From the WWE Rumor Mill: Mickie James replaced Nia Jax inside Elimination Chamber 

What's the story?

Last week on Raw, Kurt Angle announced all the female competitors for the Elimination Chamber match on February 25th, which didn't include Nia Jax. It seems that the original plan was to have Nia in the match, but she is the woman who has been chosen to face Asuka at the event instead.

In case you didn't know...

Nia Jax hasn't been on the best run as of late with the company seemingly pushing her into a romantic role with Enzo Amore rather than allowing her to continue to compete in the Women's Division as Asuka began rising through the company towards the end of last year.

It was thought that Nia would be one of the women inside the Chamber on February 25th, but when Angle announced the women who will be taking part and representing the Raw brand, Nia's name wasn't amongst them. The line up perhaps would have been a little different if Paige and Alicia Fox weren't on the injured list right now as well.

This past week on Raw, Nia returned to her usual squash matches, which gives the impression that now that Enzo has been released from the company, Nia could be set for a push in the Women's Division again.

The heart of the matter

When Kurt Angle announced the names for the Women's Chamber match, according to The Wrestling Observer, Mickie James was the woman who replaced Nia inside the Chamber. The plan is thought to still be for Nia to face Alexa Bliss at WrestleMania 34, which means that Nia must find a way past Asuka in two weeks time.

The field is SET...@AlexaBliss_WWE will defend her #RAW #WomensTitle against @itsBayleyWWE @WWE_MandyRose @MickieJames @SonyaDevilleWWE & @SashaBanksWWE in the first-ever Women's Elimination Chamber match! pic.twitter.com/mSl3iginJL

— WWE (@WWE) February 6, 2018

This could mean that Nia may be able to get a disqualification win over Asuka since she would then remain unpinned and unsubmitted heading into WrestleMania and it would give Nia a huge boost ahead of her potential match at the biggest event of the year as well.

What's next?

Elimination Chamber takes place on February 25th and will see Alexa Bliss defend her Championship inside the steel structure against Sonya Deville, Mandy Rose, Mickie James, Sasha Banks and Bayley. Nia Jax will take on Asuka and the winner of the match will be added to the Raw Women's Championship at WrestleMania.

Author's take

Nia has been booked so badly by WWE since she was brought up to the main roster. Jax should have been booked as a beast and hopefully, with an impending WrestleMania match on the line, it will be Jax that comes out fo Elimination Chamber looking like the beast that she is. Total Divas has humanised Jax somewhat, but WWE could use this to their advantage, but it is highly unlikely that they will allow someone to end Asuka's lengthy streak just weeks before WrestleMania.