Elimination Chamber preview

Read on for my thoughts on booking tonight's Smackdown special event.

-- Kickoff:
- Mojo vs. Hawkins:
This match is just to warm up the crowd. I expect both are going to be in the Andre battle royal; I don't see any reason to push either of them or really do much of anything angle-wise. Mojo wins.

-- Elimination Chamber: 
- Alexa vs. Naomi:
I might start the show with this. Mickie assists Alexa in getting the win, holding Naomi's feet down when she tries to kick out. This will be important later.

- Becky vs. Mickie:
Alexa looks to return the favor from earlier in the night, but Naomi prevents her from doing so and Becky beats the distracted former La Luchadora. This sets up a Fatal 4 Way for the title at WM33. 

- Nikki vs. Natalya:
This match should occur about halfway through the show. Fight spills backstage. No contest.

- Ziggler vs. Apollo/Kalisto:
Apollo and Kalisto prevent Ziggler from using a chair and get the win. After the match, they look to get some revenge for the chair attacks. Cue Jack Swagger making a surprise comeback to save Ziggler. Swagger's got grievances for being overlooked since coming to Smackdown. People have forgotten the World Champion. He's been disrespected like Dolph, etc. 

- Tag Team Turmoil:
American Alpha overcome the odds. They'll end up facing Ziggler/Swagger at WM33 in an a battle of amateur backgrounds. I'd probably move one of these teams to Raw at some point because a number of them are really treading water.

- Harper vs. Orton:
Luke counters the punt into a Sister Abigail to surprise Orton for the win. Luke shows he's game and doesn't need Bray to be a force. 

- Cena vs. Styles vs. Ambrose vs. Miz vs. Corbin vs. Bray:
As far as plot points here, Styles starts off and only goes down after a succession of finishers from other members. He then has a valid complaint of it not being a fair rematch, etc. I'm down for Styles vs. Shane as a big crazy brawl at Mania.

Cena vs. Miz vs. Bray is the ending. Natalya and Nikki come back down to the ring, continuing their wild brawl. Maryse helps keep refs from breaking it up. Natalya puts Nikki in a sharpshooter right outside the chamber. Nikki's in real pain and obviously there's no rope break. Cena's understandably really distracted and Miz surprises him with the pin. Cena then AAs Miz, making him easier pickings for Bray.

Turns out Maryse was behind the attacks on Nikki and has paid off Carmella and now Natalya to destroy her. I mean, she's an A-lister's wife. She's got the money. Cena/Nikki vs. Miz/Maryse at WM33, elevating Miz as an important player. And, Bray vs. Orton vs. Harper for the WWE Title in an all-out Wyatt implosion.

More wrestling coming up.