Elimination Chamber 2012 Preview

Since Elimination Chamber is this weekend, I am going to look at the four major matches announced for the PPV card.

First, Raw's Elimination Chamber match. CM Punk defends against Chris Jericho, Miz, Dolph Ziggler, Kofi Kingston, and R-Truth. Obviously, you have some great workers in this match. Match quality should not be a problem. But how has the WWE been doing in building up the idea that every man involved really has a chance at winning? I have said before that this is really a feud between Punk and Jericho. I am not expecting any of the midcarders and upper-midcarders in this match to win. It is going to come down to either Jericho winning or Punk winning. I am not saying either will necessarily be the final two. I'm just saying the winner will most likely be one of those two guys. I am not going to bother picking the order of eliminations. Personally, I would have Jericho win the title. That sets up the rematch at Wrestlemania.

Second, Smackdown's Elimination Chamber match. Daniel Bryan defends against Big Show, The Great Khali, Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes, and Santino Marella (replacing Randy Orton). Remember what I just said about match quality not being a problem in Raw's Chamber match? You might have some problems here. Santino is a joke character. The Great Khali is not so great. Luckily, the type of match this is should allow for some impressive spots, regardless of the type of workers you have. Obviously, this match has been ravaged by injuries. The Great Khali came back to fill in for Mark Henry. Santino is in for an injured Orton. I would rather have a healthy Mark Henry and Randy Orton in this match. I'm sure the WWE would too. Nevertheless, the Smackdown title picture is not set yet for Wrestlemania. Who will Sheamus face? I am not thinking they will insert him in Punk/Jericho. I still don't feel Sheamus vs. Bryan for the title is that epic, no matter how they try to build it. If there is going to be something controversial in either Chamber match, I am thinking it will be here. Title change? Someone takes out Santino and robs him of his spot? Who do I think will win? Out of the men in the match, judging by the build they have been giving them, it really is a toss up. They have brought down Barrett's momentum recently, which is a topic for another day. Cody Rhodes already has a title, and I doubt he will be holding two right now. Big Show might win from how the storyline is going. Santino is doubtful. The Great Khali winning would show that the WWE is really in a desperate position. And you have to give some credibility to the notion that the WWE will continue Bryan's pattern of sneaking out wins to somehow have him retain. Whatever the case, this match will most likely not end the way the WWE would have wished it to before all the injuries. Unless there is some kind of switch in who is in the match, I wouldn't be surprised if the Champion retains.

Third, the Ambulance match. Cena and Kane will end the feud here. Time for Cena to start moving on to The Rock and Wrestlemania. That kind of already started before the end of the current feud between Kane and Cena, but that was to be expected. Had Orton not gotten injured and taken out the PPV, I was going to spend the other day talking about the Kane/Cena development from Raw. It was great. I won't go into it too much, but I feel the WWE both developed the storyline and hyped the match. Will Cena embrace the hate? I still doubt that will be happening this Sunday. If Cena turns heel, it would make more sense to do it when The Rock is around. Match quality? This is the kind of environment where this feud will make for a good match. Eve involvement? Will they stretcher out whatever remains of Zack Ryder? As for the winner, it would make sense for John Cena to overcome Kane.

Fourth, the match for the Diva's Championship. Tamina will take on Beth Phoenix. This is a filler feud and a filler match. It is funny how they have developed this feud on both Raw and Smackdown, yet I think you can see that it is not even as hyped as Kane/Cena, which has really only been developed on Raw. There are numerous reasons for this. Obviously, the feud between the two men may only be progressed on one show, but it is progressed in many segments in a given night. Most importantly, there is an actual storyline there. In this diva feud, it is just a basic title feud. They loaded Tamina up with wins, credibility, and some attention, while still keeping Beth Phoenix strong, then have them meet at a PPV for the title. Tamina winning the title is doubtful to the highest degree. Whether they want Beth Phoenix to face Kharma, Layla, or Kelly Kelly at Wrestlemania, or whatever, they are keeping her strong for something. They are just gliding her through. Her overness? Outside of Buffalo? Not too great. As for Tamina, this treatment will do about as much for her overness as Natalya's title run a little over a year ago did for her. Nothing. Neither diva will gain too much from this, not that they are supposed to, but Beth will probably walk out with the title, for what that is worth.