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Hell in a Cell

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Hell in a Cell (sometimes referred to as Hell in the Cell) is a type of professional wrestling match seen in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in which the ring and ringside area are surrounded by a roofed steel cell which stands 16 feet (5 meters), or, more recently, 20 feet (6 meters), off the ground.

1 Background
2 Match history
3 Variations
4 References
5 External links

Background

Hell in a Cell matches are rare; there have been only fifteen such matches in WWE since the first in 1997. Due to the logistical difficulty in setting them up, their dangerous nature, and their perception as a special attraction, Hell in a Cell matches are generally seen only at pay-per-view events; only two matches have been shown on regular television, both of which occurred on RAW in 1998. The match and cell are billed as very dangerous. Michael Cole and Tazz described it as the most gruesome match in WWE. Jim Ross calls the cell a "demonic structure" that is "custom built for injury". The cell differs from the cage used in a normal steel cage match, having a roof (cages in traditional cage matches have no roof) and a wide space between the ring apron and the cell (cage match cages hug the ring closely). Generally, the cell door is locked during the match. Despite this, many Hell in a Cell matches have featured wrestlers fighting out of and even on top of the cell:

In the first Cell match, the door was unlocked to allow the removal of an injured cameraman, which led to Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker fighting on top of the cage.
In the Mankind / Undertaker match, the competitors began the match on top of the cage, both climbing on top of the cage and fighting and resulting in Mankind being thrown off the top of the cage and onto the commentators table and also being chokeslammed through the roof of the cage.
In the Triple H / Cactus Jack match, Cactus Jack threw steel steps at Triple H, but missed and damaged the wall, then charged the cell wall until it broke enough for the two to get through.
In the six man armageddon Cell match, Vince McMahon used a truck to pull off the door of the cell while attempting to destroy the cell and stop the match.
The Triple H and Chris Jericho match, the door was opened with bolt cutters to allow the removal of legitimately injured referee Tim White.
The Triple H and Chris Jericho match was the last Hell in a cell match where the wrestlers climbed and fought on top of a cell. It was also the first and only Hell in a cell match where someone (Chris Jericho) got pinned on top of the cell.

Naturally, there are no disqualifications in the match, and the match can only be won either by pinfall or submission. However, to date, a Hell In A Cell match has never been won by submission. Also, every single Hell In A Cell match has in some way involved Triple H and/or the Undertaker, including the 1998 match between Kane and Mankind (although neither was officially featured in that match, Undertaker did come to try and interfere, which would lead to the match becoming a no contest).

Match history

No.	Match	Event and Date	Length
I	Shawn Michaels defeated The Undertaker to become the number one contender for the WWF Championship.	In Your House: Bad Blood October 5 1997	29:59
II	The Undertaker and Steve Austin vs. Mankind and Kane went to a no contest	RAW June 15 1998	5:10
III	The Undertaker defeated Mankind	King of the Ring June 28 1998	17:38
IV	Mankind vs. Kane went to a no contest	RAW August 24, 1998	7:41
V	The Undertaker defeated The Big Boss Man	WrestleMania XV March 28 1999	9:46
VI	Triple H defeated Cactus Jack to retain the WWF Championship	No Way Out February 27 2000	23:59
VII	Kurt Angle defeated The Undertaker, Triple H, Steve Austin, The Rock and Rikishi to retain the WWF Championship	Armageddon December 10 2000	32:14
VIII	Triple H defeated Chris Jericho	Judgment Day May 19 2002	24:31
IX	Brock Lesnar defeated The Undertaker to retain the WWE Championship	No Mercy October 20 2002	27:18
X	Triple H defeated Kevin Nash to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (with special guest referee Mick Foley)	Bad Blood June 15 2003	21:01
XI	Triple H defeated Shawn Michaels	Bad Blood June 13 2004	47:26
XII	Batista defeated Triple H to retain the World Heavyweight Championship	Vengeance June 26 2005	26:54
XIII	The Undertaker defeated Randy Orton	Armageddon December 18 2005	30:31
XIV	D-Generation X (Triple H and Shawn Michaels) defeated Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon and The Big Show	Unforgiven September 17 2006	25:04
XV	Batista defeated The Undertaker to retain the World Heavyweight Championship	Survivor Series November 18 2007	21:25

Note: The cell itself was used during a First Blood Match between Steve Austin and Kane at King of the Ring 1998, but the match itself was not a Hell in a Cell match. The cell had been used earlier in the evening for the match between the Undertaker and Mankind. It was lowered twice during Austin and Kane's match. It was also used in a Kennel From Hell match between Al Snow and Big Boss Man at "Unforgiven 1999.The cell was used every year since its debut with the exception of 2001."

