WWE Elimination Chamber 2018 Updated Match Card, Top Storylines

WWE's annual Elimination Chamber pay-per-view is coming up on February 25, and it is set to be a momentous occasion with the lineup management has put in place.

The Elimination Chamber is a match WWE likes to bill as one of its most barbaric because of the cage-like structure the Superstars compete in.

The biggest difference between this stipulation and any other kind of cage match is the number of participants.

WWE usually locks four wrestlers inside pods while two start in the ring, but the men's match will see seven Superstars compete this year.

We will also witness the inaugural women's Elimination Chamber match, giving the division another first.

Let's take a look at everything we know about this year's PPV.

The PPV Card

Only three matches have been confirmed as of this writing, but we can expect that to change in the week leading up to the event. Here is a look at the card, according to WWE.com:

• Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins vs. The Miz vs. Finn Balor vs. Braun Strowman vs. Elias vs. John Cena inside the Elimination Chamber.
• Sasha Banks vs. Bayley vs. Mickie James vs. Sonya Deville vs. Mandy Rose vs. Alexa Bliss for the Women's Championship inside the Elimination Chamber.
• Asuka vs. Nia Jax.
• Ronda Rousey signs her WWE contract in the ring.

Now let's go through all the major storylines heading into Elimination Chamber.

Is Asuka's Streak in Jeopardy?

Asuka is undefeated since she debuted with the company in September 2015, but she is going to face her toughest challenge to date at the Elimination Chamber PPV.

Nia Jax might not be undefeated, but her list of vanquished rivals is just as impressive as Asuka's. She has dominated just about everyone she has come up against.

As the strongest member of the women's division, Jax needs to be seen as unstoppable in most scenarios. However, WWE is clearly set on making Asuka one of its top attractions.

If Jax can somehow overcome The Empress of Tomorrow, she will be added to the Raw Women's Championship match at WrestleMania 34 with Asuka and the titleholder.

Will 7 Be Someone's Lucky Number?

The men's Elimination Chamber match is going to be a little more crowded this year after general manager Kurt Angle decided to add both Seth Rollins and Finn Balor instead of just one of them.

This means three Superstars will begin the match, with the remaining four competitors being released from the pods at regular intervals.

Whoever wins will earn a Universal Championship match against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania on April 8, so this is a big opportunity for all of the men in the match.

Rollins, The Miz, Reigns, Cena and Balor have all held a top title in WWE before, but Strowman and Elias are still waiting for their chance to shine with the gold.

The 1st Women's Elimination Chamber

The past two years have been a great time for the women's division, and it doesn't look like the good times will be slowing down anytime soon.

Another history-making moment will happen at the PPV when six women step inside the Elimination Chamber for the first time to fight over the Raw Women's Championship.

Bliss is the unlucky Superstar tasked with trying to retain her title against five worthy competitors, but as we have seen many times in the past, she usually has a trick or two up her sleeve.

Her recent attempts to curry favor with Mickie James may have given her an ally inside the Chamber, but the veteran is no rookie who is going to be fooled by one or two acts of kindness.

The big unknowns in this bout are Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose. They are aligned as part of Absolution, so they may end up working together to ensure one of them leaves with the belt around her waist.

Can Ronda Rousey Be as Successful in WWE as She Was in UFC?

Ronda Rousey put women's MMA on the map, and she is looking to make history again when she joins the WWE roster.

She is set to sign her contract at this year's Elimination Chamber PPV, but as we all know, these segments don't tend to end peacefully.

Rousey is coming into a women's division with a lot of Superstars who have already proved themselves on multiple occasions. The former UFC women's bantamweight champion may be a great athlete, but she will have a lot of work to do in order to become just as good in the ring as she was in the Octagon.

There is a good chance Rowdy's contract signing will be interrupted; we just don't know who will choose to cross her first.

It would make sense for the women's champion to confront her, but Bliss has enough to worry about with her Chamber match to prepare for.

It wouldn't be surprising to see someone from SmackDown Live show up to begin a feud with Rousey. Charlotte Flair is an obvious choice, but we could see Becky Lynch, The Riott Squad or The Bella Twins try to make a name for themselves by taking out the newcomer.

Potential Additions to the Card

With only three matches and a contract signing scheduled, WWE has plenty of room to play with on the Elimination Chamber card.

It's likely we will see The Bar defend the Raw Tag Team Championships against The Revival, especially after Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder recently defeated Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson on Raw.

The ongoing cruiserweight title tournament is a good excuse to add some 205 Live Superstars to the show.

Even with two Chamber matches featuring 13 Superstars, the Raw roster has a lot of unused talent hoping for a spot on the PPV.

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What matches would you like to see added to The Elimination Chamber pay-per-view?