Countdown to WWE Elimination Chamber By JON WALDMAN -- SLAM! Wrestling

Batista, Jericho and Michaels capitalize on Elimination Chamber opportunities

There was a time not too long ago that WWE's February pay-per-view was discounted as merely being filler between the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania. Well, the times have changed.

Now, WWE sits on a PPV which could mess with the masses' predicted WrestleMania battles, thanks to Elimination Chamber. The show tonight contains two opportunities to realistically see new champions crowned, leading to suspected main events shifting.

There's no time to waste folks, so let's get straight to the predictions.

Jon's Pick

Of the two Chamber bouts, this one seems like the most likely to have the title switch, in no small part due to the expected interference by Shawn Michaels to establish their 'Mania bout.

So that leaves us then with five competitors who can take the title, most of whom could feasibly win. Truth at this point is the weakest, having not held any WWE gold yet, and unless WWE decides to throw a major curveball, he's not getting it.

Next are Rey Mysterio and CM Punk. Both of these guys are former champs and their styles are conducive to the cage. The two, however, seem destined for the mask vs. hair match at 'Mania, which would not need the belt infused for any drama.

That leaves Morrison and Jericho. Morrison has the sympathy angle going in with the ankle injury, but there hasn't been enough build to solidify Morrison as a gutsy performer. Look for him to be in the hunt in the MITB match (if it does go down at 'Mania), continuing to play up the leg.

So we finish, then, with Jericho as champ, which plays perfectly into the anticipated Jericho-Edge bout at WrestleMania, which will undoubtedly get a lot of die-hard fans buying the PPV, since the two have rarely crossed paths in their WWE tenures.

Jon's Pick

Here we have four guys who could legitimately walk away with the belt, but really only three contenders based on active stories.

First, let's eliminate Ted DiBiase and Kofi Kingston. Those two seem destined for MITB, again, if it goes on; if not, they'll be in some sort of 'Mania gimmick match for a title shot (Battle Royale?).

Then, we can eliminate John Cena, since his 'Mania path has been set in stone as a match against Batista, either teaming with or fighting for Bret Hart and Vince McMahon.

So that leaves Sheamus, Orton and Trips. Hunter's actually in the most intriguing position here, since there has been zero build to him having a 'Mania match. There's been teases of Cody Rhodes going against Randy and Sheamus could battle Orton to continue their feud or Edge potentially as well. HHH, meanwhile, has been the side character in the HBK breakdown. So what does that tell me? It tells me Trips could win here and by default face Sheamus in a title rematch at 'Mania.

Now saying that, Orton could win, but having him go to 'Mania babyface against Rhodes or Sheamus is more intriguing if he doesn't have the belt.

Sheamus could just as easily retain his title also, and given that we've got one Chamber belt switching, this one's likely staying put, leading to Trips/Sheamus at WM26.

Jon's Pick

Kane as IC champ makes the division hard to plan, since it has primarily been younger, quicker guys competing for the strap. It seems more plausible for Drew to keep the belt here and go to 'Mania in a multiman IC title bout, potentially one that would involve the former MITB combatants. Look for Kane to do the job.

Jon's Pick

As much as some would like to see Gail take the belt here, this one is going to Maryse. Maryse's criticism of the Smackdown girls makes you think that there's an SD vs. Raw Divas match being set up at 'Mania, and Maryse's face-in-English, heel-in-French character is working extremely well. Maryse vs. Mickie seems like the more obvious choice for Mania, especially after the botches we saw when James and Kim were together in the ring. Maryse takes the belt here.