CM Punk to Defend WWE World Heavyweight Title in Chicago at Elimination Chamber

The champion will put his title on the line against Finn Balor in his hometown ahead of his WrestleMania main event match.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk is set to defend his title at the upcoming Elimination Chamber pay-per-view event in his hometown of Chicago. Punk will face challenger Finn Balor at the event on February 28th, just weeks before Punk's scheduled WrestleMania 42 main event match against Royal Rumble winner Roman Reigns.

Why it matters

This high-profile title defense in Punk's hometown adds extra drama and anticipation to the Elimination Chamber event, as the champion looks to prove himself ahead of his big WrestleMania showdown. Balor will be looking to capitalize on the hometown pressure and pull off the upset to capture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

The details

The match was made official during a segment on this week's episode of WWE "Raw". After Punk had a heated exchange with Reigns, Balor interrupted and demanded another title shot against the champion. General Manager Adam Pearce initially denied Balor's request, but Punk then came out and agreed to face Balor at Elimination Chamber, saying he wanted to prove himself as a fighting champion.

  • The Elimination Chamber pay-per-view event will take place on February 28, 2026.
  • Punk defeated Balor in the main event of WWE "Raw" on January 19, 2026.

The players

CM Punk

The current WWE World Heavyweight Champion, set to defend his title against Finn Balor in his hometown of Chicago at Elimination Chamber.

Finn Balor

The challenger who will face CM Punk for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Elimination Chamber, looking to capture the title.

Adam Pearce

The WWE General Manager who initially denied Balor's request for a title shot, but later made the match official for Elimination Chamber.

Roman Reigns

The winner of the 2026 Royal Rumble, who is scheduled to face CM Punk in the main event of WrestleMania 42.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not jeopardizing anything, but rather, am proving myself to be a fighting champion.”

— CM Punk, WWE World Heavyweight Champion (Raw)

What’s next

The winner of the Elimination Chamber match between CM Punk and Finn Balor will go on to face Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 42.

The takeaway

This high-stakes title defense in CM Punk's hometown of Chicago adds extra drama and intrigue to the Elimination Chamber event, as the champion looks to solidify his reign ahead of his big WrestleMania showdown with Royal Rumble winner Roman Reigns.