Randy Orton secured a controversial victory at the 2026 WWE Elimination Chamber, earning a championship opportunity at WrestleMania 42 after an intervention by Drew McIntyre and a subsequent RKO on Cody Rhodes.
The chaotic finish to the Men’s Elimination Chamber match saw McIntyre, who earlier interfered in a qualifying match involving Jacob Fatu, enter the structure and attack Rhodes with the Undisputed WWE Championship belt. Orton initially intervened to protect Rhodes, delivering an RKO to McIntyre. Still, Orton immediately turned on Rhodes, hitting a second RKO to secure the pinfall win, according to reports from WWE.com and YouTube highlights of the event.
The outcome sets up a complex situation heading into WrestleMania 42, with Orton now slated to challenge for the title in Las Vegas. The specific opponent remains uncertain, dependent on the result of a match announced following the Elimination Chamber event.
The post-Elimination Chamber fallout extended beyond the ring, as SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis publicly confronted McIntyre. Aldis expressed his frustration with McIntyre’s repeated interference and what he characterized as “self-sabotage,” nearly leading to a physical altercation.
In response to McIntyre’s actions, Aldis announced that McIntyre will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes this Friday night on Friday Night SmackDown. The announcement, accompanied by a video posted on WWE’s social media channels, was met with resistance from McIntyre, who attempted to confront Aldis and was restrained by security.
The upcoming match on SmackDown will determine whether Orton faces McIntyre or Rhodes for the championship at WrestleMania 42 on April 19.
