WWE Elimination Chamber: 20 Bold Predictions for WWE's Latest PPV

Elimination Chamber week is upon us which means the time, for predictions, prognostications, and the continued celebration of the return of the Rock, is now. 

With the conclusion of the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view officially signaling the beginning of the road to Wrestlemania, WWE will figure to pull a proverbial rabbit out of the hat for their last card before Mania to get fans excited for their biggest show of the year. 

Or will they?

WWE already gave us the Rock.  The Undertaker is set to return the following night as the 2.21.11 mystery man, and WWE still owes us Triple H and (if you're a ten percenter) Awesome Kong.  So should WWE continue to make its fanbase giddy with surprise excitement to the point of epilepsy?   Will this be a paint by the numbers show or will the championship picture be shaken to its foundation as has been the case in recent years?  So many intriguing questions with Wrestlemania implications have made this set of predictions as necessary as they bold. 

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1. This Will Be a 'Chalk' Pay-Per-View

WWE seems to be screwing with the World Title picture because they realize that no major championships are set to change hands.  If anything, the World Title will be ruled vacant so that when Edge wins the Smackdown Elimination Chamber, people who bought the pay-per-view can feel like they got their money's worth by virtue of the title change. 

WWE has no reason to switch either of their major championships with the seeds for both incumbent champions and challengers (Del Rio, likely Cena) being deeply planted.  The only title change situation I can see is if Dolph Ziggler wins (or retains?) the World Heavyweight Championship, thus prompting a three way between Ziggler, Del Rio, and Edge at Wrestlemania. 

2. Michael Cole Will Get Involved In Miz/Lawler Match

Michael Cole has used the rise of the Miz as a catalyst for a heel turn by virtue of his undying and unpopular support of the WWE Champion. 

Cole has been more than vocal about his disdain for Jerry Lawler's 'selfish' run at a WWE Championship reign that has eluded him for his entire legendary career, and it's almost a lock that Cole will make his presence felt in this match and get sucker punched for his troubles. 

This will likely lead to Cole and Lawler at Wrestlemania.  Say what you want about that match up, but it would be a much deserved first Wrestlemania for Lawler and Cole would get his comeuppance.  Everybody wins.  

3. Alex Riley Will Get Involved In Miz/Lawler Match

Alex Riley and the Miz are this generation's answer to the Four Horsemen.  Miz can't work a match without outside interference from Riley, and it works for his character as Miz being perceived as an undeserving and vulnerable champion is what helps drive buyrates (or lack thereof) for his title matches. 

4. Announcers Will Bicker Senselessly

A three man announce booth involving Michael Cole means a lot of love for the Miz and even more bickering.  With Cole pouncing on every questionable comment by his colleagues, thus taking the focus off of the potentially money drawing superstars, this will undoubtedly lead to obnoxious subsequent arguments and petty remarks dominating the entire pay-per-view broadcast.   

5. John Morrison Will Do Something Cool...

With Morrison recently incorporating his Parkour training into his wrestling style, the massive Elimination Chamber structure will serve as an unmitigated Parkour Playground for the rising star.  I have a feeling that Morrison has another 'spidey' spot up his sleeve, so if you thought that Royal Rumble spot was something — wait. 

6. We Will Have a Hot Crowd On Our Hands

Elimination Chamber will emanate from the Oracle Arena in dangerously loud Oakland, California.  You're talking about a California crowd that somehow manages to get all geeked up for the Golden State Warriors, so just imagine what they'll be like when real stars come to town. 

California/West Coast crowds will never get the credit for being the hottest, as noise is like a second language of the East (seriously, anytime one of those wannabe Irish from Boston or wannabe Italians from New York speaks it's just noise), but expect an insane atmosphere for a big time pay-per-view in the Bay. 

7. The Rock Will Not Be in Attendance

WWE has to ration out the Rock leading up to Wrestlemania, otherwise his unmistakable mystique will wear off before their biggest event of the year.  WWE made this mistake with Bret Hart, where the Hitman was involved in an overbooked storyline that saw him become overexposed on television before an uninspiring match with Vince McMahon at Wrestlemania XXVI. 

