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WWE will present the 2023 Elimination Chamber this Saturday from Montreal, Quebec, Canda.
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns with Paul Heyman vs. Sami Zayn.
Dave: I know the locals would love to see Sami win here and it would be something Tony Khan would do (see Allin, Darby - Seattle). It's also the wrong move. One, you don't end Roman Reigns' historic run anywhere but WrestleMania or Summerslam. The biggest things happen on the biggest stage. Two, if Sami wins, you then have Cody take him on at Mania in a face vs. face match that will lose most of the heat that one of them taking on the heel Reigns would garner. To me it comes down to the how. Reigns retains but then what? Do they do an angle where the Bloodline is destroying Sami and KO makes the save, leading to he and Sami vs. The Usos for the tag belts at Mania? I could see that as that win will give the fans the Sami pop on the biggest stage. They could always have Sami get a rematch on night one and the winner takes on Cody on night two, but I don't like that since it unnecessarily burns though quality matches too quickly (see Khan, Tony). If they instead keep The Bloodline story going into SummerSlam (which is my preference since it's the best thing in wrestling in forever), they could have Sami lose after some Bloodline interference and then when the group attacks, Cody (who could be scouting at Ringside) makes the save. In the process, Sami suffers an "injury" which will keep him out of wrestling at Mania, but he throws his support behind Cody and trains with him leading up to the show, sharing all that he knows about Roman Reigns, kind of like Apollo Creed training Rocky. Wherever they take us, I am ready to go, This ride has been great and is wrestling at its best to me.
Mike: My gut feeling is that Jey Uso shows up and causes some sort of DQ, perhaps trying to help Sami but getting him DQ'd accidentally. OR, they can do that Owens tries to help and gets Sami DQ'd so now Sami is pissy with him to add a new dimension of "I tried to help you and you hurt me." I would love to see Sami get the big hometown hero win but I just don't see it. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's my gut.
Richard: I am writing this before Smackdown airs so I do not know what they are doing on the show. I am hoping we get a special KO Show with Kevin to either antagonize Roman or give us the reunion of two of Quebec's favorite sons. This could be Quebec's version of the reaction to the Hart Foundation at Canadian Stampede with the reaction that Sami will get. Will this be the 'typical' Roman Reigns match with monologuing and lots of interference? With the status of the Usos still in the air that is still possible. I do not think Sami should win because I think the story is Cody's redemption tour for Mania. Sami will put up a valiant fight and will fall short. If the Usos do show up, will they be united or not? What does Solo Sikoa do? Did Paul's comments to Jimmy suggest that Paul, and by proxy Roman, believes that there is some trouble in Roman World? What is next for Sami after this? Does he challenge for the tag titles? Does he continue to work with Jey or does he get treated like Joe Pesci in Goodfellas?
Elimination Chamber Match to Determine Bianca Belair's Opponent at Wrestlemania - Liv Morgan vs. Asuka vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Natalya vs. Nikki Cross vs. Carmella.
Dave: To me there are two real options, Asuka and Raquel. I love Asuka but it would kind of seem like been there before. My pick is Raquel, who is on the rise and would be a really interesting match for the uber talented and athletic Belair. If it's me, I have Raquel start the match and outlast the group in a star-making performance. This could be the one "athletic contest" on the show that is built solely around which stud athlete will prevail.
Mike: I would go with Liv all the way here.
