WWE Elimination Chamber: Will John Cena retain WWE Title?
Will Cena match Triple H? Who will face Orton at WrestleMania?
Sunday 12 February 2017 23:51, UK
John Cena will head into the six-man main event as WWE Champion, having defeated AJ Styles at the Royal Rumble, but will he leave the same way?
Cena's Chamber opponents - Styles, Baron Corbin, The Miz, Bray Wyatt and reigning Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose - will be hoping not…
Read on for the key questions ahead of Sunday's show in Phoenix…
Will Cena equal another record?
Cena matched Ric Flair's tally of 16 world titles when he edged Styles in a cracking contest at the Royal Rumble and he will tie with another WWE legend, Triple H, on four Chamber victories if he comes through Sunday's bout unscathed - the Cenation Leader triumphing in world title encounters in 2006 and 2010 and also in 2011 to earn a shot at then WWE Champion The Miz at WrestleMania 27.
The 39-year-old has lost his other two Chamber clashes, to Edge in 2009 and to Randy Orton in 2014, but he has also suffered defeats once the imposing metal structure has been lifted. Cena fell victim to Edge's Money in the Bank cash-in moments after retaining the WWE Title in 2006 and then lost his belt to Batista in 32 seconds in 2010 after Vince McMahon had forced the champion to compete in an impromptu bout immediately after he submitted Triple H in the Chamber.
Who's facing Orton at 'Mania?
The prize for the Chamber Match winner is twofold, not only the WWE Title but also the privilege of defending that strap against Royal Rumble winner Randy Orton at WrestleMania. So, who could be Cena's biggest threat? Styles and Miz for starters, with the former pushing Cena to his limits during their intense recent rivalry and the latter the only man in the bout bar Cena with an Elimination Chamber Match on his CV, the A-Lister coming second to CM Punk in 2012.
However, Corbin will head into the match with momentum, having cracked Styles with End of Days before pinning him in a Fatal Four-Way on Smackdown, while Ambrose, who braved a No Holds Barred Street Fight against Brock Lesnar at last year's WrestleMania, is always willing to take a beating in order to hunt victory. The most intriguing winner, though, would be Wyatt, as it would set up a Wyatt Family member v Wyatt Family member showdown with Orton at the Show of Shows in Orlando on April 2.
How does the Elimination Chamber work?
The Chamber is a 16-foot high domed metal structure which surrounds the ring. Two Superstars begin the match, with the remaining four enclosed in pods and released one-by-one at five-minute intervals. Wrestlers are eliminated via pinfall or submission, with the last grappler standing declared the winner. Sunday's contest will be the 20th Elimination Chamber Match in WWE history.
Superstars have frequently made use of the unique surroundings of the Chamber, leaping off pods and even the domed roof to eliminate their opponents. Plus, other wrestlers have also found a way into the Chamber - The Wyatt Family slithered into the structure to attack Cena in 2014, while Shawn Michaels emerged from underneath to deliver Sweet Chin Music to The Undertaker in 2010 in order to set up their WrestleMania 26 tussle.
Which women's match will be best?
Six of Smackdown's female stars will get the chance to shine in Phoenix, with three singles matches scheduled. Nikki Bella versus Natalya will be the most personal, what with Natalya attacking Bella on Talking Smack and frequently questioning her relationship with Cena, while Alexa Bliss versus Naomi is the arguably the most important, with Bliss making her first televised defence of the Smackdown Women's Title against someone other than Becky Lynch.
The standout match, though, could well be Lynch against Mickie James, a bout that has been brewing since James, under the guise of La Luchadora, prevented Lynch from regaining the Women's Title. James and Lynch are two of WWE's most talented in-ring performers, something the former will be particularly keen to prove in her first singles match on the company's main roster since she battled Michelle McCool on an episode of Smackdown at London's O2 Arena in April 2010.
How can you keep up to speed?
The best way to follow WWE Elimination Chamber is by watching it live on Sky Sports Box Office - the show gets underway at 1am on Sunday night (Monday morning), in standard definition on Sky channel 491 and in high definition on Sky channel 492. The event will cost £14.95 for viewers in the United Kingdom and €21.95 for customers in the Republic of Ireland, and is orderable over the phone, via your Sky remote, or online (see below).
A live text blog of the event will also run on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app, while repeat showings of WWE Elimination Chamber will air on Sky Sports Box Office in standard definition only between 10am on Monday, February 13 and 10pm on Thursday, February 16. A short highlights video will also be available to watch on Monday morning on Sky Sports' digital platforms.
WWE Elimination Chamber booking details
WWE Elimination Chamber will be shown on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 491) and Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 492) at 1am, Sunday, February 12 (Monday morning).
WWE Elimination Chamber will repeated on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 491) BUT NOT Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 492) between 10am on Monday, February 13 and 10pm on Thursday, February 16.
You can order the show online by visiting this link: https://my.sky.com/orderboxoffice/?DCMP=WWEEliminationChamber
You can also book the event over the phone: UK viewers should call 03442 410 888, while customers in the Republic of Ireland should call 0818 220 225. (There may be an additional charge for telephone bookings).
You can also order the show via your Sky remote:
Sky+: Press the box office button on your remote, then click the sports tab followed by WWE Elimination Chamber.
Sky Q: Press Home on your Sky Q remote, select TV guide, then Box Office and then WWE Elimination Chamber. Enter your TV Pin if prompted. (Only bookings via Sky TV remote are recordable using Sky Plus).
Sky TV residential customers only. Commercial customers contact Sky for price and to order. Sky Box Office terms apply. Cable customers should contact their local cable operator.
