The final premium live event on the road to WrestleMania 42 goes down tonight, live from “The Windy City.”
WWE Elimination Chamber emanates from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois this evening, with the ‘Countdown’ pre-show kicking things off at 5/4c.
On tap for tonight’s PLE in Chi-Town is Becky Lynch (c) vs. AJ Lee for the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship, CM Punk (c) vs. Finn Balor for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Alexa Bliss vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Asuka vs. Kiana James vs. Raquel Rodriguez in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match, as well as Cody Rhodes vs. LA Knight vs. Randy Orton vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Trick Williams vs. Logan Paul in the Men’s Elimination Chamber match.
Featured below are WWE SmackDown results for February 28, 2026. The report was written by PWMania.com reporter Matt Boone (@MattBoone0709) as the show aired live.
WWE ELIMINATION CHAMBER RESULTS – FEBRUARY 28, 2026
“WWE Then. Now. Forever. Together.” hits way earlier than how it feels it should be hitting, to get things officially off-and-running, yes, already, for the final PLE on the road to “The Grandest Stage of Them All.”
We see an aerial overhead shot of the city of Chicago, Illinois, as Joe Tessitore welcomes us to the lengthy Countdown to WWE Elimination Chamber pre-show. We shoot to a CM Punk video package talking about Chicago and the Elimination Chamber.
Once it wraps up, we see CM Punk and AJ Lee arriving to the building together, holding hands. We see Punk’s opponent for his title defense tonight, Finn Balor, sitting in the empty United Center watching the WrestleMania sign being raised.
Randy Orton, Je’Von Evans, LA Knight are then shown, in that order, walking into the building. We see a shot of fans outside in the cold city of Chicago, as the camera settles at the pre-show panel, where Joe Tessitore is joined by Big E. and Wade Barrett. They’re all wearing jackets, gloves, scarfs, etc.
They introduce themselves and banter back-and-forth, talking early on about Drew McIntyre going bonkers as of late, including last night, where his attack of Jacob Fatu led to Logan Paul getting the final spot in the Men’s Chamber match.
From there, the rest of the PLE broadcast team for tonight checks in, including Jackie Redmond, Byron Saxton, Cathy Kelley and Peter Rosenberg. After each gets a minute or two on camera, we head back to the panelists. They introduce a package looking at the first-ever Chamber match.
Once the package wraps up, we shoot backstage where we see Peter Rosenberg standing by with WWE Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. The WWE CCO reflects on being in the first-ever Chamber match and then previews tonight’s Men’s and Women’s chamber bouts.
Now we see the panelists weighing in with their thoughts on the Women’s scene heading into their Chamber match tonight. They send it to Cathy Kelley, who interviews Alexa Bliss backstage live.
Bliss is asked about the Chamber and Charlotte Flair’s thoughts about not being in the match. She insists Charlotte claims she’s okay with it. We then move to Michael Cole live backstage.
Cole stands outside the locker room of Punk and Lee. He sets up his lengthy one-on-one, sit-down interview with women’s wrestling legend AJ Lee. She talks about her WWE return and first match back at WrestlePalooza in Chicago, and possibly winning her first title back tonight in Chi-Town.
Following some more panelists banter, we see a video package looking at CM Punk, AJ Lee, Becky Lynch, LA Knight and others making the media rounds on various ESPN shows to promote tonight’s event. Rosenberg and Saxton give us a special tour inside the Chamber live.
We head to another commercial break and then return to another highlight package promoting matches scheduled for tonight. Back live at the pre-show panel, Peter Rosenberg tags in, and Wade Barrett tags out. They talk about the buzz for the show tonight.
Corey Graves’ lengthy one-on-one, sit-down interview with Finn Balor is shown. Balor talks his last title tilt with CM Punk, his subsequent attack of him and their rematch tonight. WWE EVOLVE’s Chuey Martinez gives us a tour of some of the local Chicago scene in a special video segment.
We see a video package highlighting the “Bouncy” Je’Von Evans ahead of his Chamber debut tonight, and then we return live backstage with Trick Williams. Cathy Kelley then interviews yet another first time Chamber competitor Kiana James live backstage.
We see some more packages and then the panelists wrap things up by sending it to the ring for the singing of the Star Spangled Banner by Chicago’s own Hannah Heavin. With that said, the Countdown portion of things wraps up, and the premium live event portion gets officially underway.
A live aerial shot is shown of the city, and then of the United Center. We shoot inside the building and see an aerial shot of the crowd, as Michael Cole welcomes us to the show. He introduces the cold open video package, hosted by CM Punk. Back inside the arena we return, as pyro and fireworks erupt to get things started.
