WWE Elimination Chamber 2026: Orton and Ripley Secure WrestleMania 42 Spots
Chicago, IL – WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 took place on Saturday, February 28th, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, setting the stage for WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas this April. The event saw Randy Orton and Rhea Ripley earn championship matches at the “Showcase of the Immortals” by winning their respective Elimination Chamber matches.
Championship Showdowns Confirmed for WrestleMania 42
The night’s main events determined who will challenge for world titles at WrestleMania 42. Randy Orton will face Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, while Rhea Ripley will compete against WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill.
Women’s Elimination Chamber: Ripley Dominates
Rhea Ripley secured her WrestleMania opportunity by winning the Women’s Elimination Chamber match. The match featured strong performances from all participants, with Raquel Rodriguez and Tiffany Stratton also standing out, potentially setting the stage for a future tag team feud involving Alexa Bliss and Asuka. Yahoo Sports reported on the solid action and significant moments within the Chamber.
Men’s Elimination Chamber: Orton Prevails in Chaotic Match
Randy Orton won a contested main event to earn his match against Drew McIntyre. The match was described as messy, with interference from McIntyre impacting the closing moments. Yahoo Sports noted that the anticipated showdown between Cody Rhodes and Orton didn’t fully materialize due to McIntyre’s interference.
Shocking Return: Seth Rollins Revealed as Attacker
A major surprise of the evening was the revelation of Seth Rollins as the masked attacker who has been targeting The Vision. Rollins unmasked himself after taking out Logan Paul, receiving a positive reaction from the Chicago crowd. Yahoo Sports highlighted this as a key takeaway from the event.
Title Defenses and Hometown Victory
World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk successfully defended his title against Finn Balor in front of his hometown fans. CBS Sports and Sports Illustrated both reported on Punk’s victory. AJ Lee also challenged Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship in her first singles match in over a decade.
Looking Ahead to WrestleMania 42
WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 successfully built anticipation for WrestleMania 42. With championship matches now set and a shocking reveal involving Seth Rollins, the road to Las Vegas promises to be filled with further drama and excitement. The event streamed live on ESPN Unlimited, with the main card beginning at 7 p.m. ET. CBS Sports provided details on the broadcast information.