Rhea Ripley emerged victorious in the women's Elimination Chamber match at WWE Elimination Chamber 2026, earning a WWE Women’s Championship bout against Jade Cargill at WrestleMania 42. The event took place on February 28, 2026, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Ripley last eliminated Tiffany Stratton with her Riptide finisher after a hard-fought battle involving five other competitors.
The WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 event, held at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on February 28, 2026, featured the women's Elimination Chamber match as its opener, determining the challenger for Jade Cargill's WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas this April. The match included Tiffany Stratton, Kiana James, Asuka, Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley, and Raquel Rodriguez, with the winner securing a title opportunity.
Tiffany Stratton and Kiana James started the bout, trading moves for the initial five minutes. Asuka entered third and immediately attacked, slamming opponents into the pods amid chants of “let’s go Asuka.” Alexa Bliss followed as the fourth entrant, cutting off a springboard attempt by Stratton and targeting Asuka, though James broke up a pinfall. Bliss then leaped from a pod with a Twisted Bliss onto multiple competitors below, drawing “This is awesome!” chants from the crowd of approximately 18,208.
Ripley entered fifth to a huge pop, aggressively taking on each opponent. Asuka blinded Bliss with mist, allowing James to roll her up for the first elimination. Raquel Rodriguez entered last and dominated with power moves, including a running powerslam that drove James through a pod wall. Rodriguez then delivered a Tejana Bomb on Asuka onto James, pinning both for a double elimination.
The remaining competitors—Ripley, Rodriguez, and Stratton—intensified the action. Ripley leaped from a pod with a cannonball onto Rodriguez in the corner, setting up Stratton's Prettiest Moonsault Ever for Rodriguez's elimination. Down to Ripley and Stratton, the two traded near-falls, with Stratton landing an Alabama Slam and Swanton. Ripley countered Stratton's moonsault by shoving her into a pod, then hit Riptide for the pinfall victory in 23 minutes.
Jade Cargill watched from a luxury suite, as announced pre-show. Multiple sources, including PW Torch and Fightful, described the match as a strong opener, with Rodriguez's dominance and the final sequence highlighted. Ripley’s win sets up a powerhouse clash with Cargill at WrestleMania 42.