Richard: The best thing about this match is that neither Bayley nor Becky got added to this match because why does it make sense for either of them to be added into a match they might not win to face the champion? When looking at these challengers, it is hard to figure out who is the best option for Bianca? Do you have one of the three Smackdown women (why are they in the match since it is for the RAW WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH?) win this match when two of the three could be a viable option based on the way they are booked (sorry Natalya). Liv is a former Smackdown champion and is still a top competitor on the brand so it is a good story for her to challenge for the other title. Raquel was my underdog pick to win the Rumble because it was in Texas. They have kept her strong and her and Bianca would be a good batlte of two of the strongest women in the company. Of the three Raw women, Carmella would be a great story because of the comeback from health issues to get a major Mania match. I don't see Nikki winning despite her being relevant (more than before) again [Piper too]. Asuka seems like the best option with the return to Kana style face paint and her new style (her beating up her tag team partners before winning the six woman tag match on Monday was awesome). If you want something new, I think you go with Raquel, but if you want to go with the best possible match, I think you go with Asuka. With the hype for Charlotte and Rhea, this does not have to be the biggest possible match since it will be no better than #3 behind Cody/Roman and Charlotte/Rhea.
Elimination Chamber Match for the United States Championship - Austin Theory vs. Seth Rollins vs. Bronson Reed vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Damian Priest vs. Montez Ford.
Dave: Rollins seemed destined to dance at Mania with Logan Paul so I see no need to put him over here. The rest are great talents that I like a lot but to me it's not time to take the Title off of Theory. I build him more by having him survive the gauntlet.
Mike: I am with Dave here. The story should be that no one expected Theory to survive but he does. I expect Montez to have a big run here and even be the final competitor eliminated.
Richard: This is a good mix of talent and I think there are four potential winners of this match. I don't think Gargano or Reed are going to win this match because it doesn't make sense at this time. Gargano is stuck in the Lumis and Miz storyline while Reed has only been back for a few weeks but he has looked solid in the ring. It would be a big deal for Theory if he retains the title and is not the last one out of the tubes to continue to distance him from his "Vince's Favorite Son" gimmick. If Seth Rollins wins, it could add something to his likely match against Logan Paul at Wrestlemania, but do we need Logan Paul as the US Champion? Damian Priest winning would add to the importance of THE Judgment Day and could tease some sort of jealousy between the group members. It would also add to Dom's advice on how to handle a cage match because of his 'lengthy jail sentence'. The person I would love to see win this match is Montez Ford. Ford might be hamstrung by the chamber due to his aerial offense (so we don't get the flip dive over the ring post). The only problem with Ford winning is the perception that it could lead to the end of the Street Profits. While they might not be in the tag title picture, they are a formidable team and it could instead lead to Angelo challenging for the IC title. Despite what I have said, I think Seth wins.
Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley.
Dave: Rich went first here and I agree, this is a set up to a bigger match at Mania. I don't know what the finish will be other than to say it will be inconclusive and thus lead to a bigger match at Mania.
Mike: Well, we saw Bray is challenging the winner at Mania. No way Brock loses.
Richard: I think this match is more of an angle to set up their match at Wrestlemania. Other than giving the people of Montreal a Brock Lesnar match, I don't think this match makes sense on this show. Since we usually expect Brock to be smash and destroy guy, I hope if they don't do a full match (Brock hits 3 moves, stands around, Bobby hits 3 moves, stands around, rinse repeat) it is Bobby attacking Brock as the bell rings, getting DQed and then an attack that has the crowd shocked at what they are watching. Then it ups the ante for Wrestlemania.
Edge and Beth Phoenix vs. Finn Balor and Rhea Ripley.
Dave: Since Rhea has Charlotte at Mania, it's time for this to end where the women are concerned. Edge and Beth win when Edge pins Finn. They could always have Rhea pin Beth as well, but then the faces never get their revenge, or at least don't for a while.
Mike: Judgement Day has to go over. Rhea shouldn't lose before Wrestlemania and Finn vs. Edge can be a nice undercard attraction next month.
Richard: This has the potential to be better than most people expect. These are four people who don't have to do a 'wrestling match' to get over and it shouldn't be a wrestling match. When you look at the history of Edge and THE Judgment Day this could have blood and it would make sense. I want them to add a stipulation so they can go 'outside the box' and the rules. I can see Edge about to finish off Finn but since Rhea is in one of the Mania main events she will stop Edge and then pin Beth to win the match.
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