Nikki Bella
Was anybody really that surprised when Nikki Bella finished as the runner-up in the inaugural Women’s rumble? Her relationship with John Cena gives her plenty of political power backstage and I don’t imagine she’d want to miss the chance to make history once again in the women’s rumble. I highly expect the last spot in the company to go to a big name from the past, and while I’d loved to think that the company would reach out to the likes of Trish Stratus and Lita, I just don’t see either of them being game for a match as intense as the elimination chamber. Arguably, the spot should be reserved for an active superstar but Bella makes for a more interesting prospect than Dana Brooke or a lower card competitor.
Bella, from a kayfabe perspective at least, has more of a claim to the match-up following her performance in the Rumble and she is still fairly popular with the fans. Will her appearance be used to set up a Mania match? I don’t see it myself unless she is going to tag with Cena again and let’s be honest, nobody wants that. Unlike the Rumble, though, I expect her appearance here to be fairly short-lived as the company will want to focus on some other storylines during the bout, and the aforementioned intensity of the bout could prove tricky for a wrestler who has been away from active competition for so long.
