Hell in a Cell

This article is about the professional wrestling match. For the pay-per-view event named after this match, see WWE Hell in a Cell.

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The Hell in a Cell structure

Hell in a Cell is a professional wrestling cage-based match held in WWE (formerly World Wrestling Federation). It features a large roofed steel cage structure or "cell" which encloses the ring and ringside area. While similar to the steel cage match in profile and structure, unlike the steel cage match wherein exiting over the cage results in a win, only executing a pinfall or submission will result in a win. As in a steel cage match, disqualifications do not apply. The original Cell was 16 ft (4.9 m) high and weighed over two tons but has since been replaced by an amplified version of 20 ft (6.1 m) and five tons. Thirty two Hell in a Cell matches have taken place in WWE since its inception in October 1997.

History

The Undertaker has competed in 13 Hell in a Cell matches which is more than any other Superstar.

The original concept for the Hell in a Cell structure was created by Jim Cornette. As detailed in the Kayfabe Commentaries release "Timeline of WWE: 1997", Cornette described this concept as a combination of a cage which surrounded the majority of the ringside area (this was a cage design which was popular in Memphis wrestling promotions), and the cage used in both the NWA and WCW for their WarGames matches (which had a top on the cage). On an October 2015 video podcast, Vince Russo said Cornette probably did come up with the concept, but the name "Hell in a Cell" came from him.

The Hell in a Cell match was first introduced at WWF Badd Blood on October 5, 1997 at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The background to the inaugural match was built on Undertaker's loss to Bret Hart two months prior at the 1997 SummerSlam in a WWF Championship match which Shawn Michaels was assigned to referee. Michaels had deliberately interjected himself in the match and cost The Undertaker a win which resulted in a match between the two at In Your House: Ground Zero. That match was ruled a no-contest due to the two bypassing and attacking the officials. As a climactic end to the feud, their following bout was originally scheduled to be held as a steel cage match. However, instead of a normal cage enclosing only the ring, a larger roofed structure was constructed, enclosing not only the ring but also the surrounding ringside area. The wider space between the ring apron and the cell walls allowed for entering and exiting the ring. At Badd Blood, Michaels defeated The Undertaker, (with interference from The Undertaker's debuting brother Kane) and won the number-one contendership to the WWF Championship. The cage's size also makes the use of weapons possible as well. Wrestlers usually use weapons in Hell in a Cell by taking them from under the ring.

Hell in a Cell matches are rare in WWE as it is designed to be the climax to certain feuds. There have only been thirty two such matches in WWE, 29 of which have been broadcast on pay-per-view events due to the logistical difficulty in setting them up and its perception as a special attraction due to the nature of the match. In 2009, WWE presented its first pay-per-view event to specifically feature the Hell in a Cell for its marquee matches. Despite the match's profile, prior to the first self-titled Hell in a Cell pay-per-view event, championships were defended six times out of sixteen of the Hell in a Cell matches. The first time a title was defended in the match was at the 2000 No Way Out with Triple H retaining the WWF Championship in the sixth Hell in a Cell match. The longest Hell in a Cell match was held at Bad Blood 2004 between Triple H and Shawn Michaels at over 47 minutes. The first time a title changed hands in a Hell in a Cell match was in 2009, when The Undertaker won the World Heavyweight Championship from CM Punk. The Undertaker has been involved in the most Hell in a Cell matches having competed in thirteen and shares the record for most wins at six with Triple H. Only two matches have been broadcast on television, both in 1998 on Raw is War. The Hell in a Cell match on the June 15th edition of Raw is War between Stone Cold and Undertaker vs. Kane and Mankind went to a no contest. On the August 24th edition of Raw is War, Mankind fought his tag team partner at the time, Kane in a Hell in a Cell match. This match went to a no contest after Stone Cold Steve Austin interfered and assaulted Kane. Then when Undertaker tried to break inside the cell to help his brother, Mr. McMahon raised the cell and made Undertaker and Stone Cold wait to get their hands on each other until Summerslam. The match has appeared at WWE's flagship event, WrestleMania, twice (WrestleMania XV and XXVIII).

