Top 10 Elimination Chamber Moments
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Another month in the WWE down, which means another PLE (premium live event, formerly known as PPV) is on the horizon. The month is February and since 2010, that month has been owned by the Elimination Chamber event. With a few exceptions thrown in, February was previously owned by the No Way Out PPV, which was a one-time tagline of In Your House. However, after 1998, the In Your House name was dropped but No Way Out stuck. Many No Way Out events had Elimination Chamber matches, which we’ll see in this countdown, but as you read in my other piece, the Elimination Chamber match has been featured at many other PLE’s such as Survivor Series, New Year’s Revolution and December to Dismember.
Just like in my Royal Rumble countdown last month, I want to take you through my personal Top 10 Elimination Chamber moments, matches and performers. These are my personal opinion and not something I found on a list from WWE or any other publication. Therefore, feel free to agree or disagree; in fact, would love to receive your feedback in a comment below or on social media (@chrisbelcher24). Before we get to the list, let me hand out a few honorable mentions, because what Top 10 list would be complete without them.
Honorable Mention: Shayna Baszler dominates – Elimination Chamber 2020
This first honorable mention goes under the radar for a number of reasons, the two main being the global pandemic that quickly occurred after this that changed the whole world, and the booking of the Queen of Spades following this match. However, when you look at the moment by itself, Shayna Baszler’s dominant performance in the Women’s Elimination Chamber in 2020, is something to spotlight. The field of superstars in the match that night was a pretty impressive group, with all 3 members of the Riott Squad (Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan & Liv Morgan), Natalya and Asuka. But Baszler quickly ran through all of them, proving her to be a monster heel and setting up a showdown between her and the Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 36. Again, the pandemic as mentioned above, may have changed booking decisions or how things were presented, but we aren’t here to criticize how things were booked following this. This standalone performance at the Elimination Chamber deserves an honorable mention on this list.
Honorable Mention: Chris Jericho & Randy Orton, unsung heroes in the Elimination Chamber
Tied for not only the most appearances inside the Elimination Chamber (8) but also tied with only 1 Chamber match win, we have to mention Chris Jericho and Randy Orton. Of course they will be mentioned several times throughout this article, but I feel that having the most Chamber appearances deserves its own section. These two are certainly not underrated in terms of their career, but they might not be the first people you think of when you think of the Chamber match but their contributions cannot be denied. Chris Jericho participated in the first 3 Chamber matches but is probably most remembered for his victory aided by Shawn Michaels in 2010 when Jericho pinned the Undertaker to win the World Heavyweight Championship. Orton, on the other hand, competed in the majority of his Chamber matches during Jericho’s hiatus from the company, with his lone win coming in 2014 where he retained the World Heavyweight Championship. From the Chamber perspective, Orton may be best known for his storyline with Bray Wyatt in 2017 and their staredown moment after Wyatt’s WWE Championship win inside the Chamber. Randy had won the Royal Rumble a month prior to Wyatt’s win, thus granting him the opportunity to face the champion at WrestleMania. Yet, Orton was a member of the Wyatt Family at the time and it created the moment at the Chamber where everyone knew this was coming to a head, and it was only a matter of time.
10. Women’s Tag Team Championship Elimination Chamber match – Elimination Chamber 2019
This was not the first time the women would enter the Elimination Chamber match (but we’ll get to that later) but it was the women’s tag team Elimination Chamber match. In fact, the match would crown the brand-new Women’s Tag Team Champions. Regardless of your current thoughts surrounding the Women’s Tag Team Championship, back in 2019, the excitement surrounding the new titles was very high. Six very well-established teams would enter Satan’s Prison to do battle in a fantastic match. But in the end, Sasha Banks & Bayley, known then as the Boss ‘n Hug Connection, would come out on top after last eliminating Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville. The other participants in the match (Nia Jax/Tamina, The IIconics (Billie Kay/Peyton Royce), Riott Squad (Sarah Logan/Liv Morgan) & Carmella/Naomi), along with the final 2 teams, were built incredibly well and made the first match for the tag titles feel incredibly special. This was also the first Women’s Chamber match to feature a spot where one of the pods got destroyed, thanks to Nia Jax.
