This Sunday, SmackDown Live hosts its last exclusive Pay-Per-View before WrestleMania 33: Elimination Chamber. This event is an important pitstop on the Road to WrestleMania, helping solidify the blue brand’s matches on the Grandest Stage of Them All. There is a big card to look forward to, including aTag Team Turmoil match, three women’s matches, and a WWE World Championship chamber match.
Mojo Rawley vs. Curt Hawkins
Earlier today, WWE announced the only match for the Kickoff show. The only build from this match is an online video where Curt Hawkins insults Mojo Rawley’s friendship with the New England Patriots’ tight end, Rob Gronkowski.
Prediction:
It’s time to, well, fact the facts with Curt Hawkins. His debut was hyped for weeks and ended with nothing, and a thrown together Kickoff match won’t change it, especially if Mojo Rawley can get some momentum. Winner: Mojo Rawley
Dolph Ziggler vs. Apollo Crews & Kalisto
For several weeks, Dolph Ziggler has been attacking Kalisto and Apollo Crews with a steel chair, including after a surprise loss to Crews last week. Ziggler made an off-handed comment to Daniel Bryan, saying he could beat both of them at the same time if he wanted to. Since Bryan is the general manager, he made that match official.
Prediction:
Whether it’s by disqualification or not, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Kalisto and Apollo Crews lose this match. This should either be a win by disqualification, or just by two Superstars putting and arrogant rival in his place. Winners: Apollo Crews & Kalisto
Nikki Bella vs. Natalya
Nikki Bella ended her feud with Carmella by beating her in a No Disqualification match, and Natalya seems to be saying the same things Carmella was to the former Divas Champion. Natalya is just jealous of Nikki Bella’s success, and after some great brawls and terrible promos, we finally get an official match between the two.
Prediction:
If Naomi can’t win the championship from Alexa Bliss on the same night (more about that later), Nikki Bella would be a great challenger for Bliss to face. With that in mind, she would need a win over Natalya to help her momentum. Winner: Nikki Bella
Randy Orton vs. Luke Harper
This match has been months in the making. Ever since Randy Orton joined the Wyatt Family, Luke Harper had always seemed skeptical of the Viper’s intentions. Orton never went out of his way to piss Harper off, but after several tag team matches with miscommunication, the two butted heads one time too many. Bray Wyatt believed that putting them in a match against each other on SmackDown would help them solve their issues, but things only got worse. Now, Harper looks to take out Viper and get his family back.
Prediction:
Randy Orton picking up the win here makes the most sense due to his guaranteed WrestleMania main event match. However, Harper getting a surprise victory could help his case if he wants in that match too. I’m going with the more intriguing option here. Winner: Luke Harper
Becky Lynch vs. Mickie James
Becky Lynch dressed up as La Luchadora to sneak a victory over Alexa Bliss months ago, and since then, a new La Luchadora showed up to torment the first-ever SmackDown Women’s Champion. This reached its peak when Mickie James, in full lucha gear, interfered in a championship cage match to screw Lynch out of regaining her belt. Now, Lynch finally has a one-on-one chance at revenge.
Prediction:
While Mickie James may be a six-time Women’s Champion and a former Divas Champion, the current casual audience might have never seen her on WWE television before this January. A win for James helps solidify her place in the division outside of Bliss’ ally, and a loss won’t hurt the crowd’s love for Becky Lynch. Winner: Mickie James
American Alpha (c) vs. The Ascension vs. Breezango vs. Heath Slater & Rhyno vs. The Usos vs. The Vaudevillains – SmackDown Tag Team Championships (Tag Team Turmoil Match)
This isn’t the first time there has been a Tag Team Turmoil match with SmackDown Live’s Tag Team Division. There is no build to the title match, so all of the teams SmackDown has to offer are in the match. No matter the result, this is a step to creating a credible Tag Team Division that saw promise at the beginning of the brand extension.
Prediction:
While there is a step to be made, there is not a team (aside from the Usos) that can believable take the titles away from American Alpha. There should be a focused story around the belts, like everything else on SmackDown has been given. Winners, and STILL SmackDown Tag Team Champions: American Alpha
Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Naomi – SmackDown Women’s Championship
Outside of the fact Naomi had been out of action with an injury, it never seemed like the former Funkadactyl got the opportunities she deserved. Now with the brand split in full swing, Naomi has managed to pin Alexa Bliss twice in tag team matches, convincing Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan that she is the rightful #1 Contender.
Prediction:
Naomi more than deserves to be the SmackDown Women’s Champion, but this Sunday is not her time to capture her first championship. Alexa Bliss just became the Women’s Champion a couple months ago at TLC, and she has been on such a roll that she should go into WrestleMania as champion. Winner, and STILL SmackDown Women’s Champion: Alexa Bliss
John Cena (c) vs. Dean Ambrose vs. The Miz vs. Bray Wyatt vs. Baron Corbin vs. AJ Styles – WWE World Championship (Elimination Chamber Match)
Like the Royal Rumble, this multi-man championship match has so many ways it can go. We have John Cena, who is defending his 16th world title against the odds, and AJ Styles, who Cena beat to win the belt. We then have Dean Ambrose, the current Intercontinental Champion, and the former IC Champ, The Miz. Lastly, the two wild cards in this match are Bray Wyatt and Baron Corbin. Corbin pinned Styles clean last week, showing that he can hang with the main event talent, and Bray Wyatt has been a prominent part of SmackDown as of late.
Prediction:
Whoever wins this match will defend the WWE World Championship against Randy Orton. It’s pretty safe to assume that Dean Ambrose won’t win, since he already has a title. The Miz and Baron Corbin are long shots, but it would spice things up in an interesting way. Shane McMahon made it clear that AJ Styles will get his one-on-one championship rematch, so he could cash that in after WrestleMania. This leave the champ, and Bray Wyatt.
If Cena wins, he renews a storied rivalry that could potentially give Randy Orton his 13th World Championship. If Bray Wyatt wins, it could be the culmination of a story that has been brewing since No Mercy. If there’s one thing about WWE, it is that they love big stories to headline WrestleMania. Winner, and NEW WWE World Champion: Bray Wyatt
