WWE Elimination Chamber To Set Up Wrestlemania XXVI

Last night's RAW seemingly laid groundwork for what should pan out later this month at WWE's Elimination Chamber PPV.

Of course, Vince McMahon has put the swerve on what appeared to be likely Wrestlemania plans in the past (not to mention a few times already in this years Road to Wrestlemania)—but with so little time to build for Elimination Chamber—and the need to begin working storylines for 'Mania immediately thereafter, this is what we appear to be looking at regarding match results and their impact on WM XXVI.

We have Sheamus, John Cena, Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase, Kofi Kingston, and HHH all locked in. Here is what looks to be where WWE is going at this point as far as the results of the Chamber pay-per-view:

John Cena - McMahon's confrontation with Bret Hart last night ended up with a Batista run in, and an oh-so-obvious Cena/Hart vs. Batista/McMahon Wrestlemania encounter. This would eliminate Cena from winning Elimination Chamber.

Randy Orton/Ted DiBiase, Jr. - I was surprised to see Orton get a clean pin on Shawn Michaels last night on RAW, and until DiBiase punched his ticket to Elimination Chamber, I was thinking Orton could remove the strap from Sheamus before 'Mania.

Now, it is apparent that somehow DiBiase will cost Orton in the Chamber, finally end Legacy and set up the long rumored DiBiase-Orton Wrestlemania match. Orton COULD hold the title at 'Mania, but I don't see DiBiase being put on that big of a stage in a title match-yet. This eliminates both Orton and DiBiase. Or does it?

Kofi Kingston - WWE still wants to push Kofi along, and having him in this match certainly won't hurt his push, but he has no shot at winning.

This leaves HHH and Sheamus. Several possiblities exist here.

1) HHH takes the title and faces a jilted HBK at 'Mania.

2) Sheamus retains and faces Edge at 'Mania, a teaser to this was shown on last night's opening segment of RAW. A possibility here could involve Jericho and a triple threat match at Wrestlemania, as a stand-alone Edge-Sheamus contest might not be so appealing.

You also have to consider the role of HBK at Wrestlemania. WWE has worked Michaels obsession with Undertaker angle too much not to give him the match. McMahon AND 'Taker have told Michaels he has to EARN the match.

That leaves us with predictions:

Sheamus will retain at Elimination Chamber because he needs to hold the title at Wrestlemania so he can drop it to Edge, or even Jericho - because the latter two will be set up for an epic feud. I like the triple threat match between the three at 'Mania.

The possible swerve here is I see Shawn Michaels 'earning' his shot at the Undertaker AT Wrestlemania by winning the Money-In-Bank match and cashing it in THAT NIGHT.