The road to WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 continued to take shape Monday night on RAW, with Rhea Ripley and LA Knight securing their spots in their respective Elimination Chamber matches. The February 9th episode, broadcast from Cleveland, Ohio, also saw the surprising return of a masked attacker and the official announcement of a Women’s Intercontinental Championship match between Becky Lynch and AJ Lee for the February 28th pay-per-view in Chicago.
Rhea Ripley earned her place in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match with a victory in a triple threat bout against Ivy Nile and Lyra Valkyria. The match, which closed the first hour of RAW, saw Valkyria initially gain the upper hand, dropping Nile with a maneuver called the Nightwing. However, Ripley quickly capitalized, hitting Valkyria with a running knee and finishing her off with a Riptide for the pinfall victory. Ripley joins Tiffany Stratton, who qualified for the match on the February 6th episode of SmackDown.
Later in the evening, LA Knight punched his ticket to the Men’s Elimination Chamber with a win over Penta and Austin Theory in a separate triple threat main event. The finish of the match was significantly impacted by the unexpected reappearance of the mysterious masked attacker, who has been a recurring figure in WWE storylines. The attacker took out Theory with a stomp at ringside, then tossed him back into the ring, allowing Knight to hit a BFT (Blunt Force Trauma) and secure the win. Knight now stands alongside Randy Orton, who also qualified on SmackDown, as confirmed entrants in the Men’s Elimination Chamber match.
The identity of the masked attacker remains unknown, adding a layer of intrigue to the build-up to Elimination Chamber. Their interference clearly altered the outcome of the main event, directly contributing to Knight’s qualification.
Beyond the Elimination Chamber qualifiers, RAW also featured a significant development in the Women’s Intercontinental Championship picture. CM Punk and AJ Lee were shown together backstage, prompting a confrontation with current champion Becky Lynch. Lynch expressed her frustration with Lee’s presence and questioned her motives. The tension culminated in a challenge from Lynch, who proposed a match against Lee at Elimination Chamber. After some back-and-forth, Lee accepted, setting the stage for a high-stakes championship bout.
The match between Lynch and Lee is a notable addition to the Elimination Chamber card, given their history. Lee suggested that Lynch’s previous successes don’t diminish her own accomplishments, having defeated Lynch in prior encounters at Wrestlepalooza and WarGames. Lee positioned herself as the number one contender, aiming to dethrone Lynch and claim the Women’s Intercontinental Championship.
With these developments, the card for WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 is beginning to solidify. The confirmed matches currently include:
- WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee
- WWE World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk vs. Finn Balor
- Men’s Elimination Chamber Match: Randy Orton, LA Knight
- Women’s Elimination Chamber Match: Tiffany Stratton, Rhea Ripley
The addition of Ripley and Knight to the Elimination Chamber lineups adds further star power to the event. Ripley’s dominant performance and aggressive style make her a formidable competitor, while Knight’s popularity and recent momentum position him as a potential threat in the men’s match. The presence of established stars like Orton, Punk, Lynch, and Lee, alongside rising talents like Stratton and Ripley, suggests a compelling and competitive event in Chicago on February 28th.
The return of the masked attacker also introduces a wildcard element, potentially influencing future matches and storylines leading up to Elimination Chamber. Their motives and ultimate target remain unclear, but their actions have already had a tangible impact on the qualification process.
The February 9th episode of RAW successfully advanced several key storylines and added significant matches to the Elimination Chamber card. With the pay-per-view less than three weeks away, anticipation is building for what promises to be a pivotal event in the WWE calendar.
