WWE Elimination Chamber predictions: Kaboly backs Punk, AJ Lee and Cody Rhodes
Contributor Mark Kaboly lays out his elimination chamber predictions for the card streaming live from the United Center in Chicago. His piece pairs match-by-match picks with notes on streaming access and the larger WrestleMania 42 picture.
Elimination Chamber broadcast details and access notes from Kaboly
Kaboly opens by noting that WWE is promoting every Premium Live Event and unlimited access to its premium content across devices, encouraging fans to stream on available services. He places the Elimination Chamber show at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday at 7 ET/4 PT and frames his predictions around that live card and the road to WrestleMania 42.
World Heavyweight Title: CM Punk (c) vs Finn Bálor — Kaboly expects Punk to retain
The World Heavyweight Title match features CM Punk (c) against Finn Bálor. Kaboly writes that Punk "cannot lose in his hometown of Chicago, " and deems it a longshot that Punk would not hold the World Heavyweight Title heading into WrestleMania 42. He argues Punk will need to win cleanly to preserve a Punk vs Roman Reigns main event for WrestleMania. Kaboly also highlights Dominik Mysterio’s role: Dominik is the Intercontinental Champion, has had issues with his Judgment Day brother, and Kaboly predicts Dominik — referenced as "Dirty" Dom — will attack Bálor inside the ring after Punk defeats him.
Women’s Intercontinental Title: Becky Lynch (c) vs AJ Lee — an upset forecast
On the women’s side, Becky Lynch (c) meets AJ Lee. Kaboly notes AJ Lee has not had a singles match in almost 11 years and that this bout serves as her first singles match since returning. He describes Lee as a continuing thorn in Lynch’s side and balances the usual expectation that Lynch would retain against the possibility of a short AJ Lee title run that could set up a rematch at WrestleMania 42. Kaboly quotes Roddy Piper: "Once you think you know that answers, I change the questions, " and ultimately predicts AJ Lee defeats Becky Lynch in what he frames as an upset.
Men’s Elimination Chamber field and the route to WrestleMania 42
The men’s Elimination Chamber match lists Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams, Logan Paul and LA Knight. Kaboly guarantees two moments: Je’Von Evans will "wow us, " and Randy Orton will hit Evans with a spectacular RKO during the match. He frames it as a three-man race among Orton, Cody Rhodes and LA Knight, says Knight has a real chance, but adds he cannot envision WrestleMania 42 without Cody Rhodes in a main event Title Match. Kaboly recounts that Jey Uso was taken out by a mystery man on SmackDown, which opened the door for Vision member Logan Paul to claim the sixth and final Chamber spot over Jacob Fatu; he says that sequence solidified, in his view, a Cody Rhodes vs Drew McIntyre Title Match at WrestleMania. Kaboly also observes that if Jacob Fatu had slipped into the Chamber, outcomes might have differed, and he raises the remote possibility of Rhodes turning from a "good guy" to a "bad guy" but doubts that will occur. The write-up ends by saying the match will produce a "straightforward, workmanlike performance by Rhodes that sends him" — the sentence is incomplete and unclear in the provided context.
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