The French-Canadian city of Montreal is famous for many things, including its food, architecture, and love of sport. Regarding the latter, alongside the 1976 Olympics and its celebrated hockey tradition, the city will always be remembered in wrestling circles as the site of WWE's greatest controversy: the Montreal Screwjob.
The Montreal Screwjob, or "Le Coup Tordu de Montréal", took place on 9 November 1997 during WWE’s Survivor Series pay-per-view at the Molson Centre (now Centre Bell). Midway through a match involving WWE Champion (and Canadian) Bret Hart, WWE Owner Vince McMahon made a secret change to the bout’s pre-scripted ending and, with Hart in a submission hold, forced the referee to ring the bell and name his opponent, Shawn Michaels, the winner – even though Hart did not submit. To nobody's surprise, the outraged Canadian crowd reacted angrily, and WWE’s most controversial moment became forever linked with Montreal.
On 18 February 2023, WWE brings a major PPV back to Montreal for the first time since Breaking Point in 2009. While controversy is unlikely to reach the proportions felt in 1997, intrigue and anticipation surrounding Elimination Chamber is sky high. One match in particular lies at the centre of it all: the main event of the night – Roman Reigns v Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
One of the most interesting encounters in recent times, Reigns v Zayn pits the unstoppable WWE Universal Champion of more than 900 days against a man born in the Montreal suburb of Laval. Zayn, who built his impressive reputation through years of work on the independent circuit, will enter the contest as the underdog, but cheered on by a raucous hometown crowd, anything could happen.
Having aligned himself with Reigns up until the Royal Rumble (when he decided he could take no more of the Tribal Chief’s violent rule) Sami Zayn knows the Champion better than anyone, and with the help of his fellow Montrealers, will look to steal a victory. A win for the Laval-born wrestler would be one of the most seismic upsets in WWE history, and the reaction could take the roof off Centre Bell in Downtown Montreal.
Tickets for WWE Elimination Chamber are available now, starting from around C$90. For those hoping to be a little closer to the action, Ringside Floor seats can be picked up for just under C$280. With 2 Elimination Chamber matches, singles bouts, tag team action, and the Universal Championship to look forward to, Montreal is in line for another night to remember.
For more information, or to purchase tickets for WWE Elimination Chamber, click here.
