5 Reasons why so many top RAW & SmackDown stars are missing from WWE Elimination Chamber 2020

By Riju Dasgupta
Modified Mar 08, 2020 10:42 IST
Way too many big names are missing from the card
Way too many big names are missing from the card

We often complain about how so many WWE programs (especially RAW) overstay their welcome, going on for far too long on several occasions. And so, it's a good thing in a way that Elimination Chamber will not be an especially long show, in my personal opinion.

But at the same time, one can't help but notice that a lot of big names are missing. There is no John Cena, no Goldberg, no Roman Reigns, no Bray Wyatt, no Drew McIntyre, and no Brock Lesnar either.

There is no RAW Women's Championship match or SmackDown Women's Championship match either on the card, as I write this article. Sure, they may be added to the card following my article, but from the looks of it, I doubt that it will actually happen.

So, with that in mind, let me list out 5 reasons why these stars may be missing from the Elimination Chamber card. Please feel free to list your thoughts and opinions below.

#5 Their WrestleMania 36 programs have already been announced

A whole bunch of WrestleMania matches have either already been announced or are on the verge of getting announced in the weeks that will follow. The key is to shine a light on the matches and the programs that have not been announced. For instance, while we do know that Brock Lesnar and Drew McIntyre will compete for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, what we do not know is what the United States Championship picture will look like, at the show of shows.

And therefore it makes more sense to build the rest of the card for now than have the stars who are already in marquee matches show up and take part in meaningless matches. In fact, that may turn audiences off.

What do you think?

#4 To give the existing matches enough time to breathe

Every wrestling fan tends to ask why matches in NXT are so good, and by the time the same performers reach the main roster, their performances are not nearly as good. Well, the answer is very simple if you think about the same.

Far too much gets crammed into a RAW or SmackDown card where the performers in the ring do not necessarily have the time to tell a story in the same way that performers in NXT essentially can. WWE is doing the right thing by not stuffing the show with far too many matches so that the matches that are already on the card have the room to breathe and to unfold in the right manner.

Imagine the technical masterclass we can see from Daniel Bryan and Drew Gulak if they're given the freedom to tell a compelling story in the ring. The same can be said for AJ Styles and Aleister Black, two men who could have quite the striking exchange at Elimination Chamber.

#3 To shine the spotlight on the full-time performers

There are far too many full-time performers in the WWE roster who do not get their due. Yes, we always talk about the big stars when we talk about WWE, but it takes the entire roster of talent to put on the show that we enjoy every week.

At WWE Super ShowDown, it was a chance for the audience in Saudi Arabia to relive the past and back the part-time performers that they have loved over the years, as they took center-stage. But Elimination Chamber is a very different kind of pay-per-view and the spotlight is firmly and deservedly on the full-time WWE roster.

WWE got a lot of flak for the manner in which Brock Lesnar decimated Ricochet in a matter of mere seconds and even more so, because of the way that they chose to end The Fiend's undefeated streak by having Goldberg defeat him with a Jackhammer. This is their chance to remedy all the wrongs.

Is this a card that excites you, ladies, and gentlemen? Let us know in the comments section right below.

#2 So that nobody gets injured ahead of WrestleMania

Imagine that chaos that would ensue if Brock Lesnar were to maybe get injured ahead of WrestleMania 36. Imagine the kind of fan backlash that the company would face if The Fiend was to get hurt before his highly anticipated match against John Cena. The fact of the matter is that it is better to put on a slightly underwhelming card than have the WrestleMania card in jeopardy.

A lot of people buy the WrestleMania card in advance and travel from all across the world to see their favorite acts on the grandest stage. And the truth is that WWE's B-pay-per-views like Elimination Chamber can sell on the strength of the gimmick matches alone. The sheer spectacle of the steel structure can supersede the fact that there won't be big stars inside them.

There have been far too many instances of big stars getting injured and plans having to change drastically as a result of the same for WWE to put them on ahead of WrestleMania.

#1 To not make the outcomes far too predictable

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One of the things that we know already is that there is no way that WWE will allow the men and women in the marquee WrestleMania 36 matches to look weak before the show. Imagine Drew McIntyre losing a big match before the event.

It would take away all of the steam he has, and to put him on the card would essentially mean giving away the result before the match happens. There is no way that Brock Lesnar, Drew McIntyre, Roman Reigns, or even someone like Becky Lynch would lose a match so close to WrestleMania 36.

A lot of times, WWE gets accused of being far too predictable and to have booked the stars in this manner would have justified all the criticism that gets thrown WWE's way by fans. So, yes, WWE is doing the right thing by not having the big stars on the show.

How excited are you about Elimination Chamber? Let us know your thoughts on a scale of 1-10 in the comments below.

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