WWE Elimination Chamber 2023 Roundtable: Predictions, winners & more

Now that the Royal Rumble has come and gone, we have one more stop on the road to WrestleMania 39. WWE is hosting its Elimination Chamber event on February 18th.

Two Elimination Chamber matches will take place at the Bell Center in Canada. A key title fight is also booked for the event as Roman Reigns defends the Undisputed WWE Universal Title against his hometown favorite Sami Zayn. The winner will face Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania at SoFi Stadium.

Who will secure their spot on the WrestleMania 39 map?

sports news writer Liam O’Loughlin, Andrew HaleAnd Dan Janofsky banded together to chat storylines and offer their predictions.

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Who will win the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match?

Liam: It’s totally unpredictable, just like a chamber play should be. Given the level of the six performers involved, it’s likely to be a quality match as well.

Austin Theory has done a fine job as US Champion, but he seems ready for a fight with John Cena at WrestleMania, and this match doesn’t need the title. Seth Rollins is also destined for a high-profile singles match in Los Angeles, so it’s hard to imagine him winning a mid-card title. Johnny Gargano and Bronson Reed are both viable options – but this seems like a perfect opportunity to strap on the rocket Montez Ford. In a totally unpredictable match, it would be great if a dark horse got the upper hand.

Andrew: Austin theory was to emerge victorious from the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match while retaining his US Title. For months it has felt like the WWE has been looking for a match between John Cena and Austin Theory, and this is the final stop to get there should Cena sign up to perform at WrestleMania.

With Seth Rollins clearly level with Logan Paul, the rest of the field has little reason to win, except perhaps Johnny Gargano. I fully expect Montez Ford to have his coming out party but fall short and set the stage for his one-on-one run. Reed and Priest will have solid performances, but neither needs to win this. Gargano could be the fallback plan if Cena isn’t available. He and Theory have a history and could have an amazing singles match at WrestleMania. But it’s Theory that has all the momentum and should keep it going en route to the biggest WWE show of the year.

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Dan: This Elimination Chamber match features several top WWE stars. It also features a high achiever in Montez Ford who will try to steal the show. However, it’s hard to imagine WWE pulling the trigger on a Ford Singles run so soon. Johnny Gargano’s win would help his street credibility after a rough start on his return to WWE, and Bronson Reed’s win helps cement his status as a monster. However, both seem to have no crowd support. Damian Priest may be busy with Edge, so the former win, like the others, doesn’t quite add up.

Competitors Seth “Freakin'” Rollins and Austin Theory will likely be the last survivors. However, Theory should keep the beltinstigating a potential feud with John Cena rumored for WrestleMania.

Who Will Win the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match?

Liam: If the US title match is unpredictable, this No. 1 women’s contender’s match is the complete opposite. Of the six women involved, there’s no chance that four of them will win and compete in a world title match at WrestleMania. Raquel Rodriguez hasn’t set the world on fire since stepping up from NXT, but she’s fresh enough to grab the spotlight. She could also have a good match and history with champion Bianca Belair. But when we release a prediction asuka is the only logical choice to win this match and the only performer hot and tall enough to host a marquee match in Los Angeles.

Andrew: The women’s Elimination Chamber Match really only has one logical winner, and that’s none other than asuka. With new music and face paint to match her violent kana persona from the Japanese independent scene, Asuka is in a prime position to offer Bianca Belair a different challenge. Given the field of challengers, it’s almost too predictable. Nikki Cross seems besotted with Candice LeRae, Liv Morgan is trying to find herself after a stunning title run, Carmella is back in action right now, Raquel Rodriguez is a white meat babyface right now and Natalya is just there for Canadian pop.

Belair needs an opponent who can match her intensity and who she has never beaten in a one-on-one match. This is Asuka.

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Dan: As Liam pointed out, the women’s Elimination Chamber fight seems predictable. However, that doesn’t mean it won’t be an excellent match.

Bianca Belair is on the road to success but needs a real challenge at WrestleMania. Natalya and Carmella are absent due to their booking along with Raquel Rodriguez. Nikki Cross would be a wildcard choice but is the only real option asuka. Ever since Asuka donned her kana persona at the Royal Rumble, she’s been looking unstoppable. A match between Belair and Asuka would tear off the roof of SoFi Stadium. It only makes sense that the two would clash after this match.

Who will win: Roman Reigns or Sami Zayn?

Liam: While the PPV is named after the Elimination Chamber Match, this is the fight everyone is talking about. This lengthy story involving Sami Zayn, Roman Reigns and the entire Bloodline will eventually culminate in front of Zayn’s adoring fans in his hometown of Montreal. While many are hoping that Zayn will take home the title, sadly that won’t be the case.

Reigns versus Cody Rhodes The Match for WrestleMania, and Zayn’s history has been more with the Usos and Kevin Owens than “The Tribal Chief” himself. Regardless of who goes out with the porters, this one is going to be a beauty.

Andrew: I have absolutely no doubt that Roman Reigns will stand against Sami Zayn. The goal has always been Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, no matter how hot Sami Zayn has gotten in recent months. Perhaps more important is the fact that many have lost sight of the real story: Sami Zayn and Jey Uso. Bloodline’s entire narrative revolved around her friction. Elimination Chamber will come full circle, with the added element of fellow Canadian Kevin Owens reuniting with his estranged friend (Zayn) to wrap up the show and have an epic tag team title match with the Usos at WrestleMania .

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Reigns could come out and crush Zayn, but it’s more likely the former will need a low blow or an early cheat to gain the advantage and the former Honorary Uce’s dispatch. Jey Uso will pledge allegiance to his real family, and battle lines will be drawn between blood brothers and two brother-like wrestlers to absolutely tear down the house in the most anticipated tag team title match in recent memory.

Dan: A story that has been in the works for months is finally ready to come to an end. Unless the fans have something to say about it.

Sami Zayn is hot as hell right now and his feud with Roman Reigns and The Bloodline is the best in WWE. It’s a real WrestleMania-worthy match. However, WWE is still sticking to its guns by letting Cody Rhodes fight the champion in April.

Zayn is the hometown hero and Reigns is the despised villain. The earlier victory would be shocking, but Reigns’ 900-plus day reign as champion was unlikely to end anywhere outside of WrestleMania. WWE has put itself in a corner. The end result of this show will be ruled with hands raised. But how we get to that point should be interesting to watch.

As always, expect a very rowdy Montreal crowd.