CM Punk Faces Finn Balor in Potential Title Defense Before WrestleMania 42

The World Heavyweight Champion could defend his title against a familiar foe in his hometown of Chicago.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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CM Punk's road to WrestleMania 42 may include a significant hurdle, as current creative discussions suggest a potential World Heavyweight Championship defense against Finn Balor at the upcoming Elimination Chamber event in Punk's hometown of Chicago. This rematch would shift the setting from Balor's familiar territory to Punk's home turf, adding a personal stake to the match.

Why it matters

The potential Punk vs. Balor matchup at Elimination Chamber would serve as a challenging final test for Punk just weeks before his scheduled WrestleMania 42 clash with Roman Reigns. The rivalry between Punk and Balor has been escalating in recent weeks, further fueling the anticipation for this potential title defense.

The details

Tension between Punk and Balor has been building, with Balor attacking Punk during a match on Raw and his absence from the Royal Rumble event further stoking speculation. If confirmed, this bout would add a major title defense to the Elimination Chamber card on February 28th, just weeks before Punk's anticipated match against Reigns at WrestleMania 42.

  • CM Punk is the current World Heavyweight Champion.
  • Elimination Chamber is scheduled to take place on February 28, 2026.
  • WrestleMania 42 is scheduled for April 6, 2026.

The players

CM Punk

An American professional wrestler and actor currently signed to WWE. He is a decorated champion, having held the WWE Championship twice, the World Heavyweight Championship three times, and various other titles.

Finn Balor

A professional wrestler currently signed to WWE. He has previously competed against CM Punk, and the two have a growing rivalry.

Roman Reigns

A professional wrestler and CM Punk's scheduled opponent at WrestleMania 42.

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What’s next

If confirmed, the Elimination Chamber event on February 28th would serve as a challenging final test for CM Punk before his scheduled WrestleMania 42 clash with Roman Reigns.

The takeaway

This potential title defense in CM Punk's hometown of Chicago adds a personal element to the rivalry between Punk and Finn Balor, further heightening the stakes as Punk prepares for his highly anticipated match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42.