WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 Predictions

This Saturday in Chicago, World Wrestling Entertainment will put on its final Premium Live Event (PLE) before WrestleMania 42 in Elimination Chamber. It’s a four-match card highlighted by the men’s and women’s Elimination Chamber matches to determine challengers for Drew McIntyre and Jade Cargill, respectively. We’re also getting a CM Punk title defense, the first singles match for AJ Lee in more than a decade, and the unveiling of the mystery box.

With the particulars out of the way, let’s get straight into my predictions:

Kiana James vs. Asuka vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Alexa Bliss: Elimination Chamber Match

Unless we get an injury-replacement angle where Bianca Belair returns and wins, I think there are two legitimate outcomes. First, let’s eliminate James and Asuka. If they really wanted to mix things up (and buy time for Belair), Rodriguez winning and choosing instead to join the match with Liv Morgan and Stephanie Vaquer is a creative twist. That feels unlikely. Bliss has the star power, and a win could drive a wedge between her and Charlotte Flair, setting up a potential Triple Threat Match for Mania. Again, this also feels unlikely. That leaves Ripley, the top star in the division, and Stratton. If they think Ripley winning will boost ticket sales, I can see it, but as strange as it is to say, her pairing with Iyo Sky and a tag title defense feels like a bigger spot. I think WWE plays it safe and goes with Stratton, even though previous matches between her and Cargill have been underwhelming. Winner: Tiffany Stratton

CM Punk (C) vs. Finn Balor: WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match

Building on their excellent match in Ireland, Punk and Balor will square off again for the title, this time in Punk’s hometown. There’s no intrigue as to the result—Punk is retaining—but how they involve the Judgment Day could be interesting. I expect Dominik Mysterio to do a run-in and cost Balor the match, though I remain unconvinced they’ll pull the trigger on Balor vs. Mysterio for the IC belt in Las Vegas. Instead, I think we get Balor and Rodriguez breaking away on the Raw after WrestleMania to be the challengers for Mysterio and newly crowned Morgan. Meanwhile, Punk goes on to face Roman Reigns. Winner: CM Punk

Becky Lynch (C) vs. AJ Lee: Women’s Intercontinental Championship Match

It feels like the question here is not whether Lee wins, but whether she wins the belt. To me, it makes more sense for Lynch to retain via count-out or disqualification, and then we get a stipulation match at WrestleMania. It’s in Chicago, though, and the possible visual of having Lee and her real-life husband CM Punk both holding their titles in front of the hometown crowd is the kind of “moment” WWE lives for. I’ll say Lee wins the gold and I’m sticking with the idea of a rematch at Mania. Winner: AJ Lee

What’s in the Box?

This has disappointment written all over it. Fans will work themselves into a lather by fantasy booking the return of Chris Jericho or some major addition. I don’t see it. I think we’re either getting something promotional related to WWE 2K26, which comes out in March, or the possible debut of Danhausen. My problem with the latter is what percentage of the WWE crowd knows who he is, even in Chicago? So, I’ll say it has to do with the video game.

Cody Rhodes vs. Trick Williams vs. LA Knight vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Jey Uso vs. Randy Orton: Elimination Chamber Match

Williams and Evans are there to do cool stuff. Uso is only there because Bronson Reed was injured in the qualifying match, forcing WWE to call an audible. They’ve resisted going with Knight for years, so why stop now? That leaves Rhodes and Orton. The case for Orton is it’d be a surprise; it also gives him something meaningful to do at WrestleMania and sets up a multi-man match with Rhodes and Jacob Fatu (and maybe even someone like Sami Zayn). Bottom line: they could find another way to involve Rhodes. Again, though, that feels convoluted. Rhodes is the guy and the obvious choice. Maybe they do something to set up Orton as the first big feud post-Mania. Then again, they’ve already been planting those seeds for a long time. Winner: Cody Rhodes