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Updated WWE Elimination Chamber Lineup

By Tommy Dinardi • Published 13th February 2018
TJR Wrestling

With less than two weeks to go until the WWE Raw brand presents Elimination Chamber (which could potentially be the final Raw-exclusive PPV) on February 25, here’s the latest updates following last night’s episode of Raw.

Men’s Elimination Chamber Match for a Universal Championship Match at WrestleMania: Braun Strowman vs. Elias vs. John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. The Miz vs. Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins (The Miz will begin the match as the #1 entrant following his loss to John Cena last night, John has you covered with The Raw Deal if you missed it.)

Women’s Elimination Chamber Match for the Raw Women’s Championship: Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley vs. Mandy Rose vs. Sonya Deville vs. Mickie James vs. Sasha Banks

Nia Jax vs. Asuka (if Nia Jax is victorious, she will join Asuka’s Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania)

Ronda Rousey’s WWE Raw Contract Signing

WWE Elimination Chamber takes place in less than two weeks from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Tommy’s Thoughts: Time for some ranting. So after last night we now have an extra man, confirmed women, and a contract signing for someone that is already signed to a contract? If it weren’t for the questions of “So, Roman’s totally pinning Finn again, right?” and “5 pods or start with a Triple Threat?”, this would be another glorified placeholder show on the Road to WrestleMania.

Can someone please give me a time machine to 1998? At least the shows that were unnecessary still had logical storytelling in their clusters. Hell, Shawn Michaels being replaced by Savio Vega might be the greatest call-back in history to his feud with Austin while simultaneously going all-in on a Stone Cold. Then again: with WWE’s spotty continuity, that moment probably wouldn’t stand out as much if they did it on the regular.

So once again, The Miz finds himself in the “heel starting a long shot match despite his face reactions” that he’s already experienced multiple times throughout his career, which will probably lead to Braun eliminating him. Not to mention: if this match starts as a Triple Threat, there was no point in a “loser enters 1st” match when almost HALF OF THE PARTICIPANTS are going to start the match anyways!

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John Cena and Elias cancel each other out with Elias serving as Cena’s Raw fodder on his way to Undertaker. (If we keep talking about the Dead Man, he can’t ever die, right?) If it weren’t for Finn’s up-and-down booking and Jason Jordan’s injury, Seth wouldn’t even be in the match. I repeat: Seth Rollins, the man whose WrestleMania resume includes taking the title off Brock Lesnar on top of pinning Roman Reigns AND Triple H, was an afterthought in the main event scene from last summer until last night’s duel with Kurt Angle on the mic. As much as I could see Seth vs. Roman at the finale, the easy lay-up sees one take the other out midway through the chamber match so they can tease another match for later, which hopefully isn’t overshadowed by a Roman suspension this time.

As much as I love the talent involved in the Women’s Elimination Chamber are all top-notch (including Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose, who last year this time were TEARING IT UP against each other on the NXT house shows), there’s no reason to take the title off of Alexis Bliss with the prospect of her “best friend” Nia Jax in the title picture for WrestleMania. Almost makes you wonder how Enzo would’ve been involved if he didn’t get cut? WWE Cruiserweight Champion not wrestling at WrestleMania and reffing a women’s match DEFINITELY reeks of Vince McMahon…

Y’all can call me a worrywart if you want to: I’m just concerned with Asuka and Ronda Rousey once again on the same show, we’re going to get “Asuka wins, Ronda interrupts again, points at the sign some more” Part II. If that’s the crap we get: I hope they throw a DeLorean in this time.

Either that, or a let a wild Disco Inferno appear.