Elimination Chamber Predictions

There are approximately 9 hours remaining until the WWE presents in Elimination Chamber PPV. I don't say this often but i need to give the WWE some credit for this PPV. Instead of the normal 2 Chamber matches, we get 1. Instead of the chamber matches being for the title, we get a #1 contenders match for the World Heavyweight Championship. And yet, with this significant differences, i am very interested to see how the match plays out. Well played, WWE. Well played...

Prediction time!

The Miz VS Antonio Cesaro:

Cesero is an absolute beast. I've followed him for years before he even became involved with the WWE (Claudio Castignoli, anyone?). Brute force, great in-ring ability and strong on the mic. I can't see WWE derailing Cesero's role to try and resurrect The Miz's career. By the way, Miz as a face is not as good as i thought it would be.

Winner: Antonio Cesaro

Tamina Snuka VS The Shitty Diva's Champ:

Yep. Don't care, honestly. I used to love the diva's division when it had build, rivalries, and actual wrestlers. Instead we get Tamina, who very few people know, and Kaitlyn, who is greener than baby mucus. It honestly doesn't matter who wins because there is nothing for either of them to go to after this match.

Winner: No one that paid for the PPV. (Kaitlyn will retain, i guess)

Alberto Del Rio (WHC) VS The Big Show:

This is where my predictions get a little crazy. Del Rio is over as a face. I get that. I don't like his in-ring work and i never have. To me, he is sloppy and lame. However, The Big Show will not be in a championship match at Wrestlemania. I do believe they will have Del Rio beat the Big Show after the Big Show tortures Del Rio all match. ADR will find a way to get a quick pin. However, my hope is Dolph Ziggler cashes in to become the World Heavyweight Champion. It sets up nicely for...

Winner: Alberto Del Rio, but Dolph Ziggler cashes in MITB to become new World Heavyweight Champion

Elimination Chamber Match (Randy Orton, Mark Henry, Jack Swagger, Kane, Daniel Bryan, Chris Jericho):

I am going to attempt to logically break this match down. Please, keep in mind that the WWE rarely does things logically anyways. Also, keep in mind that i have my own agenda based on predictions i have already made. So let's look at each wrestler in the match:

Randy Orton: 

Orton feels like he is just treading water. One week he beats Wade Barrett and loses to him the next. Then he loses to Mark Henry. Then he beats someone else. Then he loses to no-one-in-particular. I can't see the WWE putting their faith in Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship match at Wrestlemania. I do see Orton being on the Wrestlemania card in some form, though.

Mark Henry:

Why not? I've never liked the Mark Henry character but i can appreciate the run he had before his last injury. Here's why i DON'T pick Mark Henry to win. In my eyes, the Big Show doesn't have a chance of regaining the World Title. So, that won't set up a Heel vs. Heel for the title at Wrestlemania. If i am wrong (impossible) and Del Rio retains without Ziggler cashing in, why would they want to put him in another title feud with a super heavyweight? And if Ziggler DOES cash in, there are better matches to be made at Wrestlemania with Ziggler as champion. Sorry, Mark. It just doesn't make sense.

Kane and Daniel Bryan:

I could never see Kane in a championship match again and be happy. Don't get me wrong, he is a good worker and i love what he's been doing. But, his time has passed. I would love to see Daniel Bryan return to the main event. Now just isn't the time. To be honest, i see these two ending their Tag Team and fighting it out on the Wrestlemania card. The seeds for this will be planted tonight in the Chamber Match.

Jack Swagger:

Not many people are sold on Swagger. I am. I think his pairing with Zeb Coulter is a great idea too. Swagger is in line for a strong push. Is it a World Heavyweight title push immediately? I sure hope not. That would be jumping the gun. He won't have enough momentum to be taken as a serious threat to the champion at Wrestlemania. I can see him challenging Cesaro in a REAL AMERICAN vs I HATE AMERICANS match.

Chris Jericho:

Obviously, Jericho is my choice, considering he is the last participant that i didn't talk about. Former, multi-time champion? Check. Threat to any title at any time? Check. Strong, surprising return to the WWE? Check. Awesome performance in the Royal Rumble? Check. Pay-Per-View caliber match on Raw against C.M. Punk a few weeks back? Check. This makes even MORE sense if Ziggler does cash in, given their history and feud. Honestly, Ziggler vs. Jericho is going to be on the Wrestlemania card. It's just unknown if it'll be for the WHC.

The Shield VS The Superfriends(Cena, Sheamus, Ryback):

I am not going to break this match down too much. The Shield have been nothing but entertaining, ruthless and downright vicious in everything they've done. They have out-performed 90% of the WWE roster already. I'll say this much. If the WWE destroys what The Shield has going to give Cena and his super hero friends a rub, it'll be a sad, sad day. These kids should win, deserve to win, and probably will win. The Superfriends don't lose anything with a loss to The Shield.

