Elimination Chamber 2012 Elimination Chamber 2012 ( also known as No Way Out 2012 in Germany ) was a professional wrestling pay - per - view ( PPV ) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment ( WWE ) , which took place on February 19 , 2012 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee , Wisconsin . It was the third annual Elimination Chamber event . Background . Elimination Chamber featured professional wrestling matches that involve different wrestlers from pre - existing scripted feuds , plots , and storylines that will play out on " Raw " , " SmackDown " , and " WWE Superstars " — WWE ' s television programs . Wrestlers portray villains or heroes as they follow a series of events that build tension , and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches . All wrestlers are from WWE ' s Raw and SmackDown brands — a storyline division in which WWE employees are assigned to a television program of the same name . The first match was announced on January 30 , 2012 on " WWE . com " . The announcement stated that there will be a Raw Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship . In the match , CM Punk will defend his championship against Dolph Ziggler , Chris Jericho , The Miz , R - Truth , and Kofi Kingston . On February 2 , 2012 , it was announced that there will also be a SmackDown Elimination Chamber match for the World Heavyweight Championship . In the match , Daniel Bryan will defend his championship against Cody Rhodes , Wade Barrett , Big Show , The Great Khali , and Santino Marella . Originally , Mark Henry was a participant in the SmackDown Elimination Chamber , but he was removed from the contest and suspended indefinitely by SmackDown GM Theodore Long for threatening him . The Great Khali replaced him in the Chamber match . Randy Orton was also originally a participant in the match , but suffered a concussion after World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan hit him over the head with the title belt on the February 13 , 2012 episode of " Raw " . His replacement will be Santino Marella after he won a battle royal on the February 17 , 2012 episode of " Smackdown " . John Cena and Kane began feuding in December 2011 , with Kane targeting Cena due to his T - shirt slogan , " Rise Above Hate . " To play psychological games with Cena , Kane began targeting Cena ' s friend Zack Ryder and his on - screen girlfriend , Eve , attacking Ryder and cornering Eve in a variety of situations , all in an effort to make Cena " embrace the hate . " On February 6 , an ambulance match stipulation was announced for the match between Kane and John Cena . Randy Orton was replaced by Santino Marella for the spot in the World Heavyweight Championship Elimination Chamber match , because SmackDown GM Theodore Long was worried about Orton´s condition ; Santino won an Interbrand Battle Royal at SmackDown airing this Friday . After several successful title defenses against Kelly Kelly and Eve Torres , Divas Champion Beth Phoenix grew frustrated ; stating that there was no competition left in the Divas Division . On the February 10 edition of " SmackDown " , Tamina Snuka saved Alicia Fox from an attack by the evil Phoenix , which led to the two Divas engaging in an intense staredown . On the February 13 edition of " Raw " , it was officially announced that Phoenix would defend the Divas Championship against Tamina at the Elimination Chamber pay - per - view . Elimination Chamber Matches . Entrant means the no . at which the wrestler started the match or came out of the chamber at .