“Woken” Matt Hardy vs. Bray Wyatt
I mean, all I know is that at one point, these two were laughing at each other for weeks on end, and now they’re having a match. That pretty much describes Bray Wyatt in 2018. The match is nothing more than a placeholder that will probably get more time than what is required to get to the point because WWE forgot they had a PPV to fill and only had three confirmed matches with a talking segment confirmed before RAW. The thing is, these two have already faced off with each other, and Bray Wyatt defeated Matt in a match that no one remembered, so this match serves no other purpose other than to take up space and fill up time. Literally, nothing more. I don’t really care for Bray at this point because he’s just visibly sad to watch these days, but because he already defeated Matt, I’ll just say Hardy will defeat him just for giggles this Sunday. Nothing short of some sort of double turn will make me interested here.
Winner: “Woken” Matt Hardy
Asuka vs. Nia Jax – If Nia Wins, Women’s Championship Match Becomes Triple Threat
I know WWE expects us to have memories not lasting longer than two weeks, but history shows us that Asuka is in no real danger of losing to Nia Jax, who has lost every important match of her career thus far. Asuka has defeated Nia back in NXT before, and in January, Asuka beat up Nia and her lower extremities to the point that they had to call the match. Of course, swerves always happen, and Nia could casually beat Asuka on the RAW-exclusive PPV on the road to WrestleMania, but it’s not happening. Asuka is the winner of the first women’s Royal Rumble, has yet to lose a match since coming to NXT, and the wise thing to do is keep the undefeated aura going. Asuka hasn’t even chosen which champions he’s challenging yet anyways. She’s already defeated Alexa Bliss, so I’m not convinced Asuka will be challenging her, but rather, I think she’ll choose a woman she has yet to conquer, Smackdown’s resident woman’s champion, Charlotte. Ronda Rousey will be coming over to RAW for good, and it’s highly likely we are going to get a tease of what her WrestleMania match will be. With all that going on RAW, I think Asuka will head over to Smackdown. Nonetheless, this match is as good as hers, just like all others before.
Winner: Asuka
Cesaro and Sheamus (C) vs. Apollo Crews and Titus O’Neil – RAW Tag Team Championship
Here is another match that pretty much would have no business being on PPV if it wasn’t for a relatively thin undercard. Titus Worldwide have beaten Cesaro and Sheamus three times, including twice before Cesaro and Sheamus won the titles back at the Royal Rumble. Cesaro and Sheamus already beat Titus Worldwide with the RAW Tag Titles on the line. But what do you know? The cycle continues as Cesaro and Sheamus lost to the team yet again last night. Which probably means The Bar will be retaining this Sunday. Just like Hardy/Wyatt, this match is nothing more than a placeholder that would be a pre-show match on a big show. That’s all I got.
Winners: Cesaro and Sheamus
Alexa Bliss (C) vs. Sasha Banks vs. Sonya Deville vs. Mandy Rose vs. Mickie James vs. Bayley – RAW Women’s Championship (6-Women Elimination Chamber Match)
No
The underlying story of this match comes in the form of a trio of relationships being that of Absolution, the newly formed alliance of Alexa Bliss and Mickie James and the underlying tension between Sasha Banks and Bayley. The women have always tried their hardest when entering a match they haven’t been in before, so it will be interesting to see how they work the Elimination Chamber dynamic.
I think there is enough professionalism and skill in there to make the Chamber work, though I’m not exactly expecting them to be raking their faces across the chain or feature it often, I can bet you my life savings Sasha will attempt to kill herself at least 4 times in this match. At the very least, she’ll lose a limb in the process. Anyways, I don’t see any other outcome that doesn’t involve Alexa winning. It’s clear that Mickie James is just an end to a means. Someone to help her retain the title as long as possible. Absolution members won’t be winning the title as they are not ready yet and if anyone was going to be champion of them, it was going to be Paige. Sasha and Bayley may be too occupied with each other to have the women’s title involved, and Mickie, as mentioned before, is just going to be a pawn for Alexa. I see Bliss coming out, and her having some sort of match with Nia at WrestleMania. That’s the outcome that makes the most sense to me anyways.
Winner: Alexa Bliss
Universal Championship #1 Contender’s Elimination Chamber Match – John Cena vs. Braun Strowman vs. Elias vs. The Miz vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor
Roman’s winning this one, guys. Honestly, who are we fooling. Even in spite of Rollins’ incredible one-man army performance last night, is anyone convinced someone other than Roman is going to be winning the Elimination Chamber match? John Cena keeps telling the story that he doesn’t have a Road to WrestleMania if he doesn’t win the Chamber match as if he has NEVER been to a WrestleMania that didn’t involve a world title. Hell, even when he didn’t have an advertised match, he had just enough time in his schedule to help The Rock emasculate the Wyatt Family. That said, it’s likely The Undertaker will appear on the RAW after EC or sometime near after to build to a match with Cena. The Miz is holding the IC title, and he is its rightful owner. So it’s likely that we won’t be getting Brock and The Miz unless its a house show event.
It’s too early to pull the trigger on Elias, but he’s been booked marvelously for this entire year, and I hope he makes some sort of statement in the chamber as the last man who enters the chamber. Finn Balor is sort of there just to give him something to do. It’s quite clear at this point WWE doesn’t plan on giving Finn the Universal Championship match that he’s owed. That makes me wish Finn would just take his ball and leave RAW altogether. As for Seth, his performance and endurance in last night’s gauntlet match would lead one to believe that he’s the favorite in this match. But we are in WWE reality.
Roman was the first one eliminated in the gauntlet last night. Lightning will not strike twice within a week and Roman may get his pin back on Seth this Sunday. Roman/Brock 2 is happening whether we like it or not. Honestly, I’m numb to it because we all knew this was going to be the match for next year’s WrestleMania the moment Brock won it from Goldberg last year. So I’m not gonna hold my breath for an upset, but rather I’ll be hoping these 7 can knock it out of the park. John Cena and The Miz are the only men with Elimination Chamber match experience, so while I would like to think they can carry things, I have no doubt in my mind the others will adapt, just like I have no doubt that “THE BIG DRAW” Roman Reigns, will be the last man standing.
Winner: Roman Reigns
Agree? Disagree? Let me know! Oh, and Ronda is gonna say some things and Stephanie’s gonna come out or whatever. That’s cool too, I guess.
