3 Reasons Cody Rhodes Won’t Win the 2026 WWE Men’s Elimination Chamber Match

WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 came to a surprising end when Randy Orton defeated Cody Rhodes and scored the victory. The Men’s Chamber match saw the return of the mystery attacker, who was revealed as Seth Rollins.

Besides, Drew McIntyre disrupted the match and cost the American Nightmare. Now, this means Orton will get a match for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42 against Drew McIntyre.

The loss of the Prodigal Son came as a surprise to many fans. In this article, we’ll look at three reasons why Rhodes didn’t win the high-profile match in Chicago.

#3. Cody Rhodes may eliminate Drew McIntyre before WrestleMania 42

The Scottish Psychopath attacked Cody Rhodes at the end of the Chamber match. This confirms that the McIntyre-Rhodes feud is not over yet. With Cody failing to secure a Mania match against Drew McIntyre, it appears that WWE may be planning a major development ahead of WrestleMania.

One of the reasons why Cody failed to win the Chamber match is because there was a possibility that the American Nightmare could take down the Scottish star before the Show of the Immortals. Nick Aldis has already announced Cody vs. McIntyre in a title match on the upcoming SmackDown Live event.

Therefore, the title could be changed to pave the way for Orton vs. Rhodes at Mania, a dream match that fans have been waiting for for months.

#2. To give the men’s room match a surprise ending

Given the recent feud between McIntyre and Rhodes, there were high chances that Cody would win the chamber match. However, The Viper’s victory surprised everyone and gave Elimination Chamber an unexpected ending.

It is important to note that Chicago PLE was the last show before Shows of the Shows. As a result, it was necessary for Triple H to deliver a major upset or at least finish the PLE on a strong note.

This may be the reason why Cody Rhodes lost in the last match. Moreover, this ending sparked curiosity among fans and eventually sparked discussion after the room.

#1. Finally, it’s time for Randy Orton to be crowned champion at WWE WrestleMania

Randy Orton is one of the biggest superstars in WWE history. Speaking of legends, the Apex Predator is the only person left in the company who works full-time. Over the past few months, the legendary killer has suffered losses in several big matches and failed to get a world title match.

The loss of the prodigal son in the WWE Chamber may have happened, as the time has finally come for Randy Orton to be crowned at WrestleMania. The company may now be planning to give Viper another world title shot at Mania, resulting in Rhodes losing the Chamber match.