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Following NXT TakeOver: Vengeance, WWE's main roster takes center stage this weekend as they present one of the most brutal pay-per-views of the year.
The Elimination Chamber will welcome 12 WWE stars on Sunday night. Superstars from Monday Night RAW will fight for the WWE Championship, while SmackDown's brand will battle for a shot at Roman Reigns' Universal Championship.
There was also a scheduled RAW Women's Championship match, but Lacey Evans' recent pregnancy announcement has left the match up in the air. Meanwhile, Keith Lee's medical status could mean that he's also missing from the United States Championship match.
As of this writing, there are just five matches on the official card for the event. However, two of those, as noted above, are subject to change. Ahead of Elimination Chamber, here are just five little-known facts about the show that every fan should know.
#5 WWE breaks a recent tradition at Elimination Chamber
this year
The Women's Evolution has changed the face of WWE over the past few years. It has allowed women to make history at every given pay-per-view.
In 2018, the first Women's Elimination Chamber match took place. The match saw Alexa Bliss come out on top to retain her SmackDown Women's Championship.
The company then made history in 2019 when it unveiled the Women's Tag Team Championships. Bayley and Sasha Banks won them for the first time inside the Chamber.
Last year, Elimination Chamber was all about the RAW Women's Championship match at WrestleMania. Shayna Baszler made history when she took out every other woman inside the Chamber to earn her shot against Becky Lynch.
Unfortunately for The Queen of Spades, she was unable to dethrone the RAW Women's Champion on the Grandest Stage Of Them All.
This year will be a little different, since the men are taking center stage inside the Elimination Chamber structure, As of this writing, the one Women's Championship match on the card could be scrapped entirely.
It is still possible that WWE could announce a women's match from the SmackDown brand as part of the show later this week.
#4 Kofi Kingston has an interesting history inside WWE's Elimination Chamber
Many younger WWE fans may not be aware that Kofi Kingston has a lengthy history inside the Elimination Chamber.
Kingston qualified for this year's Chamber match this past week on RAW. However, it's worth noting that 12 years ago, almost to the day, Kingston was sacrificed to make history.
Edge walked into No Way Out as the WWE Champion. After losing his title in the first Chamber match, he took out Kofi Kingston, entered the World Heavyweight Championship match later in the night, and was victorious. Given his recent feud with Mustafa Ali, it's hard to believe that history won't repeat itself this weekend.
It's also worth noting that if Kingston makes it into the Chamber, he's one of the most experienced competitors. Kingston and The New Day have competed in Chamber matches before. This weekend, the former WWE Champion will have competed in the last three annual Elimination Chamber matches.
#3 Daniel Bryan should be considered the favorite for WWE SmackDown, Randy Orton for RAW
The WWE Championship Elimination Chamber match has been put together purposely so that only World Champions are involved. That being said, there is only one competitor who has previously won a World title inside the Chamber. Randy Orton.
Orton has stepped inside the Chamber seven times and won one match. Meanwhile, Kofi Kingston has entered five matches and won once - for the Tag Team Championships.
Over on WWE SmackDown, Daniel Bryan may be the star who's been putting over talent in recent weeks. However, he should be the favorite in the SmackDown match since he is the only competitor to win inside the Elimination Chamber. Bryan has won two Chamber matches, coming out on top back in 2012 and 2019.
After just two stars under the age of 30 entered the Royal Rumble, all 12 wrestlers in the Elimination Chamber this weekend are over 35. Drew McIntyre is the only defending champion in the Chamber, and he's the joint-youngest star at 35 alongside Jey Uso.
#2 Drew McIntyre re-enters WWE's Elimination Chamber after a 10-year break
Since becoming WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre has debuted in several matches, including inside Hell in a Cell a few months ago.
McIntyre didn't fare well inside the structure on his debut, losing his title to Randy Orton. Still, it's interesting that this weekend won't be McIntyre's debut inside the Elimination Chamber.
In 2011, McIntyre was part of the World Heavyweight Championship match inside the structure. It included WWE Hall of Famer Edge, The Big Show, Kane, Rey Mysterio, and Wade Barrett. It has been a decade since McIntyre stepped inside the Chamber, but this time he does it with a title around his waist.
Drew McIntyre may be the underdog heading into this match. He faces five other former World champions and is the youngest star in his Chamber match. But, The Scottish star has defied the odds in the past.
The 2020 Royal Rumble winner eliminated Brock Lesnar from the Royal Rumble and defeated him at WrestleMania, which shows he knows how to act under pressure.
#1 The WWE Universal title has never been defended inside the Chamber
Roman Reigns refused to defend the WWE Universal Championship inside the Elimination Chamber this year. It means that history will continue to wait for the title to be defended inside the structure.
The Universal Championship was only unveiled back at SummerSlam in 2016. But, over the past five years, the Women's Tag Team Championships, WWE Championship, and several WrestleMania matches have been put on the line inside the Elimination Chamber.
Reigns' refusal to enter the Chamber this year means the WWE Universe will have to wait to see the Universal title put on the line in one of the company's most brutal matches.
There are several reasons why Reigns refused to step inside the Chamber. He's a heel who doesn't want to have to fight to keep his title. Maintaining this tradition could be one of the main reasons.
When the title is finally defended in the Elimination Chamber, WWE may decide to make a much bigger deal out of the match.
