On WWE.com, Raw has officially announced 5 qualifying matches for the Elimination Chamber at New Year’s Revolution. The matches are Carlito Vs. Shelton Benjamin, Chris Masters Vs. Viscera, Shawn Michaels Vs. Big Show, Kane Vs. Triple H, and Kurt Angle Vs. Ric Flair. Though it was reported earlier this week that Kane, Big Show, Triple H, and Kurt Angle were all locks for the PPV, it is obviously not so sure right now considering the matches listed.
From the above list of matches, we can all infer basically that Chris Masters and Carlito will be in the Elimination Chamber. While WWE did put a big push behind Shelton Benjamin a while ago, they have since abandoned it and made Shelton Benjamin nothing more than the “new Hurricane” as one source said it. As far as the other three matches go, many are still wondering if Ric Flair’s legal troubles will be over in time for New Year’s Revolution and WWE could very well book Angle over Flair in regards to that. It is pretty obvious that Triple H will be beating Kane in the qualifying match considering the program he has coming up with Cena, and for sure star power, Shawn Michaels will most likely defeat Big Show to get into the match. With all that said, it looks to be said that Chris Masters and Carlito are all but confirmed to be in the match while Triple H, Shawn Michaels, & Kurt Angle will be the odds on favorites this Monday night.
It should be noted how much confidence management seems to have in Masters and Carlito and how quickly WWE has put them into the main event (less than a year for Chris Masters). Then again, with WWE putting Masters into the Triple Threat with Angle and Cena a few weeks ago as well as both men being in the Survivor Series match, this may have been something we should have all seen coming.
The under card for New Year’s Revolution is still unsure, but will most likely feature a Tag Team Championship match if Kane and Big Show do not make it into the main event, which is not looking good. Besides that, nothing else is known except it will probably follow the same formula from last year and be a “one match show.”
