This is the second time this month I've previewed a WWE show. It's the first time in a considerably longer period that I've actually looked forward to a main roster show not named WrestleMania. NXT specials are a different story. They're related to this because one of the reasons I'm looking forward to this show is that it will feature NXT champion Kevin Owens. He's not only wrestling, he's wrestling John Cena.
This is a big deal. This marks the first time that a
reigning NXT champion has wrestled on the main roster while being acknowledged
as the NXT champion (Seth Rollins, Big E and Bo Dallas all made main roster
appearances while they were the champion without the title being acknowledged),
which is significant in itself as it pits the top guy in NXT against the top
guy in WWE. And make no mistake, no matter who has the WWE world title it's
Cena that is the measuring stick and the main man on the WWE roster.
But this match is more than just a clash between
developmental and the old guard. This is Cena once again coming up against an
indy standout. Owens, under his real name Kevin Steen, was one of the biggest
non-WWE draws in North America prior to his signing with WWE late last summer,
just as Seth Rollins was in 2010, Daniel Bryan was in 2009 and CM Punk was in
2005. Cena collided with all three of those guys in significant ways during
their respective rises up the ranks and it was always interesting to see them
handling themselves well opposite WWE's premier performer. This match is another
of these rare occasions when Cena brushes shoulders with the world of
independent wrestling, albeit by proxy. They almost always produce something
noteworthy and interesting, perhaps because Cena is aware that guys who have made
it to the top of the indies know how to get over without the WWE machine behind
them and puts in extra effort to ensure he's not outshone.
But most importantly it's Kevin Steen on a major WWE
show. That's what makes this stand out. That's what makes me want to see it.
Steen, now Owens, in WWE proper being treated as a man who can not only share a
ring with Cena but also pose a threat to him. That's incredibly appealing.
I'll be amazed if the match isn't enjoyable. Part of what
will help there is that there's no obvious outcome. A Cena victory is not
assured. Although it's been said that Owens' move to the main roster is only a
temporary thing that's not definite. It could be a permanent move, with him
working RAW, SmackDown, NXT TV tapings and a blend of house shows for the foreseeable
future, in which case a victory over Cena would get his run off to a great
start. Even if he is going back to NXT there would be no better way to enhance
that brand by having its champion defeat Cena. Shady tactics will be employed
by Owens if he does go over, but that's nothing new not anything important. The
result is what would matter.
As nice as it would be to see I don't think it will
happen. I think a DQ or non-finish is likelier. That would protect Owens, which
will be a factor in the booking given his NXT title reign and general standing,
but keep the balance of the universe in check. By which I mean Cena would win,
like usual.
The other main reason I'm looking forward to this show is
the Chamber itself. I'm usually against WWE's themed shows because holding them
annually devalues the gimmicks and frequently leads to awkward plotting as
feuds are bent out of shape to incorporate stipulations that don't fit them.
But that's not the case here. Away from 'The Road to WrestleMania', which was
understandably more about building to 'Mania than putting together a great
Chamber card, the six celled cage can be deployed more carefully, and has been.
The vacant Intercontinental championship is a nice prize to put up in a Chamber
match. For a company averse to tournaments a multi-man match to crown a champ
is about as good as it's going to get, and the Chamber makes the IC belt appear
more meaningful.
For the most part the line-up for the match backs this
up. Sheamus has been booked well since returning in March. Bad News King Wade
Barrett I received a minor boost by winning King of the Ring and never looks
out of place at the modern day IC level. Ziggler always looks at home in these
kind of matches and there's the additional appeal of his sort-of-feud with fellow
entrant Rusev. Although his status took a thumping in his recent series with
Cena 'The Bulgarian Brute's' standing overall is still pretty impressive.
Ryback, like Sheamus, has been positioned well over the last few months and has
seemingly found his niche in the upper mid-card. The only guy who really
doesn't fit in is R-Truth, and with this being an elimination rules match
(clue's in the name, mate) we can't even argue that he's in there to eat a
pinfall. All but one guy is in this match to be pinned. Including Truth makes no
sense.
Arguments could be made for pretty much anyone that's not
Truth winning but I like Sheamus's chances most. Rusev and Ziggler seem poised
to head off into a singles programme that wouldn't need the IC strap to be over,
Ryback's popular but not really doing that much, and Barrett has his royalty
gimmick sustaining him. 'Great White' makes sense as a bully boy IC champ
lording it over the mid-card. He'd make a nice target for an underdog babyface
to chase. Like Adrian Neville, for example.
