Reviews

The John Report: WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 Review

By John Canton • Published Feb 28, 2026 22:29 EST
WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 Review TJRWrestling (Images from WWE.com)
WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 Review TJRWrestling (Images from WWE.com)

This is WWE Elimination Chamber, featuring massive Elimination Chamber matches with WrestleMania implications, plus Punk-Balor, Lynch-Lee, and a mystery crate.

The WWE Elimination Chamber PLE is back again. As I noted in the preview of this show, this is the 16th year WWE has used the Elimination Chamber PLE name. It’s usually a February show, but it has been in March twice (including last year) and once in May. They also didn’t do it in 2016, then brought it back the next year. I think an argument could be made that Elimination Chamber would be better in another month, not right before WrestleMania, but with two sets of “World Titles,” I can see why WWE likes it this way to build up WrestleMania title matches.

Elimination Chamber is a four-match card, like the last two WWE PLEs, Survivor Series, and Royal Rumble. I think that’s too few matches, but it’s not up to me. I’d add a fifth and sixth match to the card. Why not? The talent roster is so good, and there should be more matches. I was at last year’s Elimination Chamber PLE, which ran 3:30, with John Cena turning heel to end the show. Royal Rumble went just over 4 hours last month. I expect this show to be shorter than that.

There was a two-hour Elimination Chamber Countdown Show on WWE’s YouTube channel, but I don’t review those shows. I’m watching on Netflix in Canada. Let’s get to the main show.

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WWE Elimination Chamber
From The United Center in Chicago, Illinois
Saturday, February 28, 2026

The cold open video package featured World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk discussing pressure and his hometown of Chicago. They showed clips of the wrestlers in tonight’s big matches. Good video as usual.

Michael Cole welcomed us to the show and announced the attendance of 19,346. They showed some superstars before the show, including Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, Finn Balor, Becky Lynch, and CM Punk with his wife, AJ Lee.

The Elimination Chamber structure was being lowered for the Women’s Chamber match to open the show. It’s Michael Cole on commentary with Wade Barrett. Mark Nash was the ring announcer.

It was Alexa Bliss up first for the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match, meaning she will be in one of the pods. Bliss is in her fourth Chamber match and won the first Women’s Chamber match in 2018. They showed WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill watching from a skybox. Asuka was next, another former Women’s Champion who won the 2023 Women’s Chamber match. I noticed WWE President Nick Khan sitting in the first row. Nice seat, pal. Raquel Rodriguez was next, a woman who hasn’t won the Women’s Title or a Chamber match. Rhea Ripley was the fourth woman to enter a pod and got the biggest reaction by far. Close said Ripley is looking to earn this win and get her 5th championship match at a WrestleMania. Ripley lost the Women’s Tag Team Title with Iyo Sky one night earlier on SmackDown. Ripley is my pick to win this match. Kiana James was next, one of the two women to start the match, and it’s her first Chamber Match. The former Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton was last, the other woman to start the match. The fans love Tiffy Time.

Women’s Elimination Chamber Match: Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Kiana James

The winner of this match will challenge Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Title at WrestleMania 42. The bell rang to start the match at 7:20 p.m. ET. It takes a while when there are six entrances.

Tiffany Stratton and Kiana James started with some basic wrestling, exchanging headlocks. I’m pretty sure they worked together in NXT, and I’ve watched them both improve a lot over the last four years or so. James got some offense going with a shoulder tackle and a boot to the face. Stratton tripped James into the ropes, hit a splash off the ropes, and followed with a dropkick for two. James came back with a standing moonsault for two. James worked over Stratton, sending her into the turnbuckles. They went to the padding outside the ring, and Stratton suplexed James onto the padding. The announcers tried to put over the padding as painful. Stratton missed her backflip elbow when James moved, and Stratton hit the pod that Raquel Rodriguez was in. The first five minutes were up.

It’s Asuka as the third entrant in the match. James attacked Asuka in her pod, but Asuka fought back with a kick and repeatedly sent James into a pod. Asuka also repeatedly sent Stratton into a pod. Asuka hit a clothesline/bulldog combo outside the ring. The fans chanted, “Let’s Go Asuka,” even though she’s a heel. Back in the ring, Asuka hit a double missile dropkick off the top for two. Stratton elbowed Asuka and sent James into the turnbuckle. Stratton hit the handspring back elbow routine on both opponents. Asuka nailed Stratton with a knee to the face. The 3 minutes were up, so it was time for the next entrant.