9. World Heavyweight Championship Elimination Chamber match – SummerSlam 2003
The second-ever Elimination Chamber match is one that many people forget, mainly because it was during Triple H’s infamous “Reign of Terror.” However, this Chamber may have featured the most unlikely yet star-studded field in a Chamber match. Not only the aforementioned Triple H, but Goldberg, Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash, Chris Jericho and Randy Orton. Because this was during H’s reign as previously mentioned, he did pick up the win in this one by hitting Goldberg in the head with his sledgehammer. However, Goldberg shined in this moment, as he did several times during his first 1-year run with the company. In fact, the infamous spot of Goldberg spearing Chris Jericho through the pod that is often shown on Elimination Chamber highlight packages, comes from this match. Also worth noting is up until the 2 Chamber matches in 2022, this was the shortest Chamber match, coming in at 19:12. This was certainly due to Triple H, the champ, working through a groin injury (which is why he wore the biker shorts attire for a bit). This match also took place in the previous design of the Chamber (please check out my previous article titled “The History & Evolution of WWE’s Elimination Chamber” for a further explanation) which added to the violence here. The combination of Triple H working through injury, Goldberg’s highlights, Kevin Nash’s non-traditional haircut and the fact that Randy Orton was still a member of Evolution during this time, really made for an interesting story and a memorable match (okay, Nash’s hair wasn’t that interesting of a story, just something interesting to note).
8. Bray Wyatt wins first World Championship – Elimination Chamber 2017
Before I get to the match itself, a quick plug for this PLE and this entire time period. This was during the resurgence of the brand split and great opportunities the SmackDown roster was getting. Under Shane McMahon’s leadership (kayfabe), many superstars like Alexa Bliss, Apollo Crews, Luke Harper and American Alpha (Chad Gable & Jason Jordan) were able to stake their claim and shine in big-time spots. Guys like Heath Slater, Rhyno, The Miz and Dolph Ziggler were able to show why they still had what it takes to compete. And of course wrestlers such as Dean Ambrose, AJ Styles and The Usos proved why they are the real deal and could headline at any point in time. The record-tying 16th World Championship reign of John Cena would come to a close in this match as Bray Wyatt would capture his first WWE Championship in dramatic fashion. Bray not only captured the title that night but eliminated Cena earlier in the match, which solidified him in a top spot on the SmackDown brand and a championship match at WrestleMania. However, as mentioned in this article earlier, Randy Orton would emerge and stare down Wyatt to end the night, thus furthering their story ahead of WrestleMania. The match itself was full of incredible storytelling, as Styles and Cena attempted to outlast everyone following their Royal Rumble classic. These two began the Chamber match, and seemingly put an end to their phenomenal (pun intended) feud that kicked off in the summer of 2016. Many other incredible twists and turns were woven throughout this match, one of which was obvious in that this was the first Elimination Chamber match in which the redesigned structure was used. Also worth noting that of all the participants in this match, Cena and the Miz were the only ones with Elimination Chamber experience. Styles and Wyatt, along with Baron Corbin and Dean Ambrose, were entering Satan’s Prison for the very first time.
7. Kofi-mania runs wild – Elimination Chamber 2019
Very few storylines in the history of wrestling have had the overwhelming impact that “Kofi-Mania” had in 2019. I was in the stadium at WrestleMania 35 when Kofi finally pinned Bryan to win the title, and the atmosphere was electric! But you could feel the ground-swell before that. Due to a legit injury to Mustafa Ali, Kofi Kingston would be announced as his replacement. A gaunlet match on SmackDown would happen to determine who entered the Chamber last and even though Kofi didn’t win that match, his efforts and abilities were admired by fans, thus giving Kofi incredible momentum headed into this event. The fans were behind Kofi like never before and this night solidified it. After eliminating Randy Orton, the showdown would be set between Kofi and then-champion Daniel Bryan. These two battled back and forth, trading their best shots, but in the end, Bryan would come out victorious. One could make the argument that the aftermath of this Chamber match is more important than this specific match, but this night served as the springboard for what’s to come. I can write all day and tell you about how awesome it was and how this organic storyline became one of the biggest storylines in WrestleMania history, but I would recommend just going to watch it. The unfolding of Kofi’s journey is something everyone needs to experience for themselves.
