WWE Elimination Chamber 2020 will take place on March 8 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and live on the WWE Network with a one-hour kickoff show beginning at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. The following will address early match card predictions almost a month away from a PPV that is quite frankly the last roadblock to WWE WrestleMania 36.
Elimination Chamber! This match type features six superstars or tag teams competing in a grueling structure, where they will eliminate each other by pinfall or submission until the last superstar or tag team is left standing and declared the winner of the match. The following is a preview of the predicted WWE Elimination Chamber 2020 Match Card.
It’s time to plunge into a plenitude of surprises for one of WWE’s most dangerous PPVs of 2020. Let’s now predict the full WWE Elimination Chamber 2020 card, starting with the SmackDown Tag Team Championship Elimination Chamber Match.
The New Day (c) vs. Dirt Sheet vs. RooDolph vs. Usos vs. The Revival vs. Heavy Machinery [SmackDown Tag Team Championships: Elimination Chamber]
Assuming that Kofi Kingston and Big E retain the SmackDown Tag Team Championships against John Morrison and The Miz at WWE Super ShowDown, they should put their championships on the line inside Elimination Chamber. These six tag teams are the most popular tag teams in the SmackDown Tag Team Division, so they should be in this match.
The outcome of this match could go one of two ways: (1) New champions are crowned and they will battle The New Day in a championship rematch at WWE WrestleMania 36, or (2) The New Day retains and selects their #1 contenders at WWE WrestleMania 36. If the 1st outcome occurs, the winners should either be the heel tag teams of John Morrison and The Miz or Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler, unless The New Day turn heel on the victorious Usos in frustration and reignite their 2017 rivalry with the roles reversed.
However, since rematch clauses are no longer stipulations in the WWE, the second outcome would be more fitting. In addition, losing two straight championship opportunities to The New Day would give John Morrison an opportunity to betray The Miz, like The Miz did to him years ago, and set up a must-see grudge match for WrestleMania 36.
If not, The New Day would happily and honorably select Morrison and Miz as their opponents at WWE WrestleMania 36. In the past few months, it is quite lucid that Morrison and Miz have taken Kingston and Big E to their limits and they would be the most ideal opponents for them on the grandest stage of them all, especially if they take The New Day to the limits in a similar manner to how Kingston took Daniel Bryan to his limits last year at Elimination Chamber 2019.
Nonetheless, when it comes to this match itself, The New Day should retain the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. As indicated earlier, Kofi Kingston has the Elimination Chamber experience and this year needs to result in a definitive victory.
Besides, The New Day did win the first ever Tag Team Elimination Chamber match in 2015, and this match type should make a comeback for the men’s tag team division this year. Considering that Kingston was not able to redeem his eight-second WWE Championship loss against Brock Lesnar by eliminating him in the Royal Rumble match, he might as well receive the consolation prize of retaining the SmackDown Tag Team Championships with Big E and continuing their tribute to the injured Xavier Woods on the road to WWE WrestleMania 36.
Prediction: The New Day
Kabuki Warriors (c) vs. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross [Women’s Tag Team Championships]
After defeating Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville on Friday Night SmackDown last week, Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross were announced number one contenders for the Women’s Tag Team Championships. Assuming that Asuka loses her Raw Women’s Championship match to Becky Lynch on Raw and she and Kairi Sane do not lose the Women’s Tag Team Championships once this PPV approaches, this championship rematch from WWE HIAC 2019 should be a lock.
Bliss and Cross have been teasing to become the first ever two-time Women’s Tag Team Champions and this PPV would be a good time to pull the trigger on such a feat. Thanks to 50:50 booking, it would neatly set up the culmination of a high-stake trilogy at WWE WrestleMania 36, where all four women crave for their very first victory on the grandest stage of them all.
Prediction: Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross
Authors of Pain (c) vs. Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe [Raw Tag Team Championships]
Assuming Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy use the free bird rule with Authors of Pain and Samoa Joe returns from his reported concussion, Akam and Rezar should defend their Raw Tag Team Championships against the newly formed tag team of Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe. The idea of these two teams facing off makes sense after Rezar pinned Owens on last week’s Raw.
Due to Joe’s concussion and ejection from the match, he and Owens failed to capture the Raw Tag Team Championships from Rollins and Murphy. Owens then had a similar fate of fending off for himself when Ivar of the Viking Raiders injured his shoulder in the middle of a six-man elimination tag match against Murphy and AOP on Raw last week.
Fight Owens Fight is right as the compelling story of Owens constantly losing his tag team partners on Raw every week and attempting to defy all the odds by himself speaks volumes to his developing babyface character. However, if he wants a solid chance of winning the Raw Tag Team Championships, having Samoa Joe on his side is necessary.
Besides, Owens can eliminate both Buddy Murphy and Akam from an elimination tag match all by himself on Raw. Defeating Authors of Pain with Samoa Joe’s assistance at WWE Elimination Chamber 2020 should be a guarantee and they can focus on battling Murphy and Rollins at WWE WrestleMania 36.
