Revisiting WWE's Second-Ever Elimination Chamber Match (SummerSlam 2003)

Event, Date and Location:	SummerSlam on the 24th of August 2003 at the America West Arena in Phoenix Arizona
Match:	Elimination Chamber
Match Winner	Triple H

The Elimination Chamber Match debuted at Survivor Series 2002 as an "ingenious creation" kayfabe designed by Eric Bischoff. The chain link structure made up of "ten tons of solid steel designed to punish the human body" as Bischoff explained as he introduced us to the match, is a demonic playground where six combatants would endure torture and hell in order to eliminate each other until one superstar leaves the structure as the World Heavyweight Champion. Nine months later, the Elimination Chamber returned with 5 men chasing Triple H's world title at SummerSlam 2003. With huge new threats as well as returning threats from the first Chamber match, the second go around was destructive and epic, but sprinkled with an arguably undesirable ending.

Before we begin proper, credence must be given to the the excellent opening package to SummerSlam 2003. We see a smoking hot beach in the summer and many people getting their towels out as they relax and lie on the beach. All of a sudden the sudden fades into blotted black and haunting visuals of the Elimination Chamber structure are shown as a bell tolls. The narration poetically and mournfully describes the fiendish and devilish creation six men will be encased within. You will never get promos as artistically rich as this in modern WWE, so savor this one when you see it.

For the 2003 Elimination Chamber Match, Triple H's back was firmly against the wall. Yes, his Evolution teammate Randy Orton was there to give him support, but in the face of staggering competition Orton's assistance would only do so much. Other competitors locked inside the leviathan structure included Chris Jericho, Triple H's biggest nemesis at the time Shawn Michaels, as well as a p***** off Kevin Nash with a new haircut, and of course the ultimate threat, Goldberg! With all these competitors, Triple H's title looked like it was in serious jeopardy.

Proceedings got underway with the entrances of the four superstars who would be locked inside each of the four chambers. Randy Orton, Kevin Nash, Triple H and Goldberg took their places inside each pod, and bitter rivals Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho would start the bout.

Shawn Michaels started with some chain wrestling and quick back and forth pin attempts. Jericho kick HBK below the belt and Irish whips him, but Shawn counters with a sunset flip attempt and they both try to pin each other. This fast flow to the beginning of the match was a fabulous way to start things out until the next participant entered at least.

Next released from his chamber was Randy Orton, who immediately lands a crossbody on Michals. The three men battled fiercely. Orton was the first superstar to truly feel the steel in this contest and he was back body dropped out onto the steel grating. Jericho tries locking in the Walls of Jericho on Michaels but was unable to get the submission until the 4th participant made his entrance.

Kevin Nash is in and whoops Orton for a bit before using Jericho like a lawn dart and smashing his head into the chains. Nash's powerful move set is applied with a big sidewalk slam an clotheslines come into play. Nash momentarily looked as though he was going to team with Michaels but chooses to clothesline him instead. Nash big boots a bloodied Chris Jericho and attempts to set up a Jackknife Powerbomb but Michaels hits Nash with Sweet Chin Music and Jericho rolls Nash up and Nash is eliminated!

Triple H is next to enter, but as he taunted Goldberg, he ate some HBK Sweet Chin Music whilst still stationed inside the chamber. An angry Nash wasn't done after being eliminated because once he recovered, he delivered a nasty Jackknife Powerbomb to Jericho, and he then used Orton's head to headbutt Michaels before Jackknifing Orton and then he left. He could've wiped out Triple H, but I guess Michaels already did that for him. Everyone is laid out, but Michaels attempts to cover Orton and Jericho but on both attempts gets near falls. The three trade blows with each other in the center of the ring. Orton does pummel Michaels with shots-but not for long because Goldberg is here!

Goldberg enters and delivers piston-like right hands to everyone who moves, then he picks up Orton in a gorilla press position then turns it into something of powerful spear. Goldberg Spear the heck out of Orton and eliminates him. Triple H is now on his own!

Jericho lands a missile dropkick but gets a two, but not long after he is gorilla pressed and hurled violently back-first into the chain link structure from inside to the outside of the ring. Michaels tries to attack Goldberg but Goldberg Irish whips him and Michaels turns himself upside down. Goldberg then returns his attention to Jericho who is groggy outside on the steel grate, and then spears him ferociously into the chamber until the plexiglass breaks apart. After getting back into the ring, Michaels surprises him with a forearm, a kip up, his signature elbow drop, and he sets up the band for Sweet Chin Music, but Goldberg ducks and lands a devastating spear. Goldberg then proceeds to pick up Michaels for a Jackhammer and a three count and thus he is eliminated.

An absolutely thrashed Jericho crawls into the ring ready to be victimized by Goldberg, who pokes his tongue out like a lion ready to feast, and then drills Jericho with a spear. Goldberg then finishes Jericho with a Jackhammer and Jericho is out of here! Triple H is all alone!

Flair attempts to keep Triple H's chamber door closed with Triple H inside. Triple H decides to flip Goldberg off, and Goldberg responds by kicking down the plexiglass. Goldberg beats Triple H down with hammering right hands insider the chamber. Goldberg repetitively sends Triple H forcefully into the chain link and face washes him. Triple H tries to retaliate but Goldberg clotheslines him down onto the grate. Goldberg sets up a spear inside the ring, but Triple H has the sledgehammer in his possession courtesy of Ric Flair slipping it into the chamber, and as Goldberg charges he is met with hammer metal instead of Triple H torso. Triple H then pins Goldberg and wins the match and retains his World Heavyweight Championship. Afterwards Triple H assaults Goldberg with the sledgehammer helped along by Orton and Flair. They perform a triple assault on Goldberg. Goldberg is pinned and cuffed against the chamber and Triple H nails him with the sledgehammer again before yelling at Goldberg saying he'll never win the World Heavyweight Championship ever and punishing him some more before the show comes to a close.

It is fair to say that the second Elimination Chamber Match is a great match with fantastic wrestling and plenty of carnage. The storytelling was very well done too and if you forget how it ended, it's a great match. Now if you do think about how it ended and if that spoils the match for you, well at least Triple H won in a way that makes sense-with the sledgehammer. We've seen Triple H take out the threat of Scott Steiner with a simple Pedigree, and Triple H getting a win over Nash at Backlash in that six man tag was arguably indicative of terrible booking, but here Goldberg was taken out by Triple H's shotgun blast of a sledgehammer shot-and that does make sense. However, SummerSlam was meant to be Goldberg's party and his crowning moment, and the fact he utterly demolished everyone else besides Nash (because he was eliminated remember) shows he was unstoppable for most of the match. This ending shouldn't sully your overall enjoyment of the match, but just keep in mind that Goldberg would win the championship from Triple H one month later at Unforgiven.