The last pay per view before Wrestlemania is traditionally where the showcase of the immortals begins to take its final shape and this year should be no different. Both Raw and Smackdown have their respective Elimination Chambers which should determine the main event spots at the granddaddy of them all.
Raw Elimination Chamber
It is hard to look beyond John Cena coming out of this match victorious and on his way to challenge for the WWE Title at Wrestlemania. It has long been known that WWE management is keen on The Miz facing Cena for the title at the biggest event in the WWE calendar and the events of the Royal Rumble suggest that is the plan they are sticking to.
As for the other combatants, CM Punk appears to be entering into a feud with Randy Orton which no doubt will be furthered inside the steel, Sheamus is simply awaiting the return of Triple H and John Morrison and R Truth are purely there to make up the numbers. This is a shame for Morrison who just cannot break through the glass ceiling.
Prediction: John Cena wins Raw Elimination Chamber
Smackdown Elimination Chamber
This match is different in that the World Champion Edge participates and has to defend his title against five hungry opponents in order to book his date with Alberto Del Rio at Wrestlemania. However his competition is a bit fiercer in the sense that none of the other competitors have any major angles pending heading into the annual extravaganza so could all be potential winners.
Dolph Ziggler has surely seen his title shot come and gone at the Royal Rumble although his performance there did him no harm whatsoever. Kane has had his title run and putting the belt on him at this stage would make no sense at all. Drew McIntyre is a dark horse but it would be a real risk putting the belt on him so close to Mania without really enhancing his character more so he is likely to be there to add to the numbers.
Rey Mysterio and Wade Barrett are interesting contenders. Both would be viable opponents for Alberto Del Rio, in particular Mysterio as they have had their encounters in recent months. Barrett will not be able to get any help from his buddies in The Corre but is well thought of in WWE so is a danger to Edge. However the suggestion is he may be heading into a programme with the returning Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Therefore it may just be that Edge escapes this one to go on to face Rio.
Prediction: Edge retains World Title.
WWE Champion The Miz vs. Jerry “The King” Lawler
What a peculiar title match this is. It would make no sense whatsoever for The Miz to lose the WWE Title at this stage, especially to an ageing performer like Lawler. However don’t expect The Miz to go over cleanly as that is not the nature of his title run to date. Expect Michael Cole to interfere in some aspect setting up some sort of Lawler/Cole confrontation at Wrestlemania.
However if the WWE continues to make The Miz look so weak in his run up to his program with Cena how will anyone believe he can leave Wrestlemania with the title still in his grasp? The booking team need to have a rethink on this one.
Prediction: The Miz to retain WWE Title