The 4th entrant was Alexa Bliss, who hit a headscissors and a DDT as soon as she got in. Stratton caught Bliss and hit a rolling senton, but Bliss tripped Stratton on the top turnbuckle. Asuka splashed Stratton, and Bliss dropkicked Stratton in the gut. Bliss elbowed Asuka, and James hit a knee to Asuka. Stratton tried a pin on Bliss, but James broke it up and hit a knee to Stratton. James sent Stratton into the cage. James gave Stratton a catapult into an empty pod. Good bump by Stratton, a bump that looked painful.

The crowd favorite, Rhea Ripley, was #5 in the match. Ripley kicked James and clotheslined Asuka a few times, then slammed Asuka into the mat. Ripley headbutted Stratton and hit Stratton with a Powerbomb into Asuka. Bliss tried a DDT on Ripley, but Ripley powered out of it. Ripley countered Bliss and went for Riptide, but Bliss went over the top to the area outside the ring. Bliss climbed the cage to get away from Ripley, and James tackled Ripley into the cage. Stratton kicked Asuka. The four women were on the padded area outside the ring, and Bliss jumped off a pod and hit three of the women with a Twisted Bliss, but James avoided it. James sent Bliss into the cage and back into the ring. James superkicked Bliss, but Bliss caught her. Asuka split the green mist in Bliss’ face, and James did a ROLLUP OF DEATH~! on Bliss to pin her.

Alexa Bliss has been eliminated

The 6th and final woman in the match was Raquel Rodriguez. When Raquel got in there, she dominated the action with power moves on the other women. Ripley kicked Raquel out of the ring. Raquel sent Ripley into the cage twice and tossed Asuka and James into the cage, too. Ripley tried a hurricanrana, but Raquel caught her and sent Ripley into the cage. Raquel gave Ripley a Powerbomb into the ring. Raquel sent Stratton into the cage. Asuka worked over Raquel with kicks to the body. Raquel gave Asuka a fallaway slam into the ring. Raquel gave James a running powerslam through a pod door. Ouch. Raquel gave Asuka a Tejana Bomb and pinned James and Asuka at the same time.

Asuka and Kiana James have been eliminated

That left Ripley, Stratton, and Rodriguez. Stratton hit a double Stunner on both opponents at once. Raquel hit a spinning body slam on Stratton for two. Raquel sent Ripley into the cage. Raquel set up Ripley upside down on the cage, then Stratton climbed the cage and tried to jump on Raquel. Stratton gave Raquel a hurricanrana into the ring. Raquel hit Stratton with a boot to the face. Raquel worked over Stratton with elbow smashes. Raquel gave Stratton a fallaway slam across the ring. Raquel hit a spinning corkscrew elbow off the middle turnbuckle. Raquel splashed Stratton against the turnbuckle. Ripley was on top of a pod and hit a cannonball on Raquel, who was by the turnbuckle. Stratton jumped off the top with a Prettiest Moonsault Ever on Raquel. Stratton pinned Raquel to eliminate her.

Raquel Rodriguez has been eliminated

It’s down to Ripley and Stratton, the two favorites to win. Ripley drove Stratton’s head into the knee and hit a clothesline. Stratton countered and hit an Alabama Slam for two. Stratton jumped off the top. Ripley avoided it and hit a roundhouse kick to the head. Ripley slammed Stratton off the shoulders for a two count. Ripley missed a move, and Stratton hit a Swanton Bomb off the top for a two count. Stratton hit a rolling senton and went for Prettiest Moonsault Ever, but Ripley shoved her into a pod. Ripley hit a Riptide on Stratton for the pinfall win at 24:02.

Tiffany Stratton has been eliminated

Winner by pinfall: Rhea Ripley

Analysis: **** I thought it was a great Elimination Chamber match, and I’m going to give it four stars (out of five). They had some creative spots in the match, and the final two were the women most people expected to win. There were no surprises or interference in the match. They did a good job mixing in high spots, like Bliss hitting a Twisted Bliss off a pod and Ripley hitting that cannonball on Raquel off a pod. I think sometimes people want to see more in Chamber matches, like interference or something shocking. This one was just a case of the women working hard and the favorite of the match, Ripley, getting the decisive win. I liked it.

