Mark: Elimination Chamber is the last stop before this year’s WrestleMania. And Uncle Vince is making sure that he’s getting his money’s worth out of that chamber this year! Three chamber matches! Sheesh! And not a Reigns/Corbin match in sight. What have we done to deserve this?!
Marc: Despite what Mark said above down deep he has as much of deep admiration for a Roman Reigns and Baron Corbin match as well Jaffy Cakes. That is if Jaffy Cakes were dipped in poison. What we are certain is that Elimination Chamber will set up what happens as WrestleMania approaches. Without further ado Pro Wrestling Post previews the WWE’s presentation of the Elimination Chamber.
Elimination Chamber Match for Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania
Shayna Baszler vs. Ruby Riott vs. Sarah Logan vs. Liv Morgan vs. Asuka vs. Natalya
Mark: Want to earn some easy money? It may not earn you a fortune but it’s guaranteed cash…Shayna Baszler wins here in convincing fashion. Do you think there would be any other winner? All signs have pointed to Baszler taking on Becky Lynch at Mania ever since Shayna arrived on RAW. And without sounding too harsh, none of the other competitors have that name value that Shayna has.
Well, apart from Asuka that is. But she’s carrying an injury by all accounts. And that match has already been done, admittedly not very well. But I stand by what I said…Shayna wins in dominant fashion. Are we ready for the Queen of Spades versus The Man at WrestleMania?
Marc: These six women are all aiming for a shot at the Raw women’s championship at WrestleMania. Among them, there really is only one person that stands out as a perennial frontrunner. From ‘sinking her teeth into the flesh’ of Becky Lynch to her arrival on Raw, Shayna Baszler may just be the odds on favorite. She immediately provides fans with an interesting option as WrestleMania approaches.
If all the stars align this would be the second straight year, Lynch faced off against a member of the infamous Four Horsewomen of the MMA. Ironically, it could also be labeled as a horsewoman versus a horsewoman confrontation between both of them. We say that are both women have often been tied to another collection of women as well.
Smackdown Tag Team Championship Elimination Chamber Match
The Usos. vs. Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler vs. Heavy Machinery vs. Lucha House Party vs. New Day vs. John Morrison and The Miz
Mark: As much as I loathe The Miz & John Morrison as tag team champions, they have set themselves up as fit and proper champions. And to be told that they’re defending the titles inside the Chamber? They are livid! With former champs New Day chomping at the bit, and The Usos back in contention, Miz & Morrison have every right to be worried.
You can discount Heavy Machinery. They have some affairs of the heart to deal with. Lucha House Party? Hardly been shining lights on SmackDown recently. Roode and Ziggler? They’ve had their time in the sun. Nope, for me, it is the champs retaining here in some kind of shenanigan kind of way. And I’ll still loathe them.
Marc: This matchup could be considered insulting in some regards. One train of thought is that yes, all of the teams that are a part of the Smackdown tag team division are here. However, while the match slated on the Raw side of things is a team against team match up this isn’t the case here. If the idea was to have the winners face Miz and Morrison at WrestleMania be one option why include the champions in this match? The problem here is that each team has a stake in this match including the champions.
Booking decisions aside, having Morrison within an elimination chamber could lend itself to some fairly exciting scenarios. However, the result of the match leaves fans with one winner with a shorter time to build towards WrestleMania. It does force the storyline to move rather quickly leading to the championship match after this.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Handicap Match
Cesaro, Sami Zayn and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Braun Strowman
Mark: I’m going to tell you all straight right now. I am not a fan of handicap matches. I’m even less of a fan when one of the participants is a legitimate giant. You can also add that Strowman has dominated all three of these men over the past few months. It does make you wonder why this match was put together. There is more chance of El Generico making a triumphant return from his orphanage in Mexico than there is of Braun losing this match. There is no jeopardy involved in this match.
Don’t be surprised if this is over very very quickly. And hopefully, this puts to bed this “feud”. All four men can move on and get used to more meaningful matches and feuds. Well…one can hope huh?!
