Now that SmackDown has aired, we can talk about both of the Chamber matches scheduled to take place at WWE's Elimination Chamber pay-per-view on February 19th. I'll start with RAW.
RAW ELIMINATION CHAMBER MATCH FOR THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
CM Punk (c)
vs.
Dolph Ziggler
vs.
The Miz
vs.
Kofi Kingston
vs.
R-Truth
vs.
Chris Jericho
I have conflicting emotions over RAW's Chamber match. In other words, I find it both interesting and boring at the same time.
There are four guys in this match that I don't care about. They're good performers, but I know they won't win. Those men are Truth, Kingston, Miz, and Ziggler. I'm indifferent on Truth and Kofi is there as a spot monkey (no racist). Ziggler and Miz are two guys I like a lot, but I know they're not destined to be in a title match at Wrestlemania. I'm sure they'll put on a good show, but they're not in the spotlight.
On a side note, this must make it painfully obvious how much star-power RAW is lacking. After Punk and John Cena, RAW offers nothing in the way of a face - well there was Zack Ryder, but we know where he is currently. With Cena in a separate program, their next best face was Kofi Kingston and he hasn't even been a singles competitor in months! Ouch, WWE. Very ouch.
With all this said, it's obvious my attention will be on the current champion, CM Punk, and Chris Jericho. As we all know, Jericho promised that the Royal Rumble would mark the end of the world as we know it. That didn't exactly happen as Jericho was the final man eliminate by the Rumble winner, Sheamus. The following night on RAW, Jericho interrupted a match between Punk and Daniel Bryan, causing a disqualification finish. He then proceeded to deliver a Codebreaker to CM Punk before fleeing the scene of the crime. It's too early to say what Jericho's actions on RAW mean in the long term. A lot of people are assuming this is the beginning of the rumored massive feud between the two that has been talked about since Jericho's return in early January.
I do know that this is possibly (nay, probably?) the start of said feud. That's why in addition to Punk retaining his championship, the only other plausible outcome I can foresee is Jericho taking it from him. Personally, I'd be thrilled for the latter because I think it makes the one and a half month of build up to Wrestlemania more interesting (assuming we do get Punk and Jericho). It would also be easier to write than having Punk retain and coming up with a scenario where Jericho earns the #1 contender spot after losing in the Chamber match. It's too early for an official prediction, but I'm leaning toward Punk retaining, currently.
SMACKDOWN ELIMINATION CHAMBER MATCH FOR THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Daniel Bryan (c)
vs.
Big Show
vs.
Randy Orton
vs.
Wade Barrett
vs.
Cody Rhodes
vs.
The Great Khali
This match is more interesting than the RAW match to me (believe it or not), but it's for much more different reasons. First, let me eliminate some of the competitors. Like the RAW match and all the other Chamber matches in history, you can tell beforehand who and who doesn't have a chance to win.
Khali is out. He has no business being in this match whatsoever; not that you didn't already know this from my spoiler update about Christian's absence. He's boring. He's too big. The audience doesn't care about him. His skill set (if you can call it that) especially does not mix with a Chamber match. I just pray to God he gets eliminated early.
Rhodes is out. Don't get me wrong. I love Cody Rhodes. I just don't see him truly "pulling an Ultimate Warrior" and holding both a world championship and the Intercontinental Championship at the same time. A lot like Ziggler and Miz for RAW, I think he'll put on a great show, but it's not his place to be in the WHC match at 'Mania.
Big Show is out. Yes, Show is out. To my own surprise, the Big Show has been very over with the crowd as of late. I wouldn't have complained over Show picking up the strap at the Rumble, but I was okay with him losing too. But the thing is, I just can't see him in a world title match at Wrestlemania. You also have to take into account his rumored match with Shaquille O'Neal (google it if you don't know). I can definitely see that match happening. It would be the same kind of match as last year's 6-person mixed gender tag match that featured Snooki. This Shaq match should be reason alone to not be counting on Show winning at the Chamber.
That leaves the current champion, Daniel Bryan, plus Randy Orton and Wade Barrett. Here's where the new dynamic comes in that helps make the SmackDown match more interesting than the RAW one:
Sheamus
Granted, Sheamus could technically choose to challenge for the WWE Championship on RAW, but I don't think anyone actually sees that happening (although never say never). Sheamus will likely be challenging to win his first ever World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania XXVIII. Since Sheamus is a face, it would only make sense to have him challenge a heel - meaning in this scenario the winner would have to be either Bryan or Barrett.
Not so fast my friend. Unfortunately, I feel like we're getting dangerously close to not having a singles match for the World Heavy Weight Championship at 'Mania. I say unfortunately because I'm old school. I'm fine with triple threat and fatal four way matches for titles, just not at 'Mania. It also defeats the purpose of winning the Rumble if someone else is just also going to become the challenger, but I digress.
As you can probably tell, I feel like there could be a three or four-man match specifically because of Orton. If Orton isn't in the World Heavyweight Championship match, then what does he do? Who else is there for him to face at 'Mania? Rhodes? I don't think so. I just don't see any way that Randy Orton is not in that WHC match. Assuming that Sheamus is challenging for the WHC as well, that means two baby faces. There has to be at least one heel, if not two.
This is where the scenarios get crazy. You could have Orton win and then have a match of Orton vs. Sheamus vs. Bryan at 'Mania. Or you could have Orton win, Bryan get a rematch shortly after on SmackDown, Orton win again and then Bryan goes to the back of the line. Then you could create a scenario where another heel (like Barrett or maybe, dare I say, Christian) earns their way into a title match at 'Mania. Then you have Randy Orton (c) vs. Sheamus vs. < insert heel >.
For kicks and giggles, I'd love to see:
Orton wins the Chamber
Daniel Bryan gets a rematch on the following SmackDown
Christian interrupts the Orton/Bryan match, thus screwing Bryan out of his automatic rematch
The WHC match at 'Mania is booked as:
Randy Orton (c) vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus vs. Christian in a Fatal Four Way match
Pretty good, no?
That's just one example and really, when you compile all the evidence, it's not that crazy. I may be wrong on the match, but I wouldn't be shocked to see something similar booked. Maybe a Championship Scramble. Who's to say? I'm just pointing out that the extenuating circumstances may make for a rather non-tradition title match at Wrestlemania.
That's why I say the SmackDown match is actually more interesting (for good or bad) than the RAW match.
Peace,
Daniel
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