WWE Elimination Chamber 2019: Match card and predictions
WWE Elimination Chamber is the penultimate pay per view show before WrestleMania 35. So let’s make some predictions!
WWE Elimination Chamber signifies that WrestleMania season is now in full swing, with only Fast Lane left before the big show. I know it’s been a while since we’ve made some predictions. There was a major death in the family, and it has taken a while to get back into the swing of things. Like delivering the SmackDown Live recaps and perfectly predicting pay per views as you’ve come to expect.
Though I am trying to get back into the swing of things. And being back I have noticed a lot has changed with WWE since Survivor Series. WWE has promised to unleash a new way of creating stories and matches the fans want to see. Which interestingly enough feels and looks an awful lot like how they used to do it. Minus the rematch clauses, and all of the other stuff that made it moderately more predictable.
Let us take a look at the match card and make some predictions.
The Matches
WWE Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy vs. Akira Tozawa (Kickoff Match)
For those who have forgotten how the predictions work, I make two picks. One with my head and one with my heart. My head is the official pick, counting against my record and is usually backed by logic. The heart selection allows me to emotionally hedge my official pick with who I want to win. Moving on to this first match.
I still have not gotten into watching 205 Live, even in 2019. Frankly, with Mustafa Ali on SmackDown Live, I’m not sure I ever will. So, I am going to go with the gut instinct and say, since it’s a Kick-Off Show match, Buddy Murphy retains.
Official Pick:
Head: Buddy Murphy
Heart: Akira Tozawa
Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin (No Disqualification Match)
The fact that this is a no disqualification match means that Drew McIntyre is going to come out and help Corbin. Then Kurt will come aid brock and then it will be a running power slam and Angle slam festival.
Official Pick:
Head & Heart: Braun Strowman.
Intercontinental Champion Bobby Lashley & Lio Rush vs. Finn Bálor (Handicap Match)
Finn Balor has done a phenomenal job performing over the last year since WrestleMania 34 and has no belt to show for it. He should’ve gotten his chance to win the belt from Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble but instead, they kicked that match further down the road. So I think now is Finn’s shot to get a belt. Granted, they could have Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush cheat Balor, and then they face off at WrestleMania. But I think a better idea would be to have fin come out as the Demon, squash Lashley and Rush, become the IC Champion and then defend at WrestleMania 35 against Dean Ambrose. Which could be Ambrose’s last match, if you believe the AEW rumors.
Official Pick:
Head & Heart: Finn Balor
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Miz & Shane McMahon vs. The Usos
This is a little more difficult than it would have been earlier in the week. I would have predicted that this was the opportunity to get the belt off Shane and the Miz because let’s face it, the act is lame. However, with the recent trouble surrounding Jimmy Uso, I’m not so sure. Though there is literally nothing going on with the Smackdown Live tag division. So I could see them having Shane and the Miz holding the belts until WrestleMania where maybe the New Day become six-time tag champs? Either way, I’m rooting for the Usos.
Official Pick:
Head: The Miz and Shane McMahon
Heart: The Usos
Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey vs. Ruby Riott
I mean, come on now. Don’t insult us.
Official Pick
Head: Ronda Rousey
Heart: It wouldn’t even matter would it? Ronda is winning.
The Elimination Chamber Match to crown the first-ever Women’s Tag Team Champions
This is going to be an interesting match, simply because who wins is based on how much WWE values the women’s tag champs at WrestleMania. I say that because would you rather be the first? Or win them at WrestleMania for a great moment. Think about it.
This match boils down to two teams; Sasha Banks and Bailey vs Nia Jax and Tamina. I could easily see Nia and Tamina winning it first, then Bailey and Banks winning at WrestleMania.
However, I could also see this match being on the kick off show which would make winning it first be a better deal. Which would mean Bailey and Sasha, the two who have been leading this Women’s tag championship charge, besides for me calling for in 2018, should be the first to win it. Though after seeing Nia Jax and Tamina have that awkward promo where Nia kept cutting Tamina off I think their tag is on the fritz, which means they’ll probably win Sunday and Sasha and Bailey will get their second shot at WrestleMania. Either way, I am ok with this cause there aren’t any Women’s tag teams I dislike.
Official Pick:
Head: Nia Jax and Tamina
Heart: Anyone really, but I do love some Sasha Banks and Bailey.
WWE Champion “The New” Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton vs. Samoa Joe (Elimination Chamber Match)
I’m just going to come right out and say it. I want Kofi Kingston to win this match because I rock with anything The New Day does. Also, after that performance in the Gauntlet Match Tuesday, Kofi deserves to hold the belt, at least until Fast Lane. However, bringing it back to reality, because WWE would never end the Elimination Chamber with Kofi being the champion.
I have no clue who is going to win this title. We cannot go back to AJ Styles, Randy Orton is washed. Samoa Joe’s specialty is talking trash and losing, so he can’t win it. I think Mustafa Ali was in a really good position to win this match except he’s hurt now. So, it really might mean that Daniel Bryan retains, which I mean, wouldn’t be the end of the world. But who else is going to step up and take the title for Daniel Bryan? Let’s pray that it’s Kofi.
Official pick:
Head: Daniel Bryan
Heart: Kofi Kingston
It’s good to be back making the predictions again, but how do you think things will turn out? Who are your picks?
WWE Elimination Chamber can be seen Sunday night at 7 pm EST on the WWE Network.
