Cody Rhodes vs Jacob Fatu Just Got Real—WWE Confirms One Major Star Will Miss Elimination Chamber
WWE has officially raised the stakes ahead of Elimination Chamber, and the fallout could be massive. With WrestleMania 42 looming, one top name is guaranteed to be knocked out of the title picture before the Chamber even begins.
The Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event takes place on February 28 at the United Center in Chicago, and the winner of the men’s Chamber match will earn a blockbuster WWE Championship opportunity against Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. Naturally, speculation has been swirling around major contenders — especially Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu.
Now, WWE has confirmed a twist that changes everything.
During SmackDown’s upcoming February 13 episode, WWE will hold a triple threat Elimination Chamber qualifying match featuring Cody Rhodes, Jacob Fatu, and Sami Zayn. With only one spot available, at least one rumored WrestleMania challenger will be eliminated from contention in shocking fashion.
This announcement all but guarantees that either Rhodes or Fatu will miss out on the Chamber match entirely — unless WWE introduces a last-chance qualifier later. For now, the message is clear: nothing is guaranteed on the road to WrestleMania.
The high-stakes episode will air on SyFy instead of USA Network due to Olympic coverage, but WWE is not holding back. The stacked lineup includes:
- Elimination Chamber qualifier: Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu vs. Sami Zayn
- Elimination Chamber qualifier: Alexa Bliss vs. Giulia vs. Zelina Vega
- WWE Women’s Championship: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Jordynne Grace
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: RHIYO (c) vs. Nia Jax & Lash Legend
- Rey Fenix vs. Trick Williams
With multiple championship matches and crucial Chamber qualifiers, WWE is loading SmackDown with must-see moments — even on a network switch.
The biggest question now: Will WWE risk leaving Cody Rhodes out of the Elimination Chamber? Or will Jacob Fatu’s momentum be cut short just weeks before WrestleMania season hits full speed?
One way or another, February 13 is shaping up to be a turning point for WrestleMania 42.
