AJ Lee returned to WWE after more than a decade away. (Credit: Michael Marques/WWE via Getty Images)
WWE via Getty Images
Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee certainly fits the bill as a match meant for WrestleMania, but it became one of the biggest attractions at WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 instead.
After a decade out of the ring, Lee returned to WWE last year and, alongside her husband CM Punk, faced and defeated Lynch and Seth Rollins at last September’s WrestlePalooza. Two months later, Lee’s Survivor Series team defeated Lynch’s squad in a WarGames match to improve her record to 2-0 against the Women’s Intercontinental Champion.
Thus, at WWE Elimination Chamber, Lynch was looking for not just a modicum of revenge on Lee but also her first win over the former Divas Champion and a successful defense of her beloved Intercontinental title.
WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 Results for Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee
Becky Lynch has spent much of the past year elevating the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, but after Elimination Chamber, it’s AJ Lee’s turn to do that.
Although Lynch tried various nefarious tactics to hold onto her title, Lee was able to take it away from “Big Time Becks” inside Chicago’s United Center. Lee just barely eeked out a victory when she forced Lynch to tap out to the Black Widow submission. With the win, Lee is a champion in WWE for the first time in 11 years.
Here are the biggest highlights and key takeaways from Lee’s win over Lynch at WWE Elimination Chamber 2026:
- Early on, Lynch hit Lee with a big shoulder tackle and mocked her signature pose in the ring ropes. Not much action early on until Lee hit Lynch with a big dropkick. Then, Lynch responded with a kick and a barrage of punches before taking control.
- Lynch hit a Bexploder for a two-count as the crowd remained quiet, just like it had all night. Lee fought back with plenty of punches as the fans began to wake up. She hit a running bulldog on Lynch. Lee attempted a comeback and ultimately hit Lynch with a tornado DDT and a shining wizard for a two-count.
- Lee and Lynch exchanged pin attempts, and Lee went for the Black Widow but Lynch countered and got a two-count of her own. A frustrated Lynch exposed one of the top turnbuckles and attempted to smash Lee face-first into it. Lee avoided it, pulled Lynch down and went to the top rope with the exposed turnbuckle.
- Lynch climbed up and nailed a huge superplex, immediately transitioning into an armbar. Lee countered into a pin attempt and then hit Lee with a big kick for two. The referee attempted to put the cover back on the turnbuckle, Lynch sent Lee into it and then attempted the pin but didn’t get it.
- Lynch inadvertently took out the ref again with a kick. While the ref was down, Lee made Lynch tap out to the Black Widow. However, the ref couldn’t see it. Lynch took advantage to attack Lee from behind as the crowd chanted, “You tapped out!” Yet, the match continued.
- With the ref still down, Lynch sent a steel chair into the ring as she brawled with Lynch on the outside. Back in, Lee went for a tornado DDT, but Lynch countered and planted Lee onto the steel chair with a DDT. Lynch pulled up the ref and then hit a Man Handle Slam on Lee, who shockingly kicked out as the crowd erupted.
- Lynch confronted the ref, then attempted another Man Handle Slam. But Lee countered. Lynch missed a tackle attempt in the corner and ran into the exposed turnbuckle. Then, Lee locked in the Black Widow. Lynch tapped out almost immediately to become the new Women’s Intercontinental Champion.
WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 Results: What’s Next for Becky Lynch and AJ Lee?
When WWE announced Lynch vs. Lee for WWE Elimination Chamber 2026, it came as quite the surprise. The expectation, after all, was that this dream match would be saved for WrestleMania 42.
As it turns out, however, there is a reason why WWE decided to do the first-ever Lynch vs. Lee match at Elimination Chamber instead. The idea, according to Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Sports Illustrated) was to book the match in such a way that it would still lead to the two stars facing off at WWE’s flagship show, WrestleMania.
That’s exactly what WWE wound up doing, too. With Lynch vs. Lee reportedly “locked in” for WrestleMania 42, WWE ultimately chose to go with a controversial finish at Elimination Chamber that clearly set the stage for a rematch on “The Grandest Stage of Them All.”
Yes, Lee walked out of the United Center with her Intercontinental Championship, but Lynch’s attempts to cheat didn’t go unnoticed. Neither will Lynch’s inevitable complaining that lies ahead in the weeks to come.
Lee has now beat Lynch three times in various matches since her return last year, and this feud isn’t going to end without Lynch winning again. Instead, an enraged Lynch can spend the next several weeks campaigning for a rematch. In fact, it’s quite fitting for the cowardly heel she’s portrayed in recent months.
The endgame, however, is obviously the same no matter how WWE gets there. Lee and Lynch will likely clash again for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, and based off that finish at WWE Elimination Chamber, they’re going to do so at WrestleMania 42.