The 5 greatest WWE Elimination Chamber matches from the past 20 years

Before February 19, 2022, there had been 28 Elimination Chamber matches in WWE history.
Before February 19, 2022, there had been 28 Elimination Chamber matches in WWE history.

The next stop on the road to the WrestleMania is the Elimination Chamber. The event will take place on Saturday, February 19, at the Jeddah Dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It will be the first time the Chamber match will take place outside of North America.

The Elimination Chamber match itself is one of the most brutal and entertaining match-ups out there. It sees WWE Superstars go head-to-head in a barbaric circular cage structure. The battle begins with two superstars in the ring before more superstars are added at 5-minute intervals.

This year will see Bobby Lashley defend the WWE Championship against Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, Riddle, AJ Styles, and Austin Theory. Other showdowns on the card see Becky Lynch face Lita defending her RAW Women's Championship and Roman Reigns vs. Goldberg for the Universal Championship in a colossus clash.

There will also be a Women's Elimination Chamber match between Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Rhea Ripley, Nikki A.S.H., Doudrop, and a mystery entrant. The match will determine a new No.1 contender for the RAW Women's Championship being crowned for WrestleMania.

To honor the match type's twentieth year and what is expected to be another grueling showdown on 19th February, here’s a look back at some of the moments considered to be the most iconic in Elimination Chamber history.


#5 WWE legends do battle in the Elimination Chamber match in 2011

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The Rated R Superstar Edge started the match with Rey Mysterio, defending his World Heavyweight Championship that he’d only won back a few days earlier on SmackDown, defeating Dolph Ziggler.

Also in the match were The Big Show, Wade Barrett, Kane, and Drew McIntyre, who were all vying for an opportunity to clinch the title. It was a goliath line-up, aside from the Master of the 619, but only one superstar could survive to take the spoils.

It came down to Edge and Rey Mysterio as the final two. The pair traded Spears and 619s as the WWE Universe teetered on the edge of their seats, wondering who would strike the deadly blow. Nevertheless, The Rated R Superstar delivered an epic Spear that would ultimately book his place at WrestleMania 27.

#4 The Kofi Show in the 2019 Elimination Chamber match

At the 2019 Royal Rumble, Daniel Bryan held onto his WWE Championship. Many expected him to walk away with an Elimination Chamber win ahead of WrestleMania 35 too, but Kofi Kingston almost threw a spanner in the works.

Five days before the WWE Title Elimination Chamber match, a six-man gauntlet match between Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy, Randy Orton, Samoa Joe, and Mustafa Ali decided who would enter the chamber last. Sadly, Ali was replaced at the last minute through injury, and Kofi Kingston took his place.

During the Chamber match itself, it was the Kofi Kingston show. He had the full backing of the WWE Universe and managed to make it to the end of the match to go one-on-one with the champion after shockingly eliminating Randy Orton. Despite some close nearfalls and some brazen offense, Bryan walked away as Champion, but Kofi was made a star that night.


#3 The Rated R Superstar Edge causes mayhem at No Way Out 2009

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The Rated R Superstar, Edge, kicked off the night at No Way Out in 2009, defending his WWE Championship against some of the most enormous titans in WWE history: Triple H, The Undertaker, Jeff Hardy, Big Show, and Vladimir Kozlov.

Shockingly, the Champion was eliminated within just a few minutes of entering the match. Known for being the Ultimate Opportunist, Edge wouldn't let this destroy his path to WrestleMania and had a cunning plan in mind.

Later in the night, John Cena defended his World Heavyweight Championship inside the Elimination Chamber. When Kofi Kingston was ready to enter the match, he was blindsided by The Rated R Superstar, who stole his spot in the contest.

In the end, Edge left the WWE Universe needing to pick their jaws up off the floor as he won the match, winning a different title to the one that he arrived at the event with.

#2 An unexpected champion emerges at the 2017 Elimination Chamber

John Cena entered the 2017 Elimination Chamber match as defending champion against The Miz, Baron Corbin, AJ Styles, Bray Wyatt, and Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose.

In another jaw-dropping twist, John Cena was eliminated from the match early by Bray Wyatt, astonishing the WWE Universe, confirming that there would be a new Champion leaving the barbaric structure on that night.

Little did anyone think it would be The Eater of Worlds, Wyatt landed a devastating Sister Abigail on Styles to win the WWE Championship for the first time. It was a moment that nobody could have foreseen coming and will now live long in the memory of fans worldwide.


#1 The Elimination Chamber match debuts at the 2002 Survivor Series

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20 years ago, the Elimination Chamber match was introduced for the first time by RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff. It left an awe-inspiring impression on the WWE Universe who were mesmerized by the new match concept.

Commentators on the night said it would go down as one of the most dramatic matches in history - and they were right. Triple H walked in as the Champion defending his title against Shawn Michaels, Rob Van Dam, Chris Jericho, Kane and Booker T.

Lastly, it came down to Shawn Michaels and Triple H, who at the time were bitter rivals following HBK's return to the ring from a devastating back injury. However, it was Michaels who got the better of him on this occasion, landing Sweet Chin Music to win the World Heavyweight Championship.

Confetti slowly descended down from the rafters at Madison Square Garden in what became one of the most iconic moments in WWE history.


The Elimination Chamber will be streamed live from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, 19th February at 12pm EST/5pm GMT/10:30pm in India.

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