Well, we know what’s in the crate! Thank you WWE Elimination Chamber 2026.
Danhausen was in the mystery crate that appeared out of nowhere on Raw and SmackDown the last couple weeks. Yep, that Danhausen.
If you have no idea who or what I’m talking about, you’re in good company. Most of the United Center audience at the PLE didn’t have a clue either. They voiced their confusion as displeasure and booed poor Danhausen. If you know who he is, you’re still probably confused and that’s because well, it’s Danhausen.
Weird vampire men appearing out of wooden coffins aside, Elimination Chamber was a balanced final PLE before WrestleMania 42. There was enough on the show that solidified matches and stories for WrestleMania. In addition to that and at the same time, there are still plenty of WrestleMania loose ends to tie up with seven weeks to go until the big show in Las Vegas. Seven weeks is a lot of time and questions from this show will go a long way in filling those weeks with viable WrestleMania storytelling.
Here are my Brass Ring Ratings for the event and here’s how they work … I call it like I see it and grade accordingly. Period.
Rhea Ripley vs. Asuka vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Kiana James vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Raquel Rodriguez - Women’s Elimination Chamber Match
Action packed from the very beginning. Rhea Ripley was the most over star in the match and the audience very much wanted to see her win. Big pops for her entrance, offense in the match, and eventual victory. The match had multiple off the pod spots and plenty of smashing into the pod doors. What else could be expected? Raquel Rodriguez had a couple of different showcase moments in the match. The other standout star was Tiffany Stratton. She took a lot of the big bumps and had a dramatic back and forth with Ripley at the end of the match. Ripley vs. Jade Cargill at WrestleMania 42 for the WWE Women’s Championship is a big match, but also kind of out of the blue. They have some work to do on the build, but it’s absolutely two big WWE women’s stars colliding on a massive stage.
Heydorn’s Brass Ring Rating - OOO
Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee - WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship
A bit of a messy finish, but the hot crowd helped save it. Becky Lynch got so much heat during the match and Lee was able to play off of it easily. The question coming out of this inevitably will be why the referee stopped Lee from hitting the exposed turnbuckle, but not Lynch. Overall, a fine little match with a well built near fall. Plus, if the goal was to leave enough in the tank for a WrestleMania rematch, they did that too.
Heydorn’s Brass Ring Rating - OO 1/2
CM Punk vs. Finn Balor - WWE World Heavyweight Championship
CM Punk got a freaking 90s Chicago Bulls introduction. Match of the night? Being from Chicago, I must grade on a curve, soooo yes. The match had a hard time building genuine drama, but the hometown crowd for Punk brought it plenty of energy. Early in the match Punk went for a Sharpshooter submission, but didn’t get it. Later, Punk countered a Balor Coup De Gras into that exact submission. Bravo. Punk got the feel good win and then stood tall with AJ Lee in the middle of the ring. Pretty cool. Reigns vs. Punk up next. As for Balor, he showed Punk respect and shook his hand after the match, which didn’t include interference from Judgment Day. That doesn’t mean they didn’t care, though. Look for their frustration with Balor to simmer on Raw this week.
Heydorn’s Brass Ring Rating - OOO 1/2
Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton vs. Logan Paul vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Trick Williams vs. LA Knight - Men’s Elimination Chamber Match
The ring announcer called Je’Von Evans “Je’Von Williams” during introductions. Not a great start, but multiple surprises and some big action carried the match to the end. Logan Paul got a hot streak of pins over Williams, Evans, and LA Knight. Then, pandemonium. Seth Rollins returned as the masked man and cost Paul the match, Drew McIntyre interfered, and Randy Orton struck and hit Cody Rhodes with an RKO to win the match. Wild. Here’s the thing. The story coming out of this will be “how will Cody Rhodes get to WrestleMania?” It didn’t work with John Cena and it won’t work here. Rhodes will be on the WrestleMania card and pretending he won’t is silly. It won’t help move tickets either. You’re without question looking at a multi-person match for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. After Elimination Chamber, Rhodes, Jacob Fatu, Sami Zayn, and Aleister Black are all in play to eventually be included along with Orton and McIntyre.
Heydorn’s Brass Ring Rating - OO 3/4
What did you think of WWE Elimination Chamber 2026? Let us know in the comments!
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