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Here is the current card for the Elimination Chamber, which will take place on Sunday night from Corpus Christi, Texas, along with out thoughts on what will happen.
WWE World Title Match: Seth Rollins versus Dean Ambrose
Dave: This is interesting on a few levels. One, as a Network only (in the US and UK) event, it will be a barometer of sorts to see if people sign up for the Network to see it. Also, the build has been fun and WWE has a chance to continue elevating Ambrose here. He doesn’t have to win, and I don’t expect him to do so, but he must be booked strongly. I am looking forward to the match and expect it to be very good.
Mike: The build to this has been very good, considering two months ago Dean Ambrose was lost in space. I suspect we will see a very good brawl here, but I really don't see a title change. With Roman Reigns not officially set for a bout, it seems far more likely we see Reigns make a run-in to help offset some interference and set up Reigns vs. Rollins for Money in the Bank. Ambrose has nothing to lose here and I expect a big performance out of Rollins. Should be a fun main event!
Richard: After a year of doing whatever they could do to make me not care about this feud, they have given us a few good weeks of these two men to make me remember what they did together in FCW. I would like to see Dean win the title, but we have seen the formula so many times: Seth will be in danger of losing and then we will get the usual series of interference to keep Rollins from losing, but not enough to win right away. Maybe we get Roman Reigns involved as well and be the reason why Dean is unable to win the title, either by accidentally hitting Dean or doing something to Rollins that the referee miraculously sees. Until this point, it should be a good match. PLEASE
WWE Intercontinental Title Match: Wade Barrett versus Dolph Ziggler versus R Truth versus Ryback versus Sheamus versus Rusev inside the Elimination Chamber
Dave: If Rusev were healthy, he would join Sheamus as co-favorites. His injury could mess that up. And really, if they put him over here after losing the feud to John Cena, it would make the IC Title belt look weak. Of the rest, I see Barrett having no chance (and he shouldn’t given they way they always book him to lose). Truth is in the same boat. I could see them pull the trigger on Ryback, but think that instead they will go with Sheamus. Then Sheamus could feud on with Ziggler and then take on Ryback afterward. If Rusev can’t go, the only replacement that I can think of that would step in and have a chance to win is Daniel Bryan, and I don’t see him making another miracle recovery this fast. This should be good.
Mike: On paper, this is a bout full of talents who, in most cases, have good to excellent matches but are never, ever treated as top-tier superstar talents. This could be their chance to really steal the show by being in a main event position. Rusev's injury and whether he makes it to the ring on Sunday are major questions waiting to be answered, but I don't believe that will have any major effect on the finish. The belief going into this a week or so ago was that Sheamus was the front-runner but I wouldn't discount Ziggler. Truth has the most to gain with a great performance here. This should be a good bout, although pretty brutal for those in the ring.
Richard: This is a match that the WWE has done as much as possible to make you not care about it. Whether it is doing really short matches with clean finishes to not make you know who would have the advantage or want to see a match that will probably go 25 to 30 minutes. The other problem with this match is that there only appears to be one person who should win the match, and his name is Sheamus. Truth is here as filler (and probably to eliminate Barrett), Barrett is here because he is the King of the Ring winner (and not winner of much else, Ziggler is too busy caring about Lana, Ryback is a long shot but they have been making a big deal about how he has never won a title in WWE, and Rusev is questionable due to an injury suffered on Smackdown. I did not think Rusev was going to win, and if they replace Rusev on Sunday, the replacement will not win the match either. I would love to see Harper in this match, but maybe they put Kane or Wyatt into the match.
WWE Tag Title Match: The New Day versus Tyson Kidd and Cesaro versus The Prime Time Players versus Los Matadores versus The Lucha Dragons versus The Ascension inside the Elimination Chamber
Dave: This should be wild, with all of those guys in the cage. With all of the talk about New Day having no chance, I expect them to retain. They are a lot of fun in their role right now and WWE needs to keep that rolling along. I expect this to be good as well.
Mike: I expect this to feature a lot of silly comedy with New Day involved. If they can maintain the crowd interest live, I will be stunned as for the most part, the teams are all treated like after-thoughts. The Ascension could really stand to gain some points with some kickass, dominant work but thus far, we've yet to really see that out of them. I expect Kidd and Cesao and Lucha Dragons to pull out some cool spots. I don't think we'll see a title change here.
