Saturday night, a daring steel cage contraption will take center stage in Montreal.
The 13th edition of the Elimination Chamber will take place at the Bell Center (20:00 ET on Peacock). The final pay-per-view before WrestleMania includes two title fights scheduled for the card, as well as being the #1 contender for a third title.
The main event features Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. After Reigns ousted Zane from The Bloodline, the former “Honorary Mustache” vowed revenge on the dual belt holder. Will Zayn be able to pull off a monumental upheaval and weaken the power of the strongest faction in WWE?
The battle over who will take on Bianca Belair for her Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania will be decided in a single six-woman Elimination Chamber match. In another Elimination Chamber match, Austin Teori posts his US Championship against five others.
Other matches include Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar and Finn Bálor from Doomsday and Rhea Ripley fighting the Edge and Beth Phoenix pairing in a mixed tag team match. Finally, there will be a triple tag tag team match where Becky Lynch, Lita and a wrestler to be determined will enter the ring against Damage CTRL.
Let’s analyze each match, predict the winners and suggest what could be next.
WWE Undisputed Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Sami Zayn
THE HONORARY UCE IS NO LONGER!@SamiZine just betrayed @WWERomanReigns and all pedigree #Royal battle! pic.twitter.com/ZtzAF1xGGD
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2023
My curiosity in this matchup will be whether the cracks in The Bloodline faction will be patched up or further shattered after Saturday night. We can expect Reigns to punish Zane because his recent disrespect for the tribal leader is unacceptable. We can also expect Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa to support Reigns as usual, with Paul Heyman dutifully acting as a noisy publicity man and belt winner. What about Jay Uso? Can half of a tag team’s champions defect? Or at least disobey at the wrong time?
Forecast: Reigns remains, but The Bloodline’s foundation continues to crack ahead of WrestleMania 39, where Reigns will face Cody Rhodes.
Elimination Chamber USA Title Match: Austin Theory vs. Seth Rollins vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Bronson Reed vs. Damian Priest vs. Montez Ford
Austin Teori’s performance as US Champion went better than expected, so good that I guess Triple H’s favorite talent has bigger and better things on the horizon. Theory and Rollins are proven names on the billboard, but it’s time for new blood to hold the American belt. Seeing Ford’s name as a solo artist is teasing, as his tag team, managed by Angelo Dawkins, has pushed every duo in the promotion to the brink. Street Profits will be around for a while, but Ford seems ready to take on the added responsibility.
Forecast: Ford confident Theory will win the US Championship with a WrestleMania rematch
Women’s Chamber Elimination Match: Raquel Rodriguez vs. Nikki Cross vs. Liv Morgan vs. Asuka vs. Natalya vs. Carmella
The winner will be the #1 contender to fight Bianca Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship.
I asked respected Sportzshala wrestling fan Mark Raimondi who he thought would come out victorious from this matchup, and he quickly replied that Asuka was the most logical choice. She did a great job and is likely to put on the best match and push Belair the most on the big stage at WrestleMania 39.
This may be true, but the management of Stamford, Connecticut loves to create opportunities for new stars to emerge. Few are ready to take the leap more than Rodriguez as she has won everything possible in NXT and is physically capable of keeping up with the big names among women. Need a reminder of what she can do? Watch Rodriguez’s title match against Ronda Rousey.
Forecast: Rodriguez restrains Asuka to face EST WWE at WrestleMania
Mixed Tag Match: Edge and Beth Phoenix vs. Finn Balor and Rhea Ripley
It’s understandable that Ripley’s attention may be focused on the most important match of her career as she faces Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Title at WrestleMania in six weeks. For now, half of the Doomsday faction has to deal with the ongoing melodrama with Edge and Phoenix. We can recall how Edge was forced to spare his wife in the I Quit match last year, along with additional favors given by Phoenix Ripley in the run-up. Balor and Ripley’s fees are due on Saturday evening.
Forecast: Balor edge pins.
Six Women Tag Team Match: Becky Lynch, Lita & TBA vs. Damage CTRL (Bailey, Dakota Kai & Iyo Skye)
Damage CTRL ruled WWE roughly for months, but Lita’s return to aid former foe-turned-friend Becky Lynch in a steel cage match against Bayley seemed to even the balance a bit. Lynch and Lita are a dynamic duo, but on Saturday night it’s 3v3 against a violent faction – who’s the third teammate?
Forecast: Trish Stratus joins Lita and Lynch to defeat Damage CTRL, setting up Trish and Lita to tag the team against Kai and Sky at WrestleMania.
Singles match: Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar
Another contract signing plunges into chaos when #Brock Lesnar is engaged @boybobby on the way to their disassembly in #WWEChamber Saturday and falls right into the trap of the Almighty. #WWEraw pic.twitter.com/D1a0g6hzyA
— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2023
It looks like an unfinished business between two strong points in Lashley vs. Lesnar. This time around a year ago, Lesnar dethroned Lashley for the WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber after Lashley defeated Lesnar for the title at the Royal Rumble.
Lashley’s concussion derailed the rivalry at WrestleMania 38. Now with no belts on the line, they’re back in business. During the signing of the contract, chants of “Bobby is scared” were heard as Lashley debated whether or not to sign the deal. It feels like this singing could be repeated on a Saturday night, and I’m here for it.
Forecast: Lashley of Lesnar F5 for the win and we will likely see the duo again at WrestleMania 39.
Source: www.espn.com
