WWE Elimination Chamber 2018 Match Card and Predictions

EC 2018
Source: WWE

It’s Raw’s penultimate pay-per-view before WrestleMania 34 and it will contain two matches involving large chambers with people trying to eliminate other people from it.
#DarrylExplainsWrestlingTitles

The Elimination Chamber is one of WWE’s better creations in recent history, and used to be seen as a pretty big deal until WWE did what they always do and bastardised things with branded PPVs, giving us far too much of a good thing. If they dare give us ‘WWE Punjabi Prison’, I will immediately expire and pass over into the next life.

However, this year’s entry will be setting the scene for Raw’s top title feuds going into Mania, with the men’s Chamber match set to establish the number one contender for Brock Lesnar’s Universal Championship, along with Alexa Bliss defending the Raw Women’s Championship in the first ever female Elimination Chamber.

Here’s who we think will be picking up W’s this Sunday.

“Woken” Matt Hardy vs Bray Wyatt

hardy vs wyatt
Source: WWE

Two of WWE’s biggest characters will do battle once again at Elimination Chamber when The Man who Laughs faces The Man who Spooky Riddles, in a bout of who can out-crazy the other.

This feud is the wrestling equivalent of watching drunk, angry people argue and fight on a Friday night out – uncomfortable, confusing and a little bit hilarious, but you can’t help but watch.

Ultimately, I don’t think it really matters too much who wins this match on Sunday because there will more than likely be a rematch at WrestleMania. And if there is, it BETTER contain fireworks, dilapidated boats and Señor Benjamins.

Prediction: “Woken” Matt Hardy

Asuka vs. Nia Jax (if nia jax wins, she is inserted into the Raw women’s championship match at wrestlemania)

asuka vs nia
Source: WWE

I am not ready for Asuka. You are not ready for Asuka. Our mums are not ready for Asuka. THESE ARE JUST THE FACTS PEOPLE.

Unless WWE wants to absolutely chin us with a left hook swerve, the is no need or reason for Asuka’s near two-year undefeated streak to come to an end on Sunday.

The big drama of this match will see Jax being added to the Raw Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania, should she be able to overcome “The Empress of Tomorrow”. Being the toughest obstacle that Asuka has yet faced on the main roster, the first ever women’s Royal Rumble winner will have her work cut out for her. I would be more invested in the match if it were not for the fact that Asuka has previously beaten Nia Jax in NXT.

The real money is in keeping Asuka undefeated all the way through to WrestleMania and beyond, until the inevitable day comes where Asuka and Ronda Rousey do kicks on each other.

Prediction: Asuka

raw tag team championship match

the bar (c) vs. titus worldwide (with dana brooke)

the bar vs titus worldwide
Source: WWE

WORLDWIDE BABY!

Titus Worldwide picked up a quick win over the Raw Tag Team Champions, The Bar, this past week on Raw.

The match was nothing much to write home about, other than an effort of WWE’s half to get the tag titles defended at Elimination Chamber.

As much as I enjoy Titus Worldwide (and I do enjoy Titus Worldwide) and as nice as it is to have a new team in the tag title picture, Hell would have to freeze over and its frosty walls echo with the sound of Titus O’Neil’s barks before the straps change hands just yet.

Sheamus and Cesaro are just too good and the ol’ reverse momentum rule of wrestling dictates a successful title defence on Sunday.

Prediction: The Bar

 

Women’s Elimination Chamber match for the raw women’s championship

Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks vs. Sonya Deville vs. Mandy Rose vs. Mickie James

women's chamber
Source: WWE

Honestly, for the mere fact of putting Kurt Angle on notice and questioning why she should have to defend her title in the Elimination Chamber when Lesnar gets a night off, Alexa Bliss has to retain. Even if she hadn’t made such a valid point (yeah, yeah, she hasn’t defended the title in months, whatever), it would be a colossal mistake to take the championship away from Bliss this close to WrestleMania.

She has gathered a lot of momentum since moving to Raw and the WWE Universe is getting behind her, notably with her merchandise sales being some of the best in 2017, so WWE would really be shooting themselves in the foot to dethrone Bliss.

A huge victory in the inaugural women’s Chamber match would really give Alexa massive credibility ahead of WrestleMania and do wonders for crowd investment ahead of a match with Asuka, who, lest we forget, no one is ready for.

Whilst I’m certain WWE will be extremely tempted to put the belt on Sasha Banks, I hope they see sense and hold off, so we can finally get the suspected Banks heel turn and eventual main roster Banks/Bayley feud.

This will also be a big showcase for the likes of Deville and Rose, who are still finding their feet on the main roster, and I expect we will see them get a shock elimination over the likes of Mickie James to boost their threat factor in the Chamber.

Prediction: Alexa Bliss

 

Universal Championship no. 1 contender’s men’s elimination chamber match

John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Bálor vs. The Miz vs. Braun Strowman vs. Elias

men's chamber
Source: WWE

Aside from being the first ever seven-man Elimination Chamber match in WWE history, this match holds a bunch of ramifications on the road to WrestleMania.

Many of WWE’s top stars are without direction heading into the “Showcase of the Immortals”, owing to injuries that have plagued much of the roster, so by the end of this match we will (hopefully) get a clearer indication of matches heading into WM34.

The clear favourite to exit the Chamber with the main event spot at Mania is everyone’s/Vince McMahon’s favourite boi, Roman Reigns. The Large-sized Dog has been rumoured for months to be facing BRRROOOCCCKKK Lesnar at Mania for their long-awaited sequel and nothing to my mind has served to contradict that yet.

It does further pose the question as to what WWE will be doing with other stars like Bálor, Rollins and Elias moving forward, as other persisting rumours suggest we’ll be seeing Strowman and Miz feud for the Intercontinental Championship, and that Cena may well be getting that WrestleMania dream match against The Undertaker.

Elias, as an up-and-coming star, definitely needs a good showing in the Chamber, and after Rollins’ incredible display in the gauntlet match this week on Raw, please give him all the belts he wants.

If WWE follow tradition at this year’s WrestleMania, we may see them cram the likes of Miz, Bálor, Elias and others into an IC Title ladder match, but only time will tell.

With so much up in the air, it’s hard to give the victory to anyone but Roman.

Prediction: Roman Reigns.

Some of the coverage you find on Cultured Vultures contains affiliate links, which provide us with small commissions based on purchases made from visiting our site. We cover gaming news, movie reviews, wrestling and much more.