Major WWE SmackDown Angle Was Pivot By Creative Team
The WWE creative team, led by Triple H, changed their plans on the road to Elimination Chamber.
On the February 23rd edition of WWE Monday Night Raw, Bronson Reed was supposed to be the final man to qualify for the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match. Reed was against Jey Uso and the Original El Grande Americano (Chad Gable) in that qualifying match.
Unfortunately for Reed, he suffered a torn biceps and has already undergone surgery to repair the injury. Due to that injury, WWE changed the finish on the fly by having Jey beat Americano to qualify for the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match.
Before WWE SmackDown came on the air on February 27th, Jey Uso was face down on the floor, looking like a victim of a mystery attack.
In the main event of SmackDown, Logan Paul beat Jacob Fatu to qualify for the Elimination Chamber Match. Paul got an assist from WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, who hit Fatu with the WWE Title to cost him the match.
According to Fightful Select, Jey Uso wasn’t planned to travel to WWE Elimination Chamber in Chicago as of last Monday. The plan was for Reed to win. Taking out Jey Uso the way they did was a case of WWE’s creative team, led by Triple H, pivoting and putting Logan Paul in that spot instead.
Triple H Promotes WWE Elimination Chamber
The WWE Elimination Chamber Match was actually a Triple H idea that he wrote down on a napkin, and it became a signature match in the company.
In a post on X/Twitter, Triple H referenced his napkin idea involving the Elimination Chamber while promoting this year’s Elimination Chamber PLE.
The concept of the “Elimination Chamber” started like all things in @WWE do… an idea that tried to answer the question “what if?” A back-of-the-napkin drawing that became a structure and now acts as a massive opportunity to main event #WrestleMania.
We all saw the #WWEChamber for the first time when we arrived @thegarden in 2002. I remember that day for many reasons – the pain of the cage and the chainlink fence, a partially collapsed trachea halfway through the match, and of course @ShawnMichaels historic championship win (and his “fashionable” gear and “stylish” haircut).
The Elimination Chamber tests the limits of a Superstar. For every bump, every bruise, I’m reminded of the brutal match that began it all and the talent who competed in it. Good luck to the men and women competing in tonight’s chamber matches.
#WWEChamber is LIVE from the @UnitedCenter TONIGHT on @ESPNPlus and @netflix internationally.
The concept of the “Elimination Chamber” started like all things in @WWE do… an idea that tried to answer the question “what if?” A back-of-the-napkin drawing that became a structure and now acts as a massive opportunity to main event #WrestleMania.
We all saw the #WWEChamber… pic.twitter.com/p13nRjxKU4
— Triple H (@TripleH) February 28, 2026
WWE Elimination Chamber is on February 28th in Chicago. Here’s the lineup:
- Men’s Elimination Chamber Match: Randy Orton vs. LA Knight vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Trick Williams vs. Logan Paul
- World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk vs. Finn Balor
- Women’s Elimination Chamber Match: Rhea Ripley vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka vs. Kiana James vs. Raquel Rodriguez
- Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee
You can watch WWE Elimination Chamber, streaming live on Saturday, February 28, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ESPN in the United States and Netflix everywhere else.