The WWE Elimination Chamber made its debut on Nov. 17, 2002, at Survivor Series in Madison Square Garden, featuring six legends in a brutal match concept that would become a staple of the company. Triple H pitched the idea, which was initially met with confusion and concern from the competitors.

When the cage slowly lowered from the rafters, stars like Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, and Rob Van Dam were shocked by its dangerous construction. Triple H recalled their reaction: "Oh god! Who built this?" The steel structure was made of real grated steel, with chain walls that barely gave when hit, making it feel like "hitting a lumpy bag of bricks."

The main focus was the long-standing rivalry between Michaels and Triple H, who had real-life tensions mirroring their on-screen feud. Michaels had returned to wrestling in 2002 after a five-year hiatus due to a back injury, and this match represented a significant moment in his comeback. The competitors spent the day figuring out how to work with the dangerous structure while trying to create something fans had never seen before.