Ranking EVERY WWE Elimination Chamber Match From Worst To Best

5. 2012 (Smackdown)

Edge Elimination Chamber
WWE.com

Forgotten in light of his spectacular future success, Daniel Bryan's 2011-2012 World Heavyweight Title run provided some choice matches and moments, as the increasingly delusional superstar became a 'YES!'-spouting buffoon and a cynical tormentor to his girlfriend AJ Lee and fellow competitors.

Ahead of the defeat to Sheamus that would transform Bryan's career at WrestleMania 28, he'd emerge victorious from the Chamber following a nerve-wracking closing section with the most unlikely of opponents. Already dodging a bullet after The Big Show had broken into his pod before he even entered the match, Bryan survived the brutal beating from the giant after Cody Rhodes and Wade Barrett combined to eliminate 'The World's Largest Athlete'.

Meanwhile, a true fairytale was occurring, as Santino Marella built on his shock entry into the match with eliminations of both Rhodes and Barrett to whip the crowd into a frenzy as he faced off with World Champion Bryan in the final stretch.

Bryan's snarky grin as he realised it was between him and the 'Milan Miracle' played perfectly into the story, but as Santino fought valiantly, the champion got increasingly nastier with kicks and submission holds. Santino's last-ditch Cobra strike drew an unbelievable nearfall, but Marella was undone by Bryan's Yes-Lock for the heartbreaking victory.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett