WWE Elimination Chamber 2026: Road to WrestleMania 42

Less than two days remain until WWE Elimination Chamber takes place in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, February 28, 2026. This event serves as the final major stepping stone before WrestleMania 42, setting the stage for key storylines and determining championship challengers for The Showcase of the Immortals.

Event Details

• Event: WWE Elimination Chamber 2026
• Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026
• Venue: United Center — Chicago, Illinois
• Main Card Start: 7:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM CT / 4:00 PM PT
• US Streaming: ESPN (ESPN App / ESPN Unlimited)
• International Streaming: Netflix
• Road to: WrestleMania 42 — April 18–19, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

Match Card

World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Finn Balor

CM Punk enters his hometown match as the overwhelming favorite to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. Finn Balor, having distanced himself from The Judgment Day, aims to “rewrite the narrative” following a previous injury that derailed his championship aspirations in 2016. A high-quality match is anticipated, with potential fallout from the fracturing Judgment Day storyline.

Men’s Elimination Chamber: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton vs. LA Knight vs. Jey Uso vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Trick Williams

(Winner challenges Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42) Although LA Knight is seen as a strong contender, the possibility of Cody Rhodes being kept out of the WrestleMania 42 main event remains. Randy Orton also presents a viable path to victory, potentially leading to a storyline where he interferes with Rhodes’s pursuit of the championship. Je’Von Evans and Trick Williams are expected to have opportunities to showcase their talent, with Evans likely to be the first eliminated and Williams potentially lasting longer.

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

(Winner challenges Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 42) Tiffany Stratton is considered the leading candidate, with Raquel Rodriguez and Rhea Ripley close behind. Stratton’s existing storyline with Jade Cargill provides a natural continuation, though a Ripley vs. Cargill match-up would be a significant attraction based on name recognition alone.

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

AJ Lee is the favorite in this match, which would mark her first title win in over a decade and the first time a Latina woman holds the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. The match carries significant emotional weight, particularly for the Chicago crowd, given Lee’s history with Punk and her role in Lynch’s previous title loss and subsequent regain.

Beyond the Matches

Raw and SmackDown General Managers Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis are scheduled to reveal the contents of a mystery crate during the event. Reports suggest the possibility of former AEW personality Danhausen, whose contract expired in February 2026, and speculation surrounding Chris Jericho.

WrestleMania 42 Outlook

WrestleMania 42 is scheduled for April 18–19, 2026, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Roman Reigns won the Men’s Royal Rumble and has already announced his intention to challenge CM Punk.