WWE.com and Pat McAfee Show contributor Mark Kaboly gives his predictions for the WWE Elimination Chamber, streaming live from the United Center in Chicago on Saturday at 7 ET/4 PT on ESPN in the United States and on Netflix everywhere else.
World Heavyweight Title Match
CM Punk (c) vs. Finn Bálor
CM Punk cannot lose in his hometown of Chicago. It just can’t happen. And not having Punk holding the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 42 seems like a longshot at best. So, you can pretty much chalk this one up to Punk competing in front of his people against an opponent with whom he has had great matches. He will (and has to) win cleanly to keep the Punk vs. Roman Reigns main event intact for WrestleMania. This is more about Bálor and creating a program with him that can lead to WrestleMania. Enter Dominik Mysterio. The Intercontinental Champion has had some issues with his Judgment Day brother for some time, and it will finally come to a head at WWE Elimination Chamber.
Prediction: Punk defeats Bálor, who then gets attacked inside the ring by “Dirty” Dom
Women’s Intercontinental Championship Match
Becky Lynch (c) vs. AJ Lee
AJ Lee has been a thorn in the side of Becky Lynch ever since she returned to WWE. Lee hasn’t had a singles match in almost 11 years, and her first one is against one of the most decorated and ruthless Superstars. Lee winning is a hard sell to me… unless Lee gets to raise the title in her city and hold on to the gold for a short period of time, which then sets up a rematch at WrestleMania 42. Everything points toward Lynch retaining, most notably how she has been defeated by Lee since her return. As the great Roddy Piper said: “Once you think you know that answers, I change the questions.” Look for the upset because… well, just because it feels right.
Prediction: AJ Lee defeats Becky Lynch
Men’s Elimination Chamber
Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Trick Williams vs. Logan Paul vs. LA Knight
Two things I can guarantee will come out of this match: Je’Von Evans will wow us, and Randy Orton will catch Evans with a spectacular RKO at some point in the match. To me, it’s a three-man race: Orton, Cody Rhodes and LA Knight. Knight has a real chance, but I cannot see WrestleMania 42 taking place without Cody Rhodes being in a main event Title Match. And with Jey Uso being taken out by a mystery man on SmackDown opening the door for Vision member Logan Paul to take the sixth and final spot over Jacob Fatu solidified to me a Cody against Drew McIntyre Title Match at WrestleMania. If Fatu would’ve slid in to the Chamber, that might have changed. Still, you can drive yourself crazy coming up with potential endings if you want, including The American Nightmare finally giving in to his subtle hints over the past few years of turning from “good guy” to “bad guy,” though we all might be disappointed if we think any of that will happen. It’s going to be a straightforward, workmanlike performance by Rhodes that sends him to WrestleMania 42.
Prediction: Cody Rhodes defeats LA Knight
Women’s Elimination Chamber
Tiffany Stratton vs. Asuka vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriquez vs. Kiana James
I’ve been wanting Rhea Ripley to get away from her tag team phase and return to being a main eventer that she is. RHIYO has been nice, but it is time for The Eradicator to take her rightful spot as one of WWE’s top competitors. In all seriousness, what better option is out there? Stratton was the WWE Women’s Champion for more than a year before getting injured, while Raquel Rodriguez and Kiana James are clawing their way up the ladder but aren’t there quite yet. I am not a big proponent of shenanigans in PLEs that determine the outcome, but if Charlotte Flair can somehow force her way into the Chamber instead of teammate Alexa Bliss and win it, it is something that I wouldn’t frown on but something that I would say is a longshot.
Prediction: Rhea Ripley last defeats Tiffany Stratton
What’s in the box?
The mysterious box – or crate – that has been passed around Raw and SmackDown the last couple of weeks has piqued the interest of all. Maybe it is something related to Seth Rollins, who loves to make shocking appearances when least expected. Whatever it is, it’s going to be difficult to live up to the hype it has created, unless… With the tribute to AJ Styles on Raw earlier in the week, concluding with a stunning announcement of The Phenomenal One being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, it immediately makes you think of John Cena. What about him? He had a yearlong Farwell Tour and is arguably the best WWE Superstar of all time. Although it’s more of a WrestleMania tradition, I’m thinking, but not confident…
Prediction: WWE unveils a John Cena bronze statue joining the likes of Andre the Giant, Bruno Sammartino, Ric Flair and others.
