WWE Elimination Chamber preview & predictions: The Sami Zayn conundrum

Saturday’s WWE Elimination Chamber in Montreal has the potential to be one of the most talked about stops on any Road to WrestleMania in history.

The build to WrestleMania 39 has been as unique as anything WWE has ever produced. It shares similarities with Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 30 and Kofimania at WrestleMania 35, but this is definitely its own thing.

Fans (and the TV ratings they bring) are strongly behind both Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes. So the question is how do you handle one getting the title shot at Elimination Chamber and the other at WrestleMania? What series of events is going to be the most enjoyable for fans and lead best into post-Mania creative plans?

This is also a landmark show for the Montreal market. WWE and many Canadian cities have had something of a shaky relationship for the last 25 years, but things have improved considerably as of late. Ever since Paul “Triple H” Levesque took over creative control, WWE has put more emphasis on pleasing local markets, as was evident at shows in Montreal and Toronto last year. 

The days of WWE embarrassing local legends and beating hometown heroes appear to be over (for now, anyway). This change of approach could factor into what happens on Saturday as well.

Here’s some predictions.

WWE undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Sami Zayn

Despite how hot Zayn is right now, despite the match taking place in his hometown, very few are giving him much of a chance.

Montreal has been waiting a long time to crown a champion inside the Bell Center, but oddsmakers certainly don’t see that happening anytime soon. As of this writing, Zayn is listed as a +700 underdog. It just wouldn’t make sense for Reigns’ two-year title reign to end so close to Mania, right? Right?

Then again, what if the strong ratings and fan response to his angle with The Bloodline cause WWE to alter course? How willing is Triple H to change plans in response to a hot angle? Is there a way to have Zayn win without impacting what is planned for Rhodes at WrestleMania? Zayn winning is not likely, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility either. 

It certainly wouldn’t be the first time a hometown hero pulled off a huge upset in that building either. 

Zayn facing Reigns Saturday shares some similarities with Jacques Rougeau’s match against Hollywood Hogan from what was then known as the Molson Centre on April 11, 1997. At the time, Hogan was WCW Champion while Rougeau and PCO were somewhere in the middle of WCW’s tag division as The Amazing French Canadians.

Had betting sites put odds on the match back then, Rougeau would have been much more than a +700 underdog. However, he closed the show that night by pinning Hogan cleanly with a small package in what was a non-title match. 

Can Zayn achieve the same level of upset that Rougeau did that night? Will Saturday’s show conclude with a newly-crowned champion as the Bell Center explodes in celebration? It would be an amazing spectacle and a moment forever entrenched in WWE history. However, smart money says it’s not going to happen. 

In all likelihood, the finish will lead to a Usos vs. Zayn & Kevin Owens title match at Mania. How they get there should be interesting, though.

Recently, Dave Meltzer said on Wrestling Observer Radio that both Jimmy and Jey Uso have been cleared to enter Canada. While Paul Heyman instructed them to watch at home, it’s very possible they show up and  cost Zayn the match somehow. So long as nobody puts anybody in a sharpshooter, it should all go fine. Owens will then come to Zayn’s rescue and the two hometown heroes will stand tall to end the show.

Then again, maybe, just maybe, Sami Zayn wins the title in front of his hometown fans in what would be one of the most significant title changes in WWE history.

Prediction: Roman Reigns

Asuka vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Nikki Cross vs. Liv Morgan vs. Carmella vs. Natalya in the women’s Elimination Chamber match

As of this writing, Asuka is the clear betting favorite at -1250.

When you think about it, she’s really the only one in a position to face Bianca Belair at WrestleMania. Asuka just returned from a month off, has new music, new face paint, and came away from Raw this week looking very strong. Granted, going into a PPV after looking strong on television is not always a recipe for winning.

Still, we know from how she was booked in NXT that Triple H is a big fan of hers. That she has been repackaged a little and given a bunch of wins upon her return makes me think he wants her to play an important role at the very top of the Raw women’s division.

This would lead to Asuka vs. Belair at WrestleMania. Barring an Asuka heel turn to close that match, I expect Belair would win for the third WrestleMania in a row. It would also mean Belair would complete the increasingly rare Mania-to-Mania title run.

Prediction: Asuka

U.S. Champion Austin Theory vs. Bronson Reed vs. Seth Rollins vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Damian Priest vs. Montez Ford in the men’s Elimination Chamber match

The only real story here is between Rollins and Theory, but with Rollins looking like he’s going to be facing Logan Paul at WrestleMania, their rivalry likely won’t continue past Saturday.

It’s tough to know how WWE plans to use Theory moving forward. When the regime change happened, Theory blew his Money in the Bank cash-in shortly after and it appeared as though he would not be getting the push he did with Vince McMahon in charge. Then he started to be built back up, leading to his current run with the U.S. belt. Where he ranks on Triple H’s roster remains somewhat unclear, however.

A possible scenario exists of a babyface winning the title here and then defending it against Theory at WrestleMania. Gargano strikes me as someone who Triple H could give the belt to if that’s where he wants to go.

The safe money here says Theory retains while the rest of the participants build up stories for their respective “paths to WrestleMania.” Theory will do what he always does: win by fluke or cheating and whichever opponent bears the brunt of that the most will face him in Los Angeles.

Prediction: Austin Theory

Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley III

Heading into Lesnar vs. Lashley III, the series is tied at one win a piece.

Lesnar means more to the company than his opponent here, but the story they are telling might be leading to a Lashley win. It all depends on what is going on with MVP and a possible reformation of The Hurt Business. It seems as though the faction will be open for business again soon, but the rocky relationship played up on WWE programming between MVP and Lashley makes it unclear who exactly will be in the group.

Lashley is either going to be in The Hurt Business or he is going to feud against them. If it’s the latter, expect MVP to somehow cost Lashley this match. On the other hand, if Lashley is to be part of a reformed Hurt Business, I would expect MVP and company to help him pick up the win.

While I’m not completely certain, I think the most likely scenario here is that a reformed Hurt Business helps Lashley come away with the win.

Prediction: Bobby Lashley

Edge & Beth Phoenix vs. Finn Balor & Rhea Ripley

The betting odds have WWE’s Grit Couple as -400 favorites, but I don’t think they are going to win.

As with many of the matches on this show, everything that happens will be to build to Mania. With Ripley already set to face Charlotte Flair after winning the Royal Rumble, I’m expecting her to pin Phoenix on Saturday. She’s the wrestler the company wants to keep the strongest right now, so it makes sense that she will be the one who gets the victory for her team.

It would have to be Edge pinning Balor for the Grit Couple to win as they are not going to have Phoenix beat Mami. With Edge and Balor most likely working a singles match at Mania, I don’t know if WWE wants either one pinning the other so close to the bigger event. 

Although, if Edge pins Balor and it somehow wakes up “The Demon” that could possibly lead to the rumored Brood Edge vs. Demon Balor Hell in a Cell match, Balor pinning Edge could potentially lead to the same destination.

Prediction: Finn Balor & Rhea Ripley