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This Sunday is the final speedbump on the road to WrestleMania, the annual Elimination Chamber event. Coming less than 2 weeks after WWE's last pay-per-view, Super ShowDown, this year's edition seems a bit underwhelming compared to the hype we've seen in previous years.
The concept of the Elimination Chamber happening just before 'Mania is a great one, being used as an effective tool to set up some big matches for the Show of Shows. Even during its early days away from WrestleMania season, the Chamber was extremely fun.
It is essentially a hybrid of all of WWE's greatest gimmick matches -- Royal Rumble, Hell in a Cell, and the traditional Survivor Series elimination matches. The Chamber has had some tremendous drama within its terrifying confines, including some iconic moments that happened before, during or even after the match.
The best Elimination Chamber matches tell a solid and consistent story, sport a good lineup, and host some fun action. The ending is ideally satisfying as well, unless there are bigger things in wait post-Chamber.
ALSO READ: Top 5 greatest moments in Elimination Chamber history
Here are the five best ones in the history of this product of genius, the Elimination Chamber. But first, a couple of honorable mentions.
- New Year's Revolution 2005 (World Heavyweight Championship)
- Elimination Chamber 2011 (World Heavyweight Championship)
- Elimination Chamber 2019 (Women's Tag Team Championship)
#5 Survivor Series 2002 (World Heavyweight Championship)
Participants: Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Chris Jericho, and Kane
The first Elimination Chamber match was a tremendous success. It was unique and fresh at the time, with almost everything going right. Triple H, at the beginning of his era of domination, defended his World Heavyweight Championship against the top stars on RAW.
His primary feud was with Shawn Michaels, who had made his in-ring return after 4 years away from wrestling a few months earlier at SummerSlam. It was a simple story of good vs. evil. However, The Game put on a very gutsy performance, continuing the match for nearly 20 minutes after having his larynx crushed from a massive Frog Splash from Rob Van Dam.
Also, there was an issue with the order of the pod doors opening. There were some kinks in the first edition of the Chamber, as you would expect in a match of this magnitude, but that did not matter too much, as evidenced by the mostly seamless action. In the end, Michaels stood victorious and won the world title from his real-life best friend.
A lovely feel-good moment to kick off the legacy of this haunting structure. This bout was great in places and holds up as one of the better gimmick debut matches in WWE history.
#4 Elimination Chamber 2010 (World Heavyweight Championship)
Participants: The Undertaker, Rey Mysterio, John Morrison, Chris Jericho, CM Punk, and R-Truth
This Elimination Chamber match accomplished a lot heading into WrestleMania 26, with multiple matches being set up for the marquee event. Aside from that, the action was solid throughout and the storytelling was brilliant. It showcased the excellence of SmackDown in 2009 and 2010.
The match kicked off with CM Punk, who quickly eliminated R-Truth and cut an entertaining promo on his remaining opponents, all locked in their respective pods. This would eventually lead to his elimination at the hands of Rey Mysterio.
The action came thick and fast, with eliminations happening at a much faster pace than some prior editions. John Morrison had a great showing alongside The Undertaker and Chris Jericho, who were the final two. That was when Shawn Michaels interfered from under the ring to hit The Deadman with Sweet Chin Music and cost him his Big Gold Belt.
Jericho, in complete disbelief, quickly took advantage, pinned The Undertaker, and scurried out of the Chamber as the World Heavyweight Champion while HBK's eyes were locked on an unconscious Underaker. This helped set up Undertaker vs. Michaels, Jericho vs. Edge, and Punk vs. Mysterio. It was a fantastic example of storytelling in an Elimination Chamber match.
#3 Elimination Chamber 2019 (WWE Championship)
Participants: Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, and Kofi Kingston
Last year's Elimination Chamber main event was excellent, in terms of both in-ring action and storytelling. Daniel Bryan was on top of WWE as the eco-friendly champion and he completely dominated this match. Nothing on SmackDown could touch him, aside from a certain 11-year veteran.
Kofi Kingston was added to this match as a last-minute replacement after Mustafa Ali suffered an eye injury that would keep him out. The New Day member put on a pair of career-defining performances in a gauntlet match on SmackDown and then inside the Elimination Chamber itself.
Kingston made it down to the final two alongside WWE Champion Daniel Bryan and almost pulled off the victory. The veteran Superstars fought hard in an epic sequence which saw the Ghanaian kick out of a Running Knee. However, a second Running Knee put him away for good on that night. He may have not won the title, but Kofi Kingston made a statement that day.
There was a perfect balance of high-spots and storytelling in this match involving everyone. Every single elimination was great. This was the pre-cursor to KofiMania so naturally, there are very few Chamber matches better than this, especially in terms of the sheer emotion displayed throughout.
#2 No Way Out 2009 (World Heavyweight Championship)
Participants: John Cena, Chris Jericho, Kane, Mike Knox, Rey Mysterio, and Edge
No Way Out 2009 told an incredible story across two Elimination Chamber matches. The first one, for the WWE Championship, saw Edge walk in with the title only to get eliminated less than five minutes in, guaranteeing that a new WWE Champion would be crowned. It was one of the most shocking moments in Chamber history. The Rated-R Superstar's night was not over, however.
The main event of the show was for John Cena's World Heavyweight Championship. Kofi Kingston was scheduled to be in the match, but the Ultimate Opportunist attacked him and took his spot. It was unbelievable seeing one man wrestle two Chamber matches in one night.
From then on, the drama and tension went through the roof. Edge, Rey Mysterio, and Chris Jericho did the heavy lifting in the match. Cena, who entered last, was eliminated in shockingly quick fashion. The fans couldn't believe it when the 16-time world champion was pinned mere minutes after entering the match from the final position.
In the end, Edge outlasted Mysterio after a killer final sequence to win RAW's Big Gold Belt despite being a SmackDown Superstar. The road to WrestleMania was a very interesting time, with champions and challengers drifting from show to show. This Elimination Chamber match exemplified the chaos perfectly and made the most of it.
#1 Elimination Chamber 2017 (WWE Championship)
Participants: John Cena, AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose, The Miz, Bray Wyatt, and Baron Corbin
SmackDown Live was excellent from the beginning of the second brand split, up until WrestleMania 33. It truly was the 'Land of Opportunity' and many stars were made. The stories were great in both the men's and women's divisions. This Elimination Chamber match illustrated that perfectly.
John Cena went into the match as the WWE Champion, after winning the title for a 16th time in a classic battle with AJ Styles at the Royal Rumble. He picked up from where he left off alongside the Phenomenal One as they started the match. Much like many other Chamber matches before it, this edition from 2017 saw quite a few stories told.
Feuds between Cena and The Miz, as well as Dean Ambrose and Baron Corbin, were teased here, but the big story was Bray Wyatt. He was part of the final three competitors along with Cena and Styles, with many directions in which the match could go.
The Eater of Worlds stunned everybody by pinning both Cena and Styles to win his first WWE Championship. It was a fantastic and emotional moment. After what he had to endure for years as the bridesmaid and never the bride, as the saying goes, Bray Wyatt was finally the WWE Champion.
The culmination of Wyatt's ascent was a great moment. The in-ring work in this match was incredible, with every participant playing a vital role in the story of the match. It began with a final rekindling of a classic feud and ended with a new star being crowned.
As it turned out, however, the reign of the red-hot Wyatt ended in anticlimactic fashion at WrestleMania, much to the chagrin of many fans. It was seen as a disappointing title reign, but on this night, Bray Wyatt truly had the whole world in his hands.
