UPDATED Elimination Chamber 2017 Match Card and Predictions

Coming off the back of a totally underwhelming Royal Rumble, we have the Smackdown exclusive PPV Elimination Chamber up next. Judging from the card, it looks like there is going to be an extremely good chance that it’s going to fall flat on its face. So without further ado, let’s have a look at the next PPV as we head into Wrestlemania.

 

2 ON 1 HANDICAP MATCH

APOLLO CREWS AND KALISTO VS DOLPH ZIGGLER

This is an interesting and extremely boring storyline that the WWE have been pushing over the last few weeks. The strong impression I get is that the creative team have no idea what to do with either Kalisto or Crews so they are just using them to push Ziggler as he embarks on his Heel run, which is still relatively fresh to the fans.

Kalisto is a pretty decent lucha whilst Crews is just a hulk of man (who is surprisingly quick for his size) so the pairing makes sense, but this match is only here to feed Ziggler as the WWE give him one more push to main event status.

PREDICTION: Ziggler to win

 

MICKIE JAMES VS BECKY LYNCH

Some of the older fans might remember Mickie James from back in the day (I know I most certainly do) and since her return to the company she has been making things as difficult as possible for Becky Lynch. Since dropping the title a few months back, Lynch’s momentum has stalled somewhat, so expect this match to be awarded to the veteran as we push towards Wrestlemania.

PREDICTION: Mickie James to win

 

NIKKI BELLA VS NATALYA

This rivalry has been one of the most personal exchanges we have seen for a long time coming out of the WWE. Nikki Bella has recently come back to the roster after being away for some time due to injury. At Survivor Series she was ambushed by Natalya and has since been riding her about her famous husband, Big Match John, and how she is just leeching off his name and can’t actually wrestle herself.

Natalya is painting herself to be one of the best female heels on the blue roster. She had some forgettable matches against Charlotte, with the action mainly focused on Ric Flair and Bret Hart, but we should now see what she is capable off.

Nikki Bella was the longest reigning Divas champion from 2014-2016 when the belt didn’t really have much standing (it had butterflies on it, for God’s sake), but since the division has had a revamp, she has been off our screens for some time, only really appearing on Total Divas.

I think Nikki will take this one in the hope she can once again reach the level she was before whilst cementing an amazing heel in the form of Natalya.

PREDICTION: Nikki Bella to win

 

TAG TEAM TURMOIL MATCH FOR THE SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP BELTS

AMERICAN ALPHA (C) VS BREEZANGO VS THE VAUDEVILLIANS VS THE USOS VS RHYNO AND HEATH SLATER VS THE ASCENSION

This match could be the one that steals the show if it is booked correctly or it could just be a total shambles. The way this will work is two teams will start off proceedings. As one team is eliminated, the other team will come in and this will continue back and forth until only one team is left standing.

Now, if you’re a hardcore fan you will know that two of these teams will just be used as punching bags, namely Breezango and possibly the Vaudevillians who are still out of favour after Simon Gotch nearly killed Enzo Amore a few months back.

There are some really good wrestlers in this match. The Usos are having an amazing heel run at the moment and Rhyno and Heath Slater still remain over with the fans.

However, with all that being said, the division does need some stability as it has been a disaster over the last few weeks and as we head into Wrestlemania, a champion needs to be established, so the American Alpha will retain and probably hold onto the belts in till the biggest event of the year.

PREDICTION: American Alpha to retain

 

SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

ALEXA BLISS (C) VS NAOMI

The storyline as we head into this match is one that has been used a couple of times by the WWE, which also leads this match to be predictable. Naomi has scored a number of pinfall victories over Alexa Bliss over the last few weeks whilst it has been a non-title match, so now she has the chance to do it again and pick up the gold.

I’m going to be honest here, this match doesn’t interest me as the Women’s division on both brands has become a bit stale over the last few months, but judging from the story line, you can expect Alexa Bliss to go over, just because it’s predictable. Also, it must be said that the belt needs to stay on one wrestler for the time being.

PREDICTION: Alexa Bliss to retain

 

LUKE HARPER VS RANDY ORTON

This match takes me a little by surprise, but not for the reasons people may think.

Luke Harper has proved to be an amazing Face after taking out Bray Wyatt on Smackdown to one of the biggest pop’s I have heard in some time. The most popular and strongest Wyatt after Bray himself, Harper has a lot to offer the fans and his recent turn should hopefully put that over.

As the Royal Rumble winner, Orton has enough momentum going into Wrestlemania and really does not need this match. That being said, I feel that Harper’s inevitable push is going to be stalled until Wrestlemania so the focus isn’t taken away from Orton or Bray. However, after watching SmackDown recently, I have the distinct impression that Harper is a stronger favorite with the fans than the Viper or Wyatt.

PREDICTION: Orton to win after Bray interference

 

ELIMINATION CHAMBER MATCH FOR THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP

JOHN CENA (C) VS DEAN AMBROSE VS AJ STYLES VS THE MIZ VS BARON CORBIN VS BRAY WYATT

On paper, this match looks epic. John Cena equalled Ric Flair’s record at Royal Rumble and is now a sixteen time world champ, which I do believe he deserves. But he is defending his belt against some of the best wrestlers the blue brand has to offer.

AJ Styles will want to get his title back and even if he isn’t booked to go over, he is simply the best wrestler that Smackdown has to offer. We have the current Intercontinental Champ, Dean Ambrose, in the mix as well so expect it to get personal between him and, well everyone else in there, but don’t expect him to walk away with both belts.

It all really boils down to three people: Cena, Styles and Wyatt.

Corbin is just too green to hold this belt at the moment and he really needs to be given the IC title for a little while to see how he holds up with the gold. The Miz has something going on with Daniel Bryant right now, so it’s unlikely we will see him win the belt.

Let me tell you why I am going with Wyatt. Orton and Cena has been done on numerous occasions and it is now just getting old (they have fought each other 84 times on PPV so far) and both wrestlers have held the respective belts for some period of time. If the WWE really wants to cash in at Wrestlemania and put on a main event for the ages then Wyatt vs. Orton would be the most sensible choice to go for.

With Orton now a member of the Wyatt Family, if both of these men walk into the main event, then the Wyatt Family looks strong because either way, the Family retains the belt, but more importantly, this could lead to a face turn from the Legend Killer and set up one hell of a feud between the two men. Plus, we also have to remember that Orton is nearing the end of his career so with his win at Royal Rumble, the WWE could be setting up his last run with the gold.

PREDICTION: Bray Wyatt to become WWE champion

So who have you got?