Other appearances

The structure itself has made four additional appearances, although WWE does not consider them to be Hell in a Cell matches. The first was when the Cell lowered over the ring while Kane fought Stone Cold Steve Austin in a First Blood match for the WWF Championship at King of the Ring '98. The second featured Big Boss Man challenging Al Snow for the WWF Hardcore Championship in a Kennel from Hell match at Unforgiven '99. The match consisted of a standard steel cage with the cell placed atop it, and the object was to escape from both the cage and cell while trying to avoid guard dogs that were placed between the ring and cell door. Snow, the first competitor to escape the steel cage and the cell, was declared the winner. The third time was on the September 28, 2009 episode of Raw, during a gauntlet match with John Cena against Chris Jericho, The Big Show, and Randy Orton. The cell was lowered after Cena beat Jericho and Show by DQ, when Orton's turn came. Cena ordered the cell to be lowered, and then Cena brawled Orton on top of the structure. The match was declared a no contest. The fourth time was on the October 20, 2014 episode of Raw, when the Hell in a Cell structure was lowered, on orders from the director of operations, Kane, during a handicap street fight between Kane, Randy Orton, and Seth Rollins vs. John Cena and Dean Ambrose. Kane, Orton, and Rollins won the match.

List of Hell in a Cell matches

Miami and Dallas hold the record for hosting the most Hell in a Cell matches with four. Three were held in Miami proper and one in the northern suburb of Miami Gardens. In second place is Newark, New Jersey, which has hosted three Hell in a Cell matches.