Prediction: Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe
Aleister Black vs. Buddy Murphy [Grudge Match]
At WWE Royal Rumble 2020, Buddy Murphy helped Seth Rollins eliminate Aleister Black from the Royal Rumble Match and Black joined forces with Owens and Joe in fending off Murphy and Authors of Pain to the backstage area. Thanks to this brawl, it is transparent that Murphy is still resentful for the many losses he sustained at the knee strikes of Aleister Black and their rivalry is thereby far from over.
While Murphy has been busy defending the Raw Tag Team Championships, Black has been busy defeating pointless opponents. However, he did declare that he will no longer be waiting for someone to knock on his door and challenge him, for he is now hunting down his own opponents and challenging them.
Hopefully, one of those targets is Buddy Murphy. Although Murphy should redeem himself and beat Black at least once, Black has been booked as an unstoppable force for a reason (thank you, Paul Heyman) and should not lose a match until he captures a championship on the main roster.
Henceforth, Black should win this match to finally end his rivalry with Murphy. With the 2020 Royal Rumble Winner Drew McIntyre occupied in a WWE Championship match against Brock Lesnar at WWE WrestleMania 36, Black should obtain the momentum he needs from this victory for a mid card championship opportunity on the road to WrestleMania 36 (e.g. United States Championship opportunity against Andrade).
Prediction: Aleister Black
Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins [Grudge Match]
Before Drew McIntyre battles the Beast Incarnate at WWE WrestleMania 36, he needs to defeat the original BeastSlayer (i.e Seth Rollins) who defeated Lesnar at last year’s WrestleMania for the Universal Championship. This potential bout was hinted at when Seth Rollins declared that it was time for him to dethrone Lesnar once again and battle McIntyre on the grandest stage of them all.
Unfortunately, that won’t be happening since Rollins lost the WWE Championship number one contendership opportunity to Ricochet. However, they can still go to war at WWE Elimination Chamber 2020 because a victory over Rollins would put McIntyre on a higher level than Rollins, solidify his main event status, and help the WWE Universe believe that McIntyre has a solid chance at dethroning Lesnar for the WWE Championship at WWE WrestleMania 36.
Prediction: Drew McIntyre
Bayley (c) vs. Sasha Banks vs. Lacey Evans vs. Naomi vs. Dana Brooke vs. Carmella [SmackDown Women’s Championship: Elimination Chamber]
Last week on Friday Night SmackDown, Naomi put Bayley on notice after her spectacular return at WWE Royal Rumble 2020 and athletic save in the Royal Rumble match. After defeating Lacey Evans at WWE Royal Rumble 2020, Bayley made it known that she has defeated everyone in the SmackDown Women’s Division and no one can stop her, but she has never defeated Naomi.
At WWE Elimination Chamber 2020, Bayley could solely be defending her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Naomi. However, if a title match between Naomi and Bayley happens before then, it is still possible to include six of the women in the SmackDown Women’s Division for a star-studded Elimination Chamber match.
With rumors spreading of Bayley defending her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Sasha Banks at WWE WrestleMania 36, WWE Elimination Chamber 2020 would be the perfect opportunity for Sasha Banks and Bayley to put an end to their friendship and revitalize their long-awaited rivalry. Since Sasha Banks betrayed Bayley on the top of the pod in the first ever Women’s Elimination Chamber Match at WWE Elimination Chamber 2018, Bayley should betray Banks inside the Elimination Chamber this year to retain the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
This angle will solidify Banks as the babyface and Bayley as the heel on the road to their championship match at WWE WrestleMania 36. The WWE Universe has wanted Sasha Banks to get her moment for a long time now and Bayley’s betrayal would put the fans on Banks’ side.
This angle will also show that Bayley is selfish (like she called Charlotte Flair months ago) and hypocritically cares more about the SmackDown Women’s Championship than her friendship with Banks. It will also be a very emotional betrayal since the elimination chamber was the place Bayley and Banks became the first ever WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Prediction: Bayley
Ruby Riott vs. Liv Morgan vs. Sarah Logan [Triple Threat Match]
Last week on Raw, Ruby Riott returned and turned her back on Liv Morgan. Although Sarah Logan was not included in this angle, a Riott Squad triple threat match would do wonders for these superstars’ careers and have strong parallels to the Shield Triple Threat Match that occurred at WWE Battleground 2016.
Hopefully, Sarah Logan gets involved in this rivalry somehow in the upcoming weeks to potentially set up this match. Many naysayers may claim that Riott is now in alliance with Lana, but it’s time to end this infidelity storyline and start giving the fans what they want.
For months, the WWE has been promoting the ‘real’ Liv Morgan as the next big thing, but she should be booked in bigger and better storylines than what she is involved in right now. This Ruby Riott return should not be subjected to the same storyline.
