Randy Orton claimed a significant win at WWE Elimination Chamber 2026, held last night in Chicago, earning himself a shot at the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42. During the intense Men’s Elimination Chamber match, Orton capitalized on a moment of chaos involving Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes to secure victory and set up a high-stakes confrontation with McIntyre for the title.
In the match, Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre unexpectedly attacked Cody Rhodes, who had just responded with a Cross Rhodes maneuver. Orton seized the opportunity, delivering a surprise RKO to Rhodes and winning the bout. Following this win, Orton took to Instagram to boldly declare his intention to capture the WWE Championship for the 15th time at WrestleMania, sharing a photo from his triumphant moment inside the chamber.
“#15 coming soon,” he wrote. – Randy Orton
Additional WrestleMania Contenders and Match Developments
Amid the chaos of the Elimination Chamber match, Seth Rollins made a notable return, launching an assault on Logan Paul. Prior to Rollins’ intervention, Logan Paul had eliminated competitors LA Knight, Je’Von Evans, and Trick Williams. Rollins, who had been ousted from his faction The Vision following an injury at Crown Jewel last year, appears to be repositioning himself in upcoming WWE storylines.
Orton Discusses Toughest Career Move Taken
On a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Randy Orton reflected on a painful moment in his wrestling career. He identified Rob Van Dam’s Five-Star Frog Splash as the hardest move he has endured. Orton described the impact of the move as the ‘stoutest’ he had ever taken, underscoring the physical challenges he has faced throughout his time in WWE.
“I’m trying to think. I think the heaviest, probably is a five-star frog splash from RVD, would probably be the most stoutest thing I’ve ever taken,” he said. – Randy Orton
Championship Rivalry Set for WrestleMania 42
Earlier this year, Drew McIntyre secured the WWE title by defeating Cody Rhodes in an exhausting Three Stages of Hell match on SmackDown. The upcoming WrestleMania bout between McIntyre and Orton promises to be a hard-fought contest between two of the company’s most established performers. Fans will watch closely to see if Orton, known as The Apex Predator, can dethrone McIntyre and claim the championship once again on WWE’s biggest stage.
