We're on the Road to Wrestlemania, and the last PPV that actually matters before it--sorry Fastlane--is Elimination Chamber. Raw's card has been finalized for the show, and Smackdown's will be very soon, and it's shaping up to be a pretty stacked event. As of this writing, there are seven matches on the card, six of which are championship matches.
One of the biggest things about this show is that the first-ever Women's Tag Team Champions will be crowned. This moment will happen after a 6-tag team Elimination Chamber match. Duos from both Raw and Smackdown will compete in this event, as it will be a cross-brand championship. If you're staying up-to-date with WWE programming, then you probably have a good idea of who is going to win. There is one other Elimination Chamber match that night as Daniel Bryan defends his title against Mustafa Ali, Jeff Hardy, Samoa Joe, Randy Orton, and AJ Styles. It will be the perfect way to close out the show.
This year's event comes to PPV and the WWE Network on Sunday, February 17. And the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas will host it, beginning at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET / 12 AM GMT (February 18). Like all PPVs, there will be a Kickoff Show beginning one hour prior.
Elimination Match Card:
- Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Akira Tozawa (Cruiserweight Championship)
- Bobby Lashley (c) & Lio Rush vs. Finn Bálor (Handicap Match for the Intercontinental Championship)
- The Miz & Shane McMahon (c) vs. The Usos (Smackdown Tag Team Championship)
- Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Ruby Riott (Raw Women's Championship)
- Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin
- Sasha Banks & Bayley vs. Sonya Deville & Mandy Rose vs. Naomi & Carmella vs. Nia Jax & Tamina vs. Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan vs. The Iiconics (Elimination Chamber for the Women's Tag Team Championship)
- "The New" Daniel Bryan (c) vs. AJ Styles vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Mustafa Ali vs. Randy Orton vs. Samoa Joe (Elimination Chamber for the WWE Championship)
Make sure to come back to GameSpot on Sunday, February 17 for live coverage and a review of the show.
Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Akira Tozawa
(Cruiserweight Championship)
More than likely, this match will open up Elimination Chamber or be on the Kickoff Show, but it will--without a doubt--be a dynamite competition between these two. Time after time, the cruiserweight matches have been some of the best matches on the card. I've been incorrectly predicting Murphy's loss of the Cruiserweight Championship for a while now, and this time, he's going to finally give up that title. I'll be right this time. I swear.
Prediction: Akira Tozawa wins
Bobby Lashley (c) & Lio Rush vs. Finn Bálor
(Handicap Match for the Intercontinental Championship)
The storyline I can't stand pushes forward, like an empty beer bottle rolling down a dirty city street at 2 AM. I'm really enjoying Lio Rush and I'm a fan of Finn Balor, but Bobby Lashley is boring to me, and his current character doesn't seem to fit his abilities. In the grand scheme of things, this is a last stand for Balor. He needs a major accomplishment in WWE. The fans are behind him but Balor keeps getting the short end of the stick. Giving him the IC Championship would be great course correction for him right now, until Lesnar leaves town and we can have regular Universal Championship matches.
Prediction: Finn Balor wins
The Miz & Shane McMahon (c) vs. The Usos
(Smackdown Tag Team Championship)
Smackdown's tag division has been in a bit of a rough spot as of late. One half of the Bludgeon Brothers is out, The Bar has been champions for a while, Sanity has been missing, and New Day and Usos had a long time rivalry. Miz and Shane are supposed to be a nice refresher for the once dominant division, but it's felt a bit lackluster. There needs to be some restructuring and some new teams here to breathe new life into Smackdown (Heavy Machinery please). That being said, The Usos should win the titles this Sunday and lead the way into Wrestlemania.
Prediction: The Usos win
Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin
Sometimes, you can have two talented performers in a storyline that does nothing for you. Simply put, Strowman and Corbin in a feud together is doing nothing for me, and both of them are better than this. More than likely, it's going to be another round of Strowman decimating Corbin in what will ultimately be a short, filler match.
Prediction: Braun Strowman wins
Elimination Chamber for the Women's Tag Team Championship
(Sasha Banks & Bayley vs. Sonya Deville & Mandy Rose vs. Naomi & Carmella vs. Nia Jax & Tamina vs. Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan vs. The Iiconics)
WWE fans have been wanting a women's tag team title for a while, and thankfully, this will be a cross-brand belt. Some of the pairings in this match--like Naomi and Carmella--are forced and nothing but cannon-fodder. However, there are some real dynamite teams--like The Iiconics or Riott Squad. However we feel about all these teams involved in the match, this Elimination Chamber was 100% set up for Sasha Banks and Bayley to win. Sure, there's a chance it could go to another team, but this just feels right for the two Horsewomen.
Prediction: Sasha Banks & Bayley win
Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Ruby Riott
(Raw Women's Championship)
Are you ready to hear the most alliteration from the commentary team than you've ever heard before? Well, you better get ready for it. If I don't hear Corey Graves say something like, "Ronda Rousey rowdies Ruby Riott ruefully," then I'm done. The only way to make this even better is if it was special guest reffed by Roman Reigns or Rhea Ripley.
Why am I avoiding talking about the actual match or the lead up to it? Well because Ruby Riott--whom I love and think should be in the title picture--has zero chance of winning this. Ronda Rousey is going to face Becky Lynch at Wrestlemania (and probably Charlotte as well, as Rousey/Flair is currently booked), and Rousey needs to be champion, so she can get her first loss to Lynch.
Prediction: Ronda Rousey wins
Elimination Chamber For WWE Championship
("The New" Daniel Bryan (c) vs. AJ Styles vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Mustafa Ali vs. Randy Orton vs. Samoa Joe)
Everything about the booking of this match is near-perfection. There are WWE veterans, indie legends, and a WWE newcomer who is making waves on Smackdown. If this match were taking place in a post-Wrestlemania world, it could be anyone's match. But we have to keep in mind that the biggest WWE PPV of the year is coming very soon. Because of this, Bryan seems like the most-likely candidate to be in a major match at Wrestlemania. Sure, Styles, Joe, or Orton could also be in this position, but Bryan has been on such a hot streak as champion, that I don't see it going any other way.
Prediction: Daniel Bryan wins
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