WWE Star Damian Priest Seeks To Recapture US Title At Elimination Chamber; he is ‘proud’ of Rhea Ripley’s success

Share

Damian Priest gained momentum on Monday night when he and Finn Balor defeated Street Profits, Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins, ahead of this weekend’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view.

Priest and Ford will be competing in the United States Championship Elimination Chamber match against reigning champion Austin Theory, Seth Rollins, Johnny Gargano and Bronson Reed. Priest is looking to become a two-time champion.

In the unique environment, two superstars start the match while the other four are locked in glass capsules. The pods open randomly and will continue until all the fighters are released. Wrestlers are eliminated by pinfall or submission only with the last man standing being declared the winner. This is one of the rare times when the US title, and not the WWE or Universal Championship, is on the line.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Damian Priest attends the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards at Watsco Center on September 23, 2021 in Coral Gables, Florida. (Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images)

It will be Priest’s first time in Elimination Chamber.

“I feel good. I’m excited,” he told Fox News Digital in the days leading up to the event. “I feel ready. I’ve been working week after week, going through these incredible matchups and putting in the time. I feel like I’m ready for something like this.”

Since Priest had never been in a match like this before, he turned to his Judgment Day partner for some advice. Balor was in the 2018 match and the winner went on to WrestleMania 34 to headline a WWE Universal Championship match. Balor was the fourth to be eliminated.

“Yeah, I talked to him about it. It’s basically one of those things where you don’t know. It’s hard to prepare when you don’t know if you’re starting the game or you’re on camera. That changes the dynamic,” he said. “It’s one of those things where you have to be ready and on top of your game with whoever you’re in the ring with. You just have to, as he explained to me, know how everyone works. Just make sure you know all their things and what you can do with them and just be ready for whoever is there when you go out.”

FORMER WWE STAR SEAN WALTMAN REMEMBER THE INTENSE HEAT THE NWO MEMBERS RECEIVED, THE PARTICIPATION OF DENNIS RODMAN

Damian Priest enters the arena during WWE Raw at Barclays Center on November 22, 2021, in Brooklyn, New York.

Damian Priest enters the arena during WWE Raw at Barclays Center on November 22, 2021, in Brooklyn, New York. (Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)

Priest, whose real name is Luis Martinez, is 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, which offers its own challenges in the closed cage. He said that he has scouted other Elimination Chamber bouts to get an idea of ​​how he has fared against other men of his stature.

“Anytime I’m in a match where it’s not just a basic wrestling match, whether it’s weapons, cages or ladders, I take my time to walk around and basically survey the terrain,” he said. “So for the Chamber, I would expect that as soon as you get to the arena, you go straight to the ringside area. Hopefully the Chamber will be set up and you could walk through it and feel it and something like that.” plan in my head how to use it to my advantage and what to avoid.”

Priest isn’t the only member of Judgment Day to have a match at Elimination Chamber on Saturday night.

Balor will team with the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble winner Rhea Ripley in a mixed tag team match against Edge and Beth Phoenix. Judgment Day and Edge and Phoenix have clashed for the past year as faction members turned on Edge.

Ripley got the upper hand over Phoenix on Raw on Monday night when she came in to save Dominik Mysterio from a beating.

WWE STAR CODY RHODES SUGGESTS THE CURRENT STORIES ‘EVEN BETTER’ THAN THE ROCK’S RETURN AT WRESTLEMANIA

Rhea Ripley speaks during a press conference after the WWE Royal Rumble at the Alamodome on January 28, 2023 in San Antonio.

Rhea Ripley speaks during a press conference after the WWE Royal Rumble at the Alamodome on January 28, 2023 in San Antonio. (Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)

Ripley has been going strong over the past year since teaming up with Balor, Priest, and Mysterio. Priest has noted how hard she has worked to get to where she is and win that SmackDown Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 39.

“That’s my homie. Man, I’m so proud of her,” Priest told Fox News Digital. “What I see is that the handcuffs are off. There’s nothing stopping her. She’s just letting herself lose. People who know her but are close to her like me, we knew that she had this other side that, even as much as accomplished, the WWE Universe and even her peers hadn’t seen all that Rhea could give.”

“And I don’t think she’s done it yet, but she’s definitely letting go, and we’re getting to see a whole new level of Rhea Ripley. She’s winning everything and I can’t wait to see her take everything she deserves.” .”

Elimination Chamber is scheduled for 8 pm ET at Peacock at the Bell Center in Montreal.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Elimination Chamber 2023 Match Card

WWE's Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns is hit with a steel chair by Sami Zayn during the WWE Royal Rumble at the Alamodome on January 28, 2023 in San Antonio.

WWE’s Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns is hit with a steel chair by Sami Zayn during the WWE Royal Rumble at the Alamodome on January 28, 2023 in San Antonio. (Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)

  • Roman Reigns (C) vs. Sami Zayn in a singles match for the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship
  • Edge and Beth Phoenix vs. Finn Balor and Rhea Ripley in a mixed tag fight
  • Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar in individual fight
  • Austin Theory (C) vs. Seth Rollins vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Bronson Reed vs. Damian Priest vs. Montez Ford in Elimination Chamber match for the WWE United States Championship
  • Asuka vs. Liv Morgan vs. Nikki Cross vs. Rachel Rodriguez vs. Natalia vs. Carmella in an Elimination Chamber Match for the WWE Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 39.

You may also like...