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!

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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

The Royal Rumble is over, and WrestleMania season is officially underway.

On this episode of Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling, we break down the immediate fallout from the Royal Rumble and the first week of television that followed. Rather than recapping results, this episode focuses on direction — who feels elevated, where momentum continued, and where WWE may already be hesitating as the road to WrestleMania takes shape.

We look at how RAW and SmackDown handled the post-Rumble reset, what decisions felt intentional, and which storylines still feel unfinished heading into Elimination Chamber. From title pictures to rising stars, this is a big-picture conversation about belief, consistency, and follow-through.

Because WrestleMania season isn’t about reactions — it’s about what WWE chooses to build once the moment passes.

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00:00Braun Breaker's Injury: Fact or Fiction?

07:47WWE's Direction Post-Rumble

17:00Oba Femi's Debut and Future

35:08Gunther's Vicious Return

38:10The Rise of the Career Killer

39:34Building Up the Monster Heels

44:40The Art of Selling a Match

51:39SmackDown's Missed Opportunities

01:01:34The Future of Women's Championships

01:08:33The Importance of Character Development

The Royal Rumble is over — and the fallout is already reshaping WrestleMania season.

On this episode of Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling, we break down everything that actually mattered coming out of the 2026 Royal Rumble. From a Women’s Rumble that struggled early but delivered big in the final stretch, to Liv Morgan punching her ticket to WrestleMania, to AJ Styles wrestling his final WWE match, this episode focuses on direction, momentum, and long-term consequences.

We also dive deep into the Men’s Royal Rumble — what worked, what raised eyebrows, and why one decision may end up defining the entire road to WrestleMania. Roman Reigns wins the Rumble, but the bigger conversation centers around Gunther: his dominant run, the legends he’s retired, and why this might have been the perfect moment to fully commit to him as WWE’s next unstoppable monster.

This isn’t a recap show. It’s a fallout episode.

Because when the Royal Rumble ends, the noise disappears — and the real stories begin.

🎙️ Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Chapters

00:00 Royal Rumble Recap and Fallout

07:52 Women's Rumble Highlights and Controversies

14:49 AJ Styles vs. Gunther: A Retirement Match

29:06 Men's Rumble: Surprises and Eliminations

49:27 Gunther's Missed Opportunity

01:12:56 Final Thoughts on the Rumble and WrestleMania Season

This is the final episode before the Royal Rumble.

On this episode of TTW, we break down everything that actually matters heading into WWE’s most important match of the year. From the fallout of Saturday Night’s Main Event to the go-home RAW, this is a full momentum check on who WWE clearly believes in — and who still feels unresolved as WrestleMania season begins.

Before predictions, we also run through a fun Royal Rumble Top 5, covering Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble matches, debuts and returns, and Royal Rumble winners. No stakes, no forecasting — just Rumble vibes.

We close the show with full Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble predictions, framed around belief, direction, and momentum rather than fantasy booking.

Because when the Rumble ends, the noise disappears — and everything changes.

🎙️ Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

• (00:00) Final thoughts on the Rumble build and Raw’s influence
• (02:06) Review of Saturday Night's Main Event – Cody Rhodes vs Jacob Fatu
• (03:56) Drew McIntyre’s powerbomb and the chaos at Saturday Night’s Main Event
• (06:19) Shinsuke Nakamura’s departure rumors and potential retirement plans
• (11:30) Sami Zayn’s storyline trajectory and potential title implications
• (15:28) Impact of the Royal Rumble on WrestleMania avenues
• (22:33) The Paul Heyman phone call mystery – Brock Lesnar's role
• (26:18) Obafemi and Brock Lesnar storylines brewing for WrestleMania
• (39:46) Top five men's Royal Rumble matches in history
• (56:45) Top women's Royal Rumble matches and notable debuts
• (63:45) Top men's Royal Rumble winners including Stone Cold’s legendary wins
• (66:45) Women's winners like Rhea Ripley's historic victory and other key moments
• (74:35) Debut and return highlights, including AJ Styles, Edge, and Ric Flair
• (83:28) Predictions for this year's Royal Rumble winners, surprises, and dark horses
• (114:46) Final predictions, bets, and upcoming episodes

Royal Rumble: The Difference Between Momentum and Noise

With the Royal Rumble just weeks away, the gap between momentum and noise in WWE has never been clearer.

On this episode of Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling, co-hosts Alexander the Great and Aiden Haystack break down why SmackDown feels confident and intentional heading into the Rumble — while RAW continues to feel hesitant, unfocused, and unsure of itself.

This isn’t a results show.

It’s a philosophy-driven deep dive into:

• Why RAW keeps creating moments without commitment
• How SmackDown uses clarity, stakes, and character to build real momentum
• The Gunther problem — monster heel vs creative contradiction
• The Vision as a symptom of RAW’s larger identity crisis
• Why the Royal Rumble exposes belief more than any match all year

As WrestleMania season approaches, one brand feels ready to pull the trigger — and the other still sounds like it’s waiting for permission.

Because when the Rumble hits, noise disappears… and only momentum survives.

🎙️ Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

00:00Welcome to Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling

02:25Rebranding and Presentation in Wrestling

05:42WWE's Current State: Raw vs. SmackDown

08:10Gunther vs. AJ Styles: A Heated Feud

13:40The Vision: WWE's Identity Crisis

23:31Building Towards the Royal Rumble

35:01SmackDown's Purpose vs. Raw's Confusion

49:42Upcoming UFC and Wrestling Events

51:55Fatal Four Way Predictions

54:06Women's Tag Team Championship and Rumble Dynamics

57:52Royal Rumble Excitement and Storylines

01:00:03Momentum and Build-Up for the Rumble

01:02:58Women's Championship and Title Defenses

01:08:01Jade Cargill's Title Reign and Performance

01:24:00Royal Rumble Readiness

In this episode, Alexander the Great and Aiden Haystack discuss the recent events in professional wrestling, focusing on John Cena's final match against Gunther, the implications of Austin Theory's reveal as the masked man, and the fallout from the Pro Wrestling Awards.

They analyze match outcomes, character developments, and fan reactions, particularly regarding Cena's retirement and Gunther's rise as a top heel.

00:00John Cena's Final Match Recap

02:49Austin Theory and the Masked Man Reveal

06:11Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov Spoilers

09:01Pro Wrestling Awards Discussion

11:48Dominic Mysterio's Injury Update

15:02Cody Rhodes vs. Oba Match Analysis

18:12Sol Ruca vs. Bayley Breakdown

21:08Gunther vs. John Cena: The Retirement Match

23:58Fan Reactions and Gunther's Heat

26:55Future of Gunther and Potential Feuds

45:06AJ Styles and Gunther: Anticipating Future Matches

49:00Bronn Breaker and CM Punk: Rising Stars and Promos

52:11Title Contention: Breaker vs Punk and Future Predictions

56:03Austin Theory's Reveal: Potential and Expectations

01:01:15Pro Wrestling Awards: WWE's Performance and AEW's Dominance

01:09:12Wrestler of the Year: Controversies and Discussions

01:12:29TKO's Impact: Future of WWE and Fan Expectations