Marc: What happens when six hands face two? While it seems like a trivia question or baseline joke the response here is that Strowman has an uphill battle. At least that’s the intention of the booking is to make fans believe that. It really showcases how dominant he is seen as being. To face three men the quality of who he is in the ring also showcases how much of a monster he is. With the winner likely whoever gets the pinfall, could that create a scenario of tension within the match?
For Strowman he is out for himself, but on the other side is there really a common goal? To date, it has been about protecting Nakamura but Sami Zayn is now back in the ring. Albeit he is part of a match, could this be his chance to capture his first championship in the WWE?
Raw Tag Team Championship Match
Murphy and Seth Rollins vs. The Street Profits
Mark: The rubber match. The decider. And if I had to plump for a winner here, it’s gonna be The Street Profits. Here’s why – they’ve just won the straps. Why waste that momentum by flip-flopping them back and forth? Also with a rumored Rollins v Owens match set for Mania, it’s pretty nailed on (in my eyes) that the titles are staying where they are.
You can expect a great match though. The interactions between Ford and Rollins over the last few months have shown they have great chemistry. I’m hoping for fireworks!
Marc: Interesting that Mark points out the rubber match, one has to wonder if that’s where the concept around Seth Rollins’ messiah glove came from? It likely isn’t but we’re reaching. Much like Mark pointed out Rollins has great chemistry with whom he is working with. It is great to see Murphy put into a position where he can succeed.
Despite not being a tag team champion, he’s still actively part of a major program competing for the championships. One of us is hoping for fireworks, the other is hoping they aren’t sparklers!
United States Championship
Andrade vs. Humberto Carillo
Mark: Sleeper match of the night here, mark my words! Yes, Andrade has been “absent” recently but he is a heck of a talent. Hopefully, he’s served his punishment and we can all be treated to a fantastic match. And Humberto? What can I say about him that I haven’t already? From his time in 205 Live and NXT, he has blossomed. He’s learned the WWE way much quicker than anticipated.
Could we see a triple threat at Mania for the US Title? Andrade vs Carrillo vs Garza? I’ve only heard about the battles al three have had in Mexico. Could we see those same battles on the Grandest Stage Of Them All?
Marc: Este partido tiene todas las características de algo notable. Tiene emoción. Existe la animosidad que existe desde hace mucho tiempo entre ellos también. Cuando agregamos esto junto con los dos hombres, Zelina Vega está dispuesta a hacer cualquier cosa para asegurarse de que Andrade conserve el campeonato.
Los fanáticos recordarán que Andrade ha estado peleándose con su primo Angel Garza en ausencia de Andrade. Sin embargo, el regreso de Andrade trae consigo un renovado sentido de propósito. El objetivo es organizar el partido más intenso y contundente.
While the above commentary may not be an exact translation from what was initially written in English we here at Pro Wrestling Post bring you a preview that strives to be bilingual as well.
No DQ Match
Aleister Black vs. AJ Styles
Mark: It’s such a shame that this matchup will be used as a way in for the AJ Styles vs Undertaker match at Mania. Black vs AJ is a headline match on any marquee in the world. And my biggest hope is that this match will have a clean and decisive finish (well as best as you can with The OC around) and THEN Taker comes out and makes his mark on AJ.
As for the match? Give them 15+ minutes and watch the magic happen. This is a match I would love to have seen under the NJPW banner, but I’ll quite happily accept it under the WWE flag. Both men can go, both men can hit hard…oh yes this could be a great match. And as for a winner? I’d have to go with AJ. He’s going to have to look strong to be seen as a credible opponent for The Undertaker. And Black can take the loss against one of the very best in the world right now.
Big things are coming for Black soon. Watch this space…
Marc: Much like Mark stated above this match really is special. While all signs point to an AJ Styles and Undertaker match at WrestleMania, this match would have been fun to see then too. The Undertaker and AJ Styles would certainly be a marquee match and likely should be treated as such. This match, however, has provided an opportunity for two men to face each other. In this particular match, we see two talents that have competed on the independent circuit and captured championships.
Now, however, we have seen the decision to have Black overcome the odds of having the rest of The O.C being put before him. Will this match lead to a program with Styles after WrestleMania? We aren’t certain what the plan is. What is certain is that fans will be treated to world-class athletes ready to throwdown at Elimination Chamber.