6. Triple H: “The Cerebral Assassian”
Anyone that has earned the nickname “The Game” or “The Cerebral Assassian” has done so because of the way they are able to constantly find ways to overcome the biggest of odds and and do it in a way that seemingly only he can come up with. Triple H checks all of those boxes and more when it comes to his performances in the Elimination Chamber match. In 6 appearances, The Game was been victorious in 4 of them, which is the most of any superstar in history. The two that he fell short in was the very first one (which we’ll discuss later) and in 2010, H’s last chamber appearance, when John Cena became champion ahead of WrestleMania 26. In each of those Chamber losses, Triple H was the last man eliminated from the match. People can say what they want about Triple H and his career, how he got to where he is, does he deserve it, etc. In my opinion, Triple H is one of the greatest champions the wrestling business has ever seen. His ability to get the most of his opponents, whether he’s a heel or babyface, continues to impress me each and every time I watch one of his matches. That psychology that he brings to the ring certainly translates into gimmick matches, much like the Chamber. Despite all of the accolades I just listed and the face that Triple H has the most Chamber wins in history, there is another superstar I will put ahead of him as the top Chamber performer, which we’ll get to shortly.
5. The women step inside the Chamber for the first time – Elimination Chamber 2018
The women’s revolution really started taking the WWE by storm in 2016, when the Diva’s Championship was renamed the Women’s Championship. Three of the 4 Horsewomen (Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks) jumped from NXT were making an instant impact on the main roster, which helped springboard the revitalization of the women’s division. However, in 2018, the division would take it up another notch as for the first time, a Women’s Championship would be defended inside the Elimination Chamber. The Raw’s Women’s Championship was the prize as Alexa Bliss would walk in as champion, and retain the gold over Sasha Banks, Bayley, Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville and Mickie James. I touched on this match in my last article and about how Bliss stole the show that night with her performance both in-ring and on the mic afterwards, but I will take this time to give credit to the other ladies in the match. This was during a run where we thought we might finally see the much-anticipated Sasha Banks vs. Bayley WrestleMania showdown, as they each had moments of potentially turning on the other one. That was a great story to tell during this, as well as a second run of Mickie James. She came back to the company in 2017, aligning herself with Alexa Bliss, but would seemingly split shortly thereafter. However, following this match, Mickie would realign herself with Bliss as they feuded with Nia Jax leading to WrestleMania 34. Let’s not forget Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville, who weren’t stars just yet in this match, but certainly provided great foils for the other ladies. All of those things packaged up made for a fantastic first outing for the women in the Elimination Chamber; a historic match that could not be left off this list.
4. Undertaker gets burned during entrance…and still finishes the match – Elimination Chamber 2010
Many would make the argument that when you’re talking about specific moments in the Elimination Chamber’s history, this one belongs on the top. The Undertaker, known of course for his very dramatic entrances, started incorporating flames into his entrance when he brought back the Deadman character in 2004. Anytime anyone has pyro of any kind in their entrance, you’re always skeptical of something going wrong because let’s face it, it just happens. We saw the incident in 2009 where Jeff Hardy was burned by his pyro, but that of course turned out to be part of the story. But on this night in St. Louis, Missouri, there would be no story, no kayfabe, just a major malfunction at the junction. The flames shot directly into Taker’s face, setting his coat on fire and causing first and second-degree burns on his body. Taker then has to stand in his pod, waiting for his turn to enter the ring, all the while pouring water all over himself to try and help with the pain. Medical personnel were of course evaluating him and gave him clearance to continue. But let’s be honest here, it’s the Undertaker, there was no way he was not competing in this match. Besides, he was also the World Heavyweight Champion, and had a major angle at the end with Shawn Michaels to set up their WrestleMania rematch. So not only is it the Undertaker and has wrestled through much worse, but he knows what’s on the line that night. So he powers through, everything works out…except for the pyro guy who was immediately fired because in the words of Bruce Prichard, no one wanted that guy anywhere near backstage when the Undertaker finally returned. I mean, if it were you, would you want to be around?
