The Elimination Chamber is, to date, the last great WWE-created gimmick match. The sight of the intimidating steel structure, combined with rules that allow for tons of built tension and unique scenarios in competition, and it has become a staple in the product ever since it's debut on this night in 2002. This inaugural match is for the World Heavyweight Championship, and features champion Triple H defending against many of the ghosts of his past, including Chris Jericho, Rob Van Dam, Kane and the returning Shawn Michaels. The Chamber match itself would probably be enough to interest most fans in purchasing this show, but there's plenty more on offer, including a hoss fight between Brock Lesnar and The Big Show, plus all six members of SmackDown's legendary midcard facing off in a wild triple threat tag team match. 2002's Survivor Series is one of the only iterations of the event not to feature a traditional elimination tag match, but that takes nothing away from one of the high points on pay-per-view in all of WWE history.
- Survivor Series 2002 comes to you from the historic Madison Square Garden in New York City, and I'm always intrigued by the different feel of crowds you get for WWE shows in MSG. They tend to be a lot quieter during matches, completely concentrating on the action in the ring, which if you're not used to, might make you think that they're bored or disinterested. Whenever big moments occur, though, the pop is always tremendous, and there are certainly plenty of those to be found on this night.
- Our opening contest is a triple threat tag team tables match, as Rico and Three Minute Warning take on Jeff Hardy and his partners, Bubba and Spike Dudley. There are tables matches that can feature some great wrestling but this isn't really one of them, instead focused entirely on the big table spots. Those are pretty great, from Spike being absolutely hurled through the wood via a double flapjack by Rosey and Jamal, to Jeff delivering a throwback to the Royal Rumble two years prior by leaping off the balcony for a Swanton Bomb, and of course, the reunion between D-Von and Bubba Ray that allows Bubba to get the win for his team with a 3D on Rico. This match was everything it promised to be on paper, an exciting opener with some very memorable moments.
- Jamie Noble's Cruiserweight title is on the line in the following contest, as he defends against Billy Kidman. This is exactly what you'd expect out of a top tier WWE cruiserweight match, absolutely no selling or story, with all seven minutes just stuffed full of action. There is some great offense to be found here, with the biggest highlight being Noble's crunching top rope DDT. As always, Nidia interferes multiple times on her boyfriend's behalf, though her involvement ultimately leads to a miscommunication between the trailer park duo that spells their doom. Jamie runs into his girl and knocks her off the apron, which allows Kidman the opening to hit his Shooting Star Press, as we have a new Cruiserweight champion.
- This show keeps moving right along with a Hardcore match for the Women's title, Trish Stratus defending against Victoria. The challenger's gimmick does come across as "generic crazy woman" a little too often, but she has a unique presence in the ring and looked like a monster here. Both women come up with some creative and athletic weapon spots, including Victoria hand-standing off the canvas to choke Trish with a kendo stick, and Stratus hooking her legs around Victoria on the top rope, lifting herself up with pure core strength to whack Victoria in the head with a garbage can lid. Victoria's nose is bloodied but that doesn't slow her down, blinding Trish with a fire extinguisher before finishing the champion off with a snap suplex, which is apparently her finisher for some reason. That absurdly weak ending aside, this was another entertaining match, far more serious and violent than many other women's matches at this time, which made it feel like a breath of fresh air.
- The first of two world title matches on the night is up next, a big boy battle between Brock Lesnar and Big Show over the WWE Championship. The story coming in is on Brock's injured ribs, suffered in kayfabe at the hands of Show, which Lesnar continues to try and work through despite the warnings of manager Paul Heyman. This opening exchanges are red hot, with the crowd firmly in the champion's corner, as Brock withstands an assault by the challenger to hit a ridiculous German suplex, by far the most impressive physical feat on the night. Heyman tosses in a chair, which Brock uses to batter Show, then nail an F-5, but before the official can finish the three count, Heyman pulls him out of the ring to deliver a right hand. It's a swerve, bro! Brock chases Paul around ringside, before running in for a chair shot to the midsection by Show, then a chokeslam for the third straight title change. Heyman's betrayal was obvious and doesn't really make a lot of sense, as Paul had done everything to build Brock up since his debut in April, only to turn on him just because Lesnar ignored some advice, hitching his wagon instead to the older, slower version of Brock. Still, that German suplex and F-5 were so damn impressive to watch, and turning Brock face was a great choice, the fans were more than ready for him to be a conquering hero after the Hell in a Cell match last month.
