10 Biggest Disappointments In WWE Elimination Chamber History
Screwjob finishes, a couple of botches and some outcomes that defied all reason...
The Elimination Chamber has provided us with some pretty great moments over the years. Shawn Michaels’ World Heavyweight Title win from Survivor Series 2002, Edge’s Money in the Bank cash-in at New Year’s Revolution 2006 and that time Shawn Michaels superkicked The Undertaker.
Ever since the Elimination Chamber was given its own dedicated pay-per-view, more matches and more events have in turn meant more moments to write home about - but it hasn't necessarily been a cakewalk. For every Shawn Michaels of 2002, every Edge of 2006, there’s been a screwjob finish or a December to Dismember, as well as other memories we’d rather forget from the other end of the spectrum.
From shows that didn’t deliver the results we might have liked, to shows that didn’t deliver anything at all, this article looks back at some of the most disappointing moments in the history of the Elimination Chamber match - as well as the self-titled PPV it spawned...
10. Santino Comes Up Short
In the World Heavyweight Championship match from Elimination Chamber 2012, an ordinary line-up produced an ordinary match that looked all set to plodder to its ordinary conclusion. That is, until Santino Marella decided to step things up a notch.
After he eliminated Wade Barrett to reach the final two, the fans began to rally. Suddenly they believed that Marella just might be able to upset the odds, defeat the defending champion Daniel Bryan, and go on to WrestleMania with the gold in tow.
A manic few minutes saw the challenger hang on in there, before a missed diving headbutt from Bryan allowed Marella to strike with the Cobra. We all envisioned the headlines - Santino Marella Headlines WrestleMania! - but after Bryan managed to get the shoulder up, seconds later he’d apply the Lebell Lock and, after a bit of a struggle, force the submission.
In the heat of the moment, it was a massive let-down to see Marella come up short but in hindsight, it’s probably a good thing that a comedy character, whose finishing move involved jabbing folk with a pretend snake, didn’t go on to defend the World Title at the biggest event of the year.