CM Punk (c) will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Bálor at WWE Elimination Chamber on February 28 in Chicago. The match was made official during tonight's episode of Raw after Bálor interrupted a planned in-ring interview with the champion and demanded a rematch.
How the Match Was Made on Raw
Bálor confronted Punk during his interview segment and made his case for another shot at the World Heavyweight Title. Raw General Manager Adam Pearce initially resisted the idea, expressing concern about jeopardizing the already-announced Elimination Chamber event and the bigger picture heading into WrestleMania 42.
Pearce's concern centered on the risk of Punk entering WrestleMania without the title if something went wrong in Chicago. However, Punk insisted on accepting the challenge, and the title match was officially sanctioned for the Premium Live Event at the United Center.
The Punk-Bálor Rivalry So Far
The feud between the two dates back to January, when Punk retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Bálor on the January 19 episode of Raw in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Despite a show of mutual respect after the Belfast match, Bálor turned aggressive the following week. He attacked Punk during a World Heavyweight Championship match against AJ Styles on the January 26 Raw, causing the bout to end in disqualification.
Bálor then attempted to enter the Royal Rumble match but was told by Pearce that all 30 spots were filled, further fueling his frustration.
What This Means for the Road to WrestleMania
Elimination Chamber 2026 serves as the final Premium Live Event before WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. Punk is already slated to face Roman Reigns in the WrestleMania main event after Reigns won the 2026 Royal Rumble.
With the Reigns match looming, Punk's decision to put the title on the line in his hometown adds a layer of drama to the build. A loss would throw the entire WrestleMania main event picture into chaos, though Bálor's chances of dethroning Punk at this stage appear slim.
For Bálor, the match represents his biggest opportunity since his days as the inaugural Universal Champion nearly a decade ago and could signal a significant singles push heading into the spring.
