Randy Orton, Rhea Ripley Earn WrestleMania 42 Title Shots

Orton and Ripley win Elimination Chamber matches to challenge for WWE championships at upcoming pay-per-view

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Randy Orton and Rhea Ripley emerged victorious from their respective men's and women's Elimination Chamber matches on Saturday night, earning title shots at WrestleMania 42 in April. Orton will challenge Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, while Ripley will face WWE Women's Champion Jade Cargill.

Why it matters

The Elimination Chamber pay-per-view is a key stop on the road to WrestleMania, and Orton and Ripley's wins have set the stage for two highly anticipated championship matches at the biggest event of the WWE calendar.

The details

In the men's Elimination Chamber match, Orton overcame a field that included Cody Rhodes, Logan Paul, LA Knight, Trick Williams and Je'Von Evans. Orton capitalized on the chaos, hitting an RKO on Rhodes to secure the victory. In the women's match, Ripley outlasted Asuka, Alexis Bliss, Kiana James and Raquel Rodriguez, finally pinning Tiffany Stratton after a hard-fought battle.

  • The Elimination Chamber pay-per-view took place on Saturday, March 2, 2026.
  • WrestleMania 42 is scheduled for April 18-19, 2026 in Las Vegas.

The players

Randy Orton

A veteran WWE superstar and 14-time world champion who has been a fixture in the company for over 20 years.

Rhea Ripley

A rising star in the WWE women's division, known for her aggressive in-ring style and impressive athleticism.

Drew McIntyre

The current Undisputed WWE Champion, a Scottish wrestler who has held the title since last year's WrestleMania.

Jade Cargill

The reigning WWE Women's Champion, an undefeated powerhouse who has dominated the women's division since winning the title.

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What they’re saying

“Winning the Elimination Chamber match and earning a title shot at WrestleMania is a dream come true. I've been working my whole career for this moment, and I'm ready to take down Drew McIntyre and become the new Undisputed WWE Champion.”

— Randy Orton (wxbc1043.com)

“I knew I had to bring my A-game to the Elimination Chamber, and that's exactly what I did. Jade Cargill is a tough champion, but I'm confident I can dethrone her and become the new WWE Women's Champion at WrestleMania.”

— Rhea Ripley (wxbc1043.com)

What’s next

The next major step will be the build-up to WrestleMania 42, where Orton will challenge McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship and Ripley will face Cargill for the WWE Women's Championship.

The takeaway

Orton and Ripley's victories at the Elimination Chamber have set the stage for two highly anticipated title matches at WrestleMania 42, as the WWE's top superstars look to capture the company's most prestigious championships on the grandest stage.