Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.
This week, Dallas Allsopp, Callum Wiggins and Tony Mango preview WWE Elimination Chamber 2022.
Once again, we take a trip to the East for a Saudia Arabian super show - but just how exciting will it be?
Question 1: Which women’s match are you most looking forward to?
ALLSOPP: Becky Lynch vs Lita, if only to see the Hall of Famer Lita turn back the clock. She should be able to bust out her classic moves and create the impression that she is taking the fight to Becky Lynch. There is absolutely no way that she should be victorious, but she will most certainly put on a quality encounter with the WWE Raw Women's Champion.
WIGGINS: Whilst I believe that all three women's matches have fairly predictable outcomes, the Elimination Chamber match does hold the most opportunity to go against common sense, so that would make it the most exciting.
Plus I don't have the same affinity towards Lita as an in-ring worker as most others have, so I'm hoping that her WWE Raw Women's Championship match with Becky Lynch is kept mercifully short.
MANGO: Easily the Elimination Chamber match. I don't have a ton of faith Lita will have shaken off all her ring rust (and we all know Becky Lynch is winning anyway) and the tag team match is just filler to stall for time featuring a feud that I have zero interest in (Rousey/Flair) and one that has gone on too long (Naomi/Deville). At least with the cage match, it's a gimmick and the winner isn't 100% guaranteed.
Question 2: Will Goldberg defeat Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship, or is Reigns retaining a mere formality?
WIGGINS: It should be a mere formality, as taking the Universal Championship off Roman Reigns right now would be a bizarre decision. But, in a way, that's what makes the choice of Goldberg as his challenger perfect, as Goldberg has done this bizarre action before - in fact, he's done it twice!
Still, I'm expecting your typical couple-of-minute brawl with a plethora of spears, followed by The Tribal Chief standing tall at the conclusion.
MANGO: There is absolutely no chance Goldberg wins the title. Far too much has been invested in Roman Reigns for them to pivot at the last moment like this. It wouldn't be worth it to have him drop the title and regain it, rather than to just keep the streak going. This is all about giving The Tribal Chief another major win on his huge list of accolades. Beating Goldberg is one of the few things left he can do.
ALLSOPP: No. But I can never say with 100% certainty that Goldberg won't win a World Championship when he is in such a match, as his victory over Bray Wyatt absolutely killed all logic to his booking. Roman Reigns is The Tribal Chief, and is on a collision course with Brock Lesnar. Logic dictates that he should triumph, and triumph easily. Logic dictates that, but in all honesty, it depends if Vince McMahon will change such a plan on a whim.
Question 3: Who walks out of the Elimination Chamber as WWE Champion? Is there any realistic possibility of neither Bobby Lashley or Brock Lesnar winning?
MANGO: I'm very much leaning in the direction of Brock Lesnar getting the title back. The amount of times WWE has mentioned a belt-for-belt match and the likelihood they wouldn't just put all their eggs in the same one basket with Lesnar/Reigns that they've done so many times in the past, versus how there aren't any viable contenders that make sense for the WWE Championship no matter who else wins the belt, as well as how both USA and Fox surely want those two on their programming far more than they'd care about Seth Rollins and Big E or something, means they're just giving Lesnar the title back.
ALLSOPP: I really don't want Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar to be a title vs title match, therefore I hope that Bobby Lashley retains. Riddle winning would be great, but would make no sense whatsoever. I believe Lashley will win, but the spectre of a Lesnar win looms heavy over this match.
WIGGINS: I have to take the safe bet here, and the bookies' favorite, and side with Brock Lesnar to regain the WWE Championship. Having Lesnar lose two championship matches in a row heading into WrestleMania would be an odd choice, and they can add buzz to his bout with Roman Reigns by putting both world titles up for grabs.
That's not to say that Bobby Lashley has no chance of retaining, or anyone else from winning. I'd say everyone outside of Austin Theory has at least a sliver of a chance to win the title, especially with the prospect of Cody Rhodes joining WWE on the horizon.
Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?
Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!
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