2017 Elimination Chamber Preview

SmackDown Live! is often looked at as a B-show. If you haven’t been watching, tonight’s Elimination Chamber might be the best reason to start. You are probably saying, oh, these matches aren’t anything special, but that’s where (I hope) you might be wrong.

The pre-show has Mojo Rawley vs. Curt Hawkins, and I’m fine with that. I am not the biggest fan of Rawley, however he has shown he can work matches long or short. Hawkins I believe will get bigger in terms of underground fan popularity, but it will take time. I’m banking on Mojo taking the win.

Onto the main show:

Nikki Bella vs. Natalya – I want to care, because Natalya is far superior to the plastic pleasure of Cena. However, she’s been so wasted and wasted away to a point where I truly believe she is there to make others look good and collect a paycheck. I saddens me. It saddens me more to think Nikki is going to win.

Becky Lynch vs. Mickie James – Has potential. A lot of potential. James hasn’t be slouching around, she was wrestling in other territories. Her match against Asuke in NXT was a display of good work. If Lynch and James can communicate well, this could be the best of three women’s matches on the card.

Yes, there are THREE women’s matches. Last time that happened? Anyone?

SmackDown Women’s Championship – Naomi vs. Alexa Bliss – I have no doubt Alexa Bliss will win. Naomi will make it look strong, she will have her high spots, but either by roll up, reversal, or succesfully connecting with a signature finish, Bliss will best the glow-worm.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Apollo Crews and Kalisto – This is under the category of “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.” Really, I don’t. Ziggler is on a bad-attitude streak, hasn’t changed his fan base, which probably hurt Crews and Kalisto. Oh, WWE thought a chair-swinging Ziggler would be frowned on by fans? Uh, try again. Fans were begging Ziggler to continue clobbering Kalisto. At this rate, Kalisto will go the way of Rey Mysterio sooner rather than later. I’m pulling for Ziggler to win. I understand a loss will add to Ziggler’s rage meter, but there is only so far that agenda by WWE Creative can go. What’s next, he turns red or green and goes Hulk on us?

Luke Harper vs. Randy Orton – Call me nuts, but I’m looking forward to it. Harper branching on his own could be really good. He’s already been a singles champion, why not do it again? Orton winning looks like an easy bet, so my call is for Luke Harper.

SmackDown Tag Team Championships: The Ascension, Slater/Rhyno, Vaudevillains, The Usos, Breezango, and American Alpha – This match screams title change. American Alpha has been running strong, but the rest of the tag roster is fairly strong, even the weaker teams like Breezango, Ascension, and Vaudevillains look to start becoming stronger on television. We are familiar with Alpha, Usos, and Slater/Rhyno as the stronger teams, but the division can’t rely on only those three. I am taking a stretch, but one of those three unexpected teams will walk away with the titles. Breezango would be too comical, but not out of the realm of possibility. It would hurt my spirit if The Ascension won, but since everyone hates them, they make a valid arguement to become champs. I’ll go the way of Vaudevillains and make them my underdog pick. I feel this is the only way they can have American Alpha lose the titles without looking weak.

WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Match: John Cena defends against Dean Ambrose, The Miz, Bacon Rorbin, Bray Wyatt, and A.J. Styles – Playing the role of fan, this is a tough call. Much like the prior tag team turmoil match, this too is painted for a title change. Multi-man matches are good for title changes to protect the current title holder from looking weak. AJ Styles regaining the title would be nice. Sadly, with WrestleMania coming up, it is not happening. Bacon Bits Rorbin is being built up slowly as a future WWE or Universal Champion. It would not surprise me if he is one of the last to be eliminated. Ambrose and Miz will put up good fights, but Miz isn’t getting the WWE Championship back… yet. This brings it down to Bray Wyatt and John Cena. Cena retaining adds to the super-cena gimmick. Bray Wyatt winning would be a hell of swerve, and put Bray and Orton head-to-head, giving opportunity for The Wyatt Family to get back together and Orton to resume his uber-face status. It’s a tough one, but Orton vs. Cena at WrestleMania seems like a Vince McMahon-move to me, hoping for the cliche big match. Hell, I’ll go unexpected route, let’s go with Bray Wyatt.