The Elimination Chamber match debuted at Survivor Series in 2002 and became a standalone event in 2010. It usually sets up title matches for WrestleMania.
The Elimination Chamber is a steel structure surrounding the ring with four (or more) pods. Two wrestlers start, the others are released from their pods at intervals, and wrestlers are eliminated by pinfall or submission until one remains. Since 2023 the men's and women's Chamber matches have usually decided challengers for WrestleMania.
The match debuted at Survivor Series 2002 and became a standalone event in 2010. It is the final premium live event before WrestleMania.
Latest results
Elimination Chamber: Chicago (2026) — February 28, 2026, United Center, Chicago, Illinois.
Results
| Match | Result | Stipulation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhea Ripley won (last eliminated Tiffany Stratton) | Women's Elimination Chamber — WWE Women's title match at WrestleMania 42 |
| 2 | AJ Lee def. Becky Lynch (c) by submission | Women's Intercontinental Championship — new champion |
| 3 | CM Punk (c) def. Finn Bálor | World Heavyweight Championship |
| 4 | Randy Orton won (pinned Cody Rhodes) | Men's Elimination Chamber — Undisputed WWE title match at WrestleMania 42 |
History & key moments
| Year | Moment |
|---|---|
| 2002 | Shawn Michaels wins the first Elimination Chamber match at Survivor Series |
| 2010 | First standalone Elimination Chamber event |
| 2018 | First women's Elimination Chamber match |
| 2023 | Elimination Chamber held in Montreal |
| 2026 | Chicago: Randy Orton pins Cody Rhodes; Rhea Ripley wins the women's match |
A fan's guide
Elimination Chamber matches are about timing. The two starters have to survive the longest; wrestlers released from the pods later have the freshest legs. Watch who draws the late pods, and watch for alliances between wrestlers who need to eliminate a common threat.
Because the event sits a few weeks before WrestleMania, it is often where WWE confirms its biggest WrestleMania matches, sometimes in segments after the Chamber matches themselves.
Our take
The Chamber is the best structure WWE has for building a WrestleMania challenger, because a win inside it is earned over five opponents. Orton pinning Rhodes in 2026 was the best possible version of that: the challenger beat the champion before WrestleMania without needing a title change.
We think WWE should resist adding more Chamber matches to the card. One per gender keeps the structure special.
What's next
Elimination Chamber 2027 is expected in late February or early March, the last stop before WrestleMania 43 in Riyadh.
Latest coverage
Coverage of the next edition will appear here.
FAQ
Who won the 2026 Elimination Chamber matches?
Randy Orton won the men's match and Rhea Ripley won the women's match.
How many wrestlers are in an Elimination Chamber match?
Six: two start in the ring and four are released from pods.
When is Elimination Chamber held?
In late February or early March, before WrestleMania.