Road To Wrestlemania: WWE Elimination Chamber
The road to Wrestlemania makes a detour in Houston for the “Elimination Chamber” Some call it the Devil’s playground, a steel structure created to house chaos. Two matches tonight will be held inside the sadistic steel structure. One to crown the first ever Women’s tag team champions. Another for the coveted WWE title. The road to Wrestlemania is filled with curves and swerves, let’s see who maneuvers through the dangers of the chamber.
Cruiserweight Championship — Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Akira Tozawa:
This will probably end up on the pre show but the match has potential. Champion vs former champion, these two should produce an exciting and fast paced match to get things started.
My prediction: Buddy Murphy
Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin:
This one has been brewing for a few weeks now. Corbin continues to aggravate the monster among men. To be honest, for me if this goes anyway other than Strowman ripping Corbin apart I will be deeply disappointed.
My prediction: Braun Strowman
SmackDown Tag Team Titles-Miz & Shane McMahon (c) vs. The Usos:
WWE paints a blurry picture with this one. What is the long term plan with Miz and Shane? Miz doesn’t play well with others and this could implode at any time. Will Jimmy Uso’s recent arrest have an impact? The former tag team champions and brothers have a huge advantage in chemistry and tag team game plans. One can only speculate at this point. I will say this should be a solid and entertaining match.
My prediction: The Miz & Shane McMahon
Raw Women’s Championship- Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Ruby Riott:
I absolutely love this one for a couple reasons. Rousey has far and away exceeded any and all reasonable expectations in her one year run with the WWE. The Rowdy One takes everything that is thrown at her without hesitation. Ronda is genuinely appreciative of the fans love and support, and it shows in her dedication to always be at her best. Ruby Riot is vastly underrated and under appreciated. She is a solid worker in the ring and works the crowd like play dough. They have kept her in the shadows as enhancement talent but that can change at the snap of a finger. While it appears Rousey will retain her title in route to Wrestlemania, Vince is the Sultan of the swerve so nothing is guaranteed.
My prediction: “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey
Intercontinental Championship -(Handicap match) Bobby Lashley (c) & Lio Rush vs. Finn Balor:
Okay let’s get this one out of the way. Little Lio Rush get’s on my last damn nerve, and I”m over Bobby Lashley as IC Champ. There I said it out loud. I think Fin Balor deserves the title and finds a way to steal a win in this uneven affair. Little Lio most likely takes the pin potentially setting up Lashley vs Balor at Wrestlemania in a rematch.
My prediction: Finn Balor
Women’s Tag Team Championship – Nia Jax & Tamina vs. Riott Squad vs. Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville vs. The Iconics vs. Sasha Banks & Bayley vs. Naomi & Carmella (Elimination Chamber):
Women’s tag team titles are long overdue. They have enough talented females that they can easily keep this fresh and interesting if they do it right. As for the Chamber there are a couple questions and concerns. First I hope and pray that Nia and Tamina do not win the belts. They live off their respective family names and truly are the least talented women in this match. Once again I ask will the arrest of Naomi’s husband cause an issue? Will the recent allegations against Carmella draw backlash from WWE? The Iconics are good but I don’t think they poll it off. Bayley and Sasha are huge fan favorites. The recent run with Banks could be one of two things. Setup for a split, which is ridiculous with the new tag team titles debuting. Or stacking the deck against them only to set them up to defy the odds and win it all , or come very close. To me that makes more sense in the Women’s tag team scene. Riott Squad is talented enough and worthy but have yet to get a push so I don’y see them winning it all. (Although I would enjoy that swerve if they did) Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville are extremely talented and have a good look together. I could see them winning the belts tonight and setting up a Wrestlemania clash with Banks and Bayley. Who will survive the Elimination Chamber? Who can run the gauntlet in the Devil’s playground?
My prediction: Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville (Bayley & Banks could easily win as well)
WWE Championship – Daniel Bryan (c) vs. AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe vs Randy Orton vs Kofi Kingston vs Jeff Hardy (Elimination Chamber):
Six men enter the sadistic steel structure but only one man leaves the champ. WWE Title is on the line and these men will do anything to steal the thunder and capture lighting in a championship storm of epic proportions. Kofi looked phenomenal in the gauntlet match lasting over 60 minutes but he took a brutal beating just day’s before the Chamber match. The enigmatic Hardy always poses a threat and can win at any time. Samoa Joe was made for this. He loves to inflict pain and punishment sometimes to the point he obsesses with that more than winning. AJ Styles has overcome the odds many times. Styles is always a move away from a win and will go to any measure to try and capture it. The Viper can strike from out of nowhere with decisive results. Orton has stolen the title when people least expect it several times. That leaves with the Champ, Daniel Bryan. Daniel will no doubt look to exploit the situation inside the Chamber. Question is can he exploit the situation outside the Chamber. Will Rowan find a way to help the former fan favorite turned fallen angel in Bryan? The Devil’s playground will be the sadistic setting for one mans dreams to come true. However 5 men will face their worst nightmare, and all six will suffer.
My prediction Daniel Bryan (IF the Title changes hands I think Randy Orton takes it)
I am having an Elimination Chamber viewing party tonight so I will be online some on Twitter at @MSBFightClub so hit me up make your own predictions and have some fun with your opinions. At the end of the day that is what it’s all about, having fun.
If you enjoyed this article check out this one on Rousey and Riott
http://marylandsportsblog.com/lets-get-rowdy-and-riot/
