WWE Elimination Chamber 2023 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Professional wrestling perfection.

With emotions so incredibly high and expectations through the roof, it would have been easy for WWE to fumble the bag and present a main event that failed Sami Zayn, Roman Reigns, the fans and everyone else who has been involved with the best storyline the company has presented in decades.

Instead, Triple H and his creative team oversaw a match that was simply perfect.

It was a dramatic masterpiece.

Reigns is the master of the near-fall, shooting his shoulder off the mat at the last possible second to maximize the reaction. With the crowd as hot as it was, it only enhanced it.

Then there was the appearance by Jimmy Uso, who blindly helped Reigns and nearly cost Zayn before the resilient challenger kicked out at two.

By the time Jey Uso arrived and refused to hit Zayn with a chair but also would not blast his cousin, the Montreal fans had had all they could handle. An errant kick from Zayn to The Right Hand Man and a spear from Reigns ended the championship aspirations of the hometown hero, but the night was not completely lost.

Kevin Owens appeared, laid out Jimmy and left Reigns for one last Helluva Kick from Zayn, who stood tall in the center of the ring to close out the show.

There will be some who take exception to the fact that Zayn lost, but it was fairly obvious that WWE has planned for Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes for WrestleMania 39 and has no intention of changing it. And nor should it.

The story has always been about Zayn and Jey, who started as rivals before developing a friendship that is now in question after the events of the past month.

Their story will define what they do at The Show of Shows, but it will still be eagerly anticipated.

On a night when the weight of the world was on the shoulders of Reigns and Zayn, they delivered an instant classic that will be on many year-end award lists 10 months from now and recapped in "best of" lists for years to come.

That isn't recency talking, nor is it bias to brand or performer. It was pro wrestling excellence, and everyone involved should be extremely proud of what they have accomplished.

Reigns defeated Zayn to retain

Top Moments

• The emotion accompanying Zayn's entrance was palpable and aided even more so by the presence of his wife at ringside for the momentous contest.
• Reigns taunted Zayn's family, telling his wife: "I just wanted us to work together." 
• Zayn rocked Reigns with a Superman Punch of his own, then followed with the Helluva Kick for one of the closest near-falls you will see. Reigns' last-second kickout is set for GOAT territory after this one.
• Jey appeared and refused to use a steel chair on Zayn, but he ate an errant kick for his troubles.
• The fans' silence after the match reflected their expectations of a Reigns victory but was still telling of just how much they wanted their hero to emerge with the title.
• Owens stepped aside, allowing Zayn to deliver one last strike to Reigns. KO did not stick around, though, conveying the idea of unrepaired issues between the two.