The Royal Rumble is in the rear-view mirror and WrestleMania 41 is on the horizon but in between, WWE will head north to Toronto for the Elimination Chamber, the annual setup for the biggest show of the year, headlined by two namesake matches featuring the top men's and women's stars in the company.

This year, the event gets the added boost of star power, thanks to John Cena, who will set foot inside the unforgiving steel structure for the first time since 2018.

Who might await him inside the chain-linked walls of the Chamber and what else can fans expect out of the show?

Find out with this way-too-early preview of the March 1 premium live event.

Women's Elimination Chamber Match

Assuming Charlotte Flair announces her intent to challenge Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women's Championship at WrestleMania, the Elimination Chamber will be for the right to challenge Rhea Ripley for the Women's World Championship at WrestleMania, opening up a number of potential opponents.

The question is in what direction WWE plans to take Ripley for WrestleMania 41.

Liv Morgan, Bianca Belair, Naomi, Iyo Sky, Bayley, and former TNA Knockouts champion Jordynne Grace are all candidates for such a match. A potential return from Becky Lynch is also not out of the question. The Man has beef with Ripley, who she battled and lost to at last year's Showcase of the Immortals.

Could the trailblazer and future Hall of Famer return in time to square off with The Eradicator one more time?

What about Trish Stratus, who returned at the Royal Rumble and is celebrating 25 years in WWE? There is also Alexa Bliss, who made her comeback at the Rumble, as well as Nikki Bella, who wrestled her first match in years Saturday.

With Morgan, Naomi, and Belair likely to be embroiled in a feud over the tag team titles based on recent television, this feels like an opportunity to enhance those tensions by having the three of them in the Chamber. Add Sky and Bayley and fill that last spot with Bliss and you have a star-studded lineup to lay with while figuring out exactly what Ripley will be keeping busy with in the lead up to Las Vegas.

Match Prediction: Belair vs. Naomi vs. Bayley vs. Sky vs. Bliss vs. Morgan

United States Championship Match: Jimmy Uso vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

If a wrestler pops up in the background of another wrestler's vignette or promo on Raw or SmackDown, it is for a reason. If Triple H's creative process since assuming leadership of WWE has taught us anything, it is that almost nothing that happens in the background is trivial.

Friday night on SmackDown, United States champion Nakamura entered the frame during Jimmy Uso's backstage promo, hinting at a future program between the two. Look no further than Elimination Chamber, where Uso can seek to prove his own value as a singles star against the always dangerous titleholder.

Would it be Uso's crowning moment? Probably not, because an embrace between Jimmy and Jey, both singles champions at the conclusion of WrestleMania Saturday, feels like a moment made or that stage.

Uso can at least get his first taste of a showdown with Nakamura in Toronto though, falling just short of capturing the gold and keeping fans invested in his journey to Vegas and eventual title victory.

WWE Women's Championship Match: Tiffany Stratton vs. Nia Jax

Even if Flair declares that she will challenge for the WWE Women's Championship at WrestleMania, Stratton has to get there first.

What better way to test her championship mettle and wrap up her storyline with Nia Jax than by booking them against each other in Toronto?

It would be a big test for Stratton as champion and Flair could be booked at ringside or on commentary to get an up close look at either of her potential WrestleMania 41 opponents.

With The Queen having eliminated Jax, there are unsettled issues there, too, giving this one a little extra substance.

Men's Elimination Chamber Match

We know John Cena will compete in the annual match as he announced his entry in to the contest just moments after losing the Royal Rumble to Jey Uso.

The question is who will join him.

Seth "Freakin" Rollins, CM Punk, and Roman Reigns were all there in the concluding moments of the Rumble, making them strong candidates for inclusion. Drew McIntyre has been a top-tier competitor all year long and won the Chamber match a year ago.

If those four join Cena, that leaves one slot open, to be filled by anyone from Sami Zayn to Logan Paul to LA Knight. Damian Priest is an option, too.

If Reigns does not appear at the show, which he has yet to be advertised for, there are two spots open.

With a shot at either the World Heavyweight or Undisputed WWE Championship up for grabs, and a potential WrestleMania main event on the line, expect a star-studded lineup.

Match Prediction: Cena vs. Rollins vs. Punk vs. Reigns vs. Priest vs. McIntyre