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WWE is firmly on the Road to WrestleMania 37, with the next stop being Elimination Chamber.
Both titular matches at the event have world title implications, with the RAW Chamber being for the WWE Championship and the winner of the SmackDown Chamber facing Universal Champion Roman Reigns on the same night. There is some intrigue across both Elimination Chamber matches.
Aside from the winners, WWE must be creative in laying them out. There is some potential for quite a few major spots in and around the Elimination Chamber. There may be pre-match shenanigans and intense WrestleMania-shaping confrontations before we find out who survives the dreaded structure.
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Quite a few story-based moments need to happen at Elimination Chamber, especially with 'Mania being around seven weeks away. They would spice up the two big matches further, thus making the event much better for it.
From surprise attacks to the eventual winners, here are five things that must happen in the 2021 Elimination Chamber matches.
#5 Mustafa Ali attacks and replaces Kofi Kingston just before he enters the Elimination Chamber
This week's episode of RAW saw a change made to the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Match. Money in the Bank holder The Miz took himself out, with Kofi Kingston getting a spot in the match. This is just like when the New Day member was added to the Elimination Chamber Match in 2019.
However, unlike two years ago, Kingston isn't likely to be showcased. In fact, there is a good chance that Mustafa Ali plays a part in his downfall. In the act of cruel irony, RETRIBUTION should attack the former WWE Champion as he makes his way into the Elimination Chamber.
Kingston replaced him in the match in 2019, so a reversal of the same, albeit in a more violent way, would be sweet justice in Ali's eyes. The former 205 Live star could go on to have an impressive showing inside the Elimination Chamber, with the consequences possibly spilling over to WrestleMania.
This moment would lead to a much more intense conclusion to Mustafa Ali and Kofi Kingston's feud. It would be a great opener for either night of The Show of Shows. By the way, this wouldn't be the first time Kofi Kingston was attacked before an Elimination Chamber Match. Edge replaced him at No Way Out 2009.
#4 Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn have a confrontation inside the Elimination Chamber
The Elimination Chamber should ideally be used to build storylines for WrestleMania. While the aforementioned Kingston vs. Ali feud would be furthered outside the structure's confines, WWE could use the SmackDown Chamber match to set the wheels in motion for a fresh match for 'Mania.
Kevin Owens is a phenomenal babyface and needs a prominent WrestleMania program. Enter Sami Zayn - a revelation as a heel, becoming one of the highlights of SmackDown. Despite their history both in and out of WWE, the two frenemies have not faced each other in their current roles.
Face KO vs. heel Sami Zayn feels so right and would be an excellent addition to the WrestleMania card. And with both men in the Elimination Chamber, WWE should tease a future match between them on Sunday. Owens and Zayn could even be the first two participants in the Elimination Chamber Match.
It has been a while since we've seen Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn feud with each other anyway. Elimination Chamber provides WWE with the perfect opportunity to restart it in time for WrestleMania. It would be a great utilization of both Superstars' talents.
#3 The Fiend returns in a creative way inside the Elimination Chamber to cost Randy Orton
One of the most intriguing elements of Elimination Chamber 2021 is the possible return of The Fiend. Ever since Randy Orton burned Bray Wyatt's alter-ego to a crisp at TLC, he has been tormented with mind games, distractions, and even fireballs from Alexa Bliss. She claimed on RAW that he will be reborn.
That 'rebirth' could come as soon as Elimination Chamber, where Orton is challenging for the WWE Championship. One of WWE's scariest figures returning in one of the scariest WWE matches would be a spectacle and a half. Also, Wyatt won the WWE title inside the Chamber before losing it to Orton, lending to more history.
A creative and aesthetically pleasing way for The Fiend to return is for him to rise from below the Elimination Chamber and behind Randy Orton through the magic of technology and pre-tapes. The former Universal Champion could be a deformed version of himself.
Another possible way for The Fiend's presence to be felt is for Randy Orton (a stuntman representing him in a pre-tape) to catch fire during the Elimination Chamber Match. WWE must really think outside the box to top what they did with Orton and The Fiend at TLC.
#2 Drew McIntyre retains the WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber
There can only be one man who leaves Elimination Chamber as the WWE Champion - Drew McIntyre. He will defend against five former WWE Champions, all of whom are older than him. None of them feel like they could dethrone McIntyre right now, including Sheamus.
The Celtic Warrior pinned his former best friend on RAW but isn't likely to repeat the feat at Elimination Chamber. McIntyre could defend the WWE title one-on-one against Sheamus a month later at Fastlane. Meanwhile, the other participants in the Elimination Chamber match don't really stand a chance at all.
Randy Orton is wrapped up with Bray Wyatt and Alexa Bliss, as we just saw. Kofi Kingston could be involved in some RETRIBUTION shenanigans at Elimination Chamber. Meanwhile, Jeff Hardy doesn't feel like the star he was in 2009, and AJ Styles has been beaten by Drew McIntyre multiple times.
As for The Scottish Terminator's opponent for WrestleMania, WWE will have to develop something worthy of the showpiece event. McIntyre's WrestleMania moment last year was marred by the lack of a crowd and hopefully, his moment this year isn't ruined by the lack of a credible challenger.
#1 Cesaro wins the SmackDown Elimination Chamber Match
While the RAW Elimination Chamber is predictable, the SmackDown match has a few possible winners. However, with that being said, it absolutely needs to be Cesaro who comes out victorious. Several factors swing in his direction, the most obvious of which is that he is one of the best wrestlers on the planet.
Cesaro is a machine in the ring, with bags of energy and power for days. His promo skills have also improved over the years, thanks to his appearances on UpUpDownDown. The Swiss Superman also cut a fantastic promo last week on Talking Smack, showcasing his passion for the business.
In the end, it will likely come down to Cesaro and Daniel Bryan. After a world-class exchange between both men, it should be the seven-time Tag Team Champion who wins. The stipulation of the winner of the Elimination Chamber Match getting a shot at Roman Reigns on the same night suits Cesaro much more than it does for Bryan.
A Universal Championship match between Reigns and Bryan needs a minimum of one month of build due to the multi-layered story between both stars. It isn't possible to cram so much storytelling in a night of action. On the other hand, Cesaro's story with Reigns is yet to be told.
All The Swiss Superman needs at Elimination Chamber is a victory inside the dreaded structure before taking The Tribal Chief to his limit later on the show. This would turn Cesaro into an overnight main-event star. He deserves it as much as anyone right now, and Elimination Chamber is his opportunity to prove it to the world.