Rhea Ripley pointed at the WrestleMania sign in the arena. Jade Cargill held up the WWE Women’s Title in the skybox and told Ripley to bring it on.

Analysis: I can see Rhea Ripley winning the WWE Women’s Title at WrestleMania. Jade Cargill’s title reign has lasted four months with very few defenses. I don’t think it needs to continue past WrestleMania.

The Becky Lynch/AJ Lee match was next. I saw the “We’ll Be Right Back” moving graphics on Netflix for four minutes, which meant there were ads running. A Lynch/Lee video package followed.

Analysis: There was a 4-minute ad break (we got the moving graphics on Netflix), and now there’s a video package for Becky Lynch/AJ Lee afterward. They need to get to the action faster and add more matches to PLE shows. This one should have 6 matches, not just 4.

The Women’s Intercontinental Champion, Becky Lynch, entered first for her title defense. I read that it’s the 7th time the Women’s IC Title has been defended on a PLE, and the Women’s US Title has been defended 0 times. That’s the star power of Becky Lynch, which helps a lot. Light it up next with AJ Lee, who has lived in Chicago for over a decade since marrying CM Punk. That gives Lee the home-field advantage, so to speak. The fans loved Lee. Mark Nash handled the in-ring championship introductions.

Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee

It’s weird to think about how they are from different generations, yet they are both 39 this year. It’s because Lee was so good in her early 20s and had a lot of success before she turned 30 and spent 10 years away from WWE.

Lynch and Lee each had some early offense until Lynch bailed to the floor for a break. The heel Lynch took control and punched Lee repeatedly. Lynch stomped on Lee against the turnbuckle. Lynch choked Lee across the middle ropes. Lynch hit a jumping kick, followed by the Bexploder for a two-count. Lee and Lynch exchanged forearms. Lynch kicked Lee in the ribs, but Lee came back with a running bulldog. Lee continued the attack with the Tornado DDT and the Shining Wizard knee for two. That was a good sequence. Lynch countered Lee with a reverse DDT-style move for a two-count. Lynch pulled a turnbuckle pad off as the referee, Jessika Carr, looked at Lee. Lee stopped Lynch from sending her into the turnbuckle and tripped Lynch up. When Lee went to the top, Lynch stopped her there. Lynch hit a superplex from the middle turnbuckle. Lynch went for an armbar. Lee got out of it and kicked Lynch for two. The referee, Carr, realized the padding was off the turnbuckle, so she put the turnbuckle padding back on. Lynch shoved Lee into Carr into the turnbuckle, and Lynch covered for two. Lynch went for a kick. Lee avoided it, and Lynch kicked Carr in the back of the head “by accident.” Carr is also a wrestler, so she knows how to bump. Lee put the Black Widow submission on Lynch, who tapped out, but Carr was down on the ground. The fans booed, since Lee had the win. The referee never saw the tap.

Lynch knocked Lee down as Lee checked on the referee. Lynch sent Lee out of the ring and tossed him into the barricade. Lynch brought a steel chair into the ring. Lee fought back, sending Lynch into the barricade twice. Lee sent Lynch into the barricade again. Back in the ring, Lee tried a DDT, but Lynch avoided it. Lynch hit Lee with a DDT on the chair, or at least it was close to the chair. Carr was back up, and Lynch hit a Manhandle Slam. Carr counted 1…2…and Lee kicked out. The fans cheered as Lynch was stunned. Carr got in the way of Lynch sending Lee into the exposed steel, and Lee rolled up Lynch for two. Lee countered Lynch again. Lynch charged, Lee avoided it, and Lynch hit the steel turnbuckle. Lee applied the Black Widow submission, and Lynch tapped out to give Lee the win. It went 15:35.

