WWE’s final pay-per-view stop on the Road to WrestleMania is Saturday when the Elimination Chamber comes to Montreal. The map is packed with big matches, all with significant implications for April’s two-day WrestleMania event.
Two matches take place in the legendary Elimination Chamber. Six women battle it out with one shot at Bianca Belair and the Raw Women’s Championship at stake. In the men’s, Austin Theory will defend his US Championship against five other men in the chamber.
Roman Reigns will also defend his undisputed world title against former teammate Sami Zayn in Zayn’s hometown in the epic Main Event. The saga that became The Bloodline reached a boiling point at Royal Rumble when Reigns pushed Zayn into hitting his former friend Kevin Owens with a chair while Owens was defenseless. Instead, Zayn beat Reigns, leading to an incredible moment that seems to split the faction at the seams.
Let’s take a closer look at who our CBS Sports pundits are predicting will come out on top at the WWE Elimination Chamber, which begins Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ET from the Bell Center in Montreal and streams live on Peacock.
2023 WWE Elimination Chamber predictions
Undisputed WWE Universal Championship – Roman Reigns (c) vs. Sami Zayn
Any other time of the year it feels like there’s a little more unpredictability to how this match might turn out. Zayn is the hottest babyface he’s had in a long time due to the masterfully crafted Bloodline story. The Montreal crowd will be incredibly hot for Zayn and an upset championship win would be an absolute moment in WWE history. The reality, however, is that Reigns’ long run of titles won’t end anytime soon before WrestleMania. The real question is if things are shaping up to change the WrestleMania Main Event. Will something happen that inserts Zayn into this match and turns the match between Reigns and Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes into a triple threat? That is yet to be seen. Reigns vs. Zayn should have a great atmosphere and tell a good story, but it would be a legitimate shocker if Zayn left Montreal with the titles. Pick: Roman Reigns keeps the titles — Brent Brookhouse (also Shakiel Mahjouri)
Elimination Chamber Match for a shot at the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania – Asuka vs. Liv Morgan vs. Nikki Cross vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Natalya vs. Carmella
The return of Evil Asuka was a devilish treat. Her makeover at the Royal Rumble drew a huge fan reaction and she has since booked well, picking up good wins and showing a return to her old dominance. Asuka is certainly the most credible competitor in this chamber match and her new gimmick needs to be protected. All acts are calming down, so it’s imperative that WWE continue to portray this insane version of Asuka as a threat. With WrestleMania on the horizon, Asuka is also the safest choice for a smooth build-up to a title match at the biggest show of the year. Pick: Asuka wins — Mahjouri (also Brookhouse)
Elimination Chamber Match for the US Championship – Austin Theory (c) vs Seth Rollins vs Montez Ford vs Damian Priest vs Johnny Gargano vs Bronson Reed
There aren’t many credible winners going into the match. Johnny Gargano has been mostly a comedy act since his return, Rollins recently lost the title and seems linked with a possible WrestleMania exit to Logan Paul, Priest is a secondary stable member, Reed doesn’t have the momentum — and the fans have also showed no interest in him on Raw – to enter WrestleMania as the defending champion, and Ford is one half of a struggling tag team. If anyone were to dethrone Theory, it would probably be Ford. It’s certainly desirable to see what the athletic, fan-friendly superstar could do as a breakout singles star. Ultimately, WWE seems somewhat committed to Theory’s reign, and a credible challenger is on the horizon. Theory told CBS Sports in August “he’s pretty confident” he’ll face John Cena at WrestleMania. Other than Theory and Logan Paul, there aren’t many entrants to the Cena Sweepstakes. If we get Theory vs. Cena then the champion will surely leave Elimination Chamber with his title in hand. Pick: Austin Theory retains the title — Mahjouri (also Brookhouse)
Edge & Beth Phoenix vs. Finn Balor & Rhea Ripley
The deciding factor in this match is that Ripley has won the Royal Rumble and is heading to WrestleMania to challenge Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Ripley hasn’t fought since her win at the Rumble and it wouldn’t make sense if she immediately lost momentum by dropping a match against Edge and Phoenix, two established legends who are bulletproof at this point. Sometimes it really is that easy to determine how a match will end. Pick: Balor and Ripley win — Brookhouse (also Mahjouri)
Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley
To be honest, the most realistic option here might be to have the pair go to a no contest due to a wild brawl so the rubber match can carry over to WrestleMania. There’s probably no bigger mania match for either man, so ending the feud on the big stage might be the best option. If I were forced to choose one of the two men to take the win, I would have to side with Lesnar. Lashley practically overcame Lesnar at every turn, even right after Lesnar defeated him at Crown Jewel. At some point, a star like Lesnar gets the get-right moment. Choice: No contest or Brock Lesnar wins – Brookhouse
The outcome of this match depends on WWE’s WrestleMania schedule. Frankly, the once-fantasy feud has run its course, but here we are. The Hosses are split 1-1 in their series and a no-contest is in play should the creatives choose to complete the trilogy at WrestleMania. If someone wins at Elimination Chamber, I’ll side with Lashley. The Hurt Business never really got the run they deserved and there may be interest in reforming the faction. Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander were spotted chatting backstage on Raw, MVP’s collaboration with Omos fell through, and Lashley needs help. Hurt Business’s interference in the match gives Lashley the upper hand, giving the group a major reintroduction and giving WWE scope to expand the feud to WrestleMania. Selection: Bobby Lashley wins – Mahjouri