Women’s Elimination Chamber
Alexa Bliss vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Asuka vs. Kiana James vs. Raquel Rodriguez
We settle back at ringside, as Michael Cole sends things over to the ring announcer, who introduces the Women’s Elimination Chamber match. The ladies are kicking things off tonight. The ring entrances for the six women involved in this high stakes opening contest begin.
WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill is shown in her luxury suite inside the United Center, as she is getting an up-close-and-personal look at who will be challenging her for her title on “The Grandest Stage of Them All” at WrestleMania 42 this coming April in Las Vegas.
Following the entrances of Asuka, Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez, out comes Kiana James and Tiffany Stratton. James and Stratton kick things off as the first two active competitors in the bout, as the bell sounds to get things officially off-and-running. Stratton gets a “Tiffy-Time” chant going early.
Stratton enjoys some early offensive success, but then James takes over. Asuka is let out when the clock expires. She is immediately attacked by James. She fights back, blasting James into the pod over-and-over again. The clock appears again and this time when it expires, Alexa Bliss emerges.
Bliss has a sadistic smile on her face, and then she lays out Asuka, James and Stratton one-by-one. The countdown clock appears again as James starts to take over on offense. This time when the buzzer hits, it is Rhea Ripley who is let out of her pod. The crowd goes wild.
We see all of the active competitors end up on the outside of the ring ropes, as Bliss climbs up to the top of a pod and leaps off with a Twisted Bliss that takes out the pile of bodies down below. Fans react with a loud “This is Awesome!” chant.
Bliss goes for Sister Abigail on James, but Asuka mists her in the eyes and James rolls her up for the pin. Bliss is now eliminated. The countdown clock appears again, with only one competitor remaining. The buzzer sounds and out comes the final participant in this year’s Women’s Chamber match, Raquel Rodriguez.
Moments later, Rodriguez scoops up James and slams her through a pod outside of the ring. She drags her into the ring, ducks a kick from Asuka, and hits her Tihana Bomb for a double-pin to eliminate both Asuka and James. We’re down to Rodriguez, Ripley and Stratton.
It isn’t long after that when we see Rodriguez get eliminated after a Prettiest Moonsault Ever from Stratton. It’s down to Stratton and Ripley as the final two. Cargill is shown in a close-up shot watching intently to see who she will be sharing the ring with at WrestleMania 42.
From there, Ripley and Stratton have a back-and-forth battle for a few minutes, culminating with Stratton going for the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, only for Ripley to send her into the pod with authority. She follows up with a Rip-Tide for the win. We see her celebrate with pyro as Cargill watches on from the rafters.
Winner of 2026 Women’s Elimination Chamber: Rhea Ripley
WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship
Becky Lynch (c) vs. AJ Lee
Michael Cole sets the stage for our second match of the evening, which is our first of two title matches here this evening. Becky Lynch defends her WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship against AJ Lee in Lee’s first singles match in WWE in over ten years.
The champion makes her ring entrance first. “The Man” makes her way to the ring for her scheduled title defense. Becky Lynch settles inside the squared circle. The theme for her opponent hits and out comes the hometown favorite AJ Lee.
The bell sounds and we’re officially off-and-running with this women’s title tilt. Lynch starts off with typical heel tactics designed to garner heat from the crowd. Lynch uses cheap shots and stalling tactics to annoy Lee. Lynch spends the opening minutes mostly utilizing this offensive style.
Lynch muscles Lee to the corner to start the match and then grabs a standing side headlock. Lee fights back with a modified sunset flip for a two count. Lee takes down Lynch and locks in a hammer lock. Lee connects with a drop kick, but Lynch fights back with vicious ground and pound offense.
Lynch slams Lee into the corner and stomps a mudhole in her. Lynch slams Lee to the mat and makes the cover for a two count. Lynch repeatedly stomps on Lee’s lower back and then hits a running forearm shot in the corner. Lynch hits the Bexploder and gets another two count.
Lee fights back with a pair of back elbow shots followed by a tornado DDT from the second rope. Lee hits a Shining Wizard but only gets a two count. Lynch goes for the Manhandle Slam, but Lee rolls her up for another two count. Lee goes for the Black Widow, but Lynch counters into a slam for a two count of her own.
Lynch exposes the top turnbuckle as the referee checks on Lee. Lee slides out of the ring and pulls Lynch’s legs out from under her along the way. Lee and Lynch head up top, and Lynch hits a super-plex directly into an arm bar. Lee fights back to her feet and hits a roundhouse kick for yet another two count.