Winner by submission AND NEW Women’s Intercontinental Champion: AJ Lee

Analysis: ***1/2 Two talented women put on a strong showing in a match with a title change I didn’t expect, since I figured it would come at WrestleMania 42. Based on how this went, I assume Becky Lynch will complain a lot about the refereeing, and they will likely do the rematch at WM42. AJ Lee looked great again, just like in her other two matches since coming back, and this time it was a singles match. When Lee was in her prime in WWE, the women’s PLE matches didn’t go 15 minutes like this, so I’m happy she’s able to show what she can do in a longer match. Referee Jessika Carr did well in her role, too. I feel like they didn’t want to book a clean match because there’s a rematch coming at WM42. Anyway, I got that prediction wrong since I picked Lynch here, but I certainly don’t mind a title change. I’m happy for AJ Lee.

GMs Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis were hanging out backstage by the mystery crate with R-Truth. They had a line about Truth knowing what‘s in the box. Truth had some Papa John’s pizza, so it was just a pizza advertisement.

There were four minutes of moving graphics for us on Netflix, which I assume were ads for other shows.

Finn Balor made his entrance to his classic theme song, which is much better than his Judgment Day song. If there was a video package for this, it wasn’t shown to me. I have Netflix with ads, so maybe I missed it because of that. Anyway, Balor isn’t booed much as a heel.

CM Punk’s entrance was next, and they played the legendary music reminiscent of the Chicago Bulls during the Michael Jordan era. They showed CM Punk walking from his backstage locker room. Cole gave a shoutout to the iconic Bulls announcer, Ray Clay, for announcing Punk like that. That was cool.

The fans chanted “CM Punk” as the World Heavyweight Champion, CM Punk, made his entrance to a huge ovation, with fans singing along to Living Colour’s “Cult of Personality.” They loved their hometown hero, CM Punk. It was noted that it was Punk’s first WWE match in Chicago since June 2013 (Payback). The entrance took a while, like a “Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns entrance or The Undertaker’s. Just saying. Anyway, Mark Nash did the championship introductions in the ring.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk vs. Finn Balor

Punk was in Chicago Blackhawks gear, which is cool since Punk is a big NHL fan and that’s his favorite team. They did some basic groundwork to start the match with headlocks, armbars, and that sort of thing. Balor knocked down Punk with an elbow smash, leading to a side headlock. Punk hit a jumping heel kick to the face, followed by a backbreaker. Punk hit a knee drop. Punk sent Balor into the turnbuckle. Punk worked over Balor with punches, but Balor pulled Punk’s legs to trip him up. Balor hit a knee to the ribs. Balor punched and kicked Punk in the ribs. Balor hit a running chop to the chest. Punk hit Balor with a running knee, but Balor blocked the bulldog and applied an abdominal stretch submission. Punk hit a hiptoss to get out of that. They did a double clothesline to knock each man down. Punk gained momentum with an elbow, a clothesline, and a bulldog out of the corner. Balor was out on the floor, so Punk hit a suicide dive to send Balor into the commentary table. Back in the ring, Punk hit a clothesline off the top rope for two. Punk wanted a GTS, but Balor got out of it and hit an elbow drop reverse DDT for a two count. Balor tried to jump over Punk, who caught him, and Balor countered a GTS into a pin attempt for two. Punk hit a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Balor did an up kick, sending Punk into the turnbuckle. They went to the turnbuckle, where Punk teased a superplex, but Balor fought out of it. Balor went up top, jumped off with Coup de Grace, but Punk avoided it. Punk hit a running knee and a clothesline. Punk was bleeding from the mouth. Punk went up top and hit the elbow drop. Punk was selling a rib injury on the right side. Punk got a two count, and Balor countered it into two of his own. Balor hit a Slingblade neckbreaker. Balor charged, and Punk hit a clothesline.

Punk applied the Anaconda Vice to Balor’s left arm. Balor fought back and got a cradle for a two count. Balor elbowed Punk repeatedly to the side of the head. Balor hit a lifting reverse suplex. Balor went up top and jumped off with a Coup de Grace double-foot stomp for a two count. No surprise Punk kicked out, even though it was Balor’s finishing move. The fans chanted for Punk. Balor went for a move, Punk got out of it, and Punk hit a GTS knee to the face, but Balor was near the ropes, so Balor bumped out of the ring and to the floor. Punk ran at Balor, who came back with a Slingblade on the floor. Balor hit a running dropkick that sent Punk through the barricade. Balor put Punk back into the ring. Punk went for GTS again. Balor avoided it and hit a Slingblade. Balor dropkicked Punk into the turnbuckle. Balor went up top, jumped off, and went for Coup de Grace, but Punk got a foot up. Punk turned it into a Sharpshooter. It wasn’t applied perfectly, and it led to Balor getting to the bottom rope to break the hold. Punk kicked Balor a few times while holding onto Balor’s arm, weakening him. Punk hit a Go To Sleep knee to the face and covered Balor for the pinfall win at 20:23.

