WWE Survivor Series: Ranking the 10 Greatest Matches

3) The first ever Elimination Chamber for the World Heavyweight Championship (2002) – Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Booker T vs. Kane vs. Chris Jericho

There’s always something special about being able to witness the first of something that would develop into a series of classic matches. Add to the fact that the WWE was debuting the next stage of evolution of the steel cage match that would make an attempt to surpass Hell in a Cell among the sadistic structures in professional wrestling.

There were a number of stars who would help make the match more interesting thanks to the various dynamics brought five men who had feuded for the World Heavyweight Championship against Triple H, who had walked into this structure with the belt. It was Triple H who was given the belt about a year prior shortly after having attacked Michaels in a post-match swing of a sledgehammer.

So having HHH and HBK be the final two made so much sense with the champion trying to prove he was the real quality champion and a challenge who was looking to show he still has something left in the tank while also exacting revenge against the Cerebral Assassin. Michaels would get the final pinfall to claim a world title that was his first since he had to leave the ring in 1998 after back issues.

It was the last time HBK would be a world champion and while it was a short run that lasted only one month, it helped establish that Michaels still had the ability to be the main event star he was before the injuries forced him into retirement. The second run of HBK was in full stride at this point.

Next: No. 2