Shore's WWE Elimination Chamber Preview and Predictions: Complete with Bonus Picks, John Cena vs, Beth Phoenix vs. Tamina Snuka, and two Elimination Chamber title matches

By Chris Shore

The following predictions are made with no inside knowledge of planned finishes. In other words, I am guessing based on what I see on TV each week.

C.M. Punk vs. Chris Jericho vs. Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz vs. R-Truth vs. Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Championship in the Raw Elimination Chamber: This is the match I most want to see, and can easily see stealing the show from both a work rate and finish standpoint. There is no doubt in my mind that Chris Jericho walks out with the WWE title because how else do you get him and Punk together for WrestleMania? If Punk wins, there's no reason to face off in April, so expect a Jericho win, perhaps with some shenanigans. And seeing as how it looks more and more that there will be a Money in the Bank match at Mania, I expect all four of the other competitors to start setting that up since I also expect all four to be in that match.

Look for Kofi to handle the high spots, Truth to take a lot of the sick bumps, and Ziggler to perhaps play spoiler for somebody along the way, maybe even Punk himself though I tend to think Jericho actually pins Punks. And look for Miz to go out first, and perhaps even quickly. Miz is not in good graces at the moment and in a multi-man match, sometimes you get buried, and buried deep, to be taught a lesson.

Prediction: Chris Jericho wins the WWE Championship.
Bonus Pick: The Miz is the first eliminated.

Daniel Bryan vs. Big Show vs. Great Khali vs. Santino vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Wade Barrett for the World Heavyweight Championship in the Smackdown Elimination Chamber: This match looks terrible on paper. Of course last year the Smackdown Elimination Chamber looked bad on paper and it ended up stealing the show. Don't hold your breath for that tonight, however. I also wouldn't expect Santino to actually make it into the chamber. The little Italian that could may take some sick bumps on the steel tonight, but my money is on him being replaced by either Mark Henry or a surprise Christian. Remember, Edge set the standard in 2009 when he destroyed Kofi and took his place in the chamber to go on to win. Thanks to Dot Net member Patrick for getting my heqd straight on who and when that happened.

I had this pick all sewn up the night the participants were announced, but Randy Orton's injury throws things for a loop. I don't think there's any question that Sheamus picks the winner of this match for his WrestleMania moment, so the question becomes who can give Sheamus the best WrestleMania moment? If Mark Henry ends up in this match, then I'm 60 percent sure that he goes on to win and face Sheamus. The remaing 40 percent, and 100 percent for any other scenario, goes to Daniel Bryan. There's a hell of a story in the fact that these two faced last year and it got bumped to the dark match only to have it "headline" this year's show. Will WWE tell that story? I doubt it, but I still pick Bryan to retain and end up in a triple threat with Sheamus and Orton.

Predication: Daniel Bryan retains the World Heavyweight Championship.
Bonus Pick: Santino is out first (perhaps even before the match starts)

John Cena vs. Kane in an ambulance match.. For all our complaints about this angle, Zack Ryder marks have taken to Twitter to call Eve every synonym for "whore" I have ever heard. They may have even made up a couple of new ones. The point is, the real heat in this angle has been with Ryder, not so much Cena or Kane. So I expect a ton of shenanigans. I do thinkj Cena wins, but not without doing something to "ebrace the hate." I'm torn between Cena attacking Ryder and Ryder attacking Cena, but I got money on Eve turning tonight to setup her vs. Kharma once the storyline with Kharma and Beth finishes. Of course I just gave WWE credit for thinking ahead with the Divas so it could be that the percocet I'm on for my hurt hand has kicked in.

Predicition: John Cena embraces the hate to win.
Bonus Pick: Eve gives fans more reasons to freakout on Twitter.

Tamina Snuka vs. Beth Phoenix for the WWE Diva’s Championship: This has the potential to be a very good match, And I hope they take this moment to begin conditioning us for a long Divas' match at WrestleMania. If they do, then I hope both these ladies deliver so Vince feels like a genius for giving them more time. Whatever it takes to get some new vigor in the Divas' division. I don't think there's any question that Beth wins here and we start seeing Kharma again on TV, perhaps as soon as tomorrow.

Prediction: Beth Phoenix retains the WWE Divas' Championship
Bonus Pick: A good match. (Hey, it's a Divas match, this counts.)

Special Bonus Pick: The Usos defeat Primo and Epico: OK, so I expect one more match to occur on this card, and this seems the most logical at this point. I think the Usos are due a title run in the near future, perhaps even at WrestleMania, but not tonight. Look for them to get a win over the champs here to setup a rematch at Mania where we could see a title change.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com or tweet me @TheShoreSlant with whatever is on your mind.

And read my first work of fiction: The Following Contest is a Dark Match available exclusively on ebook for all eReaders, smartphones, tablets, and PCs for only 99 cents.