Simon RushworthThe build-up to Wrestlemania 35 is well and truly underway. This Sunday the ninth iteration of the deadly match will steamroll its way through the Toyota Center in Houston – with no fewer than six out of the seven matches advertised seeing titles on the line. Elimination Chamber 2019 promises to be a cracker.
The course to Mania has been nothing short of bumpy since the turn of 2019. Recent weeks have seen Royal Rumble winner and red hot crowd favourite Becky Lynch seemingly dumped out of the Mania main event plus injuries, returns and new titles on the line.
Ordinarily fans could be excused for expecting a phoned in, paint by numbers PPV to pass the time. But with increasing competition and weekly shake ups, this year could be harder to guess.
Read on for Rushonrock’s predictions as Wrestling Royalty’s Andy Spoors joins our very own Burrows Boys to preview the best of the action:
Cruiserweight Championship Match
Buddy Murphy vs. Akira Tozawa
Shockingly this match always seemed destined for the Kickoff Show, but as always don’t miss out, as it should be outstanding. Buddy Murphy has been in sensational form for over a year, even capturing the gold at Super Showdown. His opponent Tozawa, won a Fatal 4 way to become number one contender and is of course a former Cruiserweight champ himself. Expect high octane action and a match of the night contender.
Prediction
JB: Buddy Murphy
RB: Buddy Murphy
AS: Buddy Murphy
Handicap Match Intercontinental Championship Match
Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush vs. Finn Balor
The night after his defeat to Brock at the Royal Rumble Finn addressed the WWE universe. Lashley interrupts and all of a sudden we’re in a Triple Threat. Wait – why is this is a Triple Threat again? Lio works well as Bobby’s mouthpiece, he can get involved where he needs to, so why is he in the match?
We can see the logic of turning Finn into the next Seth and I’m all for continuing to raise the profile of the Intercontinental Title, but we would be slightly disappointed if Finn wins it here. He deserves a better and we can see this one rolling through to Wrestlemania.
Prediction
JB: Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush
RB: Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush
AS: Finn Balor
Raw Women’s Championship Match
Ronda Rousey vs. Ruby Riott
It’s a given that Rousey walks away with the title here, right? Wrestlemania 35 is quite rightly going to be headlined by the ex UFC star, Charlotte and most likely Becky Lynch. Don’t expect Ruby Riott to change that on Sunday. A title match against one of the company’s main attractions is a huge deal for Riott though and it’s great to see her get the exposure. It’s time to sink or swim for a fast tracked NXT graduate.
We are more interested in hearing the crowd reaction than the match itself to be honest! Rousey is drawing heat right now for simply not being Becky and we are digging it. The “can’t stop smiling” version of Ronnie has gone, replaced by a Paul Heyman influenced, cocky, corporate alternative. There’s a real chance the crowd could be behind Riott in this one, but it’s not going to make one much of a difference.
Prediction
JB: Rousey
RB: Rousey
AS: Rousey
No Disqualification Match
Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin
Urgh. Do we need to see this one again? This time it’s a No DQ match, but we literally saw the same match at TLC a few months ago.
We are frustrated that WWE have killed Braun’s momentum, and we are hope WWE would make use of Corbin. He’s could be a heavy metal infused gem.
Hopefully this puts this puts an end to a feud way too long in the tooth and both men can move on to bigger and better things.
Prediction
JB: Strowman
RB: Strowman
AS: Strowman
Smackdown Tag Team Championships
The Miz and Shane McMahon vs. The Usos
The inception of McMiz has been one of the standout segments of Smackdown recently. Credit to WWE, they’ve turned an absolutely abysmal ending to Crown Jewel, into…well, a Crown Jewel!
The chemistry between the odd pairing has worked wonders, bringing laugh out loud skits to Tuesday nights, often backed with a tinge of raw emotion. The payoff has got to be their implosion and a match at the grandest stage of them all surely?
The Usos are arguably the best tag team across both divisions and have bided their time to claim back the straps, but the question is, will they pull the trigger now or wait until closer to April ?
Prediction
JB: Usos
RB: Usos
AS: Shane and Miz
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Elimination Chamber Match
The Iconics vs Fire and Desire vs Boss n Hug Connection vs Nia Jax & Tamina vs Naomi & Carmella vs Riott Squad
It’s great to see the Womens tag titles being introduced – long overdue may we add, and BOY do those titles look good!
Our concern here is, and has always been if the womens division has enough numbers to pull it off. How will it work taking the titles across brands and will it feel a little bit cobbled together pulling singles competitors into tag action just for the sake of it every now and then (Naomi & Carmella as an example, just ‘appeared’ together).
We hope it doesn’t and I hope it works well because the women deserve it to work well.
Iconics and Riott Squad haven’t done enough yet to be crowned champs, Naomi and Carmella doesn’t seem to sit right with me, we guess Mandy and Sonya could be a good shout though. Still, this one is all about the journey of Banks and Bayley and whether or not they have it in them to come out on top. We can’t see beyond them or Nia & Tamina. It wouldn’t be WWE without some drama so a spectacular implosion between Batley and Banks could be on the cards.
Prediction
JB: Banks & Bayley
RB: Nia Jax & Tamina
AS: Banks & Bayley
WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Match
Daniel Bryan vs Kofi vs Jeff Hardy vs AJ Styles vs Randy Orton vs Samoa Joe
This match is stacked and will be a barn burner for sure!
There’s sure to be some great Hardy set pieces, AJ Styles and Joe (Joe, Joe, Joe) are the amongst the biggest threat to anybody across the blue brand.
The ‘New’ Daniel Bryan has been sensational. His promos have been second to none. From telling uncomfortable home truths to chastising fans backstage for eating hot dogs, he’s made everybody despise him and his Vegan based ways.
With his new eco friendly belt and the addition of Erick Rowan as a sidekick, he has to go into this one as favourite. Rowans size means the chamber is NOT going to stop him getting involved at some point, so watch out for that inevitability.
What would we ‘like’ to see happen ? This is the age of the big, bold “give the universe what they want” era of WWE. Naturally, we want Kofi to win the gold so the New Day can throw pancakes at him as retribution. Kingston Vs Bryan at Wrestlemania 35 ? Imagine the scenes !
Oh wait, we missed somebody. Beware the Viper.
Prediction
JB: Going with heart over head here – Kofi
RB: Samoa Joe
AS: Daniel Bryan