Number	Match	Stipulations	Event	Date	Location	Length
1	Shawn Michaels defeated The Undertaker	Singles Hell in a Cell to determine the #1 contender for the WWF Championship at Survivor Series	Badd Blood	October 5, 1997	St. Louis, MO	29:55
2	The Undertaker and Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Mankind and Kane	Tornado Tag Team Hell in a Cell	Raw Is War	June 15, 1998	San Antonio, TX	10:38
3	The Undertaker defeated Mankind	Singles Hell in a Cell	King of the Ring	June 28, 1998	Pittsburgh, PA	17:10
4	Mankind vs. Kane went to a no contest	Singles Hell in a Cell	Raw Is War	August 24, 1998	Philadelphia, PA	7:41
5	The Undertaker defeated The Big Boss Man	Singles Hell in a Cell	WrestleMania XV	March 28, 1999	Philadelphia, PA	9:48
6	Triple H (c) defeated Cactus Jack	Singles Hell in a Cell for the WWF Championship. If Cactus Jack lost, he would have to retire as an active wrestler in the WWF.	No Way Out	February 27, 2000	Hartford, CT	23:59
7	Kurt Angle (c) defeated The Undertaker, Triple H, Steve Austin, Rikishi, and The Rock	Six-man Hell in a Cell for the WWF Championship	Armageddon	December 10, 2000	Birmingham, AL	31:52
8	Triple H defeated Chris Jericho	Singles Hell in a Cell	Judgment Day	May 19, 2002	Nashville, TN	24:31
9	Brock Lesnar (c) defeated The Undertaker	Singles Hell in a Cell for the WWE Championship	No Mercy	October 20, 2002	North Little Rock, AR	27:18
10	Triple H (c) defeated Kevin Nash	Singles Hell in a Cell for the World Heavyweight Championship with special guest referee Mick Foley	Bad Blood	June 15, 2003	Houston, TX	21:01
11	Triple H defeated Shawn Michaels	Singles Hell in a Cell	Bad Blood	June 13, 2004	Columbus, OH	47:26
12	Batista (c) defeated Triple H	Singles Hell in a Cell for the World Heavyweight Championship	Vengeance	June 26, 2005	Las Vegas, NV	26:54
13	The Undertaker defeated Randy Orton	Singles Hell in a Cell	Armageddon	December 18, 2005	Providence, RI	30:31
14	D-Generation X (Triple H and Shawn Michaels) defeated Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon, and Big Show	2-on-3 Handicap Hell in a Cell. This also marked the debut of the "amplified" version of the cell.	Unforgiven	September 17, 2006	Toronto, ON, Canada	25:04
15	Batista (c) defeated The Undertaker	Singles Hell in a Cell for the World Heavyweight Championship	Survivor Series	November 18, 2007	Miami, FL	21:24
16	The Undertaker defeated Edge	Singles Hell in a Cell	SummerSlam	August 17, 2008	Indianapolis, IN	26:43
17	The Undertaker defeated CM Punk (c)	Singles Hell in a Cell for the World Heavyweight Championship	Hell in a Cell	October 4, 2009	Newark, NJ	10:24
18	Randy Orton defeated John Cena (c)	Singles Hell in a Cell for the WWE Championship				21:24
19	D-Generation X (Triple H and Shawn Michaels) defeated Legacy (Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase)	Tornado Tag Team Hell in a Cell				17:48
20	Randy Orton (c) defeated Sheamus	Singles Hell in a Cell for the WWE Championship	Hell in a Cell	October 3, 2010	Dallas, TX	22:51
21	Kane (c) defeated The Undertaker	Singles Hell in a Cell for the World Heavyweight Championship				21:38
22	John Cena (c) defeated Alberto Del Rio, CM Punk, Dolph Ziggler, and Jack Swagger	Five-Man Hell in a Cell for the WWE Championship	Raw SuperShow (untelevised Main Event)	September 26, 2011	Kansas City, MO	5:01
23	Mark Henry (c) defeated Randy Orton	Singles Hell in a Cell for the World Heavyweight Championship	Hell in a Cell	October 2, 2011	New Orleans, LA	15:54
24	Alberto Del Rio defeated John Cena (c) and CM Punk	Triple Threat Hell in a Cell for the WWE Championship				24:07
25	The Undertaker defeated Triple H	Singles Hell in a Cell with special guest referee Shawn Michaels	WrestleMania XXVIII	April 1, 2012	Miami Gardens, FL	30:52
26	CM Punk (c) defeated Ryback	Singles Hell in a Cell for the WWE Championship	Hell in a Cell	October 28, 2012	Atlanta, GA	11:22
27	CM Punk defeated Ryback and Paul Heyman	2-on-1 Handicap Hell in a Cell	Hell in a Cell	October 27, 2013	Miami, FL	13:48
28	Randy Orton defeated Daniel Bryan	Singles Hell in a Cell for the vacant WWE Championship with special guest referee Shawn Michaels				22:07
29	John Cena defeated Randy Orton	Singles Hell in a Cell to determine the #1 contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.	Hell in a Cell	October 26, 2014	Dallas, TX	25:52
30	Seth Rollins defeated Dean Ambrose	Singles Hell in a Cell				14:00
31	Roman Reigns defeated Bray Wyatt	Singles Hell in a Cell	Hell in a Cell	October 25, 2015	Los Angeles, CA	23:08
32	Brock Lesnar defeated The Undertaker	Singles Hell in a Cell				22:10

Participant List

Superstar	Victories	Appearances
The Undertaker	7	13
Triple H	6	9
Shawn Michaels	3	4
Randy Orton	3	6
Batista	2	2
Brock Lesnar	2	2
John Cena	2	4
CM Punk	2	5
Kurt Angle	1	1
Mark Henry	1	1
Seth Rollins	1	1
Roman Reigns	1	1
Alberto Del Rio	1	2
Steve Austin	1	2
Kane	1	3
The Big Boss Man	0	1
Rikishi	0	1
The Rock	0	1
Chris Jericho	0	1
Kevin Nash	0	1
Vince McMahon	0	1
Shane McMahon	0	1
Big Show	0	1
Edge	0	1
Cody Rhodes	0	1
Ted DiBiase	0	1
Sheamus	0	1
Dolph Ziggler	0	1
Jack Swagger	0	1
Paul Heyman	0	1
Daniel Bryan	0	1
Dean Ambrose	0	1
Bray Wyatt	0	1
Ryback	0	2
Mick Foley	0	4

See also

• WWE Hell in a Cell
• Elimination Chamber
• Steel Cage

External links

• Official website