By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Elimination Chamber
February 28, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois, at United Center
Streamed live on ESPN Unlimited (and Netflix internationally)
Hannah Heavin stood in the ring and performed the national anthem… Michael Cole opened the show while various shots aired of the host city. Cole said the United Center was hosting a WWE TV event for the first time in 32 years. Cole welcomed viewers to Chicago, home of World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk… The show’s opening video featuring Punk aired…
Michael Cole, who was joined on commentary by Wade Barrett, listed the attendance as a 19,346 sellout. Cole narrated shots of Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, Finn Balor, Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch, and World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk walking hand-in-hand with his wife, AJ Lee…
Powell’s POV: Heavin did a nice job with the anthem, and the Punk video was cool. Cole’s attendance figure is in the ballpark of what was reported a short time ago by WrestleTix, which listed the venue as being set up for 18,295 with 18,208 tickets distributed. The listed capacity for hockey is 19,717.
Ring announcer Mark Nash delivered the introductions for the women’s Elimination Chamber match. Alexa Bliss was out first. Cole and Barrett checked in from their desk at ringside. WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill was shown watching from a luxury box. The entrances of Asuka, Raquel Rodriguez, Rhea Ripley, Kiana James, and Tiffany Stratton.
1. Tiffany Stratton vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka vs. Kiana James vs. Raquel Rodriguez in an Elimination Chamber match for a shot at the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 42. Dan Engler was the in-ring referee. Stratton and James started the match while Ripley, Bliss, Asuka, and Rodriguez were in pods.
James performed an early standing moonsault on Stratton and got a two count. Both wrestlers went to the area outside the ring, where Stratton performed a suplex. Stratton followed up with a handspring elbow attempt, but she crashed into Rodriguez’s pod glass when James moved.
Asuka was the third entrant around 4:35. James went right after her, but Asuka slammed her head on the pod glass repeatedly and then did the same to Stratton.
Alexa Bliss was the fourth entrant. Cole mentioned Bliss’s friendship with Charlotte Flair. Barrett recalled Charlotte saying that she was fine. He said not to fall for that crap because when a woman says she’s fine, she’s never actually fine. Kit Wilson did not come out to scold him. Anyway, James catapulted Stratton into the side of a pod.
Rhea Ripley was the fifth entrant at 10:10. Ripley went on an offensive tear and tossed Stratton at Asuka to put them both down. Bliss went for a tornado DDT, but Ripley stuffed it. Bliss went for Sister Abigail, but Ripley countered with a Riptide attempt that Bliss avoided.
Ripley, James, Stratton, and Asuka fought outside the ring. Bliss jumped off the top of a pod onto her four opponents, which drew a brief “this is awesome” chant. Back in the ring, Bliss set up for Sister Abigail on James, but Asuka sprayed mist in her face, and then James rolled up Bliss and pinned her.
Alexa Bliss was eliminated by Kiana James in 13:10.
The sixth and final entrant was Rodriguez. She smiled and then got the better of multiple opponents. Rodriguez scooped up James and ran into a pod, and they crashed through the glass on the other side. Rodriguez had James down inside the ring when she Tejana Bombed Asuka on top of James, and then pinned both wrestlers.
Asuka and Kiana James were eliminated by Raquel Rodriguez in 16:15.
Stratton avoided a Tejana Bomb, but Rodriguez hit her with a clunky splash in the corner. Rodriguez sat Stratton on the top turnbuckle and then climbed to the middle rope. Ripley performed a cannonball dive from the top of a pod onto Rodriguez. Stratton hit Rodriguez with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever and then pinned her.
Raquel Rodriguez was eliminated by Tiffany Stratton in 20:30.
The final two were Ripley and Stratton. Jade Cargill was shown getting fired up in her luxury box. Stratton executed an Alabama Slam on Ripley for a near fall. Stratton avoided a charging Ripley, who crashed through the ropes and into the post. Stratton, who had a bloody nose, performed a Swanton on Ripley for a two count. Stratton went for the PME, but Ripley stood up and shoved Stratton into the side of a pod. Ripley got Stratton back inside the ring, hit the Riptide, and then pinned her.