Instead, it should be a blessing in disguise for all the Riott Squad members and hopefully result in a Ruby Riott victory to solidify her return to in-ring competition as well as her sudden betrayal on the Riott Squad. In comparison to the other matches on the card, the WWE will most likely book this match on the kickoff show.
Prediction: Ruby Riott
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Nia Jax [Raw Women’s Championship]
Remember when Nia Jax broke Becky Lynch‘s face on the road to WWE Survivor Series 2018 and thereby hinder her dream match with the baddest woman on the planet, Ronda Rousey? It’s a shame that they have not yet wrestled in a championship match on the main roster, and it should happen before Lynch heads to WWE WrestleMania 36.
Nia Jax could be returning from injury soon and a Raw Women’s Championship match against Lynch would be perfect. Assuming that Ronda Rousey will not return on the road to this year’s WrestleMania and Shayna Baszler will remain in NXT, Nia Jax should win the match but not the title to extend the rivalry to WWE WrestleMania 36, where Lynch should retain.
To force an inconclusive finish, Lynch should get frustrated with having a tough time of defeating Nia Jax and attempt to break her face with a steel chair. This would be a redemptive moment for Lynch and set up a no holds barred championship rematch for WWE WrestleMania 36.
Prediction: Nia Jax (by DQ)
Andrade (c) (w/Zelina Vega) vs. Humberto Carrillo [United States Championship]
Since Andrade reportedly got suspended for violating WWE’s Wellness Policy, his rivalry with Humberto Carrillo was unfortunately delayed (thanks to Carrillo vengefully hammerlock DDT’ing Andrade on the concrete pavement outside the ring) and could culminate at WWE Elimination Chamber 2020. In the mean time, Angel Garza, Humberto Carrillo’s cousin, is doing Andrade’s dirty work with assistance from Zelina Vega.
Before Andrade returns, Carrillo will most likely gain momentum by defeating Garza and persuade the fans to believe in him as a potential United States Champion. Although a championship should be defended every thirty days, the WWE did not even strip Andrade of the United States Championship during his suspension.
Henceforth, it’s quite clear that he is already in WWE’s plans to walk into WWE WrestleMania 36 as United States Champion and potentially battle a more formidable opponent (e.g. Aleister Black). Expect Andrade to retain the United States Championship here, settle unfinished business, put an end to this rivalry, and await his next challenge at the grandest stage of them all.
Prediction: Andrade
Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles [Grudge Match]
Is it a coincidence that Randy Orton faked a career-ending injury in December 2019 to prank the now-injured AJ Styles and so happens to be currently booked in a nostalgic and suspenseful rivalry against his former Rated RKO tag team partner, Edge, who actually had a career-ending neck injury? If it’s a coincidence, that is the best mistake in WWE booking in recent memory.
Rather than feeling good about his ruthless steel chair attack on Edge’s neck two weeks ago on Raw (like a usual heel would do), it seems that he felt regret and sorrow. This regret and sorrow could very well have something to do with the prank he pulled on AJ Styles two months ago.
While it would make sense for Orton to defeat Christian at WWE Super ShowDown 2020 before challenging Edge at WWE WrestleMania 36, he also needs to defeat AJ Styles. They were scheduled to complete their trilogy on the January 13 episode of Raw, but Drew McIntyre joined the match for an impromptu triple threat and ended up winning the match.
Henceforth, there is still unfinished business between Orton and Styles and they should end their rivalry at WWE Elimination Chamber 2020 to avoid a WrestleMania rematch and go their separate ways. Although Edge did eliminate AJ Styles from the Royal Rumble and Styles should obtain a victory after returning from injury, Orton should pick up the win here because he needs to look strong in his inevitable match against Edge at WWE WrestleMania 36 and avenge Edge for eliminating him in the Royal Rumble match as well.
Prediction: Randy Orton
Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Braun Strowman vs. Sheamus [Universal Championship: Elimination Chamber]
Remember when Bray Wyatt won the WWE Championship inside the Elimination Chamber? Now is his time to retain the Universal Championship inside Elimination Chamber. Many naysayers may speculate that there will be a Universal Championship number one contender’s match to determine who battles Wyatt at WWE WrestleMania 36.
Instead, Bray Wyatt can win the match with his expected opponent, Roman Reigns, looking strong in defeat. This would set up Reigns to redeem himself at WWE WrestleMania 36, figure out the secret to defeating The Fiend, and win back the Universal Championship he never lost.
This match can also set up some other key rivalries on the road to WrestleMania, such as an Intercontinental Championship match between Braun Strowman and Sheamus and a personal rivalry between Daniel Bryan and King Corbin. It could also set up an Intercontinental Championship match between Braun Strowman and King Corbin and a WrestleMania 28 rematch between Daniel Bryan and Sheamus (which will hopefully last longer than 18 seconds).
If the WWE books a Universal Championship number one contender’s match, Reigns is definitely winning. If it’s booked as a Universal Championship match, Wyatt is definitely retaining. All the elimination chamber has to do is let him in.
Prediction: Bray Wyatt