The referee tries to reattach the turnbuckle pad, but Lynch slams Lee into the referee and the exposed turnbuckle. Lee locks in the Black Widow and Lynch taps out, but the referee is down. The action spills out of the ring, and Lynch slams Lee into the barricade.
Lynch grabs a steel chair from under the ring, but Lee fights back and whips Lynch into the barricade. Lee rolls Lynch back into the ring and goes for a tornado DDT, but Lynch blocks. Lynch hits Lee with a DDT onto the steel chair and then kicks the chair out of the ring.
Lynch covers Lee as the referee comes back to life, but Lee miraculously kicks out at two. Lynch tries to slam Lee into the exposed turnbuckle, but the referee blocks her. Lynch goes for a splash in the corner, but Lee side steps her, and Lynch slams face-first into the exposed turnbuckle.
Lee locks in the Black Widow, Lynch taps, and this time the referee sees it and calls for the bell. It’s all over. AJ Lee wins in her first WWE match in over ten years, and she has a shiny new gold belt to prove it, as she is your brand new WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion. Let the celebration begin.
Winner and NEW WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion: AJ Lee
Mystery Crate Tease
Backstage, we see Raw General Manager Adam Pearce and SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis in front of the mystery crate. R-Truth comes over with a Papa John’s pizza. R-Truth had a slice and decided not to share. The mystery crate unveiling will take place later tonight.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship
CM Punk (c) vs. Finn Balor
Our third of four advertised matches is up next, and it is our second of two scheduled title tilts here at the final premium live event stop on the road to WrestleMania 42. CM Punk defends his WWE World Heavyweight Championship against “The Prince” Finn Balor. And it happens next.
Finn Balor makes his way out to the ring first, and he looks determined. Out second is the reigning, defending hometown champion. Living Colour’s ‘Cult of Personality’ hits and the hometown Chicago crowd goes absolutely bonkers as “The Second City Saint” himself emerges.
The bell rings, and the crowd is buzzing. A “CM Punk” chant fires up. They circle the ring and lock up. Punk wrenches the arm, but Bálor twists out and wrenches Punk’s arm. Punk transitions into a hammerlock, but Bálor turns it on him. Punk fights back with a full nelson, but Bálor counters with one. Punk drops down and rolls him up for a two-count. Punk applies a side headlock, but Bálor whips him off and hits a back elbow for a one-count.
Bálor hits a headlock takeover and gets Punk’s shoulders down for one. Bálor keeps Punk grounded. Punk rolls him onto his shoulders twice, but he can’t pick up a pin. Punk fights to his feet and whips Bálor off. Punk drops down before hitting a calf kick for a two-count. Punk connects with a scoop slam before hitting a snapmare. Punk chops the back and kicks him in the chest. Punk hits a knee drop for a one-count.
Punk sets up for a vertical suplex, but Bálor fights out. They start exchanging aggressive strikes. Punk sends him to the corner and chops his chest. Bálor spins Punk around and chops him. Punk turns Bálor and chops him. Punk kicks and elbows Bálor before climbing to the second rope for the traditional ten punches. Bálor slides out and sweeps Punk’s feet. Bálor sends him into the ropes for a kitchen sink knee to the midsection.
Bálor hits some springboard stomps to the midsection before tying him up in the ropes and punching the injured ribs. Bálor boots Punk in the ribs, and Punk collapses in the corner. Punk shoulders Punk in the corner and chops his chest again. Bálor hits a running chop and punches him. Punk reverses a whip to the corner and hits a high knee to the face. Bálor avoids the bulldog and applies an abdominal stretch.
Bálor digs into the injured ribs. Punk manages to fight out and tries to stomp the midsection. Bálor pushes him off, and they take each other out with a double clothesline. They get up and begin exchanging strikes. Punk hits a back elbow, followed by a clothesline. Punk hits a high knee to the face and follows up with a bulldog. Punk sets up for the Go to Sleep, but Bálor slides off. Bálor charges, but Punk sends him to the floor. Punk then hits a suicide dive that drives Bálor into the commentary table.
Punk sends Bálor into the ring and goes to the top rope. Punk connects with a diving clothesline for a near fall. Punk signals for the end and lifts him for a GTS, but Bálor slides off and hits a falling elbow drop for a two-count. Bálor punches away at Punk’s midsection and stomps him down in the corner. Punk reverses a whip and counters a slingshot with a GTS attempt. Bálor blocks it and cradles him for a two-count. Punk hits a swinging neckbreaker for another two-count.
