WWE Elimination Chamber 2026: Chicago Delivered
March 25, 2026Elimination Chamber didn’t reinvent anything, but it didn’t need to. What it did was remind everyone what WWE looks like when the moments hit, the crowd is engaged, and the stakes actually feel real heading into WrestleMania.
And for the most part, Chicago got exactly what it wanted.
Women’s Elimination Chamber Match
The match kicked off with a high-octane exchange between Tiffany Stratton and Kiana James (LOVE HER!), highlighted by James sending Stratton flying into a pod with a brutal slingshot.
The Chicago crowd was electric for the return of Alexa Bliss, who delivered a signature high-risk moment by hitting Twisted Bliss off the top of a pod onto the pile of competitors below.
However, the night’s breakout was undoubtedly Raquel Rodriguez. She was an absolute wrecking ball upon entry, power bombing Rhea Ripley from the outside floor back into the ring and driving Kiana James through the plexiglass of a pod. Raquel even managed a rare feat: a double-pin elimination on both James and Asuka after a crushing powerbomb.
The final showdown came down to the heavy hitters, Ripley and Stratton. In the closing moments, “Mami” overpowered Stratton, shoving her from the top rope into a pod before sealing the deal with a Riptide. Rhea Ripley officially punches her ticket to WrestleMania to face Jade Cargill in what promises to be a collision of two of the most physically imposing women in WWE history.
RHR Rating: B
Women’s Intercontinental Championship
Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee
This was a masterclass in physical storytelling. Becky Lynch leaned into her power advantage, while AJ Lee relied on her speed and technical prowess, hunting for quick submissions and roll-ups at every turn.
The match took a chaotic turn when referee Jessika Carr was accidentally leveled by a stray kick from Lynch. With the official down, AJ locked in the Black Widow, forcing a visible tap-out from Becky that went uncounted. Frustrated, Lynch attempted to bridge the gap with underhanded tactics, bringing in a steel chair and exposing a turnbuckle.
The referee recovered just in time to stop Becky from using the chair, but the distraction backfired. AJ Lee capitalized on the chaos, dodging a charge that sent Becky face-first into her own exposed turnbuckle. AJ immediately locked the Black Widow back in, forcing the submission to become the new Women’s Intercontinental Champion in her hometown. Chicago gave her everything she deserved.
RHR Rating: C+
World Heavyweight Championship
CM Punk vs. Finn Bálor
WWE gave the Chicago crowd exactly what they wanted: a chef’s kiss entrance for CM Punk, utilizing the Chicago Bulls’ iconic Sirius intro with legendary announcer Ray Clay handling the introduction. If you don’t understand why that moment hit differently, you haven’t been paying attention long enough or are not old enough to understand cross references between Pro Wrestling and Basketball pre 2008 which is a bit sad (laughs).
The match was an excellent, methodical war. Bálor targeted Punk’s ribs with surgical precision, a double stomp on the apron and a shotgun dropkick that sent the champion crashing through the ringside barricade.
The United Center nearly unglued when Punk kicked out of a Coup de Grâce at the 2.9 mark. Sensing the end, Bálor went for a second double stomp, but Punk evaded, catching him mid-air and transitioning into a high-angle GTS to retain the gold in an instant classic.
RHR Rating: A-
What Was in the Crate?
The mystery of the traveling crate was finally solved, and to the surprise of some and the vocal chagrin of the Chicago crowd it was Danhausen. While the knowledgeable Chicago fans rained down boos, likely due to the campy nature of the debut or the fact that it wasn’t a returning Chris Jericho, it was a polarizing moment that exposed a real problem.
Jim Cornette once famously said “anything that comes out of a box is instantly over,” but that night may have dispelled that myth. Signing trendy indie and AEW adjacent assets need to be reserved for names that move the needle on a national scale! Danhausen has a passionate niche following, but WrestleMania season in Chicago isn’t the place to test that ceiling.
Men’s Elimination Chamber Match
Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Trick Williams, Logan Paul, Je’Von Evans, and LA Knight
The main event proved definitively that Trick Williams is a bonafide superstar. His presentation, his crowd connection, his moment all of it is real. WWE needs to stop treating him like a prospect and start treating him like a main event player because Chicago already made that decision for them.
The fact that Je’Von Evans wasn’t even born when the first Chamber match happened is a depressing reminder of how fast time flies, but his presence here wasn’t a gimmick. WWE clearly views him as the future and after tonight that’s hard to argue.
Logan Paul played the spoiler, eliminating both Evans and Knight before chaos erupted. A masked individual was intercepted by security a deliberate decoy as another hooded figure slipped into the cage and leveled Paul with a Curb Stomp. Seth “Freakin” Rollins is back and he made sure everyone knew it.
The carnage didn’t stop there. Drew McIntyre breached the Chamber to assault Cody Rhodes, only for Randy Orton to catch him with an RKO while Cody followed with a Cross Rhodes to neutralize the threat. Then in true Apex Predator fashion, Orton immediately turned around and hit Cody with an RKO to steal the entire match. Cold. Calculated. Perfect. Randy Orton heads to WrestleMania chasing his 15th World Championship and he just reminded everyone exactly why he’s one of the greatest to ever do it.
RHR Rating: B
Final Thoughts
Chicago delivered and WWE met that moment. The women’s Chamber gave us Kiana James and Raquel Rodriguez’s coming out party. The world title match gave us a legitimate instant classic. And the men’s Chamber gave us Seth Rollins’ return, Drew McIntyre’s chaos, and Randy Orton doing what Randy Orton does waiting for the perfect moment to remind you he’s the most dangerous man in any match he’s in.
The Danhausen debut was a speed bump on an otherwise strong night. With Ripley vs. Cargill and Orton’s quest for number 15 now set, the road to WrestleMania is officially heating up and for the first time in a while the card feels like it has real stakes attached to it.
Overall RHR Rating: B+