Winner by pinfall: CM Punk

Analysis: ***3/4 This came across as a competitive battle between two talented veteran wrestlers, similar to their last match. I don’t think anyone watching this thought Balor was going to win, which isn’t a knock on Balor. It’s just obvious WWE was going to go forward with the CM Punk-Roman Reigns match at WrestleMania. That meant there was very little drama in some parts of the match. Punk won decisively, so it went as I expected, with Punk winning with the GTS. No surprise there. Punk did a good job of selling the ribs to show that Balor had done some damage. I think the match could have been better if there were more spots where it looked like Balor might win. It was just too obvious that Balor had no shot here.

The win means CM Punk retains the World Heavyweight Title and will face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42 in seven weeks.

After the match, Finn Balor extended a hand, and Punk shook it. They didn’t hug, but they shook hands, showing respect for each other.

Analysis: I hope the next step for Finn Balor is to break free from The Judgment Day, go babyface, and take the Intercontinental Title from Dominik Mysterio. The fans want Finn back in that babyface role.

After Balor left, AJ Lee walked to the ring with her Women’s Intercontinental Title and shared the ring with her husband, Punk. The fans cheered for them.

They showed celebrities around ringside, including UFC fighter Michael Chandler, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks (and brother Thanasis), and rapper Lil Yachty.

The graphic let us know Jade Cargill will defend the WWE Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 42.

The ring announcer, Mark Nash, announced the attendance as 19,346 people, and he thanked the fans.

Mystery Crate Reveal

The mystery crate reveal took place with GMs Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis opening it. Inside was a coffin, and then some dancers dressed in black, along with Danhausen. They played cheesy music that referenced Danhausen throughout the song. Danhausen walked out to ringside and gave Cole some teeth. Danhausen danced in the ring, then the lights went out, and the fans booed. When the lights came back on, Danhausen and his crew were gone.

Analysis: I don’t know how Danhausen is going to fit on the WWE roster, but he’s a comedic character who likes to call things “very evil” and curse people. They barely used him in AEW during his four years there, but I am happy he is free since he was benched by AEW for a very long time. Anyway, this segment was not a great or memorable piece of business. I think they should have had Danhausen interact with R-Truth or someone and do a promo to let him speak and show off his comedy side. Instead, this just felt like a bad gimmick that the fans booed because he did nothing.

The Men’s Elimination Chamber Match was next as the main event. We got four minutes of the moving graphics on Netflix again.

It’s time to “Whoop That Trick” since Trick Williams was up first for the main event. The fans were chanting “Whoop That Trick” as Trick made his way to the ring, looking like a massive star. LA Knight was up next, and the fans loved him as usual, with Knight looking confident. Logan Paul was next, joined by The Vision’s Paul Heyman and Austin Theory. Paul was booed by the crowd as usual. The fans popped big for “Voices” as Randy Orton made his entrance, and we know the fans love The Viper. It is Orton’s 10th Elimination Chamber match, the most all time, and Orton won the Chamber match in 2014.

That means Je’Von Evans and Cody Rhodes are starting the match. Je’Von Evans made his entrance with a graphic noting that he’s the youngest Elimination Chamber match participant at 21 years old. Cole noted that Evans wasn’t even born when the first (and second) Elimination Chamber match took place in November 2002. Ring announcer Mark Nash said “Je’Von Williams,” so people are mad about that. I didn’t notice Nash say that, but he needs to get it right for sure. Evans had a long stare at the Chamber as he slowly entered the structure. Cody Rhodes was last, as the fans sang along with “Kingdom” and posed when it was time. Cody is my pick to win, but it wouldn’t surprise me if there’s a controversial finish in this match.

