WWE: Ranking The 16 Elimination Chamber Matches

2. The "Shocking" Chamber (No Way Out '09)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siFT6mS_WbY Going into the match, it seemed like a reasonable conclusion to draw that Edge, the defending WWE Champion who had just won the title three weeks prior at the Royal Rumble from Jeff Hardy, would retain the belt. However, just under four minutes into the Chamber match, Hardy pinned Edge in the fastest elimination in the gimmick's history. Edge, a favorite to win, lost shortly after the proceedings go under way. As described in #6, it was a shock tactic to improve the reputation of the February PPV...and it worked. "Anything can happen" was characterized well that night. The clunky, green wrestling of Vladimir Kozlov notwithstanding, the rest of the match built on the heightened emotions built from the surprise decision to make clear the imminent title change. Hardy was on such a roll, having won the title in December 2008, that he could have conceivably gone on to win. Big Show was on a similar roll throughout the previous year that made him a viable option, too. Undertaker was always a threat after two consecutive title matches in the two years prior, in addition to his glowing reputation and Mania resume. Triple H was, well, Triple H. Four realistic options remained after Edge lost the title. It all came down to a thrilling final sequence featuring Triple H and Undertaker in a preview of their back-to-back WrestleMania classics (with Trips winning). Yet, it also featured so much excitement and drama before it. What sets it apart was Edge unexpectedly losing the title. That little touch makes this the penultimate Chamber match on this list. Not only did it have the spectacle of Taker vs. Trips to close it out, but a shocking moment in the first few minutes to set the tone.