Tonight, SmackDown hits its last pit stop on the Road to WrestleMania. John Cena will defend the WWE World Championship against five other men in the Elimination Chamber, American Alpha defend the Tag Team Championships in Tag Team Turmoil, and we get to see three women’s matches. On top of this being a huge show, we will get a better idea of what is in the works for WrestleMania.
Mojo Rawley vs. Curt Hawkins
This match came to be because Curt Hawkins made fun of Mojo Rawley’s friendship with Rob Gronkowski. While it’s not much, Rawley will do a good job of getting the crowd excited for the rest of the show.
Rawley steamrolls Hawkins with a right hook in the corner, followed up with a tilt-a-whirl slam to get a singles victory that could be the start of something huge. Winner: Mojo Rawley
Predicted Winner: Mojo Rawley (1/1)
Becky Lynch vs. Mickie James
Dressed up as La Luchadora, Mickie James made her return to WWE by screwing Becky Lynch out of the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Tonight, Becky Lynch has chance to get some revenge on the six-time Women’s Champion, and former Divas Champion.
Mickie James is in control for most of the match, targeting Lynch’s left arm. James never lets the Irish Lasskicker lock in the Disarm-her, but a roll-up with a jackknife cover gets Lynch a quick victory. Winner: Becky Lynch
Predicted Winner: Mickie James (1/2)
Apollo Crews & Kalisto vs. Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler has been assaulting his opponents with chairs for the past few weeks, and after telling General Manager Daniel Bryan that he could beat both at the same time, Bryan made the match. Unless Ziggler has something up his sleeve, this should be a no-brainer.
Before the match gets underway, Dolph Ziggler attacks Kalisto during his entrance. After throwing the Lucha Dragon into the screen on the entrance ramp, The Showoff essentially turned this into a one-on-one match. The former Intercontinental Champion displayed smart strategy, by eliminating one of his two opponents. While it helped Ziggler even the odds, Crews has even more of a reason to take his anger out on Ziggler.
Kalisto manages to come back to the match, and almost manages to hit the Salida Del Sol. Ziggler pushes Kalisto into the corner, and Apollo Crews tags himself in to hit the launching sit-out powerbomb for the win. Winners: Apollo Crews & Kalisto
Following his loss, Dolph Ziggler shows that he is a sore loser by attacking Kalisto and Crews with a chair, like he has been for weeks. The Showoff wraps the chair around Crews’ ankle, and stomps on it twice attempting to snap his ankle.
Predicted Winner(s): Apollo Crews & Kalisto (2/3)
American Alpha (c) vs Heath Slater & Rhyno vs. The Ascension vs. Breezango vs. The Usos vs. The Vaudevillains – SmackDown Tag Team Championships (Tag Team Turmoil Match)
Since there is no clear #1 Contender for American Alpha’s SmackDown Tag Team Championships, Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan made a Tag Turmoil match. The match starts with two teams (in this case, Heath Slater & Rhyno and Breezano), and when one takes a fall, a new team comes in. Once all but one team is eliminated, the last team remaining leave with the gold.
Fandango gets the legal man confused, and turns around only to get hit by the Gore. Replacing Breezango are the Vaudevillains. Aiden English and Simon Gotch don’t last long, facing a Gore and a lifting DDT for the elimination. Eliminated: Breezango & The Vaudevillains
The Usos are the next team out, and after getting a blind tag in, Heath Slater gets hit by a superkick to end the hot streak of Beauty and the Man-Beast. Their spot is taken by the Tag Team Champions, American Alpha. Eliminated: Heath Slater & Rhyno
Chad Gable gets a quick roll-up on the Usos, but Jimmy and Jey immediately attack the champions after the elimination. This essentially gives The Ascension the titles. Eliminated: The Usos
Somehow, The Ascension don’t take advantage of The Usos’ attack, and the champions retain after hitting Viktor with Grand Amplitude. Winners, and STILL SmackDown Tag Team Champions: American Alpha
Predicted Winners: American Alpha (3/4)
Nikki Bella vs. Natalya
Natalya attacked Nikki Bella at Survivor Series so she could steal Bella’s spot in the elimination tag team match. Since then, it was revealed that Natalya doesn’t like Nikki Bella because she is jealous of the longest-reigning Divas Champion’s success. Bella’s success was blamed on her looks, not her determination and hard work.
The fight spills out to the outside, and Nikki Bella tries to beat the referee’s ten count, but Natalya prevents her from entering the ring. Bella tries to continue the fight after the match, but the referee separates them as Natalya runs to the back. Result (via double count-out): Draw
Predicted Winner: Nikki Bella (3/5)
Luke Harper vs. Randy Orton
Several months ago, Randy Orton surprised the WWE Universe and joined the Wyatt Family. During his time with the Wyatts, the family has won the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, but miscommunication between Luke Harper and Randy Orton led to losing the titles, as well as tension between the two. After things only keep getting worse, Harper is ready to take out the man who took his family from him.
Luke Harper gives the fight of his life, but Randy Orton counters a discus clothesline attempt into an RKO, well, out of nowhere. Winner: Randy Orton
Predicted Winner: Luke Harper (3/6)
Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Naomi – SmackDown Women’s Championship
Unlike the other two women’s matches tonight, there isn’t a huge story going into tonight’s championship match. Naomi has pinned Alexa Bliss in two different tag team matches, so she earned a title shot. If Naomi wins, she will carry the SmackDown Women’s Championship into her hometown of Orlando for WrestleMania.
Naomi gets her knees up to counter Twisted Bliss, then immediately takes advantage by hitting her signature split-legged moonsault to pick up her first, and well-deserved, championship. Winner, and NEW SmackDown Women’s Champion: Naomi
Predicted Winner: Alexa Bliss (3/7)
John Cena (c) vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Baron Corbin vs. The Miz vs. Bray Wyatt vs. AJ Styles – WWE World Championship (Elimination Chamber Match)
John Cena defeated AJ Styles at the Royal Rumble to win his 16th WWE World Championship, but he does not have an easy road straight to WrestleMania. In an elimination match featuring the top talent of SmackDown Live, whoever is the last man standing defends the title against Randy Orton at WrestleMania. Two men start, and every five minutes, a pod opens and a new Superstar enters the match. The winner is determined when the other five men are eliminated. This match will start with Styles and Cena.
Baron Corbin is focused on Miz exiting his pod, when Dean Ambrose rolls him up for the surprise elimination. After the elimination, Corbin sends Ambrose crashing through one of the pods. Right before finally leaving the chamber, Ambrose is laid out in the middle of the ring after the End of Days. This gives the Miz the perfect opportunity for another elimination. Eliminated: Baron Corbin & Dean Ambrose
The Miz cleans house for a bit, but John Cena catches Miz during a cross body, and hits the Attitude Adjustment on the former Intercontinental Champion to make this a Triple Threat Match. Eliminated: The Miz
Bray Wyatt counters the Attitude Adjustment, then follows through with Sister Abigail to eliminate John Cena, and ensure that there will be a new WWE World Champion. Eliminated: John Cena
Bray Wyatt continues his roll, kicking out of the springboard 450 splash, then countering the Phenomenal Forearm into Sister Abigail to pin Styles and capture his first singles title in WWE. At WrestleMania, the Wyatt Family will clash when Bray Wyatt defends the title against Randy Orton. Winner, and NEW WWE World Champion: Bray Wyatt
Predicted Winner: Bray Wyatt (4/8)
