Six Smackdown LIVE superstars will enter the Elimination Chamber this Sunday with a chance to walk out as not only the WWE Champion, but the main event opponent for Randy Orton at Wrestlemania 33.
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While one man is currently favored to come out on top (more on that later), I believe I can make a case for each one of these contenders to emerge victorious and give Wrestlemania the Smackdown main event it deserves.
Let’s enter the chamber!
AJ Styles
Do you want the Smackdownย main event at Wrestlemania to be a great match or do you not? AJ Styles is the best wrestler on the planet in the prime of his career.ย
Despite his best efforts, the crowds love AJ Styles! No matter how many times he calls someone a tickle butt, crowds just don’t want to boo him. A win at Chamber would only pile on more admiration from the WWE Universe and a match with Randy Orton would cement his face turn.ย
AJ Styles vs Randy Orton is one of the few matches WWEย hasn’t jumped the gun on, but it does feel like we’d need a little more build to get there.ย
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Baron Corbin
He’s the Lone Wolf! Smackdown’sย one, true, emerging “New Era” superstar.ย If youย really want to spice things up heading into Wrestlemania, put the belt on Baron Corbin. Corbinย has consistently put on some of the most brutal and entertaining matches since the brand split last summer and he should shine in the Chamber match.
Could Baron Corbin actually be ready for a championship run?ย Randy Orton would help the kid to a great Mania match, but I’m afraid we’re still a few months or years away from that becoming a reality.ย
I would first like to suggest a hair vs hair match for Corbin. With anyone. Hey, look, every wrestler losing their hair has to lose it in a hair match. It’s the only way.
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Dean Ambrose
What’s crazier than a lunatic with one championship? That’s right, a lunatic with two championships! JBLย would lose his mind if Dean were to walk out of the Chamber with both the Intercontinental and WWEย Championship.ย
Yeah, Dean and Randy just had a match a few weeks ago, but when has that ever stopped theย WWE?ย
Sadly, no one has ever known how to properly book a double champion, so I’m afraid JBLย will have to yell about something else. Dean has no shot of winning this one.ย
The Miz
The Mizย has been the best true heel in the business over the past year. Despite hardcore internet fans loving his act, he manages to get the live audiences to boo him at his will.ย
Mizย as champion would add another level to his ongoing feud with Smackdownย GM Daniel Bryan. Mizย and Bryan could basically be Austin and McMahon in reverse and I’m still not convinced Bryan doesn’t have on more match in him somewhere down the road.ย
The only problem here is Mizย vs Orton does nothing for me. I’m sure the two could put on a great program, but my excitement level for the match would be pretty low.ย
John Cena
He just tied Ricย Flair’s record of 16 World Championships. Doesn’t he deserve to take the belt with to Wrestlemania? Sure, another Orton Cenaย match is about as stale as it comes, but last night the WWEย once again proved that with the right video packages they can get us excited about anything.ย
If Cenaย retains, I would suggest going another route than a straight up Orton vs Cenaย match. I would suggest Wyatt using his Cult leader powers to convince Randy to stand down and let Wyatt take the Mania match with Cena.ย
Imagine the tension it would add between Orton and Wyatt leading into Mania as Orton’s pride gets in the way of his loyalty to Bray.ย
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Bray Wyatt
Wyatt’s first World Championship is long overdue and a match with Randy Orton at Wrestlemaniaย clearly has the most storyline build to it of any of the other options available.ย
Currently a 1/9 favorite to emerge victorious, Bray Wyatt is clearly the man to beat this Sunday.ย
The only downside I see to Wyatt winning would be if the plan all along was for him to then drop the Championship to Ortonย at Wrestlemania. After a five year build up, Wyatt deserves a lengthier run.ย
Dean Ambrose
What’s crazier than a lunatic holding one championship? A lunatic holding two championships of course!ย
