2011 Elimination Chamber Predictions

Prognostications from the Buckle
2011.3

After the Rumble, I am 1-3 in my predictions. (I am not counting the Divas Championship, since they changed the match at the last minute.) The Jelly Bean is 0-1. Emmalynn will be picking every match for this Pay-Per-View.


ELIMINATION CHAMBER PREDICTIONS



WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov (CHAMPIONS) vs. Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel

Marella & Kozlov had a fun reign as the Tag Team Champions. But their pairing was mostly a joke. The joke has run its course. Slater and Gabriel are the most promising members of the Corre. The Corre also needs something to give the group legitimacy. Right now, they are nothing more than Nexus castoffs. A run as the Tag Team Champions would give the Corre some credibility as a force in the WWE.

Winners and NEW WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: JUSTIN GABRIEL & HEATH SLATER
Jelly Bean’s Pick: Marella & Kozlov



Kofi Kingston vs. Alberto Del Rio

I don’t really know why this match is on the Pay-Per-View. It is probably here just to keep Del Rio in the spotlight since he will be headlining Wrestlemania. Because he is in a Wrestlemania Main Event, Del Rio cannot lose. It would make him look weak going into the biggest show of the year.

WINNER: ALBERTO DEL RIO
Jelly Bean’s Pick: Del Rio



WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
The Miz (CHAMPION) vs. Jerry “The King” Lawler

The Miz and Lawler already wrestled for the WWE Championship on the November 29, 2010 edition of Monday Night Raw. Lawler lost that match. To have a rematch on a Pay-Per-View, only to have Lawler lose yet again, seems rather pointless. Lawler has been very loyal to the WWE over the years, and I think that loyalty gets rewarded with a brief run as the WWE Champion.

WINNER and NEW WWE CHAMPION: JERRY LAWLER
Jelly Bean’s Pick: Lawler



Smackdown Elimination Chamber Match
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Edge (CHAMPION) vs. Kane vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Wade Barrett

Dolph Ziggler was supposed to be in this match, until he was fired by Vickie Guerrero on the February 18 edition of Smackdown. That leaves an open spot in the Elimination Chamber Match. There is the possibility of a surprise entrant in the match. I really hope this happens. The idea of any one of these wrestlers going into Wrestlemania as the World Heavyweight Champion is not very exciting. Since Del Rio has chosen to face the World Heavyweight Champion at Wrestlemania, the winner of this match has to be a ‘good guy’. Since Mysterio has a feud going with Cody Rhodes, I am going to pick Edge. But PLEASE WWE, give us a surprise entrant. Edge and Del Rio do not have an intriguing storyline going into Mania’. This year’s Wrestlemania needs a dose of excitement. There are not a lot of compelling storylines going on right now. That is probably why the Rock was brought in, to create some sense of excitement to this year’s Wrestlemania. Edge vs. Del Rio is not going to bring excitement to Wrestlemania.

WINNER and STILL WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: EDGE
Jelly Bean’s Pick: Rey Mysterio



Raw Elimination Chamber Match
Winner will go on to face the WWE Champion at Wrestlemania
John Cena vs. John Morrison vs. R-Truth vs. Randy Orton vs. Sheamus vs. C.M. Punk

As I stated in the prediction above, this road to this year’s Wrestlemania Main Events are not filled with any excitement. Orton will probably face Punk at Mania’. Shaemus still has to face the wrath of Triple H. Morrison already had his title shot on Raw. R-Truth is not Main Event material. That leaves John Cena, who can always be counted on to bring excitement and energy to Wrestlemania.

WINNER: JOHN CENA
Jelly Bean’s Pick: Cena


When you are watching this year’s Elimination Chamber matches, pause for a moment and consider how much these men put their bodies through to entertain us. There is no way to ‘fake’ being smashed into steel chains. A body slam onto steel has to hurt. Professional wrestlers are some of the greatest athletes in the world and they put their bodies through unbelievable punishment to entertain us. They deserve our respect as well as our applause.