WrestleMania has gotten a bit more interesting

The final stop before WrestleMania 42 delivered shock, nostalgia and just enough chaos to reshape the championship picture. By the end of the night at WWE Elimination Chamber, two more WrestleMania world title matches were officially set. Rhea Ripley and Randy Orton outlasted five other competitors inside the steel structure to earn championship opportunities on the grandest stage of them all. But how they got there and what unfolded around them is what made this show feel pivotal.

Ripley Survives, Rodriguez Shines

Ripley entered the women’s Elimination Chamber as the clear fan favorite, and she delivered.She will now challenge Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 42, a marquee matchup that feels tailor-made for a stadium stage. Still, there was a legitimate case for Raquel Rodriguez to pull off the upset. After a stellar 2025, Rodriguez had some of the most memorable moments in the match. Her Tejana Bomb onto Asuka allowed her to pin both Asuka and Kiana James in one sequence. She later powered through a pod in a visually stunning display of strength. The bout truly accelerated once Rodriguez and Ripley shared the ring.

The early pacing felt uneven, with the crowd relatively quiet outside of scattered chants for Asuka. It was somewhat surprising that Rodriguez and Ripley were not positioned as the final two, especially after the crowd booed Rodriguez’s elimination to set up Ripley and Tiffany Stratton for the closing stretch. In the end, Ripley’s cannonball off the pod and her closing sequence sealed the deal. It was a strong opener that accomplished its mission: another major WrestleMania title match is locked in.

AJ Lee’s Crowning Moment

Five months ago, few believed they would ever see AJ Lee competing in a singles match again. Her tag appearance last fall reignited interest, but the build toward her showdown with Becky Lynch never quite regained that same momentum. The last three weeks of storytelling felt uneven. Appearances were sporadic. The emotional throughline wasn’t as cohesive as their mixed tag program. Yet when the bell rang, none of that mattered. There wasn’t much separating the two until referee Jessika Carr was knocked down. Lee forced Lynch to tap, but with the official incapacitated, it went unseen. WWE convention suggested the champion would recover and steal the victory. Instead, Lee capitalized after Lynch crashed into an exposed turnbuckle and forced her to submit cleanly, capturing the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship her first singles title in over a decade. In Chicago, it felt like a full-circle moment. Lee, a defining figure of the Divas era, stood tall in an era where women headline and command serious championship stakes. With WrestleMania looming at Allegiant Stadium, a stipulation rematch between Lee and Lynch could add intrigue and star power to an already loaded card.

CM Punk Clears The Final Hurdle

Before he even wrestled, CM Punk created a moment. Walking out to “Sirius” with the iconic introduction associated with Chicago sports, Punk leaned into his hometown roots in a way that felt authentic and electric. His World Heavyweight Championship defense against Finn Balor never truly felt in doubt. WWE was not going to jeopardize Punk’s WrestleMania main event collision with Roman Reigns.Still, this was far from a placeholder match. It was crisp, intense and layered with tension. Balor once again proved he belongs in the upper tier of the card. His post-match handshake hinted at respect — but also potential change. A split from Judgment Day and a path toward Dominik Mysterio could be the logical WrestleMania direction. Punk, meanwhile, marches toward the biggest main event of his career.

Randy Orton Shocks The World

If Ripley’s victory was expected, Orton’s was anything but. Cody Rhodes felt like the safe pick to win the men’s Elimination Chamber. His months-long tension with Drew McIntyre around the WWE Championship positioned him squarely in the WrestleMania spotlight. Rhodes entered first and lasted to the end, setting up what appeared to be a predictable finale against Orton.Then chaos erupted. McIntyre stormed in with the championship and blasted Rhodes, igniting a brawl. Orton seized the moment, delivered an RKO and pinned Rhodes in a genuinely shocking finish.One year after losing his WrestleMania opportunity due to injury circumstances surrounding Kevin Owens, Orton is back in the title picture. Yet this story feels unfinished. Rhodes is scheduled to challenge McIntyre on SmackDown, and with lingering issues involving Jacob Fatu, the possibility of a multi-man WrestleMania match looms large.

Logan Paul, Seth Rollins And Controlled Chaos

Logan Paul may have been the unexpected standout. He eliminated Je’Von Evans, LA Knight and Trick Williams, giving him significant spotlight in a match he wasn’t originally slated to enter. Then came the night’s wildest twist.After a fake-out masked entrant, a third figure stormed the chamber, hit Paul with a curb stomp and unmasked to a thunderous reaction: Seth Rollins is back.That return instantly reshaped the WrestleMania board. Does WWE pivot to Rollins vs. Paul? Is there another wrinkle coming? Answers will unfold on Raw, but the energy injection was undeniable.

Final Takeaway

Elimination Chamber started methodically but ended explosively.

Ripley vs. Cargill is official., Orton vs. McIntyre is official — for now.Punk vs. Reigns is locked in.AJ Lee is champion again. Rollins has returned.

WrestleMania 42 suddenly feels less predictable — and far more compelling.