8. The RAW Guest GM Will Make an Announcement

The announcement could be anywhere from a last-minute stipulation to the fact that the GM's identity may finally be revealed (Stephanie McMahon, anyone?) but expect the RAW GM to 'ding' his way into the blackness of our hearts. 

9. WWE Will Fill Time With a 'Chaperone' Trailer

Unfortunately, I'm almost positive about this one.  This needs to be strategically placed, like when they want the crowd to come down before a marquee match. 

10. Expect Filler

There have only been three matches announced for the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, and two of them swallow the roster with a combined 12 Superstars involved.  Even if WWE adds the obligatory Divas match or a tag team championship match in the 'last minute' slot, expect backstage buffoonery and possible impromptu matches to fill time. 

11. Awesome Kong Will Make Her Debut

With Awesome Kong's name in the 'will she or won't she' storylines as it pertains to her imminent debut, Elimination Chamber seems to be a good spot for Kong to make her partially anticipated debut. 

WWE loves shaking things up at Elimination Chamber, and while much of this pay-per-view seems predictable on paper, perhaps WWE will continue to milk the surprises with this large woman imposing her will in a Diva's match. 

12. John Cena Will Win The RAW Elimination Chamber

Using process of elimination, pun intended, Punk and Orton are set to do battle at Wrestlemania, two heels in a main event is not good Wrestlemania business, so there goes Sheamus, and Truth isn't on that level, and Morrison already worked a match with Miz on free TV just weeks ago. 

This leaves John Cena, whose feud with the Miz has already been set in motion following Miz costing Cena the Royal Rumble. 

13. The Miz Will Defeat Jerry Lawler

As nice as it would be to see Lawler finally make his Wrestlemania debut, it certainly will not be as a 61-year old WWE Championship in the heart of a youth movement that Vince McMahon promised his investors would pay dividends starting at Wrestlemania XXVII. 

The Miz has done a good job as champion during lean times, and a match with John Cena, while we've seen it before, still has a measure of intrigue. 

14. Edge Will Win The Smackdown Elimination Chamber Match

This could be the one spot where WWE decides to pull a swerve, but that's unlikely with Edge and Del Rio already going back and forth.  Edge may be set to be stripped of the World Title, but this would just be an elaborate and overbooked way of building towards the Smackdown Elimination Chamber. 

15. WWE Will Air a 2.21.11 Trailer

With WWE revealing more telling hints, of who the 2.21.11 mystery man could be, each week, WWE may just conclude this particular trailer with a 'gong' for the dead giveaway. 

16. Triple H Will Not Return at Elimination Chamber

If Triple H were to make his return in this spot with WWE opting out of building up the pay-per-view return to pump their struggling buyrate, shame of the Fed.  Triple H's return is indeed upon us, just not here. 

17. R-Truth Will Do The First Job In The RAW Elimination Chamber Match

As the oldest member and longest shot in the RAW Elimination Chamber, R-Truth will likely be the first victim of pinfall or submission. 

18. The Nexus Will Get Involved In The Elimination Chamber Match

Even though we've been told that Nexus cannot get involved in the Elimination Chamber match, it is possible, although rare, for outside interference to occur in this match.  It is possible that a Nexus member(s) could bring a weapon and feed it through the structure to an opportunistic CM Punk, however expect this maneuver to backfire.  

19. Cody Rhodes Will Get Involved In Smackdown Elimnation Chamber

WWE has kept Cody Rhodes' name in the storylines in regards to Rey Mysterio (kayfabe) breaking his face, and if WWE has plans for Mysterio to face Rhodes at Wrestlemania, expect Rhodes to cost Mysterio a shot at World Heavyweight Championship just as Mysterio cost Rhodes the Royal Rumble. 

20. If LayCool Is on The Card, They Will Split

The seeds have been planted for a LayCool split.  Errant kicks to the head and a losing streak has this otherwise omnipresent female super group on the ropes, and we may see Layla vs. McCool at Wrestlemania.  Call me crazy, but it's too early to split LayCool as I feel Awesome Kong would greatly benefit by being their silent but deadly body guard until they inevitably began making fun of her only to get their comeuppance.  

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