The Elimination Chamber Match returns to decide the fate of 12 WWE Superstars on the Road to WrestleMania.
Five former world champs challenge Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship in the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view’s headline bout.
Sheamus will enter the match last after surviving a gauntlet on Raw, giving the Celtic Warrior a distinct advantage in his quest to dethrone McIntyre.
The Superstars of SmackDown, meanwhile, arguably face an even tougher predicament. Whoever makes it out of their Elimination Chamber Match will earn a shot at Roman Reigns’ Universal Championship—that very same night.
Who are the favourites to end February with the Universal and WWE titles? Join the NZPWI Roundtable as we break down the card for WWE Elimination Chamber 2021…
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WWE Championship, Elimination Chamber Match:
Drew McIntyre (c) vs. AJ Styles vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton vs. Sheamus (6)
AJ Murtagh:
Drew McIntyre has been on a roll for a year now and I don’t see that ending any time soon! Sheamus has the advantage with entering last but McIntyre will stand tall.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
David Dunn:
Unlike the Royal Rumble, there’s a proven advantage to late entry inside the Elimination Chamber. You’re almost two-and-a-half times more likely to win from entry five or six than you are if you begin the match. And while we don’t yet know where WWE Champion Drew McIntyre will wind up, we do know that Sheamus will be released from his pod last…
Winner: Sheamus
Grady Hooker:
Every ounce of my being wants to see Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus in a one-on-one match for the WWE Championship. For that to happen, one of those two need to win in the Chamber, so let’s go with McIntyre.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
Sammy G:
Out of everyone in this match-up, Randy Orton is the only one with the vision and forethought to mentally plan and strategise his way to victory.
Winner: Randy Orton
Steve McCleary:
Anything can happen in the Chamber, but I reckon Sheamus has done the work to give himself the best mental and physical advantage. It might be him staring down McIntyre at the end, but he’ll come out on top.
Winner: Sheamus
Elimination Chamber Match:
Cesaro vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Jey Uso vs. Kevin Owens vs. King Corbin vs. Sami Zayn [Winner faces Universal Champion Roman Reigns]
AJ:
This match could go a number of ways. The match I want to see is Reigns vs. Bryan, so my heart is with Daniel Bryan but I also think Uso and the Tribal Chief have unfinished business and Jey may pull out an upset to get out from under his cousin. Kevin Owens seems determined as well but his anger may hold him back. If pressed, I’m going with Jey. Just a feeling.
Winner: Jey Uso
David:
Remember WrestleMania 30, where Daniel Bryan won a qualifying match at the start of the night and went on to become world champion by the end of it? It’s Bryan’s time to overcome the odds yet again.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
Grady:
My man Cesaro has been on an absolute tear lately, showing once again why he can sit at the top of the card with the best of them. I think he’ll be able to outlast the others in the match and score the title shot.
Winner: Cesaro
Sammy:
Oh boy! So many opportunities open up in this match. After everything Roman Reigns has put Jey Uso through since becoming the Head of the Table/Tribal Chief, it would be beautiful to see Uso win and go on to dethrone Reigns. That said, I think Cesaro’s got plenty to prove, and this is the time to do it!
Winner: Cesaro
Steve:
It’s a stacked list of competitors, plus King Corbin, so it comes down to who’s best at outlasting the odds—which means the smart money is either Cesaro or Daniel Bryan. I know who’s hungrier for it.
Winner: Cesaro
United States Championship:
Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Keith Lee vs. Riddle
AJ:
All three men have an air of legitimacy to them and this – in theory – could go anybody’s way. I think Riddle is the least focused of the trio and Lashley may be a touch complacent. I can see Lee pulling it out and taking the title into WrestleMania.
Winner: Keith Lee
David:
Is Lashley complacent or is he confident? The US Champion has looked exceptionally dangerous to me over the past few months, and I don’t see his reign ending at Elimination Chamber.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
Grady:
I’ve been saying for weeks on our radio show, Wrestling Roundup, The Hurt Business are showing cracks and MVP will ditch them to manage Keith Lee. I have to remain consistent in my pick here.
Winner: Keith Lee
Sammy:
In a dream situation, this match would see Keith Lee join The Hurt Business to form the tag team of “Lash-Lee”! We could still see this happen in the match…
Winner: Bobby Lashley
Steve:
I love triple threats and this one should be a banger. Even with the champion’s advantage negated, I wouldn’t bet against someone backed up by The Hurt Business.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
Women’s Tag Team Championship:
Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Bianca Belair & Sasha Banks
AJ:
Presumably the pair that wins this match will defend the titles against Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez. Both matches are enticing, but I suppose at the end of the day, I’d like that match to happen at WrestleMania. As such, I hope Nia and Shayna retain so the titles can be defended on the grandest stage of them all.
Winners: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler.
David:
Will the tension of a potential WrestleMania showdown help or hinder Bianca and Sasha? We’re about to find out, but I don’t think the outcome will be positive.
Winners: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler
Grady:
I’m picking this one purely based on who I want to see face Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez in a few weeks. The story is a lot better for Kai and Gonzalez to beat Jax and Baszler who they already have history with.
Winners: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler
Sammy:
Sasha Banks has a winning relationship with this event and the women’s tag team titles—winning the belts with Bayley in the first-ever Women’s Tag Team Championship Elimination Chamber Match two years ago. Will Bianca be able to focus on this match with WrestleMania on the horizon? I’m Banks-ing on yes.
Winners: Bianca Belair & Sasha Banks
Steve:
An established team against two singles competitors with massive egos, who are likely to be distracted by a potential clash with each other at WrestleMania? C’mon, guys. This one’s a no-brainer.
Winners: Bianca Belair & Sasha Banks
Picks Summary
WWE Championship, Elimination Chamber Match:
AJ Styles: 0 (0%)
Drew McIntyre: 2 (40%)
Jeff Hardy: 0 (0%)
Kofi Kingston: 0 (0%)
Randy Orton: 1 (20%)
Sheamus: 2 (40%)
Elimination Chamber Match:
Cesaro: 3 (60%)
Daniel Bryan: 1 (20%)
Jey Uso: 1 (20%)
Kevin Owens: 0 (0%)
King Corbin: 0 (0%)
Sami Zayn: 0 (0%)
United States Championship:
Bobby Lashley: 3 (60%)
Keith Lee: 2 (40%)
Riddle: 0 (0%)
Women’s Tag Team Championship:
Bianca Belair & Sasha Banks: 2 (40%)
Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler: 3 (60%)
WWE Elimination Chamber 2021
Monday, February 22
1pm NZDT (Elimination Chamber Kickoff from 12pm NZDT)
Sky Arena & WWE Network
