What a difference a year makes.
Last year, WWE’s Elimination Chamber featured John Cena chasing one last WrestleMania main event, while a meeting between The Rock and Cody Rhodes had fans buzzing.
This year, the intrigue is thinner.
As Rhodes’s rivalry with Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre intensifies, “The American Nightmare” looks like the clear favorite to win the men’s Chamber and face McIntyre for the title at WrestleMania.
Meanwhile, Finn Bálor — who has just two televised singles wins in two years
— feels more like a tune-up for World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk on his road to WrestleMania.
With two shows left before Saturday’s show, WWE may need a surprise to spark interest.
Enter: Brock Lesnar.
Less than two weeks ago, WWE announced that Lesnar would be at Raw this Monday in Atlanta, prompting an obvious question: Why?
Notably, the final men’s qualifying match also takes place Monday, as Paul Heyman’s last hope of getting The Vision into the Chamber hinges on Bronson Reed beating Jey Uso and El Grande Americano.
If Reed fails, Heyman could cite Raw GM Adam Pearce’s alleged role in Bron Breakker’s injury to slip Lesnar into a lineup that includes Rhodes, Randy Orton, Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams, and LA Knight.
If so, it would mark just the second seven-man Chamber in history. The first came in 2018, when Roman Reigns prevailed after defeating Braun Strowman, who eliminated a record five superstars.
In need of a major hook before the final premium live event ahead of WrestleMania, WWE may have to turn to “The Beast” to shake things up.
A “Jaded” Women’s Chamber?
Jade Cargill made her presence felt in the 2025 women’s Elimination Chamber, storming the cage and taking out Naomi. This year, she may be the prize everyone is fighting for.
Last Monday on Raw, Women’s World Heavyweight Champion Stephanie Vaquer left Liv Morgan in tears. This week, the 2026 Women’s Royal Rumble winner will choose her WrestleMania opponent — with Vaquer being her likely target.
If that holds, the winner of Saturday’s Chamber earns a shot at Cargill and the WWE Women’s Championship.
Rhea Ripley, Tiffany Stratton, Asuka, Alexa Bliss, and Kiana James have qualified. On Monday, Iyo Sky, Kairi Sane, and Raquel Rodriguez will compete for the final spot in the Chamber.
If Sky qualifies, she could come to blows with her tag partner Ripley, potentially setting up a WrestleMania showdown. Otherwise, Ripley — WWE’s most popular star — looks like the favorite to win in Chicago.
Two Title Matches
Finn Bálor’s story at Elimination Chamber continues to center on him standing on his own rather than winning the World Heavyweight Championship.
On Raw, Bálor, Dominik Mysterio, and a returning JD McDonagh confronted champion CM Punk. Despite being outnumbered, Punk turned his back on all three men and insisted he didn’t need anyone’s help to prove he’s the best, unlike Bálor.
In response, Bálor told his Judgment Day crew to stand down — angering McDonagh and deepening the growing rift between Finn and the faction.
While Punk is the favorite over Bálor, the same isn’t true for his wife, AJ Lee, in her match with Becky Lynch.
Lee continued to get under the skin of the Women’s Intercontinental Champion on Raw. As tension between the two women mounted, “The Man” seemed more focused on hurting Lee, suggesting that Mrs. Punk would be in a full body cast after Elimination Chamber.
If that’s Lynch’s intent, Saturday’s showdown may be a prelude to a bigger confrontation at WrestleMania.
Performing at home in Chicago, Punk and Lee are set to be the crowd favorites, creating an electric atmosphere for viewers worldwide.
How to Watch
Elimination Chamber takes place this Saturday at the United Center in Chicago. Tickets are still available, according to ticket tracker WrestleTix. The event streams on the ESPN app on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, with select showings in theaters nationwide via Fandango. International fans can watch live on Netflix.