Rhea Ripley eliminated Tiffany Stratton to win the Elimination Chamber match in 24:00 to earn a shot at the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 42.
Ripley clutched her lower back afterward. Highlights were shown from the match, including Jade applauding after Ripley won. Pyro shot off on the stage as Ripley stood on the middle rope and looked at the WrestleMania sign while Jade motioned for her to bring it. Ripley pointed and waved…
Powell’s POV: A fun Chamber match. Everyone worked hard, and they nailed some innovative spots. Kiana going 16 minutes shows how high management is on her. This wasn’t a case of a newcomer getting limited minutes to hide any weaknesses. She was one of the first two entrants and was given plenty of offense. As much as I was open to the idea of Rodriguez winning and then finding her way into the Women’s World Championship match, Jade vs. Ripley screams WrestleMania showdown match. I believe Stratton’s nosebleed occurred because her face appeared to hit the pod when Ripley shoved her off the ropes.
A family had their tickets upgraded to ringside as part of a sponsorship gimmick…
Backstage shots aired of Trick Williams, LA Knight, and Je’Von Evans warming up individually…
Cole said the Women’s Intercontinental Championship match was up next… [C] After commercials aired, a video package recapped the issues between Becky Lynch and AJ Lee…
Women’s Intercontinental Champion made her entrance and held up her title belt while she walked to the ring. She stopped next to a fan sign that included a line about Michael Jordan saying she’s great. AJ Lee skipped to the ring while Cole noted that Chicago is her adopted hometown. He added that it was her first singles match in over a decade and her first title match in over eleven years. Barrett said to show just how long it’s been, he had a more recent singles match than Lee…
2. Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. The referee was Jessika Carr. Mark Nash delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Cole noted before the match that Lynch and Carr have had recent issues. Cole said Lynch claimed that the Mayor of Chicago named it Becky Lynch Day. The fans were behind Lee.
There was a clunky clothesline spot, but Lee came back with a nice tornado DDT from the middle rope. Lee followed up with a shining wizard for a near fall. Moments later, Lee went for the Black Widow, but Lynch stuffed it and slammed her to the mat before getting a two count. Lynch got upset and slammed Lee’s head on the mat a few times.
Lynch removed a turnbuckle pad while the referee was checking on Lee. Lynch cut off Lee on the turnbuckle with the missing pad. Lee superplexed Lee and put her in an armbar that Lee escaped. The referee spotted the turnbuckle pad and retrieved it from ringside. As she was trying to reattach it, Lynch shoved Lee into the referee, who collided with the exposed turnbuckle. Lynch threw a kick that Lee avoided, but it took out the referee. REF BUMP!!!
Lee applied the Black Widow. Lynch tapped out, but the referee was still down. Lynch took Lee to the floor. Lynch pulled a chair out from underneath the ring. Lee regrouped and ran Lynch’s head into the barricade before getting her back inside the ring. Lynch performed a DDT on the chair and then cleared it from the ring before reviving the referee. Lynch hit her Manhandle Slam finisher and covered Lee, who kicked out at the last moment. Lynch was stunned. Fans chanted for Lee.
Lynch, who wrestled the match wearing a jacket, tried to run Lee into the exposed turnbuckle, but the referee blocked her path. Lee rolled up Lynch for a two count. Lynched charged Lee, who moved, and Lynch ran into the exposed turnbuckle. Lee applied the Black Widow, and then Lynch tapped out…
AJ Lee defeated Becky Lynch in 15:40 to win the Women’s Intercontinental Championship.
Powell’s POV: It wasn’t always pretty, but the match exceeded my expectations given Lee’s long layoff. Lynch’s character should be extra manic on Monday or whenever she makes her next appearance on Raw, and I’m sure she will blame the referee. I suspect they will run it back at WrestleMania in some type of gimmick match.
