CM Punk has addressed the distinct possibility of Finn Balor’s dark “Demon” alter-ego showing up to challenge him at the upcoming WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 premium live event. This Saturday, in CM Punk’s hometown of Chicago, the “Best in the World” will put his World Heavyweight Championship on the line against the leader of The Judgment Day.
With a guaranteed WrestleMania 42 main event match against Roman Reigns at stake, Punk has shown nothing but confidence in his ability. He believes he can once again get past Balor in the build to the stadium show. This mirrors his mindset when the pair last met for the title in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for the January 19 episode of Raw.
While Punk has defeated Balor before in standard competition, he has yet to take on the terrifying “Demon” version of the former WWE Universal Champion. That specific persona has not been seen on WWE television since Balor’s brutal loss to Edge inside Hell in a Cell at 2023’s WrestleMania 39.
Speaking to the No Contest Wrestling podcast, Punk was directly asked about the possibility of “Demon” Balor showing up to challenge him on February 28. Punk leaned into his hometown advantage and his own aggressive nature. “That’s cool because I’m a demon without having to wear a costume and I’m in Chicago,” Punk stated.
He delivered a warning to his opponent. “If anybody’s going to be a demon that night it’s going to be me,” he ended. The top WWE star also responded to those critical of his decision to compete in such a major championship match right before WrestleMania 42.
In what is one of two title bouts on the four-match card, the stakes are elevated significantly. The winner will proceed to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble winner. Ahead of Elimination Chamber, Punk addressed those who think he’s putting “the biggest match of his life” in jeopardy.
“Everyone’s talking about Mania, everyone’s talking about Roman. I look at it like, there’s no Sunday for me post Elimination Chamber, because I’m going all out,” Punk explained. He highlighted the emotional significance of performing in his home city. “I don’t know if I’m ever going to get to wrestle in the United Center ever again after this, so I’m gonna give my people a show.”
He rejected the notion that he is overlooking Balor. “Everybody telling me that I’m jeopardizing the biggest match of my life and I’m like, ‘No, the biggest match of my life is the next one.’ And before I get to Roman I’ve got Finn in the house that was built for Michael Jordan,” he noted.
Punk respects the history of the venue. “A lot of amazing sports history in that building and I’m not just talking about Bulls and Blackhawks, I’m talking about Bret and Owen in a cage, that stupid blue cage, and they put on a masterpiece, a magnificent contest. So I’m following in those footsteps, those are big shoes to fill,” he stated.
The Elimination Chamber event on February 28 will also feature the Men’s and Women’s Elimination Chamber matches to determine the remaining top contenders for WrestleMania 42. Cody Rhodes, LA Knight, Randy Orton, Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams, and Jey Uso will battle inside the steel structure for a shot at the WWE Championship.
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