Winner: The Shield (THEY BETTER)

C.M. Punk VS The Rock(WWE Champion):

This is going to be a very good match. Wait, let me rephrase that. This SHOULD be a very good match. The stipulation they added pisses me off, but i don't see it being much of a factor. Honestly, i see it solidifying The Rock when he overcomes whatever craziness C.M. Punk and Paul Heymen send his way. Ultimately, i do see The Rock retaining and taking on John Cena in a rematch from last year. This time for the WWE title. C.M. Punk is such an established star at the top of the card that this loss will do little to hurt him. In fact, i see a significant match for him at Wrestlemania.

Winner: The Rock retains the WWE Championship. 

In addition to predicitons for the Elimination Chamber, here is how i see the Wrestlemania card shaping up so far. Obviously, it'll need updated:

The Rock vs. John Cena (WWE Championship)

HHH vs. Brock Lesner (Vince is my daddy match)

Chris Jericho vs. Dolph Ziggler (With our without the title involved)

Kane vs. Daniel Bryan

C.M. Punk vs. The Undertaker

Kaitlyn vs. Whatever Diva is left.

MITB

Raw on the Road to Wrestlemania

After an extended time of not blogging, I'm back to waste 15 minutes of your life again. Today's blog will touch on last night's Raw, the build to the Elimination Chamber, and the ultimate build to Wrestlemania. Let's get too it as I've probably already lost half of you with those first 2 sentences.

Raw 2/4/2013:

I have to be honest. The show had some BIG hits last night. The problem is, however, is that it also had some BIG misses too. Let's review:

Hits:

- C.M. Punk's continued rant about losing his title.  This is amazing work. Punk is always money on the mic and he continues to do so in an emotional and enraged/delusional way. Punk makes that title means something without even having it. Many things relating to Punk made the hits list, including:

- C.M. Punk vs. Chris Jericho. We were treated, for some unknown reason, to a Wrestlemania caliber match on Raw. A lengthy match with near falls, big moves, fan interaction, and a clean win all got the audience at home and in the arena to invest emotionally. It's hard to name a match in the last 8-10 months that was better.

- Brock Lesner's return has been handled properly. It was kept quiet, it was done with shock value, and it was done with a huge impact. Prepare yourself for HHH to come defend his father-in-law and set up Lesnar/HHH 2 at Wrestlemania.

- A close second to Punk's amazing, continued work is the work of Paul Heyman. The video and denial of working with the shield, enhancing an already dominating C.M. Punk, and trying to control Brock Lesner all show his true talent in the business. You love to hate him or, in my case, love to love him and watch as he slithers away from another devious plot unscathed.

- The Shield is still hot and i love the videos and attacks on the major stars of the company. It was announced last night after Raw went off the air that there will be a 3-on-3 elimination tag match at Elimination chamber pitting The Shield against Ryback, Cena, and Sheamus. I like the idea, i just wish they would have taken it a step further and made it an actual chamber match, War Games style. You can wish in one hand and crap in the other, eh?

Misses:

- Where, in the bluest of hells, was Dolph Ziggler? He is your biggest up-and-coming star and you can't spare a 15 minute segment for a promo? Or a quick match? I hope this doesn't deflate his push. It went from "I HATE CENA" to.... well, nothing really? I know he is going to be displayed more on Smackdown now, but damn. Brutal fail on the part of WWE writing.

- I am glad Mark Henry is back. I really am. I like having some super heavyweight matches. I even like him squashing fan-favorite wrestlers to make his return. What i have a problem with is Rey getting destroyed. We're supposed to believe Rey has a chance to win the chamber? Plus, at this point in time, Rey is made of glass. I wouldn't be surprise if he legitimately misses time from the attack last night.

- I know The Rock brings media attention that no normal wrestler could over bring to the WWE. I know he sells PPV's (somehow) and brings in more casual fans, especially to Wrestlemania. However, I need someone to explain to me how i am supposed to give a damn about the WWE title when it's not on the show. If it wasn't for C.M. Punk, i would have forgotten there even was  a WWE title last night. I was happy to see The Rock return. I am not happy to see he is too busy to actually wrestle. I guess milk commercials are more important than "the people."

Ultimately, the rest of the show was neither hit or miss. It was build to rivalries that could fall into either category. I'll focus more on those as they develop in the coming weeks.

One of my biggest concerns is who will ultimately come out of the Elimination Chamber match the #1 contender for the World Title. We don't know all the participants but I will still give my opinion.

 Either Ziggler, if he is forced to join, or Orton need to win this match. Why? Because I've had enough of the World Title belonging to someone that either panders to a certain ethnic group or a champ the degrades them. Talk about getting some cheap heat or a cheap pop. Ironically enough, it's not getting Del Rio over like they thought it would. The crowd is practically dead when he does anything. I also think his in-ring work as been pretty sloppy. Orton needs something to motivate him. Ziggler can main event any day of the week now. It's time to restore some prestige to the World Title.

All-in-all, the build to Wrestlemania looks good. The return of the Undertaker, Rock/Cena, HHH/Lesner alone is a hell of a show. When you include quality stars such as Ziggler, Punk, Orton, Ryback and the Shield, it can only get better. Let's just hope the WWE plans to avoid crap acts like Kahli, the leprechaun, Santino, Zack Ryder, and 3MB going forward.