Men’s Elimination Chamber Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton vs. Trick Williams vs. LA Knight vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Logan Paul

The winner of this match will face Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42.

It was Cody Rhodes and Je’Von Evans locking up to start the match as the fans sang for Cody. Cody hit a delayed front suplex. Evans got a rollup for two. Evans backflipped and hit a hurricanrana, followed by a headscissors. Evans hit a knee smash on Cody for two. They left the ring, and Cody sent Evans into the cage. Cody sent Evans into Logan’s pod. Cody stomped on Evans to keep him grounded, then hit a clothesline for two. Evans came back with a suplex. The first five minutes were up.

The third man in the Chamber was Trick Williams, who gave Cody a flatliner on the padding outside the ring. Evans avoided a side kick from Trick and rolled up Trick for two. Evans bounced off the ropes and hit a spinning kick. Evans jumped off the top for the OG Cutter, but Trick caught him and chopped Evans. Cody hit a leg sweep on Trick for two. Cody elbowed Evans a few times, and Trick hit a spinning kick to knock Cody. The fans chanted “Whoop That Trick” as Trick hit a double Book End on Cody and Evans at the same time. Trick and Cody took turns chopping Evans. Cody hit Trick with some strikes. Evans superkicked Cody and chopped Trick a few times.

There is Logan Paul as the #4 man in the match, and the three wrestlers attacked Paul at the same time. Cody and Trick whipped Logan into an empty pod, and Logan sold it like he was in a lot of pain. Evans jumped over the top rope onto Cody and Trick in the cage. Evans hit a spinning kick on Trick for two. Cody sent Trick over the top rope. Cody stared at the WrestleMania sign as he worked over Evans with punches. Cody sent Evans over the top rope to the padding outside the ring. Logan was back into it, hitting his version of a Buckshot Lariat on Cody. Logan worked over everybody with stomps and punches.

Yeah…it’s LA Knight as the #5 entrant in the match. Knight was on fire with punches, kicks, and a jumping neckbreaker on Trick. Knight had issues with The Vision, so he sent Logan into the cage and into the pods. Logan pulled Knight into a pod and sent Knight into the cage. Logan went up to the top of a pod, and Evans went up there with Logan. Knight also climbed to the top of a pod. Knight and Evans tossed Logan onto Cody and Trick in the ring. Knight kicked Evans and gave him a BFT on the top of a pod.

The 6th and final entrant was Randy Orton, who unloaded on the guys with clotheslines. Orton hit a powerslam on Trick and another on Logan. Orton clotheslined Trick over the top to the floor. Orton gave Logan a back body drop over the top to the padded steel. Orton hit a double draping DDT on Logan and Trick while they were on the ropes. Orton went for an RKO on Knight, but Knight blocked it and hit a DDT on Orton. Five guys were down around the ring as Evans was on top of the pod. Evans jumped off the pod with a Frog Splash on Trick. Logan hit a Paulverizer lifting DDT on Evans for the pinfall win.

Je’Von Evans has been eliminated

Cody worked over Logan with punches. Cody kicked Paul, but Knight came back into it with a spinning slam off the shoulders for two. Orton worked over Knight with uppercuts and punches. Orton charged at Knight, who hit a big boot and knocked Orton down. Knight jumped to the top rope, slipped off the top, and hit an elbow drop on Orton. Trick rolled up Knight for two. Knight came back with a BFT on Trick, who rolled out of the ring. Logan hit a low-blow uppercut on Knight and then hit a ROLLUP OF DEATH~! on Knight for the pinfall.

LA Knight has been eliminated

There were four guys left as Logan kicked Orton into the cage. Trick hit a back fist on Logan and a side kick to knock him down. Trick went for the knee, but Logan avoided it. Cody grabbed Trick and hit Cross Rhodes on him. Logan sent Cody into the ring post and pinned Trick, even though Cody had done the move. Logan celebrated having three eliminations.

Trick Williams has been eliminated

There was a masked man at ringside. Security stopped him, and Raw GM Adam Pearce was there. Pearce unmasked the guy and wondered who the hell he was. It wasn’t a known wrestler on the roster. As Trick was helped out of the ring, another hooded figure entered the ring with Paul. The masked guy kicked Paul in the ribs and hit The Stomp on him. Cody covered Logan and got the pinfall.

