WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 Results & Winners: Randy Orton nails Cody Rhodes with RKO to win; Seth Rollins returns to take out Logan Paul: Becky Lynch taps out again & more
(Courtesy : WWE)
CM Punk retains against Finn Balor; Danhausen debuts & more!
The 16th edition of the Elimination Chamber event aired live from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The second and final PLE on the Road to WrestleMania 42 decided the contenders for the Undisputed and WWE Women’s Championship.
The 2026 edition of Elimination Chamber marked a major return to the U.S., becoming the first edition held stateside since 2021 and the first with a live crowd in the country since 2020. It also ended a long hiatus for WWE at the United Center, which hadn’t hosted a PLE in more than three decades.
The PLE featured the two Chamber matches, along with two title clashes featuring Chicago’s own CM Punk and AJ Lee. Get to know what happened this Saturday, as we have the complete summary, highlights, results, and winners’ list for the 2026 edition of WWE Elimination Chamber.
WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 Summary and Highlights
Women’s Elimination Chamber match
The 2026 Women’s Elimination Chamber match opened the PLE, with Kiana James and Tiffany Stratton starting the action. Asuka, Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley, and Raquel Rodriguez then entered the match in that order.
James eliminated Bliss first, after Asuka misted Alexa, while Rodriguez delivered a Tahana Bomb, slamming Asuka onto James to eliminate both. Stratton eliminated Rodriguez after a moonsault, and Ripley eliminated Stratton, following a Riptide to secure the win and punch her ticket to WrestleMania.
Winner: Rhea Ripley
Grade: B+
Match Insights & Backstage Moments:
- Alexa Bliss entered her career 4th Chamber match, second all-time, only to Liv Morgan
- WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill was watching the action from a suite in the arena.
- The reports turned out to be true as WWE is going with the backup plans after Bianca Belair was unable to make her return in time for Mania.
- This was Ripley’s first Chamber win as she looks to get back into the World title picture after losing the Tag Team titles.
Becky Lynch (c) vs AJ Lee – Women’s Intercontinental title match
For the first time in over a decade, AJ Lee stepped into the ring for singles action against Becky Lynch with Becky’s Women’s Intercontinental title on the line. AJ almost got Lynch to tap out after locking in the Black Widow submission, but moments before, the referee, Jessika Carr, was wiped out during a sequence.
Lynch took advantage of the referee being down, spiking AJ with a DDT onto a steel chair before bringing the official back into the ring and hitting the Manhandle Slam. However, Lee kicked out. Moments later, Becky crashed into the exposed turnbuckle, allowing Lee to capitalize by locking in the Black Widow submission once again. Lynch was forced to tap out, and Lee captured the Intercontinental Championship.
Winner & New: AJ Lee
Grade: B
Match Insights & Backstage Moments:
- It was AJ’s first singles match since March 2015 and her first title match
- Lee’s first WWE title since November 2014 and her first in the modern TKO era.
- Jessika Carr was the official for the match, and Becky has launched another attack on Carr via her social media.
CM Punk (c) vs Finn Balor – World Heavyweight title match
Ahead of his scheduled WrestleMania title defense against Roman Reigns, CM Punk stepped into the ring against Finn Balor in a rematch with the title on the line.
A loss would’ve meant the dream of headlining his second consecutive WrestleMania coming to an abrupt end. Despite Balor controlling a major chunk of the match and targeting Punk’s midsection, Punk managed to stay in the match and deliver the GTS to pin Balor and retain the title once again.
Winner & Still: CM Punk
Grade: B
Match Insights & Backstage Moments:
- The title defense marked Punk’s first match in Chicago since 2013, and he entered the arena to the iconic Chicago Bulls’ “Sirius” by The Allen Parsons Project.
- With the win, CM Punk secured his WrestleMania main spot against Roman Reigns, where the title will be on the line.
- The finish felt underwhelming just as the action was beginning to gain momentum, and the crowd’s reaction reflected that disappointment.
- WWE announced that the event drew a record-breaking attendance of 19,346 fans.
- General Managers Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis pried open the mystery crate with a crowbar, only to discover a coffin inside. The two officials stepped back as the lid slowly creaked open. Eerie laughter echoed throughout the arena, followed by a chilling voice declaring that everyone was cursed. Moments later, several women emerged, followed by the reveal of Danhausen, the former AEW star.
Men’s Elimination Chamber match
The men’s Chamber match closed out the show, crowning the number one contenders for the Undisputed WWE title. Cody Rhodes and Je’Von Evans started the match, followed by the entries of Trick Williams, Logan Paul, LA Knight, and Randy Orton.
Logan Paul was the MVP of the match, eliminating Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams, and LA Knight. However, he later fell victim to an attack from the Masked Man, who delivered a stomp before unmasking himself as Seth Rollins. Cody Rhodes then capitalized on the chaos, pinning Logan to eliminate him.
Drew McIntyre then attacked Rhodes, looking to nail him with the Claymore, but Cody fought back, and Orton took out the Undisputed Champion with an RKO, and Cody followed it up with a Cross Rhodes. However, Orton struck Rhodes with an RKO out of nowhere to win the match and punch his ticket to WrestleMania.
Winner: Randy Orton
Grade: B-
Match Insights & Backstage Moments:
- Je’Von Evans is the youngest Chamber participant in history at 21.
- Randy Orton set two new records, entering his 10th career (the highest in WWE) Chamber match and the most time spent in Elimination Chamber matches, surpassing John Cena.
- Orton hitting an RKO on Cody makes sense in their storyline, but McIntyre’s involvement doesn’t make sense, unless a multi-man match is planned for Mania with the title, but then again, what’s the point of Elimination Chamber?
- WWE likely pivoted towards Randy Orton winning the match, as another win for Cody meant the predicted Mania matchup that fans are very much against.
- Seth Rollins’ reveal was executed well, and Heyman’s reaction was on point as always.
WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 Results
- Rhea Ripley defeated Tiffany Stratton, Raquel Rodriguez, Asuka, Kiana James & Alexa Bliss – Women’s Elimination Chamber match
- AJ Lee defeated Becky Lynch (c) – Women’s Intercontinental title match
- CM Punk (c) pinned Finn Balor – World Heavyweight title match
- Danhausen’s debut
- Seth Rollins returned
- Randy Orton defeated Cody Rhodes, Logan Paul, Trick Williams, LA Knight & Je’Von Evans– Men’s Elimination Chamber match
Who won in the main event of WWE Elimination Chamber 2026?
Randy Orton defeated Cody Rhodes, Logan Paul, Trick Williams, LA Knight & Je’Von Evans to win in the main event of the Chamber PLE.
Who won the men’s and women’s Elimination Chamber matches in 2026?
Randy Orton & Rhea Ripley won the 2026 men’s & women’s Elimination Chamber match in Chicago.
When and where will WrestleMania 42 take place?
The 42nd edition will take place as a two-night event on April 18 and 19, 2026, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.