Wwe Elimination Chamber predictions and Chicago results
The wwe Elimination Chamber show at the United Center in Chicago produced both the outcomes and the story beats many predicted. Mark Kaboly offered predictions ahead of the February 28 card, and the night finished with Rhea Ripley winning the women's Chamber, AJ Lee defeating Becky Lynch for the Women's Intercontinental Championship, and CM Punk surviving Finn Bálor.
Wwe predictions from Mark Kaboly
Pat McAfee Show contributor Mark Kaboly shared predictions streaming live from the United Center in Chicago for the Saturday 7 ET/4 PT card. Kaboly laid out picks and context for multiple matches, and also reminded fans how to watch premium live events and premium content on a variety of platforms and devices.
World Heavyweight title scenario
Kaboly previewed the World Heavyweight Title match as CM Punk (c) vs. Finn Bálor and predicted Punk would win. He wrote that Punk cannot lose in his hometown of Chicago and that not having Punk holding the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 42 seemed a longshot. Kaboly said the match was more about creating a program for Bálor that could lead to WrestleMania, and he predicted Punk would defeat Bálor and then be attacked inside the ring by Dominik Mysterio, nicknamed "Dirty" Dom. After the match in Chicago, CM Punk will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42 after surviving his match against Finn Bálor; Punk overcame a focused, determined challenger who was, for much of the match, the better man. The Irishman outwrestled Punk, dominated the action, and looked like he might disrupt the main event picture, but Punk survived.
Ripley wins women’s Chamber
The United Center show was the first premium live event at that venue since SummerSlam 1994. Rhea Ripley, billed as The Eradicator, outlasted Tiffany Stratton, Raquel Rodriguez, Asuka, Kiana James, and Alexa Bliss in the women's Elimination Chamber to "cash her ticket to the Showcase of the Immortals. " Stratton and James started the match. Alexa Bliss produced a big moment with Twisted Bliss from the top of a pod, but Bliss's WrestleMania hopes were checked when Iyo Sky, described as The Empress of Tomorrow, used blue mist to blind Bliss and allow Kiana James to score the first elimination. Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez starred on arrival; Rodriguez pinned both James and Asuka to eliminate them. The one-two punch of "Mami and Tiffy" allowed the babyfaces to eliminate Big Mami Cool. Ripley then outlasted a battered Tiffany Stratton, sent her face-first into a pod and finished with the Riptide to secure the victory. The recap emphasized a physical Elimination Chamber match, strong action, and a great performance from the runner-up.
AJ Lee shocks Becky Lynch
AJ Lee became the new Women's Intercontinental Champion by defeating Becky Lynch in a dramatic contest that featured referee bumps, a steel chair and an exposed turnbuckle. AJ Lee outwrestled Lynch early, then Lynch recovered and dominated much of the match before frustration set in. Lynch removed a turnbuckle pad and referee Jessika Carr collided with the exposed buckle; later Carr took a kick from Lynch and was further incapacitated. Lynch used a chair but could not keep Lee down. AJ Lee sent Lynch into the exposed turnbuckle, applied the Black Widow and forced a submission to win the title. Kaboly had predicted an upset was possible in Lynch vs. Lee, noting Lee had not had a singles match in almost 11 years and suggesting a short title reign in the champion's city could set up a WrestleMania rematch. He also invoked Roddy Piper's line: "Once you think you know that answers, I change the questions. "
Men’s Chamber participants and predictions
Kaboly previewed the men's Elimination Chamber as a six-man match featuring Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Je'Von Evans, Trick Williams, Logan Paul and LA Knight. He predicted Je'Von Evans would wow the crowd and expected Randy Orton to catch Evans with an RKO at some point. Kaboly framed the match as a three-man race among Orton, Cody Rhodes and LA Knight, gave Knight a real chance, but said he could not picture WrestleMania 42 without Cody Rhodes in a main event title match. Kaboly also referenced Jey Uso being taken out by a mystery man on SmackDown, which opened the door for Vision member Logan Paul to take the sixth and final Chamber spot over Jacob Fatu. Kaboly wrote that this scenario solidified in his view a Cody versus Drew McIntyre title match at WrestleMania, and he noted that if Fatu had slid into the Chamber the picture might have changed. He also raised the possibility — as a hypothetical — of Rhodes finally turning from "good guy" to "bad guy. "
Last-time-in-action notes surrounding the show included a string of recent results: Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky lost to Nia Jax and Lash Legend on SmackDown, February 27; Kiana James defeated Nia Jax and Charlotte Flair on SmackDown, February 20; Tiffany Stratton defeated Kairi Sane on SmackDown, February 27; Alexa Bliss defeated Giulia and Zelina on SmackDown, February 13; Raquel Rodriguez defeated Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane on Raw, February 23; and Asuka defeated Bayley and Nattie on Raw, February 16. AJ Lee had last teamed with Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky to defeat Becky Lynch, Lash Legend, Nia Jax, Asuka and Kairi Sane at Survivor Series: WarGames on November 28, while Becky Lynch lost in the women's Royal Rumble on January 31. CM Punk had defeated AJ Styles double disqualification on Raw, January 26, and Finn Bálor had lost to Punk on Raw, January 19.
The night mixed the predictions of Kaboly with the confirmed outcomes in Chicago on February 28, producing clear WrestleMania 42 implications across multiple title pictures.
