From Napkin Sketch To Steel: How The WWE Elimination Chamber Was Born

Last Updated:February 26, 2026, 16:29 IST

The first-ever Elimination Chamber match was played as part of the 2002 Survivor Series.

As the build-up continues for the latest edition of the Elimination Chamber in Chicago on Saturday, February 28, legends Triple H and Shawn Michaels recalled the first-ever cage fight back in 2002. Back then, not a standalone PPV live event, the Elimination Chamber’s first iteration took place as part of the Survivor Series.

Triple H, now the WWE’s Chief Content Officer and also one of the leading wrestlers in the contest, remembers forming the concept with his hands.

“When we got to the Garden and we stepped into the Chamber, it was the first time any of us had ever seen it. It was a concept that I pitched and drew on a napkin, and then somebody else designed it," said Triple H, as quoted by ESPN.

While a six-way fight for the World Heavyweight Championship – also featuring Chris Jericho, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, and Kane – it mainly focused on the ongoing storyline and feud between Triple H and Shawn Michaels.

‘I’ve Got An Idea’ 

Michaels, who initially retired from pro wrestling in 1997 due to a back injury, made his comeback in the build-up to the first-ever Elimination Chamber game after receiving a phone call from Vince McMahon, the WWE co-founder.

“Of course it went well, and I felt good, and before I could even really sort of make a decision, I got a phone call from Vince, asking how I felt, and of course [he said] ‘I’ve got an idea’," Michaels recalled the time he stepped into the ring for SummerSlam 2002 to contest what was promoted as an ‘unsanctioned’ street fight against Triple H.

Michael’s return saw the storyline based on the World Heavyweight Championship pick up the attention of the WWE fans all over the globe. The title was won by Triple H only recently, having previously also defended it following victories against Kane and Rob Van Dam.

The mighty ‘H’ would’ve been looking forward to keeping the title for a while, but then his own brainchild dented his plans as general manager Eric Bischoff introduced the Elimination Chamber concept on TV ahead of the Survivor Series.

‘We Saw It For The First Time’ 

Triple H has vivid memories of seeing a cage set on top of the traditional pro wrestling ring for the first time. “We saw it for the first time and we were like ‘Oh god! Who built this?’ It was the most horrible thing ever," the legend said.

“It took us all day to figure out, like, ‘How does this thing work? The doors are going to open…and what is this made of?’ Everything hurt, it was just hard, rigid steel. Even the chain walls. Everybody was ‘Oh yeah but it’s chain’. Yeah, it’s chain, it moved them about a half an inch and then it was like hitting a lumpy bag of bricks. We hadn’t done much in the afternoon; we just talked a lot."

For Michaels, it was a sense of curiosity to go with the shock value. “First thing that started going through my mind was, ‘What can we do with this thing that maybe the fans haven’t seen before?'" he said. Triple H agreed with the sentiment and called it “the most complex match to put together ever."

The rules weren’t all that complicated, however. The Elimination Chamber match had two superstars in the ring and four other competitors enclosed in their respective pods. At equally timed intervals, a pod opened, allowing that wrestler to compete. Once all pods were opened, the elimination was determined by who got pinned or submitted. The last remaining superstar was awarded the winner.

As it panned out, Michaels won the match after achieving a series of successful eliminations, including that of Triple H right at the end.

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