WWE Elimination Chamber 2012: Winning Odds for Each SmackDown Star

While there is already plenty of focus on WrestleMania, there is still one pay-per-view left before the biggest show of the year. Elimination Chamber is the last stop on the road to WrestleMania and it will ultimately determine how the world title matches will shake out on April 1.

Both Chamber matches are shaping up to be good ones, but the SmackDown match looks particularly good. There is a good mix of youth and experience, as well as size and athleticism. On top of that, it wouldn't be a shock to see one of five combatants escape with the World Heavyweight Championship.

Here are the odds for each of the match's six competitors in terms of walking out of the steel structure as a champion.

Daniel Bryan (2/1)

Generally speaking, while the Chamber match is touted as being incredibly unpredictable, the champion entering the match has the advantage from a storyline perspective. Daniel Bryan has done an excellent job in transitioning from a beloved babyface to an annoying heel, so all signs point to him retaining the title and facing Sheamus at WrestleMania.

With Sheamus almost certainly choosing to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship as the Royal Rumble winner, a heel is going to win this match in all likelihood. The creative team is doing a nice job of having Bryan weasel out of losing the belts to monsters like Mark Henry and Big Show, so having him face Sheamus makes sense.

Cody Rhodes (6/1)

Even though Bryan has a far better chance of retaining the belt than anyone has of winning it, Cody Rhodes is next in line. Rhodes has been built up well lately and has been delivering promos in which he says that he will be the first person since Ultimate Warrior to hold a world title and the Intercontinental Championship at the same time.

Rhodes lost a match to Sheamus last week, but that feud could have some legs. Rhodes is ready to be a world champion and to be in the main-event scene both in terms of his in-ring work and mic skills, so him winning the Chamber match isn't inconceivable. It may not seem likely, but stranger things have happened.

Wade Barrett (10/1)

It wasn't long ago that Wade Barrett seemed to be on the fast track to the main event as he owned victories over Daniel Bryan, Sheamus and Randy Orton, and his team defeated Orton's team at Survivor Series. Barrett has cooled off as of late, though, as he was eliminated quickly from the Royal Rumble and he was beaten by Orton on SmackDown last week.

Barrett has had some entertaining matches with Sheamus over the past couple months; however, and a feud between the two would be good, as they could play off Barrett being English and Sheamus being Irish. Because of recent events, it doesn't seem like Barrett's time is now, but he would certainly be a good opponent for "The Great White."

Randy Orton (12/1)

As one of the biggest stars in the company, Randy Orton can't be counted out of any match. With the way WrestleMania is shaping up, though, it would be a bit surprising to see him win the Chamber match. With both he and Sheamus being faces, a feud between the two is unlikely but not impossible. Both do have bad tempers, so they could probably pull off an entertaining face vs. face rivalry.

At the same time, though, it looks like Orton and Barrett will continue their feud into WrestleMania. Orton has been getting the better of Barrett lately, but Barrett had his number before Orton took a few weeks off. Barrett would really benefit from beating somebody like Orton on wrestling's biggest stage, so an Orton vs. Barrett match at 'Mania is likely.

Big Show (50/1)

Big Show has been chasing Daniel Bryan for the World Heavyweight Championship ever since Bryan cashed in his Money in the Bank contract against him at TLC. Bryan has foiled him time and time again, so it would be poetic justice if Show regained the title in the Chamber. With that said, though, a Big Show vs. Sheamus match at WrestleMania just doesn't make sense.

Big Show's presence in the match has everything to do with the fact that he is currently feuding with Bryan. For him to win the title and then switch to feuding with a face would be strange, to say the least. Unless Bryan loses the title, there won't be much for Big Show to do following Elimination Chamber, but perhaps his rumored match with Shaquille O'Neal at WrestleMania will come to fruition.

Great Khali (Infinity/1)

I'd love to be able to tell you that anything can happen in the WWE and that The Great Khali actually has a chance to win the SmackDown Chamber match. The fact of the matter is, though, that Khali is only there because of his incredible size and his regrettable status as a former world champion. Ultimately, he will be integral in helping Bryan, Rhodes or Barrett look more legitimate in eliminating him.

Khali may not have a prayer, but he serves a purpose. There is no question that he is awful in the ring, but he can be made to look like a destructive force in the Chamber match, and that will help him moving forward. Khali is little more than a filler, but when you put him and Big Show in the match, it suddenly looks a lot more menacing.