WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 Predictions, Go-Home RAW Fallout & WrestleMania 42 Pressure Test

*We recorded this episode before the go home SmackDown.

Jey Uso has since now been attacked and it will be Jacob Fatu vs. Logan Paul for the final Elimination Chamber spot.

WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 is a day away — and WrestleMania 42 needs a spark.

On this episode of Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling, we break down the chaotic Go-Home RAW (2/23), what SmackDown MUST deliver before Chicago, and our full Elimination Chamber predictions — recorded pre–Go Home SmackDown.

We cover:

• CM Punk vs Finn Bálor for the World Heavyweight Championship — and the Judgment Day fracture • Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, LA Knight, Jey Uso, Je’Von Evans & Trick Williams inside the Men’s Elimination Chamber • Rhea Ripley, Tiffany Stratton, Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Kiana James & Raquel Rodriguez in the Women’s Elimination Chamber • Becky Lynch vs AJ Lee for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship • The Mystery Crate (Danhausen? Chris Jericho?) • The masked man angle and the collapse of The Vision after Bronson Reed’s injury

We also open The TTW Vault for our Top 5 Elimination Chamber matches and Top 5 Elimination Chamber PLEs of all time — full card breakdowns, winners, lore, and WrestleMania ripple effects included.

Is WWE building momentum toward WrestleMania XLII… or is Mania season coasting?

This isn’t just predictions.

This is a structural integrity test for the Road to WrestleMania.

Follow Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music — and join our Discord for live WWE PLE watch-alongs, real-time debates, and weekly fan shout-outs.

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00:00Welcome Back to Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling

01:36The Elimination Chamber Build-Up

03:22The Mystery Crate and Its Implications

09:35Punk vs. Balor: The Judgment Day Fracture

15:27Go Home Raw: A Disappointing Build

21:36Injuries and the Future of The Vision

27:24Elimination Chamber Participants and Predictions

34:25AJ Styles: Hall of Fame Announcement

41:36Women's Division: Rhea vs. EO and Future Feuds

48:32Brock Lesnar's Return and Future Plans

55:37Final Thoughts and Predictions for SmackDown

01:14:58The Anticipation of Elimination Chamber Matches

01:18:55Top Five Elimination Chamber Matches of All Time

01:31:53Top Five Elimination Chamber PLEs of All Time

01:59:06Predictions for the Upcoming Elimination Chamber

02:22:51Final Thoughts and Speculations

*Apologies for the Audio in certain spots, we had some technical issues during recording. Just know we had a mystery box Danhausen prediction and a Punk v Balor segment. We had to cut it out due to the audio issues. We'll catch back up with these Friday when we drop our predictions episode!*

WWE is officially on the Road to WrestleMania 42 — but does it actually feel like it?

On this episode of Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling, we break down everything from RAW (2/16) and SmackDown (2/20) as Elimination Chamber 2026 approaches in Chicago.

Gunther was cost his Chamber qualifying match by Dragon Lee — and that might be the exact trigger he needed to return to his ruthless, legend-killing form. Is WWE building toward Gunther retiring Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania? And what would a true “myth-building” run look like before Oba Femi eventually dethrones him?

We also dive into:

• The masked man attacking Logan Paul and the mystery crate set to open at Elimination Chamber — Ricky Starks? Ethan Page? A Chicago countdown twist?

• Stephanie Vaquer vs. Liv Morgan reaching a new level after Steph’s all-Spanish promo shook the feud

• AJ Lee and Becky Lynch setting the tone for a heated IC Title showdown

• The latest Men’s and Women’s Elimination Chamber qualifiers

• Why SmackDown felt safe during the most important stretch of WWE’s calendar

• The TKO blackout controversy impacting Chicago watch parties

• And whether WWE is doing enough creatively heading into WrestleMania season.

The current product isn’t bad. But during WrestleMania season, “fine” isn’t good enough. Let’s talk about it.

00:00The Masked Mystery and Fan Predictions

15:45Building Feuds: Women's Elimination Chamber Insights

19:59The Power of Language in Wrestling Promos

24:25AJ Lee vs. Becky Lynch: Anticipation and Expectations

29:10The Confusion Surrounding Jey Uso's Role

36:46The Future of Tag Team Wrestling

38:34Unpredictability in Wrestling Storylines

39:47Gunther's Qualifier and Future Implications

41:34WrestleMania Predictions and Retirement Matches

44:42Brock Lesnar's Potential Retirement

46:08AJ Styles and Future Storylines

47:41LA Knight's Controversial Position

55:12Creative Decisions and Predictability in Matches

58:53Charlotte Flair's Role in the Elimination Chamber

01:03:05Alistair Black's Gimmick and Comparisons to Karrion Kross

01:05:48Ticket Pricing and TKO's Business Strategies

01:08:18Pay-Per-View Access and Customer Rights

01:11:09Ticket Prices and Fan Frustration

01:14:46Character Development in Wrestling

01:23:21The Role of Promo Development

01:34:16WWE's Current State and Future Directions

RAW moved. SmackDown played it safe. And we’re tired of safe.

This week on Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling, we break down the real issue heading into Elimination Chamber — momentum.

Why did RAW feel like it understood WrestleMania season… while SmackDown felt like it was protecting the board?

We dig into:

• The Cody vs Jacob qualifier finish — and why it may have flattened the Chamber’s unpredictability.
• Whether Drew’s interference helped anyone… or made him look ineffective.
• Why Lash Legend’s Rumble momentum might already be leaking.
• The Women’s Chamber field — and who’s noticeably missing.
• Jade Cargill: Champion… or protected project?
• Rey Fenix feeling undefined during the most important stretch of the year.
• And the real story behind Finn vs Punk — because the result isn’t the suspense… Dom is.

Plus, we preview RAW 2/16 and break down the Gunther qualifier with one big question:

If Cody feels inevitable… what is the Chamber actually allowed to change?

WrestleMania season should feel dangerous.

Right now?

It feels safe.

And we’re not letting that slide.

🎙️ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify & Amazon Music 📲 Follow & debate with Alexande the Great on X and TikTok: @Froe87 💬 Join the Discord for live PLE watch-alongs and weekly chaos!

TTW Discord 🤓discord.gg/6aueu3fdju

00:00Welcome to Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling

01:37WrestleMania Season Insights

03:35The Dangers of Playing It Safe

04:37Bitching About Wrestling

05:36Becky vs AJ: A New Dynamic

07:29Liv Morgan and Stephanie: Building Tension

09:41Finn Balor vs CM Punk: The Stakes

11:31Javon Evans: The Future Star

13:36LA Knight and the Elimination Chamber

15:30Jade Cargill: Champion or Protected Project

52:43Surgery Surprises and WrestleMania Matchups

55:47The Dilemma of Rey Fenix's Role

59:38The Feud of OG Americano and El Grande Americano

01:03:42Elimination Chamber Qualifiers and Predictability

01:09:29Dave Metzler's Overrated List and Its Implications

01:24:34Raw Preview: CM Punk and Women's Qualifiers

01:36:27Gunther's Future and Booking Decisions