WWE Elimination Chamber 2023 is coming up this Saturday and before the event takes place, let’s run down everything you need to know about the upcoming pay-per-view.
Who is scheduled for the card? How interesting does the show seem? What’s going to happen with all the matches?
Here is a full preview of WWE Elimination Chamber 2023.
PPV EVENT INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, February 18, 2023
Start Time: 7 p.m. ET (pre-show), 8 p.m. ET (main show)
Location: Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
MATCH CARD, PREDICTIONS & HEAT INDEX ANTICIPATION LEVELS
(as currently advertised; card is always subject to change)
Temperature Scale = Scorching > Hot > Lukewarm > Temperate > Chilly > Cold > Freezing
Heat Index is my assessment of how interesting the segment is, including how excited I am for the match and how intriguing the feud has been. The hotter, the better. Scorching translates to not being able to wait to see it, while Freezing means I couldn’t possibly care less and think it will be awful.
ELIMINATION CHAMBER MATCH FOR THE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP:
Austin Theory (c) vs. Bronson Reed vs. Damian Priest vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Montez Ford vs. Seth Rollins
Heat Index = Hot
Prediction: Austin Theory wins.
Thoughts: This is a good group of guys. It wouldn’t have been the exact six I would have chosen, but I’m a fan of everyone, so I’m down for it. Theory is going to retain. I’m expecting him to fight John Cena at WrestleMania. Now, technically, he could drop the belt here, fight Cena in a regular singles match, and someone else could defend the title at Mania (Rollins against Logan Paul with the belt on the line? Gargano against someone?) But the simplest answer is usually what happens. Theory will get a late draw and retain by hook or by crook.
UNDISPUTED WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Sami Zayn
Heat Index = Scorching
Prediction: Roman Reigns wins.
Thoughts: As great as it would be for Sami Zayn to reach the mountain top, I don’t think he’s winning the belt here. Look. If Cody Rhodes were injured or something, then Zayn would be the easy best option to beat Reigns at WrestleMania. But Rhodes won the Royal Rumble and there’s a built-in secondary option with Zayn. He’ll team with Kevin Owens against The Usos to win those tag titles. No, it isn’t “just as good” of an alternative. But it is an A+ option that only seems worse in comparison to the S-tier idea of Zayn winning. This match will be good with a hot crowd and a passionate set of players.
RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP NO. 1 CONTENDER’S ELIMINATION CHAMBER MATCH:
Asuka vs. Carmella vs. Liv Morgan vs. Natalya vs. Nikki Cross vs. Raquel Rodriguez
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Prediction: Asuka wins.
Thoughts: There is a lot of talent in this match, but I can’t help but to feel like none of these Superstars have the momentum on their side to be a worthwhile challenger for Bianca Belair. My gut tells me Asuka is the top potential winner, with Raquel Rodriguez right behind her and Liv Morgan coming in third. But realistically, none of them seem like they’re on par with Belair for a “big marquee, best possible match in the women’s division” type setup. It feels to me like every option is B-level. Hopefully, I’m wrong, and they have something up their sleeves. But this isn’t doing it for me yet.
MIXED TAG TEAM MATCH:
Edge and Beth Phoenix vs. The Judgment Day (Finn Balor and Rhea Ripley)
Heat Index = Temperate
Prediction: The Judgment Day wins.
Thoughts: I’ve been over this feud for something like 8 months. MOVE ON. The only element of this I find interesting is to see Beth Phoenix against Rhea Ripley. As much of a fan of Edge as I am, I’m way past seeing him against Finn Balor and caring about it. The Judgment Day wins with Ripley getting the pin to keep the momentum going into WrestleMania. Dominik Mysterio probably interferes to cause a distraction. That way, Edge can say he wants Balor in an environment at WrestleMania that can keep the rest out: Hell in a Cell. That’s a prediction, by the way—not what I would personally book.
SINGLES MATCH:
Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Prediction: Brock Lesnar wins.
Thoughts: This has me perplexed. I just assumed they would fight at WrestleMania. Doing the match now either means this is an unnecessary setup for the same thing (a la, something weird happens that results in them saying “We need to do ANOTHER rubber match”), or it isn’t superfluous, but a means to get this out of the way. That can only happen if they have something else in mind for either or both of them. Maybe we do get Lesnar against someone like Stone Cold Steve Austin or Batista? Lashley does something with The Hurt Business? I don’t know, which has me intrigued. But as far as a prediction goes, I’ll just assume Lesnar wins this, since he’s Lesnar.
OVERALL PPV:
How excited am I for the event as a whole?
Heat Index = Hot > Lukewarm
Thoughts: I’m Hot, leaning toward Lukewarm on this. Elimination Chamber matches are fun. Reigns vs. Zayn should be a big deal. Lesnar vs. Lashley has potential. But something definitely feels off about this event. It seems very much like a pit stop before WrestleMania where a lot of important things are being saved for later. I assume I’ll enjoy it, though.
Be sure to enter my Road to WrestleMania 39 contest going on right now for a chance to win a Dusty Rhodes Funko Pop!
What do you think is going to happen at WWE Elimination Chamber? Which matches are you most excited to see? Keep the discussion going in the comments below!