Punk takes Bálor down and sets up for a Sharpshooter, but Bálor kicks him back. Punk attempts a suplex, but Bálor fights it. Punk puts Bálor on the top rope and climbs, but Bálor punches him down to the canvas. Punk avoids the Coup de Grâce and takes him down. Punk is bleeding from the mouth. Punk heads to the top rope and poses before hitting a flying elbow drop. Punk holds his injured ribs in pain and covers for a two-count.
Bálor turns him over and picks up a two-count. Bálor quickly follows up with a Sling Blade and heads to the corner to size him up. Bálor charges for a shotgun dropkick, but Punk clotheslines him down. Punk sets up for a Sharpshooter, but Bálor blocks it. Punk drops down and applies an Anaconda Vice. Bálor refuses to tap out and twists out to apply La Magistral for a two-count. Bálor immediately starts to elbow away at the injured ribs. Bálor hits the 1916 and goes to the top rope. Bálor hits the Coup de Grâce. He goes for the cover, but Punk kicks out.
A “CM Punk” chant picks up. Bálor looks toward the entrance area before setting up for a 1916. Punk twists out and hits the GTS! The momentum of the impact knocks Bálor out of the ring. Punk goes to the ringside area and charges, but Bálor hits a Sling Blade on the floor. Bálor then drives Punk through the barricade with a shotgun dropkick! Bálor looks at the World Heavyweight Championship on the pedestal before putting Punk in the ring.
Bálor gets in the ring, and Punk goes for the GTS. Bálor slides off and hits a Sling Blade. Bálor hits a shotgun dropkick into the corner and goes to the top rope. Bálor goes for the Coup de Grâce, but Punk puts his boot up and applies a Sharpshooter in the middle of the ring! Bálor manages to grab the bottom rope to break the hold. Punk sets up for another Sharpshooter, but Bálor fights it. Punk stomps his face a few times and pulls him up. Punk continues to boot him in the face. Punk hits a GTS and gets the win to retain.
Winner and STILL WWE World Heavyweight Champion: CM Punk
Mystery Crate Unveiling
Now it’s time to find out who or what is going to be inside the massive mystery crate that has appeared the last couple of weeks on Raw and SmackDown. As promised, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce and SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis are on-hand for the opening. It’s Danhausen. The fans kind of pop but then crap all over it. Whoops.
Men’s Elimination Chamber
Cody Rhodes vs. LA Knight vs. Randy Orton vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Trick Williams vs. Logan Paul
It’s main event time!
The ring entrances for each of the six competitors in the Men’s Elimination Chamber match begin. Competing in the main event Chamber bout this evening for a chance to square off against Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 42 are Cody Rhodes, LA Knight, Randy Orton, Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams and Logan Paul.
Cody Rhodes starts things off against Je’Von Evans as the first two active competitors in the bout. They lock up, and Rhodes soon drops down to hit an uppercut. Rhodes hits a delayed vertical front suplex for a two-count. Rhodes stomps him, but Evans rolls him up for a two-count.
Rhodes attacks Evans and tries to whip him, but Evans puts the brakes on. Evans backflips away from him and hits a hurricanrana. Evans bounces off the ropes and hits another hurricanrana. Evans follows up with a Busaiku Knee for a two-count. They go to the Chamber floor, and Rhodes attacks him and sends him into Logan Paul’s pod.
Rhodes puts Evans in the ring and stomps him. Rhodes takes him down with an elbow for a two-count. Rhodes sets up for a vertical suplex, but Evans knees him in the head. Evans hits a vertical suplex and bounces up to his feet. Rhodes fights back as the clock counts down. Trick Williams enters the match.
Williams takes Rhodes down and gets in the ring to square off with Evans. The two former NXT standouts go at it and are evenly matched. Evans kicks Williams down and goes for an OG Cutter, but Williams powers him up! Evans punches Rhodes down and turns into a nasty chop from Williams.
Rhodes enters the ring and hits Williams with a Russian leg sweep for a two-count. Rhodes punches and elbows Evans down. Williams hits Rhodes with a cyclone boot, and the crowd begins chanting for him. Williams grabs Rhodes and Evans for a double Bookend to pick up a two-count.
Williams sends Evans to the Chamber floor and chops him against the wall. Rhodes comes over, but he’s taken down. Evans winds up being the last one standing after chopping Williams down. The clock counts down. Logan Paul enters the match.
The crowd loudly boos Logan Paul and then cheers loudly when Evans, Rhodes, and Williams triple-team him. Rhodes and Williams take Paul to the floor and drive him through his pod’s plexiglass. Evans wipes Rhodes and Williams out with a dive over the top rope. Evans hits a springboard tornado kick to Williams for a near fall.
