The barbaric structure known as the Elimination Chamber is brought to you by Smackdown Live and features six of the blue brand’s top superstars vying for the WWE Championship and a potential match-up against Royal Rumble winner Randy Orton at Wrestlemania. The card also includes three female singles matches, a rare feat for a WWE pay-per-view. Who will conquer their rivals on the road to Wrestlemania? And who will leave the Elimination Chamber as the WWE Champion?
This year, WWE writer Sam Verlinden and myself are giving our predictions under a competitive nature. After being unable to post his predictions for the Royal Rumble, I am up 1-0, but Sam looks to exact revenge with the Elimination Chamber event. Which analyst will make the most correct picks this week? Here are our predictions:
EF: Elijah Fa’afiu
SV: Sam Verlinden
PRE-SHOW
1) Mojo Rawley vs Curt Hawkins
EF: This potential six-star match-up should see Mojo come out on top.
PREDICTION: MOJO RAWLEY
SV: Mojo.
PREDICTION: MOJO RAWLEY
MAIN SHOW
2) Luke Harper vs Randy Orton
EF: Harper breaking away from the Wyatt Family and turning face has given him new life, but Orton needs to keep up his momentum following his Royal Rumble victory.
PREDICTION: RANDY ORTON
SV: Potential Rowan involvement? Regardless of this, it’s pretty safe to say that the Viper will take this one in relatively swift fashion.
PREDICTION: RANDY ORTON
3) Apollo Crews and Kalisto vs Dolph Ziggler in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match
EF: It makes zero sense having a heel fight against two faces but that’s WWE logic for you. I think Ziggler gets frustrated about not being able to take down either Crews or Kalisto and therefore relies on his trusty friend the steel chair. It gives Crews/Kalisto a victory but makes Ziggler look strong.
PREDICTION: APOLLO CREWS/KALISTO
SV: Up the mighty savage Ziggles. Management have to chuck this man a W and begin to set his sights on bigger things than Crews & Kalisto…. maybe IC title?
PREDICTION: DOLPH ZIGGLER
4) Becky Lynch vs Mickie James
EF: This contest is my pick to be the best female match of the night. Lynch is the top Smackdown Live female draft pick, while James is out to prove she still has what it takes to hang with today’s top performers in the squared circle. I expect James to steal a victory here in her first singles match since her return.
PREDICTION: MICKIE JAMES
SV: Ole Mickie’s first PPV match in yeaaaaaaars. Surely chuck her a lazy bone and give her the W. Lynch will be all good.
PREDICTION: MICKIE JAMES
5) Alexa Bliss (c) vs Naomi for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship
EF: Alexa Bliss is one the hottest talents in the WWE right now (literally and figuratively), so why not continue her momentum against Naomi, who’s picked up some pinfall victories over Bliss as of late.
PREDICTION: ALEXA BLISS
SV: Look for Bliss to retain in this one.
PREDICTION: ALEXA BLISS
6) American Alpha (c) vs Heath Slater/Rhyno vs Breezango vs The Usos vs The Ascension vs The Vaudevillains in a Tag Team Turmoil Match for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships
EF: You know something’s wrong when all the teams in the SmackDown tag division get put into one whole match. It seems like the easiest pick of the night and unless The Revival make their long-awaited main roster debut, expect AA to retain the tag titles.
PREDICTION: AMERICAN ALPHA
SV: Look, the quality of teams here is pretty average… The Smackdown tag division is in need of a shake up. Surely the Revival gets a call up soon. But in the meanwhile, AA to run the goose.
PREDICTION: AMERICAN ALPHA
7) Nikki Bella vs Natalya
EF: This has been a solid feud but I’m a bit sick and tired about John Cena being mentioned in every Nikki rivalry. Anyways, with Nikki set to take time off after Wrestlemania, expect her to capture a huge win over her former best friend.
PREDICTION: NIKKI BELLA
SV: Yeah ok.
PREDICTION: NIKKI BELLA
8) John Cena (c) vs AJ Styles vs Dean Ambrose vs Baron Corbin vs The Miz vs Bray Wyatt in an Elimination Chamber Match for the WWE Championship
EF: This has the potential to be a match of the year candidate. Everyone in this match is a top in-ring talent and they’ve all been killing it over the past year. In a logical sense, it’s time to put the WWE title on Bray Wyatt so he can go on to face his Wyatt Family partner Randy Orton at Wrestlemania. It’s a top feud that’s waiting to happen, and it all kicks off with the long-awaiting championship coronation of Wyatt.
PREDICTION: BRAY WYATT
SV: Love the possibility of various curveballs that the WWE could throw. The only non potential champs in this outing are Ambrose and Corbin. Miz, Styles, Cena & Wyatt could all potentially walk out as champion. Would love for Styles to take his title back, however I feel a WWE title reign is what Wyatt has needed for far too long. Hopefully he finally gets it.
PREDICTION: BRAY WYATT
