Elimination Chamber Contenders

The Elimination Chamber takes place at 1am on Monday morning (UK time) live from the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Let’s take a look at the contenders.

Smackdown – World Heavyweight Championship

This has erm...a very interesting (?) lineup.

Daniel Bryan (Current Champion)

Record: First time

Daniel Bryan has been the best thing on Smackdown with his very scuttle heel turn. Bryan at the minute is a person who uses his head as well as his technicial skills to get out of very tricky situations. It will be hard for him as he is effectively stuck in a cage with 5 other wrestlers, including 2 7-foot giants. However, I think that he will find some way to prevail.

Chances of winning: Very high

The Big Show

Record: 0-3                            Eliminations: 3

The Big Show, while unsuccessful in his 3 matches, has the most experience in this match. He can use that to his advantage. However, Bryan has gone into his head and Show needs to focus on winning the match and not just on Bryan if he wants to be successful.

Chances of winning: Possible

Wade Barrett

Record: 0-1                            Eliminations: 0

Wade Barrett took part in the RAW Elimination Chamber last year so has some experience. However, while I think that he will be a World Champion in the near future, I can’t see him winning it this time.

Chances of winning: Potential dark horse

Cody Rhodes

Record: First time

Cody Rhodes aims to be the first person since The Ultimate Warrior in 1990 to be the Intercontinental Champion and World Champion. Like Barrett, I think that he is a potential dark horse and a possible World Champion. However, maybe not this time.

Chances of winning: Potential dark horse

The Great Khali

Record: 0-1                            Eliminations: 0

The Great Khali is a former World Champion like The Big Show. However, he is not very mobile and because of that, he is very limited. Khali was my pick to be the first eliminated until I saw what happened last Friday.

Chances of winning: No chance in Hell

Santino Marella (?!)

Record: First time (gee, wonder why?)

I know that I have been very critical of Santino being anywhere near this match and it’s nothing against him. I know that he’s a popular character due to his antics, but do you really see him as a main event player?! I pray to God that either someone takes a leaf out of Edge’s manual: “How to be the Ultimate Opportunist” and takes Santino’s place; or he is the first one to be eliminated. If Santino lasts more than 10 minutes, I will be surprised and very pissed off.

Chances of winning: What the fuck do you think?! No chance in Hell!

RAW-WWE Championship

Thankfully, the RAW Elimination Chamber looks like a more exciting contest, with the most experienced wrestlers.

CM Punk (Current Champion)

Record: 0-3                            Eliminations: 3

CM Punk knows what he is up against having been in 3 previous matches. It will be tough for him but I think that he could prevail.

Chances of winning: High

Chris Jericho

Record: 1-5                            Eliminations: 8

Jericho has been in, not only the most Elimination Chambers, but also has the most eliminations with 8. While there are other wrestlers who have taken part in this kind of match, Jericho is the only one that has actually won an Elimination Chamber (with help from Shawn Michaels). I think that it will be either Punk or Jericho who will be victorious but I’m torn over which one.

Chances of winning: High

The Awesome One AKA The Miz

Record: First time

It’s been tough for The Miz recently, being (weirdly) blamed for the lower than expected buy-rate for Survivor Series and also being winless since the turn of the year. As I’m a big fan of The Miz, I hope that he will get some wins soon. Unfortunately, barring a major upset, that won’t start at this match.

Chances of winning: Slim

Dolph Ziggler

Record: First time

I love Dolph as he is a great wrestler and an enjoyable entertainer. Along with Barrett and Cody, Dolph will be World Champion one day (I don’t count him being rewarded the World Heavyweight Championship last year for11 minutes). However, I can’t see him winning it this time

Chances of winning: Slim

Kofi Kingston

Record: 0-1                            Eliminations: 1

Kofi is a possible dark horse in this match. I think that his time will come and he could do well in this match. However, I don’t think that he will be successful.

Chances of winning: Potential dark horse

R-Truth

Record: 0-2                            Eliminations: 0

I have liked the insane (in a good way) R-Truth and it would be interesting to see where WWE go with that kind of person as the WWE Champion. However, I don’t think that will happen. How about the US Championship instead?

Chances of winning: No chance in Hell

The Joke-Down Elimination Chamber

On Sunday, we will have two Elimination Chamber matches for the World Championships. The WWE Championship match looks pretty strong with CM Punk defeating his title against Kofi Kingston, Dolph Ziggler, Chris Jericho, The Miz and R-Truth. This look like this should be a good match as you have 5 people (sorry,R-Truth) who are capable of winning the match.

On Smackdown, however, you don’t really have that. It looked well enough to begin with Daniel Bryan defending his World Heavyweight Championship against The Big Show, Cody Rhodes, Wade Barrett, Randy Orton and Mark Henry. Or, so we thought. Henry has been suffering from injuries since December, so was suspended (in storyline)  and was replaced by the Great Khali. Khali, whilst popular, is a limited wrestler and he doesn’t seem to very mobile. Then, on the last Smackdown before the PPV, Teddy Long revealed that Randy Orton suffered a concussion and was unable to compete. Therefore, Long decided to have a wild card battle royal in order to determine who would be the sixth entrant. Santino Marella won after eliminating David Otunga.

I’m sorry, but What. The. Fuck?! Santino in the Elimination Chamber?! For the World Heavyweight Championship?! Really?! Really?! Really?! I don’t know what to say about this. I really don’t. I know that the roster is a bit thin with all the injuries on Smackdown. We have Mark Henry, Christian and Randy Orton all out of action. Plus, the fact that the one person you could replace Santino, Sheamus, already won the Royal Rumble so doesn’t need to be there.

As for Santino, I know he is popular with the fans and he was cheered when he won. However, you can’t hide the fact that he doesn’t deserve to be anywhere near the main event level. The problem is that the WWE has a limited roster, especially on Smackdown, and with people with Santino and The Great Khali being involved in a World title match, and the farting gimmick with Natalya; it might be understandable if some people are viewing Smackdown as more of a Joke-Down.