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With Mustafa Ali out of the Elimination Chamber, it was time for WWE to pick a replacement. They announced that it was going to be a New Day member and up stepped Kofi Kingston.
While it's clear that WWE picked him for Ali because they have very similar characteristics and they needn't change the match plan drastically. Both men are capable of going beyond the limits to entertain the fans and take the fight to the opponents.
However, I don't see where this storyline will be heading after the match. There are better storylines WWE could have gone with if they had picked one of these 5 Superstars:
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#5 Bray Wyatt
The eater of the worlds is fit and ready to return but is just waiting for the right storyline. Bray Wyatt was out of action for a long time but made his return in a WWE Live Event just before TLC, late in December.
There was a lot of speculation that WWE would bring him in as a replacement for Braun Strowman in the match vs Baron Corbin but that didn't happen. The WWE Universe was expecting to see him at the Royal Rumble, at least, and he was a no-show there as well.
But now, WWE have the right storyline to bring him in but have once again now done it. Wyatt could have come out and accused Daniel Bryan of stealing his Wyatt Family – creating a story that could have had some interesting twists and turns.
The only reason I see WWE not going ahead with this is if they are planning to change his character completely. He did become a WOKEN soldier after the Ultimate Deletion match.
But then again, how much longer are WWE going to keep him out? Just give him a chance, Vince!
#4 Shinsuke Nakamura
The King of Strong Style lost the US title to Rusev and then won it back at Royal Rumble, only to lose it to R-Truth on SmackDown Live! Now, he is involved in a weird storyline where he has partnered with Rusev to attack R-Truth.
Nakamura has had a battle with AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan in WWE and it would have been great to see him inside the chamber – something he has never been involved in. The former NJPW star would have been the best replacement but would have been the heel in the match despite replacing a face, Mustafa Ali.
The only possible reasons why WWE did not opt to pick him would be his contract status. Reports suggest that Shinsuke Nakamura's contract is up after WrestleMania and there have been no negotiations between the parties.
#3 Rusev
Rusev's WWE career has been nothing but a roller-coaster ride. He started off with a big push but then slowing fell down the pecking order. He got another push last year when he was with Aiden English but then again, WWE broke them up abruptly.
Now, again, it looked like he was getting a push after he won the US title around Christmas but he dropped the title at Royal Rumble to continue his streak of not winning a single match at a PPV for over 2 years!
Adding Rusev to the Elimination Chamber match would have given it a new twist and WWE could have squeezed him into the title picture too. If not, they could have started a storyline with Orton or Jeff Hardy – something the fans would have enjoyed a lot more than what he is currently doing with Nakamura.
#2 Luke Harper
Another superstar who is fit and not being used by WWE right now is Luke Harper. Just like the storyline previously mentioned with Bray Wyatt, Harper could have started one with Bryan.
He could have accused the WWE Champion of breaking the bond between the Bludgeon Brothers who were dominating the tag-team division before they got injured. However, WWE have chosen Kofi Kingston, who put on a great showing on SmackDown Live, but probably has no storyline following the match inside the Chamber.
Another way WWE could have used Harper is by adding him to the matchup and him helping out AJ Styles inside the chamber – just like Rowan came out of nowhere to help Bryan at the Royal Rumble.
It could have been a new twist in the storyline involving Styles and Bryan with an added twist of the Bludgeon Brothers going against each other.
#1 Andrade
Just like Mustafa Ali, Andrade has impressed on his main roster debut. He has got some heat from the crowd after turning hee, but the WWE Universe want to see him pushed big time and see him in high-profile matches. However, WWE have got him currently in a feud with Rey Mysterio that seems to be going nowhere.
Andrade can replicate whatever Ali was supposed to do inside the Chamber and could have even added the Tranquilo to the Chamber match. He is undoubtedly one of the most talented stars on SmackDown Live and should have been given the chance to prove himself.
After the match, he could have been involved in a storyline with Orton. If The Viper is to leave WWE as rumours suggest, he could have put Andrade over and made him one of the stars of the blue brand, which he is destined to become, eventually.
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