Triple H (2002)
The first Elimination Chamber was a gimmick that told a story of redemption. Shawn Michaels’ return to WWE was a fantastic boost for the audience, and winning the World Championship over his former best friend was a perfect bookend to his return. The Chamber was all about the redemption arc of HBK, but what gets lost is the incredible job that Triple H did.
The Elimination Chamber needed a workhorse to carry the match, and that’s what Triple H was. He started off the match and was the perfect foil for every wrestler involved. His matchups against RVD, Booker T, Kane, and Chris Jericho were spot on. Triple was able to play the menacing heel, while still taking a ton of punishment.
He did everything he could to keep the match going and give the fans the beating that they wanted to see. Shawn Michaels got the ovation, but Triple H was the glue that held the match together.
Kofi Kingston (2019)
Kofi Kingston was WWE’s ultimate journeyman. By 2019, he had spent 13 years in WWE, and while he had amassed an impressive championship resume, there was one that always alluded him. It had gotten to the point that the world never expected him to win the WWE Championship. That was until a groundswell of support and a timely injury to Mustafa Ali thrust Kingston into the spotlight.
Entering the Chamber, Kofi Kingston was the sentimental favorite, and the crowd was with him the whole way. He outlasted the field before entering into a superb 12-minute finale against WWE Champion Daniel Bryan. It showed the potential of Kingston as the company’s top guy, and it was a performance that led to his first and only WWE Championship.
