Final Picks for Roman Reigns, Austin Theory and WWE Elimination Chamber 2023 Card
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Between two star-studded Elimination Chamber matches and a highly anticipated main event, Saturday's WWE Elimination Chamber 2023 in Montreal has the potential to be the most epic installment yet in the event's illustrious history.
This next stop on WWE's road to WrestleMania 39 will play a pivotal role in shaping the card for The Show of Shows in early April. The outcomes to some matches feel fairly obvious, while others a bit more difficult to predict.
The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship picture remains uncertain. Roman Reigns will defend against Montreal's own Sami Zayn at Elimination Chamber, and fans are buzzing about the possibility of WWE calling an audible and adding Zayn to the 'Mania main event.
Austin Theory will also have his work cut out for him when five of Raw's finest vie for his United States Championship inside Satan's Structure. His WrestleMania fate will be sealed regardless of the result.
Ahead of tonight's stacked show, these are the last-minute picks that matter most.
Edge and Beth Phoenix vs. Judgment Day
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WrestleMania will mark the one-year anniversary of The Judgment Day's debut, and Edge has been involved with the faction from the very beginning.
The big blow-off to his bad blood with his former disciples should come on The Grandest Stage of Them All, making this intergender tag team match pitting the married couple of Edge and Beth Phoenix against Finn Balor and Rhea Ripley a setup for that expected 'Mania match.
All signs point to Edge and Balor colliding inside Hell in a Cell or some other structure at The Show of Shows. If the idea is for Edge to give the group their comeuppance at that point, it would make the most sense for Balor and Ripley to get the upper hand here.
The Rated-R Superstar's immense level of popularity will easily allow him to absorb the loss and hold off until WrestleMania to put Balor in his place. Plus, Ripley should continue riding her wave of momentum following her huge Royal Rumble win last month heading into her championship clash with Charlotte Flair.
Prediction: Finn Balor and Rhea Ripley win.
Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar
2 of 5
Similar to Edge with The Judgment Day, Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar also have a score to settle that dates back nearly a year.
The two have been at odds on and off since Royal Rumble 2022, when Lesnar lost the WWE Championship to Lashley. Lesnar avenged the loss at Crown Jewel later in the year, only to be left laying afterward.
A rubber match was inevitable, but the timing of it happening at Elimination Chamber and not being saved for WrestleMania is interesting. We're too close to 'Mania for the feud to end at this event, which increases the chances of this collision ending in a non-finish.
Whether that be a double disqualification, double count-out or a straight-up no-contest, there's no need for this match to have a decisive conclusion. This should turn into an all-out brawl that not even the officials can contain, leading to the contest being called off and mass chaos ensuing.
A Fight Pit would be the perfect stipulation for a fourth and final battle at WrestleMania, but in the meantime, this match must end without a winner.
Prediction: Lesnar and Lashley fight to a no-contest.
Raw Women's Championship No. 1 Contender's Elimination Chamber Match
3 of 5
Bianca Belair has run roughshod over the red brand's women's division for almost exactly one year as Raw women's champion, and now the time has come to crown a WrestleMania-worthy challenger.
The combatants will include Carmella, Asuka, Nikki Cross, Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan and Natalya. Half of them can automatically be eliminated as Cross and Canada's own Natalya are non-factors, and Belair has already beaten Carmella countless times in the past.
That leaves Rodriguez, Morgan and Asuka. Rodriguez and Morgan's status as SmackDown stars is hardly relevant considering Raw Superstar Rhea Ripley will face SmackDown's Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania, but Asuka is simply the most appealing option.
Belair and Asuka had a handful of matches against each other at the start of the summer in 2022. However, The Empress of Tomorrow's long-overdue repackaging at the Royal Rumble makes their next encounter much more interesting.
Asuka has been on a roll in recent weeks, and thus any other outcome in this Chamber will not be tolerated.
Prediction: Asuka becomes No. 1 contender.
United States Championship Elimination Chamber Match
4 of 5
Austin Theory's stock has skyrocketed compared to where he was on the card when he first won the United States Championship last April. His career took a brief nosedive when his run as Mr. Money in the Bank was horribly mishandled, but WWE has successfully corrected course with him during his second run as U.S. champ.
The only logical opponent for him at WrestleMania 39 is John Cena, so it's more a matter of whether WWE will want the title on the line for that match or not. Cena vs. Theory feels like a big enough attraction on its own, so the Chamber should be used to get the belt off of him and onto a fresher face.
Additionally, Seth Rollins must wrap up his rivalry with Theory by being the one to eliminate him from this match. Rollins is seemingly slated for a 'Mania match with Logan Paul, and that doesn't need any gold attached to it, either.
It's arguably too soon for Montez Ford to embark on a singles title run, and Damian Priest is primarily an enforcer for The Judgment Day at the moment. That makes Johnny Gargano and Bronson Reed the two strongest candidates, and Gargano emerging victorious would make for a more memorable moment.
Reed shouldn't be beaten quite yet, but Gargano needs a big win to avoid losing whatever credibility he has left. Furthermore, WWE should avoid booking two unstoppable mid-card monsters at the same time.
Prediction: Johnny Gargano wins the United States Championship.
Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn
5 of 5
WWE has done a masterful job with this storyline in the last nine months. Roman Reigns, Sami Zayn and everyone else involved have played their roles exceptionally well.
The sole reason this isn't the main event of WrestleMania is because Cody Rhodes returning to dethrone Reigns is the stronger story to tell long-term if Rhodes is going to be the guy WWE builds around.
That should take nothing away from how magical this match is going to be. The electric atmosphere in Montreal for the hometown hero will only add to its grandeur.
Zayn must lose here in order to make way for Reigns vs. Rhodes, but it can be executed in a way where it can still be somewhat satisfying. Assuming he's able to appear, Jey Uso costing Zayn the win would be the ideal setup for their tag title match at 'Mania, followed by Kevin Owens making the save for his longtime frenemy.
The Underdog From the Underground will come close only to ultimately fall short, capturing the hearts of everyone in attendance all the same.
Prediction: Roman Reigns retains.
Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.
Final Picks for Roman Reigns, Austin Theory and WWE Elimination Chamber 2023 Card - Bleacher Report
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