Backstage, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce and Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis shook hands in front of the mystery crate. R-Truth showed up and indicated that he knew what was inside. Truth showed them a pizza box. Yes, it was an ad. Cole said he wants to know what’s in the crate… [C]
After some ads, members of the U.S. Air Force were shown in the crowd as part of an Air Force sponsorship…
Finn Balor made his entrance. The fans chanted CM Punk’s name once Balor’s music stopped playing. The lights went out. “Sirius” by The Alan Parsons Project played. Nice. The Chicago Bulls play the song during player introductions. Public address announcer Ray Clay, who delivered the introductions for the Bulls during the Michael Jordan era, delivered an introduction for Punk, who was shown backstage. “Cult of Personality” played and then Punk made his entrance…
3. CM Punk vs. Finn Balor for the World Heavyweight Championship. Mark Nash delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Balor was booed during the introductions, while the fans cheered loudly for Punk, who wore Chicago Blackhawks trucks along with matching kick pads. Punk kissed the title belt before handing it to the referee.
Balor targeted Punk’s abdomen at various points during the first nine minutes of the match. Punk hit a suicide dive on Balor. Punk tossed Balor back inside the ring and then went up top. Balor got to his feet, and Punk put him down with a flying clothesline and covered him for a two count. The broadcast team played up Roman Reigns challenging the winner of the match at WrestleMania 42.
Balor stuffed or avoided a couple of Punk’s GTS attempts. Both men fought on the ropes. Balor got the better of it by punching Punk, who fell to the mat. Balor went for a Coup de Grace, but Punk avoided it. Punk, who had a bloody mouth, came back and hit a top rope elbow drop. Moments later, Punk applied the Anaconda Vice. Balor escaped the hold and rolled Punk into a pin for a near fall. Balor threw elbows at the head of a seated Punk while the fans booed.
Balor went up top and hit the Coup de Grace and covered Punk for a near fall. Balor showed frustration over not getting the pin as he looked toward the entrance set. Cole wondered if Balor was thinking twice about telling Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh that he wanted to go it alone. Punk hit Balor with a GTS, but Balor tumbled through the ropes to the floor. Punk followed and was put down by a slingblade clothesline. Balor followed up with a shotgun dropkick that sent Punk through the barricade and into the timekeeper’s area.
Balor rolled Punk back inside the ring and followed. Punk hoisted up Balor for his finisher, but Balor slipped away and hit another slingblade clothesline. Balor put Punk down with a shotgun dropkick and went for another Coup de Grace, but Punk was ready and put him in a Sharpshooter. Balor reached the ropes to break the hold.
Early candidate for sign of the night;
“I got stuck in traffic. When’s Luger and Tatanka?”
LMAO!
That’s great.
Rhea winning is the right move.
Kiana James is going to be a star. It’s time to move on from Bliss being in main event contention.
Well after Lee winning belt. Lets call Finn winning by count out.
The Bulls intro for Punk was a great touch.
Dumb prediction:
Becky is going to blame Jessica Carr — who not only can bump, but wrestles under a mask in Evolve.
I see some physicality in that future, and unhinged Lynch going after Carr.
That could do a nice job of eating up a couple of weeks before getting into the build for the AJ Lee rematch.
According to a YouTube simulation it’s not a human or animal being deprived of oxygen in this crate.It’s a stand with a jacket of Jericho.
Welllll so much for that!
What an EPIC FAIL!
I am of the opinion that they should stop having ALL title matches after the Rumble. The outcome is never in doubt and if the title ever did change hands for whatever reason, the match you are REALLY looking forward to will change. It’s not that long a wait. Finn vs Punk/Reigns could have easily happened after WM or better yet at the Rumble and the outcome would have not seemed like a foregone conclusion.
Danhausen is worse than watching someone drown kittens.