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The 2017 Elimination Chamber pay-per-view will provide some clarity moving towards WrestleMania 33. But here are three bold predictions for what happens this Sunday.
The Road to WrestleMania officially started less than two weeks ago at the Royal Rumble. But there’s an early bump in that road, at least for the SmackDown Live brand. The 2017 Elimination Chamber pay-per-view on Sunday is going to provide some more clarity when it comes to some of the matches for WrestleMania 33.
It will be interesting to see what the WWE is planning when it comes to the WWE Championship. AJ Styles lost the title to John Cena, who is now a 16-time world champion to tie Ric Flair’s record. But there are ongoing reports that Bray Wyatt is going to possibly win at the Elimination Chamber match. Could the WWE really be looking at having Cena’s record-tying championship reign lasting only two weeks?
There are also questions regarding some of the other feuds going on within SmackDown Live. After having won the lengthy rivalry with Becky Lynch, what is the WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss going to do at WrestleMania 33? It would have to be a match that rivals a potential classic from Raw that could feature Bayley, Charlotte Flair and/or Sasha Banks. Certainly, Bliss’ plans for WrestleMania could involve Mickie James, right?
There are a number of interesting matches that involve tag teams, women and other WWE superstars. What happens at Elimination Chamber will shape what SmackDown brings to WrestleMania 33 on April 2 in Orlando, Fla. The following are three bold predictions of what will happen at Elimination Chamber this Sunday in Phoenix, Ariz.
3. Randy Orton vs Luke Harper Will Steal the Show
A lot of attention is going to be centered on the Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship. However, one match that has a chance to steal the show could be between Randy Orton and Luke Harper. The storyline of the match going into their match involves the Viper essentially replacing Harper as Bray Wyatt’s right-hand man.
Even with the three working together for months, the tension was subtle yet noticeable. There were times when Orton would stand in the backstage vignette with Wyatt while Harper stared through him. That stare has been seen even when the two worked together to win the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship.
Orton is a veteran in the WWE who knows how to work with a variety of superstars over the last 15 years. But Harper is also someone who has been able to show potential as a singles superstar. There’s a reason he held the WWE Intercontinental Championship for a brief period of time. This time, Harper is looking like he could be a huge babyface in the WWE. The fans have shown their support recently.
Between the two, they both have the ability to possibly be a dark horse for the match of the night honors at Elimination Chamber. What was seen a few weeks ago before the Royal Rumble might be an appetizer to the course that could be served this Sunday.
2. Mickie James Begins Feud with Alexa Bliss
There was a lot of excitement with the WWE return of Mickie James. Although it was pretty surprising to see her start an alliance with Alexa Bliss, it likely won’t last long. James said upon her return that the WWE Universe might have forgotten her. Despite being one of the best female wrestlers in WWE’s Ruthless Aggression.
James is certainly someone who wants to show that she is an elite female superstar. She was able to win her first of five WWE Women’s Championships against Trish Stratus at WrestleMania XXII. Now, James wanted to show that the women of the Divas Revolution aren’t the first female athletes to step foot in the WWE.
She wants to find the best competition and go after titles in the WWE. That’s why she went into a match against Asuka for the NXT Women’s Championship during the TakeOver: Toronto event in November. Only a month into her WWE main roster return, she’s now focused on the “reinvention of Mickie James.”
Part of that “reinvention” would be to win championships. While she has respect for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion, James is likely eyeing the belt around Bliss’ waist. The two could put together an amazing match at WrestleMania 33; one that would rival anything on Raw involving Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks and/or Bayley.
1. Bray Wyatt Wins WWE Championship
Some might feel that this doesn’t qualify to be a “bold prediction.” However, the track record of Bray Wyatt on the main roster may say otherwise. For years, Wyatt has shown that he is fully capable of being a main event heel in the WWE. Now seems like the perfect time to let him step into that role by winning the WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber.
The transformation from Husky Harris into Bray Wyatt has been fascinating. From being nothing more than a low-tier member of the Nexus in 2011 and becoming the Eater of Worlds took years to complete. Wyatt has feuded with many top-tier WWE superstars with many fans having high expectations.
But more often than not, Wyatt has been on the losing end since coming to the main roster in 2013. Aside from Daniel Bryan, the only major feud win came against Randy Orton. So while there are a number of reports stating that Wyatt is expected to win the WWE Championship, it feels like the case of the boy who cried wolf.
Having Orton win the Royal Rumble two weeks ago doesn’t make sense if Wyatt doesn’t win at Elimination Chamber. It would make the most sense considering there is a long-term storyline already in place between Orton and Wyatt.
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