Richard: While the other Chamber Match has done everything to make me not care, the tag match from Smackdown was everything to make you care. Two good teams in the ring showing how good they are as wrestlers, every team was involved in some way due to the Lumberjack Match stipulation, and the New Day was there. I think there are three teams that I think could win the match, but for The Prime Time Players, Los Matadores, and Ascension, you are not one of those three teams. The Lucha Dragons are long shots, but after their work on Thursday, they jumped to the same level as the two teams people expected to win the match. I hope this match does not break down into a cluster with no control by the referees because I think that will affect the importance of the match. I don?t know if we are going to get a Giant Swing spot, but I hope we get Cesaro running from corner to corner giving people European uppercuts. I want to see Kidd, Cesaro, The New Day, and Lucha Dragons showcase their talents, but I don?t want to see any of them start the match because I think it will hurt their chance of lasting long. It is a double edged sword, but I am sure I will enjoy it. New Day retains thanks to the Freebird Rule.
John Cena versus Kevin Owens
Dave: If WWE wanted to shock the world and show anything can happen on The WWE Network, having Owens go over here is the way to do it. I tend to doubt that Vince McMahon will pull that trigger however. But with that said, there is no reason that this can’t be booked as ultra-competitive, and it should be. I would like to see them going toe-to-toe even and if they wanted to brawl into the crowd and get counted out, that is fine too. The key is it has to be even and not another in a long line of Cena demolitions.
Mike: Does Owens become the latest guy to be fed to Cena or does WWE do the unthinkable and make a big-time star out of Owens by having him defeat Cena? I really don't see the latter, but how great would it be to see that? This should be a really well put together, fun brawl. My guess is Cena gets the win or Owens get DQ’d.
Richard: This could be the most polarizing match of the night. If Cena wins, there will be a group of people who will complain that Owens is buried, despite what he does during the match. If Owens wins, it makes the ?main roster? look weaker than NXT (and if it was treated as a separate brand instead of a ?minor league? or training ground, it would not have to be). Owens has been used so well since he debuted in December and he is on a different level when it comes to his promo skills. I want this match to get some time, and with only six matches on the show, it should. I hope we get to see Owens mock Cena with the ?You Can?t See Me? deal since he did it on house shows. This should be an even match, but at some point, Owens gains control, but this match is not about him winning, but more about sending a message to the entire WWE. I think Cena wins, but due to disqualification because of Owens? aggression. Maybe we get a power bomb on the apron.
WWE Divas Title Match: Nikki Bella versus Naomi versus Paige
Dave: I get the feeling Nikki loses the belt here, for both WWE and Total Divas reasons. Then babyface Nikki can chase to get her Title back, all while it is filmed for E!.
Mike: Naomi winning the belt makes the most sense in pro wrestling terms. The women have been trying very hard lately, but this one could go either way in terms of what we see in the ring.
Richard: I think we could see a new champion on Sunday, but it is not who most people would want to see. As I mention below, if they do something during the Kickoff Show that keeps Brie from being at ringside for Nikki, it would give an advantage to Naomi. I don?t think Paige needs the title to be over with the fans, and with what has happened since the UK tour, Naomi has been focusing on Paige so it would make sense for Naomi to pin Paige to win, and continue the ?The Champ did not get pinned to lose the title? pattern.
Neville versus Bo Dallas
Dave: This should be a good, solid match. Neville HAS to win. Has to, that simple. Period.
Mike: If they give this time, this could be a lot of fun. I don't see Dallas getting a win here but a good performance could do him wonders.
Richard: I don’t think this one will be as good as their match from the first NXT special, but I think we will have the same result. Neville is on the upswing while Bo is there to motivate people who are not following the Power of Positivity of the New Day. After about 5 or 6 minutes, we see the Red Arrow.
On the Kickoff Show: Daniel Bryan is a guest on MizTV
Dave: The best case scenario is that Bryan steps up, says he has been cleared and will be in the IC match, replacing Rusev. It would be a great way to get people watching the free show to order the Network. But I think he will just be there to push the DVD.
Mike: Unless WWE is going to pull the greatest swerve of all time by announcing Bryan is replacing Rusev, my guess is they will just push the DVD release.
Richard: While this will probably be a way to hype the DVD and upcoming book release, I would not be surprised to see this be an angle of some sort. Miz could always bring up their link to the first season of NXT and how he was a failure then and is now out with an injury. While I don’t want to see anything physical happen, I could potentially see something happen that forces Daniel to leave the building and take Brie out of the picture to be at ringside with Nikki for the Divas Title Match.
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