3. World Heavyweight Championship Elimination Chamber match – New Year’s Revolution 2005
Speaking of Triple H, this match was his second Elimination Chamber victory. From an in-ring standpoint, this is probably the best Elimination Chamber match to date and it was for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship. Triple H picking up the big win in the match but the real winner was Batista because this match proved he was the guy to give the ball to. The crowd reaction to Batista in this match was unbelievable, especially when he was eliminated from the match. The people wanted to see the Triple H/Batista showdown so bad, but WWE did the smart thing with making them wait until WrestleMania for it. Speaking of the crowd, incredibly hot throughout this whole match. This entire PPV flies under the radar as it was the first New Year’s Revolution show but it also took place is Puerto Rico! Randy Orton had a standout performance in this match, as well as Chris Jericho, who were both mentioned earlier. The story being Edge and Shawn Michaels was furthered here as they had a singles match at the following Royal Rumble, but as a fan of both guys, sad we didn’t go all the way to WrestleMania with that. Triple H, as I mentioned, was the winner of this match, and has already been given his flowers on this list as one of the top Chamber performers in history, but one other superstar in this specific match, deserves a spot a little bit higher.
2. Edge: “I’m in this thing!”
On my last countdown, Edge found himself topping the Royal Rumble list as the greatest Rumble performer of all-time. While the Rated-R Superstar comes in at number two on this list, that doesn’t take away from the amount of moments he has given us inside the Elimination Chamber. He has won 2 Chamber matches in 4 appearances, but 2 of those appearances occurred on the same night. Edge entered No Way Out 2009 the WWE Champion, but was the first one eliminated in that chamber match. However, later in the night, Edge attacked Kofi Kingston on the way to the ring and locked himself inside one of the pods, inserting himself into the World Heavyweight Championship Chamber match. Edge found a way to win that match and becoming champion again. Edge’s first Chamber appearance was mentioned at the number 3 spot, and his final appearance was in 2011, in which he retained his World Heavyweight Championship. And while his entry into the 2009 match is one of the most iconic moments in Chamber history, it’s something Edge did after an Elimination Chamber match that sets him apart. The Elimination Chamber match in 2006 featured John Cena retaining the championship, but afterwards, Vince McMahon asked for the chamber to be raised and Edge cashed in the first-ever Money in the Bank briefcase. Yes I understand that moment did not occur inside the Elimination Chamber itself, but the moment is often associated with a Chamber match. Combining all of those things, in my opinion, Edge stacks up as the best individual and most memorable Elimination Chamber performer of all-time.
1. Shawn Michaels completes the comeback – Survivor Series 2002
There can only be one first, and for me, this one tops the list. Am I a little biased because Shawn Michaels is my all-time favorite wrestler? Of course I am, but the build surrounding the match and the story within the match and the reception of the match following is what helps put this at the top of the list for me. No one knew what to expect when this new structure was announced, including the talent. In fact, you can go back to the Ruthless Aggression series on Peacock and see the reaction of the competitors when they see the Chamber for the first time. While there may be flashier spots throughout the history of the Chamber match, this very first one is hard to beat. Much like the Hell in a Cell match; each one is remembered for its own thing and arguments can be made about which one is best for different reasons. But there’s only one first Hell in a Cell as well. If you’re drawing comparisons in the Hell in a Cell and Elimination Chamber, especially the first of each, the common thread is Shawn Michaels. I’m not saying Shawn Michaels stole the show in the Chamber like he did in HIAC, but the HBK comeback story was completed in Satan’s Prison. Shawn won his only World Championship of his second run that night, confetti rained from the ceiling and capped off the best moment in Elimination Chamber history. And while that night at Madison Square Garden may top the list for Shawn (and this entry is certainly focused on that), I would be doing a disservice if I didn’t acknowledge Shawn’s other outstanding Elimination Chamber moments. I have mentioned him in previous entries on this list for his involvement in the 2005 (special referee) and 2010 (superkicking the Undertaker) matches, but Shawn actually competed in a total of 4 Chamber matches. Aside from 2002, the others being in 2003 (mentioned above), 2006 and 2008. Just a man that can do it all in the wrestling business!
As I stated earlier, this list is my opinion and was not copied from WWE or another source. I would love to hear your feedback on my list, so hit me up on social media (@chrisbelcher24). Also, if you enjoy what you’re reading and want to hear more, check out the Pipe Bomb Wrestling Podcast, hosted by myself and fellow WrestleBuddy colleague Andy York. Our show is available wherever you find your podcasts as well as the BodySlam.net YouTube channel, and drops every Friday.
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