WWE Elimination Chamber 2026: Start Time, Full Card, and How to Watch Tonight in Chicago
WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 is here, and the road to WrestleMania 42 runs straight through Chicago's United Center tonight, Saturday, February 28, 2026. The 16th annual Elimination Chamber is the final major WWE premium live event before WrestleMania 42 takes over Las Vegas on April 18–19 at Allegiant Stadium. Two Chamber matches, two title bouts, and massive WrestleMania implications are all on the line tonight.
What Time Does WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 Start?
The WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 main card begins at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. MT / 4 p.m. PT. The Elimination Chamber Countdown pre-show starts two hours earlier at 5 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. CT / 3 p.m. MT / 2 p.m. PT. Doors at the United Center open at 4 p.m. local time for fans attending in person.
The Countdown pre-show streams free on WWE.com and WWE's official YouTube and TikTok channels, making it accessible to any fan without a subscription. Set your reminders now — the main show fires up fast at 7 p.m. ET sharp.
Where to Watch WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 — How to Stream
In the United States, WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 streams live exclusively on ESPN, available through the ESPN App with an ESPN Unlimited subscription plan. For international viewers outside the U.S., the event streams live on Netflix. There is no Peacock option this cycle.
Additional U.S. streaming options include DirecTV, Fubo, Sling TV, and Hulu + Live TV — all of which carry ESPN and several of which offer free trials to new subscribers, making it possible to watch Elimination Chamber 2026 at no cost tonight. ESPN Unlimited is available as a standalone subscription for $29.99 per month.
WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 Full Match Card
The full card for WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 is as follows: the Men's Elimination Chamber match features Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Je'Von Evans vs. Trick Williams vs. LA Knight vs. Logan Paul. The Women's Elimination Chamber match features Alexa Bliss vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Asuka vs. Kiana James. The World Heavyweight Championship match is CM Punk defending against Finn Bálor, and the Women's Intercontinental Championship match features Becky Lynch defending against AJ Lee.
Note: Jey Uso was removed from the Men's Elimination Chamber match after being attacked and taken away in an ambulance on the February 27 episode of SmackDown. His attacker remains unknown. Logan Paul defeated Jacob Fatu to earn the final spot in the Chamber.
CM Punk's Chicago Homecoming Headlines WWE Elimination Chamber
CM Punk's return to his hometown of Chicago as World Heavyweight Champion is the emotional centerpiece of the entire event. Finn Bálor, entering his 25th year as a professional wrestler, is making what may be his final run at a world title — and he wants to spoil Punk's homecoming the same way Punk spoiled his in Dublin during their January rematch.
Royal Rumble winner Roman Reigns has already chosen CM Punk as his WrestleMania 42 opponent. That means tonight's Men's Elimination Chamber winner most likely earns a championship match against Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre in Las Vegas. The stakes could not be higher for every man in that structure.
WrestleMania 42 Implications Hanging Over Every Match
The winners of both the Men's and Women's Elimination Chamber matches earn a world title match at WrestleMania 42. WWE Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque confirmed that both Royal Rumble winners already chose to challenge for Raw's World Heavyweight Championship and Women's World Championship, meaning the Chamber winners will challenge for the SmackDown-brand titles in Las Vegas.
On the women's side, Jade Cargill will defend the WWE Women's Championship against the Women's Elimination Chamber winner at WrestleMania 42, while Stephanie Vaquer will defend the WWE Women's World Championship against Liv Morgan. Every match tonight directly shapes the WrestleMania 42 card.