Speaking of Neville he'll be facing his old NXT rival Bo
Dallas at Elimination Chamber. This is just a way of keeping him out of the IC
title match, something that's presumably necessary because it's too early for
him to win the championship or be jobbed out attempting to do so. I suspect
their NXT history, which culminated with Nev defeating Bo to win the
championship at the first Takeover show, will be glossed over at best, ignored
at worst, and that they won't get long enough to do anything special. Not that
doing anything special is the goal here. The goal is clearly to make Neville
look like a somebody with some flashy moves who can beat guys at Bo's level.
Back on the titular match, its other outing of the night
will feature tag teams for the first time ever. The good news is that the Lucha
Dragons, New Day (presumably the popular Kofi and Big E combo or all three
together) and Cesaro and Tyson Kidd are three of the six teams involved. The
bad news is that The Ascension, Los Matadores and the Prime Time Players are
the other three teams and Luke Harper and Erick Rowan are nowhere to be seen.
I like the Prime Time Players. I enjoyed The Ascension
when they were shaded by logical booking in NXT. I can appreciate Los Matadores
for the reliable hands they are. But I would have much preferred to see Harper
and Rowan in this match than any of these teams. They haven't been presented as
perennial losers and are better workers (well, Harper is). Their inclusion
would have been a boon to this match. Not that it will be bad though.
Presumably things will come down to the Luchas, Kidd and Cesaro and New Day for
some nifty tag spots. I'm hopeful that the gang will be able to offer us
something new from a Chamber setting, or at least some high spots we haven't
seen for a while. If it goes right this could be the match of the night. If it
goes wrong it could be a mind-blowing omnishambles.
It could end with a title change. The Dragons have been
popular since their main roster call-up so having them win would make sense. Kidd
and Cesaro remain popular so they could be in with a chance too. But I think
the likeliest outcome is New Day winning by shady tactics again, last
eliminating the Lucha Dragons to set up a traditional tag match and a title
switch at Money in the Bank.
A triple threat for the Divas championship and Ambrose
versus Rollins for the WWE championship round out the show. The Divas title
match will see Nikki Bella defend against Paige and Naomi. They are the three
best workers in the division and this show being light on matches should mean
that they get enough time to put together something worthwhile. With Sasha
Banks and Becky Lynch receiving nothing but plaudits for their match of the
year contender at Takeover: Unstoppable last week I think it's likely that
Paige, Nikki and Naomi will feel they have something to prove here. I hope they
get the chance to show what they can do.
I think a title switch could be due here. Nikki's been
the champions since November 24. That's over six months. It's possible WWE will
keep the title on her long enough for her to outdo AJ Lee's 295 day reign (because
AJ's in the company's bad books and they may want that accolade on somebody who's
still around) but Naomi is also doing solid work as a heel and that should be
capitalised on. Putting the title on her would create some new scenarios for
her opposite Natalya and Alicia Fox. Not that WWE is bothered about doing anything
with either of them.
Rollins versus Ambrose will be great. Because it's
Rollins versus Ambrose. They never have bad matches, people care about them,
and they have a considerable history with one another. It will be nice to see
them have a singles match on pay-per-view without a gimmick or stipulation
attached. They'll provide a top quality main event for the evening. You can't
ask for more than that, even with the obvious ending of Rollins winning.
I'm surprised at how positive I feel about this card. I
think it says a good deal about the use of fresh talent in Kevin Owens and the
lack of announced Big Show or Kane match. Even if one gets added, and Kane and
Big Show v Randy Orton and Roman Reigns looks worryingly likely, I don't think
it would dampen my spirits for the show. Owens and a logical reason for dusting
off the Chamber are more than enough to keep me happy.
Now if only they could convince me that this will be
better than Takeover: Unstoppable...
***
Predictions summary:
Seth Rollins to defeat Dean Ambrose to retain the WWE
championshipJohn Cena to defeat Kevin Owens
Sheamus to win the Intercontinental championship
New Day to retain the tag team championship
Naomi to defeat Nikki Bella and Paige to win the Divas championship
Adrian Neville to defeat Bo Dallas
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