Rhodes attacks Williams and sends him out of the ring. Rhodes puts Evans in the corner and punches away the young OG. Evans fights back and sends him into the ropes. Rhodes holds on and gives Evans a back body drop to the Chamber floor. Paul then wipes Rhodes out with a Buckshot Lariat.
Paul goes around the Chamber attacking everyone. Paul gets in the ring, and Rhodes starts to pepper him with stinging left jabs. Rhodes sets up for a Bionic Elbow, but Paul takes him down. The clock begins to count down. LA Knight enters the match.
Knight attacks Paul and takes him down. Knight clotheslines Rhodes down and hits Williams with a neckbreaker. Knight sends Paul into the Chamber wall and sends him into some of the pods. Paul has a nasty welt on his back and shoulder. Paul manages to pull Knight into the pod and starts to climb the wall.
Paul is on top of the pod and turns to see Evans climbing onto the same pod. Knight climbs up and joins them on top of the pod! Evans and Knight double-team Paul and send him off into Rhodes and Williams in the ring! Knight and Evans begin to brawl, and Knight gives him Blunt Force Trauma onto the steel roof of the pod.
The clock begins to count down. Randy Orton enters the match. This is Randy Orton’s tenth Elimination Chamber match. Orton clotheslines Williams twice before giving Paul one. Orton ducks a clothesline from Williams and hits a snap powerslam. Paul meets the same fate.
Orton clotheslines Williams over the top rope and gives Paul a back body drop onto Williams. Orton then grabs Paul and Williams for a double draping DDT! The crowd is chanting “RKO,” so Orton drops down and stalks his prey. Knight turns Orton around and pushes off an RKO. Orton drops Knight with a DDT.
Evans is still on top of the pod and begins to come to after taking the BFT moments ago. Evans stands up and slaps the plexiglass. Evans hits Williams with a HUGE frog splash off the top of the pod! Paul immediately grabs Evans and hits a scary Paulveriser for the elimination.
Je’Von Evans has been eliminated from the match. Rhodes attacks Paul and punches him in the corner. Rhodes kicks Paul and goes for a Disaster Kick, but Knight picks him off the ropes and hits a Death Valley Driver. Knight covers, but the referee won’t count since Rhodes’ shoulders aren’t flat on the mat. 1… 2… Rhodes kicks out.
Orton attacks Knight and punches him down. Orton tells him something as he sends him to the corner. Knight boots Orton back, and Orton takes a flat back bump. Knight goes to the second rope, does some theatrics, and totally trips attempting a springboard to the top rope. Knight stomps Orton to try to save the spot.
Williams runs in, so Knight hits a BFT. Paul low blows Knight and rolls him up for the elimination. LA Knight has been eliminated from the match. Paul Heyman and Austin Theory are pleased at ringside. Paul chokes Rhodes on the middle rope and goes after Orton. Orton knocks him down.
Paul kicks Orton against the wall and gets in the ring to tee off on Williams. Williams slaps him and hits a side kick to the jaw. Williams goes for the Trick Shot, but Paul avoids it. Williams gets out of the Paulveriser, and Rhodes catches Williams with the Cross Rhodes.
Paul sends Rhodes’ shoulder into the ring post and covers Williams for the elimination. Trick Williams has been eliminated from the match. Three referees get in the ring to help Trick Williams out. A Masked Man runs in and starts to climb the Elimination Chamber, but the referees pull him down and bring him to the back.
They take off his mask, and it’s a different guy than the one who was on SmackDown. Another Masked Man enters the Elimination Chamber and stares down Logan Paul. The Masked Man kicks Paul and delivers a Stomp. Rhodes covers Paul for the elimination. Logan Paul has been eliminated from the match.
The Masked Man takes his mask off… and it’s Seth Rollins! The crowd is stunned. Paul Heyman screams in horror. Rollins coldly stares at Logan Paul before leaving through the crowd. Michael Cole says this is the “Surprise of the Century.” Ok. It’s down to Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.
All of a sudden, Drew McIntyre hits Rhodes in the head with the Undisputed WWE Championship. Rhodes avoids a Claymore Kick, but McIntyre fights back with a Glasgow Kiss. McIntyre punches away at Rhodes before Orton turns him around and hits an RKO.
Rhodes follows up with a Cross Rhodes on McIntyre. Orton then drops Rhodes with an RKO for the win. Randy Orton is going to WrestleMania 42 against Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Orton celebrates the win as Rhodes recovers and sits staring on in disbelief. We see Aldis enraged at McIntyre backstage to end things. Thanks for joining us!
Winner of Men’s Elimination Chamber: Randy Orton
