Elimination Chamber gave Chicago exactly what it wanted, even if the event didn’t live up to expectations. From title changes to debuts to interference, WWE has kept audiences on the edge of their seats. WrestleMania season has officially begun. Let’s see what the scenery is like ahead of the biggest show of the year.
Before we get into the game, let’s get one thing out of the way. The box has been appearing on both Raw and SmackDown for several weeks, giving Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis a headache.
It said, “Do not open until February 28, 2026,” which is the date the removal room opens. Fans and critics guessed who could fit into the box, and some were right on the money. When Aldis and Pearce opened the box, there was a coffin inside. Then a group of dancers came out and Danhausen appeared. He came down to the ring, handed Michael Cole a toothbrush, and then entered the ring without saying a word. When the lights went out, fans could be heard booing, expecting The Rock or Chris Jericho. Instead, we have someone who hasn’t appeared on a professional wrestling broadcast in over two years. The verdict is still out on this debut, but debuting on a box is a strange way to be introduced to the WWE Universe.
Elimination Chamber was hosted by Chicago and serenaded by hometown heroes AJ Lee and CM Punk. Lee faced Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship and did not perform well. Before his arms were interlocked, Mr. Lee looked very nervous. The match included exposed turnbuckles and referee bumps. With the referee out of the way, Lynch tapped out Black Widow. Eventually, the referee had enough of Becky’s antics, which resulted in the death of the IC Champion. AJ Lee moved out of the way and Ireland’s Lass Kicker hit the exposed turnbuckle, giving Lee the submission win. This was her first win in 11 years and the crowd loved it.
Her husband, CM Punk, was next. Punk walked backstage at the Chicago Bulls’ stadium playing “Sirius” by the Allen Parsons Project. He then took the stage to his iconic “Cult of Personality” theme and fans went wild. But the excitement stopped there. This match was neither man’s greatest nor the most memorable. Finn Balor attempted to accomplish the feat by taking out the champion on the barricade and then starting with the belt nearby. It didn’t work in his favor as CM Punk hit him with the GTS for the win. Balor shook Punk’s hand and then signaled him to turn into babyface. AJ Lee then entered the ring to celebrate with her husband in front of the Chicago crowd. WWE may have a new power couple.
Elimination Chamber Match
There are now two Elimination Chamber matches left, starting with the women’s division.
Before the match began, Leah Ripley entered her pod and began doing pull-ups in a hilarious moment. The bout began with Kiana James and Tiffany Stratton. Asuka was first out of the pod and participated in the first elimination. She fogged Alexa Bliss before Kiana James took advantage with a roll-up pin. Raquel Rodriguez then put James in the pod with a running powerslam. Rodriguez defeated Asuka and Kiana James to achieve a double elimination. She had a very strong performance within the structure. However, she was eliminated by Rhea Ripley on top of the pod before Stratton hit her with the Prettiest Moon Sault.
Either Ripley or Stratton headed to WM to face Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship. Tiffany’s aerial abilities proved costly as Rhea caught her on the top rope and pushed her into the pod. She then dragged Stratton to the ring and scored the win with the Eradicator. Leia is the biggest female superstar in WWE, so her win would be meaningful enough.
Now on to the main event. Six people entered the room, and two more sneaked in and sacrificed their rivals. Logan Paul was the only real heel in this match and it showed. As soon as he entered, he jumped up next to Rose, Williams, and Evans. However, Paul received three eliminations from Evans, Trick, and LA Knight. What happened next was where things got intense. With three men remaining, a masked man climbed the cage from the outside before being ushered out by the referee. He took off his mask and looked like a decoy. Another masked man then sneaks into the building, rolls on the curb and hits Paul.
This led to Logan being eliminated by Rhodes and a reward being given to this mysterious man. Seth Rollins was revealed to be behind the Vision attack. Paul Heyman was surprised. So did Cody Rhodes. Meanwhile, when Seth Rollins returned for the WM season, the crowd was eating it up. Just when you thought that was it, WWE Champion Drew McIntyre hit Rose with the belt and proceeded to knock him down. This led to Orton and Rhodes scoring finishers on the champions. The Viper then didn’t hesitate and gave American Nightmare an RKO and picked up the win.
In the post-show, Nick Aldis announced that Drew McIntyre would defend his title against Cody Rhodes on Friday Night Smackdown. Expect plenty of shenanigans in the main event, as WWE is rumored to have a multi-man match for the WWE Undisputed Championship. Triple H then interviewed Jackie Redmond backstage, and fans booed him. What I mean is, when there’s this much uncertainty ahead of the biggest event of the year, fans get restless and want clarity.
Where we go from here is a good question. Expect Rollins to appear on Raw and address his return. Also, at WM, Brock Lesnar does not have an opponent yet, and the open challenge is expected to be answered by either Oba Femina or LA Knight. Stay tuned for the aftermath of Elimination Chamber this week and get ready as official WrestleMania season approaches!
