Elimination Chamber Matches Grow with Trick Williams and Kiana James Picking up Stunning Wins on SmackDown

This year's Elimination Chamber matches will feature Trick Williams and Kiana James in what would be their first experiences inside that structure.

Elimination Chamber Matches Grow with Trick Williams and Kiana James Picking up Stunning Wins on SmackDown

Trick Williams and Kiana James are in the Elimination Chamber matches [via- WWE]

The field for the respective Elimination Chamber matches is almost set. A couple more superstars booked their tickets to Chicago on this week’s SmackDown by virtue of going through the ordeal of a qualifier. In the first one of the night, Kiana James pulled off a major upset by rolling up Charlotte Flair, who had the figure 8 locked in on Nia Jax.

It was a breakout night for James. She even lifted Jax up on her shoulders for a Samoan Drop in an unreal display of strength. The Iowa native showed glimpses of her brilliance in last month’s Royal Rumble match, where she lasted over 27 minutes. After having competed in such a tentpole WWE match concept, she’s now set to make her Elimination Chamber match debut as well.

The 28-year-old cut a strong promo while heading to the back after picking up the win on SmackDown. She countered the argument of her being limited to being a ringside visitor for Giulia and affirmed that she was just calculating her next move in all that time. Kiana James has joined the likes of Rhea Ripley, Tiffany Stratton, Alexa Bliss, Asuka, with one spot left in the women’s Elimination Chamber match.

Meanwhile, on the men’s side of things, Trick Williams got through Damian Priest and Carmelo Hayes and is now headed to the United Center next Saturday. ‘Mr. Whoop That’ pinned Priest after a couple of trick shots landed right on the money. Williams going face-to-face with Hayes was a major highlight of the matchup, as it reminded the fans about their Trick Melo Gang from the good old NXT days.

The fans in the arena started buzzing with the NXT chants as soon as these wrestlers got the chance to lock up for the first time against each other on the main roster. WWE protected the United States Champion by not having him involved in the pinning sequence. Priest was the sacrificial lamb in that setting, and the fans are elated with ‘Tricky 2-time’ sealing that Elimination Chamber berth.

Williams is set to enter the sadistic structure with Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, LA Knight, Je’Von Evans, and one more name yet to qualify. It’s looking mighty stacked on paper, and the fans will be hoping for it to be equally good in terms of match quality and logical booking.

What else is on the deck for Elimination Chamber?

Apart from the two Elimination Chamber matches that will determine the fate of two superstars at WrestleMania 42, the said PLE in Chicago will also play host to a couple of title matches. First and foremost, CM Punk will defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Balor.

The latter has partially resorted to his old ways, with the return of his iconic entrance music being a major step in the right direction.

CM Punk vs. Finn Balor at Elimination Chamber
CM Punk vs. Finn Balor at Elimination Chamber [via- WWE]

Punk has been actively rallying for the Irishman to leave the Judgment Day for good if he’s willing to win some championship gold in 2026. ‘The Best in the World’ firmly believes that the villainous faction has dragged Balor down to its level when it should’ve ideally been the 44-year-old elevating them up to unprecedented heights. The inaugural WWE Universal Champion is steadfast on taking care of Punk all by himself.

Balor even got into an argument with the returning JD McDonagh on last week’s Raw. It would be interesting to see if the former Bullet Club leader could emulate what the ‘Second City Saint’ did to him on his home turf of Belfast a few weeks ago. Punk’s wife, AJ Lee, is set to wrestle her first singles match in over a decade at the Elimination Chamber, and it’s going to be for the women’s Intercontinental Championship.

‘The Crazy Chick’ baited Becky Lynch into putting the gold on the line. Lee has made Lynch tap out on a couple of occasions since returning to WWE last September. ‘The Black Widow’ even cost ‘The Man’ the women’s IC title against Maxxine Dupri at Madison Square Garden in November.

Lynch has yet to get her lick back on the New Jersey native, and she’d be hoping to turn the fortunes in her favor by making light work of the former Divas Champion on February 28. Another thing to keep an eye on at the PLE would be the mystery surrounding the crate that first appeared on Raw this Monday. Adam Pearce decided to send it to SmackDown for Nick Aldis to deal with.

The crate got featured in multiple backstage segments on the show last night. Johnny Gargano, who has lost his smile since Tommaso Ciampa quit WWE, was seen lying depressed on the top of it. Aldis eventually ordered the crate to be shipped back to Raw for his esteemed colleague to take care of it.

The reveal of the mystery crate has the date of the Elimination Chamber written over it. Rumors of Chris Jericho should be ruled out after it was revealed that AEW froze his contract a while ago and he’s still with the company.

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