- We've seen many different combinations of the SmackDown Six face off over the past few months, so it only makes sense for them all to collide in one big melting pot, as Edge and Rey Mysterio defend the WWE tag titles against Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit and Los Guerreros. There are long periods of this match that are honestly a little dull, with the need to fill time resulting in some elongated heel beatdowns, but when this match cooked, it did so with straight fire. Two back to back brilliant spots see Angle and Benoit trap Edge in an Ankle Lock/Crippler Crossface double submission, to be followed up with Eddie catching Benoit in a Sunset Flip, which results in Benoit tossing Edge with a big suplex, awesome. Chavo runs in to smack Benoit in the back of the head with one of the title belts, before tossing it to Kurt, sending the odd couple pairing into a fit of bickering. That allows Edge to score with a Spear to pin Benoit, eliminating he and Kurt, though the two do get in some more offense before they vacate. Eddie is the only one to escape their wrath, and he quickly goes on the attack, isolating Mysterio. Rey does put together a comeback, giving us just a taste of his excellent chemistry with Eddie, but Los Guerreros end up claiming the gold, Eddie getting a tap with the Lasso from El Paso. I thought this match was very similar to the Benoit/Angle/Edge/Mysterio tag match from No Mercy, some great periods of action, though there was definitely too much downtime.
- Before our final match, we have some time to kill, so Christopher Nowinski and Matt Hardy (Version One) come out for a promo segment. They both insult the people of NYC, call them both "stupid" and "losers", before Scott Steiner makes his on-screen return to WWE to suplex both men out of their shoes. This was pointless and a waste of a big return pop for Scott, though given how this second run working with Vince ended up going, I suppose it was apt foreshadowing.
- Main event time, as Triple H defends the World Heavyweight title in the first-ever Elimination Chamber match. It had been quite a few years since WWE had to try and make a new gimmick match work, and while this wasn't perfect, it was a good debut for this hybrid match type. The booking mines as much drama as it can find out of the build towards new entrants and eliminations, with a lot of the focus on the heel alliance of Hunter and old foe Chris Jericho. Rob Van Dam provides us with some legitimate drama, delivering a Frog Splash off the top of a pod that severely damages Triple H's throat, and also leads to Van Dam's elimination at the hands, or rather feet, of Booker T on a missile dropkick, not a popular decision here in MSG. Booker goes out to a Lionsault by Y2J, but the heels don't get a chance to fight each other as Kane enters. "The Big Red Machine" is booked like the monster he should've been at No Mercy, flattening Jericho, Hunter, and final entrant Shawn Michaels. All three men have to team up to take down the masked behemoth, as a Sweet Chin Music, a Pedigree and a Lionsault end Kane's night. Once again, Jericho and Triple H take control, but as always, the heel alliance falls apart. Jericho has Shawn beaten following yet another Lionsault, but the champion pulls Y2J out of the pin and they come to blows. "The Game" is trapped in the Walls of Jericho, and in an ironic twist, needs to be saved by former best friend HBK, as Shawn nails a Sweet Chin Music to bring it down to two. In classic Shawn Michaels and Triple H fashion, both men are sporting crimson masks by this point, and they go to war, which the crowd is very much into to. Shawn's fighting spirit is tested, as he's hurled through a pod and has the Sweet Chin Music countered by a Pedigree, only to kick out just before three in a heart-stopping near fall. The second try is the charm, as a Sweet Chin Music leaves Triple H staring at the lights, and confetti falls for the new World Heavyweight Champion, a great way to close out a fantastic night. Huge props to Triple H for gutting this one out after sustaining that throat injury, you could tell just how much pain and discomfort he was in, but he didn't let in get in the way of finishing the match and providing his friend with a moment for the ages.
10/10
This is one of the best Survivor Series events ever, and very, very close to being a perfect show in my estimation. It was a breeze to watch, and each match provided something different. I liked seeing the cruiserweight and women shine, they rarely got the opportunity to do, especially on pay-per-view, and did so much with it. The final two matches were both very good, but did drag quite a bit, which bumps this from a 10 down to a 9 for me. I appreciated the concise, six match card, but it's obvious that the company was concerned with how short the show would end up running, and decided to artificially increase the length of both of those matches, which was a massive mistake. Still, I highly recommend everyone to check this out, some great wrestling to be found and it was so refreshing to see a Survivor Series that was legitimately one of the best pay-per-views of the year, normally the WWE phones this one in, but they certainly didn't this time around.
Next time on Henry's Pay-Per-View Reviews: Armageddon 2002, where Shawn Michaels and Triple H go one step further in their feud, facing off in a Three Stages of Hell match. Plus, Big Show defends the WWE title against Kurt Angle, and Chris Benoit takes on Eddie Guerrero. See you soon.
- Henry
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