Projecting the Field for Men's and Women's WWE Elimination Chamber 2023 Matches

Just because the Royal Rumble was only a few days ago doesn't mean the wheels stop turning in WWE, as Elimination Chamber is right around the corner.

Set for February 18, the pay-per-view will feature two same-titled matches: one to decide Bianca Belair's challenger for the Raw Women's Championship at WrestleMania 39 and one in which Austin Theory will defend the United States title.

As it stands, four spots in both matches have been filled with qualifying bouts on Raw and the final remaining women in the Royal Rumble match, leaving two more Superstars able to contend.

Who will earn those places and complete the field for this event? Let's break it down.

Women's Fatal 4-Way Qualifier

Credit: WWE

WWE official Adam Pearce has announced a Fatal 4-Way bout for next week's Raw to determine the fifth entrant to join Asuka, Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan and Nikki Cross in the women's Elimination Chamber match.

Candice LeRae, Michin, Carmella and Piper Niven all have the capability to emerge victorious. There isn't an obvious pick to bet on.

In years past, WWE hasn't always just picked the six biggest stars. Sometimes, a talent lower on the hierarchy gets their chance to shine, but it's hard to imagine LeRae or Michin will beat out Carmella or Niven as they seem to lose nearly every match they're in these days.

Carmella has had the most success of all four as a former women's champion and Ms. Money in the Bank, but Niven has the size advantage and some considerable momentum after a great run in the women's Royal Rumble match.

If WWE prefers to book this with more heels who could challenge Belair at WrestleMania, Carmella will be the top pick. But giving the a spot to Niven highlights a fresher name, builds her up as a higher-profile star and allows someone with a different style to enter the match and change up the dynamics.

Prediction: Niven gets the fifth spot.

Sixth Spot in Women's Elimination Chamber Match

Credit: WWE

Curiously, WWE hasn't specified what the remaining qualifying bout will consist of for the women's Elimination Chamber match.

Next Monday's Fatal 4-Way lumps together four Raw Superstars, meaning there's a chance of a similar contest featuring four SmackDown names.

If that's the case, look out for Lacey Evans, Shayna Baszler, Sonya Deville, Natalya, Shotzi, Zelina Vega and Emma to be in the running for those spots.

Assuming one of those seven is to qualify, Evans is your best bet.

Deville will have just had a few matches against Charlotte Flair, and the rest are viable candidates but haven't had video packages revolving around them as of late.

But this isn't a certainty to even be the qualifying match.

There's a good chance WWE retroactively adds a stipulation to Becky Lynch vs. Bayley inside the steel cage, making that the qualifier. Or Naomi could make a surprising return to be in the qualifying match, as could Ronda Rousey.

Considering it would be strange if The Baddest Woman on the Planet didn't have a major spot at WrestleMania, and fighting Belair is the best thing available, she could be the final entrant and the eventual winner at Elimination Chamber.

Either the former UFC star is in it and wins it, she teams with Baszler to go for the tag team title or she's sitting out WrestleMania entirely. Since the latter two options are harder to believe, Rousey vs. Belair would mean she needs to get into this match.

Prediction: The sixth spot goes to Rousey.

Qualifying Match: Angelo Dawkins vs. Damian Priest

Credit: WWE

Angelo Dawkins has come a long way in proving himself in the ring over the years, but he's still the underdog in this match, to the point where there's little chance he beats Damian Priest.

The Judgment Day member has had a more successful singles career than Dawkins, including a run where he was nearly undefeated for an entire year on Raw and held the United States title for six months.

The Street Profits star has no singles gold to his name, nor any momentum indicating now is the time WWE will start to push him in that direction.

Dawkins will put up a fight, but he's seemingly there to put over Priest.

Prediction: Priest fills the fifth spot.

Qualifying Match: Elias vs. Montez Ford

Credit: WWE

Montez Ford has had more spotlight moments than his Street Profits teammate, and he is up against an opponent who isn't as prominent in the Raw hierarchy.

There is a stronger chance Ford gets the upset if either of the Profits winds up in this match, but even that still places him as fighting from underneath.

Elias is the singles star, not Ford. And while the musician hasn't exactly been on a hot streak, filling out one of six spots in the men's Elimination Chamber match would be a low-risk role to remind audiences he's still in the midcard mix without pushing bigger stars aside.

Oddly, Bobby Lashley is nowhere to be seen in a qualifying match, which sparks some suspicion one of The Street Profits or Elias could be taken out by someone ahead of time, with The All Mighty filling in at the last minute.

A swerve like that would throw everything for a loop, as Lashley would become the favorite to beat Ford, Dawkins, Elias and Priest.

If these two matches stay as advertised, though, it's unlikely either of the Profits will be progressing.

Prediction: The sixth spot goes to Elias.

---

Anthony Mango is the owner of the wrestling website Smark Out Moment and the host of the podcast show Smack Talk on YouTube, Spotify and everywhere you find podcasts. You can follow him on Facebook and elsewhere for more.