Logan Paul has been eliminated

The masked man revealed himself to be… Seth “Freakin” Rollins. The fans popped big for the reveal. Paul Heyman freaked out at ringside as the fans sang Seth’s theme song, and Rollins left through the crowd.

Analysis: Welcome back, Seth Rollins. He had shoulder surgery back in October, and he should be ready to go for WrestleMania, so that puts Rollins in a match against Paul, most likely, since Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed are injured. If Bron is cleared, then it should be him against Rollins.

The match has come down to Cody Rhodes and his mentor, Randy Orton. Drew McIntyre entered the ring and hit Cody in the head with the WWE Title. Cody avoided a Claymore Kick, but Drew hit a headbutt. Orton turned Drew around and hit an RKO on him. Cody hit a Cross Rhodes on Drew. Orton followed up with an RKO on Cody! Orton pinned his buddy Cody for the pinfall win at 25:22.

Cody Rhodes has been eliminated

Winner: Randy Orton

Analysis: ***3/4 I thought it was a pretty good, but not necessarily a great Elimination Chamber. This was really just about the two big moments at the end, with Seth Rollins revealing that he was the masked man, and that was cool to see. Shortly after that, Drew McIntyre got in there to try to stop Cody Rhodes from winning, and this time it actually worked, but Cody ended up getting beaten by his good friend Randy Orton, who was smart enough to capitalize on the chaos to win. The eliminations prior to that were fine, but nothing was particularly memorable. I thought Evans was going to do something spectacular off the top of a pod, and while his Frog Splash looked cool, I guess I thought he could do more. Logan Paul was booked as a major heel, and the fans hate him, so having Rollins screw him out of the win was a great move. I picked Cody to win, so I got that wrong, but I don’t mind being wrong in this instance because I’m happy for Orton breaking through and getting a big win like that.

Randy Orton posed in the ring, pointing at the WrestleMania Vegas sign. Cole said that number 15 is within Orton’s grasp, referencing his pursuit of his 15th WWE World Title. Meanwhile, Cody Rhodes looked shaken and sad as he exited the chamber.

Analysis: It wouldn’t shock me if we ended up with McIntrye-Orton-Rhodes at WrestleMania instead of just McIntyre-Orton, but I’m not sure how they would add Rhodes to it. I’m just saying it feels like a triple threat, or even a 4-way with Jacob Fatu involved.

Joe Tessitore was shown mentioning that the post-show was coming up next, so that’s it.

WWE Elimination Chamber had a runtime of 3 hours and 1 minute.

UPDATE: On the Elimination Chamber post-show, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis informed Drew McIntyre that he had to defend the WWE Title against Cody Rhodes on SmackDown this Friday due to Drew’s actions. Drew was furious about it. That’s a way to get Cody into the WWE Title match at WrestleMania. Maybe Drew gets DQ’d or something, and Cody gets into the WrestleMania match that way. I don’t know how they will do it, but I think they are going to do McIntyre-Orton-Rhodes at WrestleMania.

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Five Stars of the Show

  1. Rhea Ripley
  2. Randy Orton
  3. AJ Lee
  4. CM Punk
  5. Welcome back, Seth Rollins

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Final Thoughts on WWE Elimination Chamber

I’m going 7.5 out of 10 for this show.

A pretty good PLE, but I don’t think it was a great show. I liked the Women’s Chamber Match more than the Men’s Chamber Match as a match, but the Men’s match had more surprises and newsworthy moments, that’s for sure. The Seth Rollins return was booked perfectly to screw Logan Paul out of the win, and then having Randy Orton capitalize on Drew McIntyre’s presence to beat Cody Rhodes was a clever finish. It can also lead to questions about the future.

The Women’s Chamber was booked like a regular match, and then the men’s match was about the shocking ending, so I think they tried to differentiate them.

CM Punk’s win over Finn Balor was pretty much what I expected to happen. AJ Lee beating Becky Lynch surprised me a bit, but I certainly didn’t mind seeing a title change there.

My WWE PLE Rankings for 2026 so far:

Royal Rumble – 7.75 (January 31)

Elimination Chamber – 7.5 (February 28)

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