Say what you will about Hell in the Cell, but the Elimination Chamber is where it's at. The Elimination Chamber isn't just a steel cage match, it's an absolute free-for-all: some of the best matches in WWE history have taken place inside the steel goliath. That's why the WWE announcing that the Elimination Chamber would no longer be an annual pay-per-view came as such a surprise.
There was a good reason behind the change: the Chamber weighs roughly 10 tons, and there are only a few arenas in the country that can support it. Basically, it's a pain to host the event — and it was starting to look like the Elimination Chamber would become a thing of the past.
Thankfully, the WWE is bringing the Elimination Chamber back, and for good reason: for over a decade, the Chamber has hosted some of the most brutal matches in WWE history. Case in point: here are our picks for the best Elimination Chamber matches ever. Warning: some of these matches can get pretty gory, so if blood isn't your thing, proceed with caution.
Elimination Chamber 2010
The Undertaker vs. R-Truth vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk vs. John Morrison
It's an eclectic match-up, to be sure, but the World Heavyweight Championship at the 2010 Elimination Chamber PPV is one of the best all-around matches of its kind. Furthermore, it did exactly what it was designed to do: set up one of the greatest Undertaker WrestleMania matches of all time.
Elimination Chamber 2011
Edge vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Big Show vs. Wade Barrett vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Kane
Few would ever expect a cruiserweight to succeed inside the chamber, but the World Heavyweight Championship match at Elimination Chamber 2011 was defined by Rey Mysterio's performance. It was Mysterio at his absolute best, and regardless of the outcome, the luchador is the reason to watch this match.
Summerslam 2003
Triple H vs. Kevin Nash vs. Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Goldberg
Most wrestling fans will claim that the Attitude Era ended at the turn of the millennium — but you wouldn't know that from watching the Summerslam 2003 Elimination Chamber match. Aside from a young Randy Orton, this match is pure Attitude Era gold, from both WCW and WWE... and good ol' JR's commentary is the cherry on top.
No Way Out 2009
John Cena vs. Chris Jericho vs. Kane vs. Edge vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Mike Knox
WWE is known for its ridiculous plot twists, but Edge knocking Kofi Kingston out of the World Heavyweight Championship match at No Way Out 2009 is absolute perfection. It defined the last several years of Edge's career while simultaneously changing how SmackDown and Raw handled their championships — and that sort of thing doesn't happen every day.
Survivor Series 2002
Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Kane vs. Chris Jericho vs. Booker T
For all of the complexities and potential career-ending risks that the Elimination Chamber poses, it's amazing that the system even works. What's more amazing is that the WWE absolutely nailed it right out of the gate.
The first-ever Elimination Chamber match at Survivor Series 2002 set the bar for every single match to follow. It could have easily devolved into a Hell in the Cell ripoff, but everything unique about the Chamber was utilized during its first appearance: the Superstars bounced off steel, clung to the sides of the cage and crashed through pods. On top of that, it ended with the classic rivalry of Shawn Michaels and Triple H, which is enough of a draw on its own.
Sometimes, you just can't beat the original.
For a while, it looked like the WWE was doing away with the Elimination Chamber. Thankfully, that's not the case... and, with any luck, this year's event will be just as good as its predecessor.
Elimination Chamber 2015 airs this Sunday, exclusively on the WWE Network.
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