founders of TNA/Impact Wrestling with his son Jeff Jarrett. I would like to personally give my condolences to Jeff and the rest of Jerry Jarrett’s friends and family.

10. Jinder Mahal to Challenge Bron Breakker for the NXT Championship

Once again it was proven without a doubt this week, that you can’t hinder Jinder. This past Tuesday on NXT, Jinder Mahal came out to interrupt a promo from NXT Champion Bron Breakker. Mahal at first congratulated Breakker for holding the NXT title for a year, before then challenging him to a match for this coming Tuesday on NXT. Mahal has been barely shown on NXT, only competing in one match since his return to the brand. Due to this, it is clearly ridiculous and impossible that he would just be handed a world championship completely out of nowhere… (TJRWrestling)

9. ROH Announces Television Tapings

ROH will be returning to television at the end of this month….sort of. It was announced by Tony Khan this week that ROH will be holding its first set of tapings on February 25th and 26th. The new episodes will then air on ROH’s streaming service HonorClub on March 2nd. HonorClub currently costs $9.99 and will feature all of ROH’s back catalog as well. Tony Khan is reportedly excited and optimistic for the launch, with him even believing that HonorClub can even get as many as 1/16th of Mandy Rose’s subscribers. (TJRWrestling)

8. Jay White Loses “Loser Leaves Japan” Match

One of Japan’s biggest stars can no longer wrestle in the country. This past Saturday at NJPW The New Beginnings in Osaka, “Switchblade” Jay White lost a “Loser Leaves Japan” match to Hikuleo. Things may not stop there however, as White may also soon not be able to wrestle for NJPW at all. It was announced this week that White will also be facing Eddie Kingston at this weekend’s NJPW Battle in the Valley, in a loser leaves NJPW match. White is a former IWGP World Heavyweight, Heavyweight, Intercontinental, Openweight and United States Champion. White has been heavily rumored to be joining the WWE, with many believing he was going to be a part of the Men’s Royal Rumble Match. A “Loser Leaves the Country Match” is truly a brilliant idea, with me personally hoping that WWE can convince Donald Trump to wrestle in one at this year’s WrestleMania. (TJRWrestling)

7. Jon Moxley and “Hangman” Adam Page to Compete in a Texas Death Match

Jon Moxley will have another chance to bleed at AEW Revolution on March 5th. This past Wednesday on Dynamite, Moxley challenged “Hangman” Adam Page to a Texas Death Match. Page and Moxley have wrestled each other three times since October of last year, with Moxley currently up 2-1 in the series. Moxley considered challenging Page to a First Blood Match at AEW Revolution instead, but then found out that the first person to bleed actually loses the match. (TJRWrestling)

6. Ronda Rousey Returns on Smackdown

Ronda Rousey appeared on WWE television for the first time in 2023 this week. This past Friday on Smackdown, Rousey returned to help her longtime friend Shayna Baszler attack Natalya. Shotzi would then come down and try to save Natalya, but would end up being laid out by Rousey and Natalya as well. It is heavily rumored that Rousey and Baszler will challenge for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania, assuming that the WWE actually remembers they have Women’s Tag Titles before then. (TJRWrestling)

5. Christian Cage Attacks Jack Perry on AEW Dynamite

For the first time in over five months, Christian Cage has returned to AEW. This past Wednesday on Dynamite, Cage appeared after “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry defeated Brian Cage. Christian initially appeared with a sling on his arm, before taking it off and hitting Perry with the Killswitch. Cage and Perry last met in a match last September at AEW All Out, with Cage getting the win in 33 seconds. Many fans were disappointed that Cage and Perry’s first match was over so quickly, although I have personally been trying to convince my wife for years that 33 seconds is completely satisfactory. (TJRWrestling)

4. Two More Title Matches Added to AEW Revolution

With AEW Revolution being a little over two weeks away, two more title matches were announced for the show this week. First Samoa Joe and Wardlow will face off one more time when Wardlow challenges Joe for the AEW TNT Championship. Also, The Gunn Club will have to face three other teams in their first title defense, when they face The Acclaimed and two other teams in a Fatal-Four Way Match. With these two exciting matches now booked, AEW now only has to find room for nine other title matches on the card. (TJRWrestling)

3. Madcap Moss Becomes Number One Contender for the WWE Intercontinental Championship

Gunther will have an unexpected challenger for the WWE Intercontinental Championship tonight on Smackdown. This past Friday on Smackdown, Madcap Moss defeated Rey Mysterio, Karrion Kross and Santos Escobar in a Fatal 4-Way to become the number one contender for Intercontinental Championship. Moss getting a title shot is a little surprising, as he has not won a match on television since last August. Personally, however, I was not surprised with the win, as I just assumed Moss must have won a bunch of matches on AEW Dark. (TJRWrestling)

2. Jey Uso Returns to Tag With His Brother on Smackdown And Talk To Sami Zayn

Jimmy Uso has never been more relieved than when his brother Jey Uso showed up on Smackdown this week. Jey has not been seen since walking out on Jimmy and the rest of The Bloodline at The Royal Rumble, after refusing to join the group’s attack on Sami Zayn. This past Friday on Smackdown, it appeared that Jimmy would have to defend the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championships without his brother against Braun Strowman and Ricochet. Jey appeared through the crowd however, moments before the match was set to begin. The Usos would then go on to successfully defend their tag team titles. After the match, Jey was shown being approached by Sami Zayn in a backstage segment. Zayn would go on to tell Jey that “he acknowledges him” before giving Jey a fist bump. Coincidentally telling my wife that I acknowledge her before giving her a fist bump is exactly what I gave her for Valentine’s Day this year. (TJRWrestling)

jey uso smackdown sami zayn

1. WWE Elimination Chamber to Take Place This Saturday

The next WWE Premium Live Event is The Elimination Chamber which is scheduled to take place this Saturday night at 8PM ET from Montreal, Canada. So far five matches have been announced including Edge & Beth Phoenix facing off against Finn Balor & Rhea Ripley in a Mixed Tag Team Match. Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley will face each other one more time. Austin Theory will defend the WWE United States Championship inside the Elimination Chamber against Johnny Gargano, Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Bronson Reed, Damian Priest and Montez Ford. Asuka, Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan, Nikki Cross, Natalya and Carmella will all face off in the Elimination Chamber, to decide the number one contender for the Raw Women’s Championship. Finally, Roman Reigns will defend the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship against hometown hero Sami Zayn. The anticipation for this event has been incredible, with several countries already sending up balloons to try to spy on it. (TJRWrestling)

That concludes another edition of The Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week. Although I often joke, I have recently started refereeing with NYCW and FCWA, and respect more than ever what wrestlers do every week. I wrote an article all about it all right here. If you like what I do, despite my jokes being almost as bad as a holding penalty at the end of the Super Bowl, then follow me on Twitter @Fowlerwrestlin1 and listen to my Podcast The Smark and the Noob. Thank you to all of those who read this every week.