In Your House: Bad Blood 1997: Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker

The Hell in a Cell match was first introduced by The Undertaker at the Badd Blood pay-per-view event on October 5 1997 in St. Louis, Missouri, when he challenged Shawn Michaels for the number one contendership to the WWF Championship. The Undertaker had been feuding with Michaels since SummerSlam 1997, where Michaels was a special guest referee in a match between the Undertaker and Bret Hart for the WWF Championship. In the match, Michaels swung a steel chair at Bret Hart, but missed and hit the Undertaker instead, costing him the match and the Championship. Out for revenge, the Undertaker devised the Cell not only to prevent Shawn Michaels' D-Generation X allies from interfering, but also to create an environment that would cause Michaels the most pain. From the beginning the Undertaker dominated, though Shawn Michaels was able to fight back several times. At one of Michaels' most offensive points in the match, he had managed to tangle The Undertaker in the two top ropes, immobilizing him. Michaels then proceeded to charge the subdued man, only for The Undertaker to flip him over the top ropes and onto a digital moving picture man. Frustrated that this wasn't the first time that a cameraman has gotten in his way, Michaels proceeded to beat the cameraman while he laid on the ground. After several more minutes of Michaels having the upper hand, Sgt. Slaughter came down to ringside and ordered the cage door unlocked to bring the cameraman out for medical care. At this time, Shawn Michaels hit his finisher, Sweet Chin Music, on the Undertaker, but instead of Michaels covering for the pin, the Undertaker did his signature sit-up (a move he does when it seems an opponent has him beaten, only for him to sit back up, revitalized, in accordance with his Deadman gimmick) and went back on the offensive. With the door now open, Shawn forced the referee aside in an attempt to escape the Undertaker, leading to both men battling outside of the cage. The Undertaker started by ramming Michaels head first into the cell several times, leaving his face a bloody mask. Michaels escaped by delivering a low-blow to the Undertaker and climbing to the top of the Cell. Naturally, The Undertaker followed, and once on top, he bodyslammed and backdropped Michaels on the ceiling. Again trying to outrun the Undertaker, Michaels began to climb back down the Cell. He was left hanging off the side when the Undertaker stomped on his hands, causing him to fall through the Spanish announce table at ringside from a height of around 10-12 feet. In reaction, Jim Ross yelled, "My God, he may be broken in half! Michaels may be broken in half!" This spot is seen as a precursor to a far more famous fall taken by Mick Foley from the very top of the cell. The Undertaker climbed down the cell and continued his assault, dragging Michaels back into the cage and the ring ("Back into Purgatory," as Jim Ross stated). After giving Michaels a clothesline, a chokeslam from the top turnbuckle, and a vicious chair shot (Michaels stated in his autobiography that after this shot he felt as if his own eyes were about to "pop out of his head"), it seemed that the Undertaker was bound for the win. However, when he gave his signature throat slit signal (indicating his finisher, the Tombstone), Paul Bearer and Kane entered ringside to interfere in the match, while Vince McMahon yelled, "Oh my God, wait a minute. It's Paul Bearer! It's Paul Bearer! And that...that's got to be Kane! That's got to be Kane!" This match was the first appearance of Kane, the Undertaker's on-screen half-brother. Kane ripped the door of the Cell from its hinges and confronted the Undertaker in the ring. After a brief stare-down, Kane performed his own version of the Tombstone Piledriver on the Undertaker and exited. Michaels then, with great effort, crawled out of a pool of his own blood and onto the unconscious Undertaker for the pin, gaining the contendership that would set the stage for the infamous Montreal Screwjob one month later. ^[1]

RAW (June 1998): Steve Austin & The Undertaker vs. Kane & Mankind

The second Hell in a Cell match was booked as a build up for King of the Ring 1998, where Steve Austin was booked to face Kane for the WWF Championship, and The Undertaker was booked against Mankind in another Hell in a Cell match. Paul Bearer was inside the Cell with Kane and Mankind by his side and challenged Austin and The Undertaker to fight Kane and Mankind inside the Cell. Stone Cold came out and waited for The Undertaker on the ramp, but Undertaker never showed. Kane, Mankind and Austin fought outside the cell, and Paul locked himself inside the cage to protect himself. However, The Undertaker came out from under the ring and began to brutalize Paul Bearer. Kane noticed and tried to get in, but the cage door was locked. Austin continued to beat up Mankind while Kane tried to save Bearer. Kane eventually climbed to the top of the cage trying to get in to help Paul Bearer, but he could not, and The Undertaker continued to beat up Paul Bearer. Austin eventually got a chair and nailed Mankind with it a couple of times, then made his way to the top of the cage and attacked Kane as The Undertaker continued to work on Paul Bearer. The match became a no contest.

King of the Ring 1998: The Undertaker vs. Mankind

The Hell in a Cell match at King of the Ring 1998 between The Undertaker and Mankind (Mick Foley) has since become one of the most famous professional wrestling matches in history. In preparing for the match Mick Foley asked longtime mentor and friend Terry Funk for his advice on how to top the first Hell in the Cell, which Foley considered a great match. Funk's fateful advice was to start the match on top of the cage. In his autobiography, Have a Nice Day, Foley jokes (after a previous Funk suggestion had caused both men serious burn injuries in Japan), "You'd think I would know better by now than to listen to Terry Funk." When the match started, both men climbed on top of the cage before the bell had even rung. As the two walked on top of the cage, one of the caged sections buckled and broke through under their weight. After a short battle, The Undertaker threw Mankind off the top of the cage through the Spanish announcers' table 16 feet below, narrowly avoiding monitors and other A/V equipment. Emergency medical technicians and other staff quickly rushed to his aid, while announcer Jim Ross screamed "Good God almighty! Good God almighty! That killed him! As God as my witness, he is broken in half!" Foley was lifted onto a gurney, and the technicians started to wheel him up the aisleway. Meanwhile, Undertaker remained atop the cage, which had begun to rise back towards the ceiling to allow room for the EMTs to wheel Mankind away on a gurney. Even though the fall from the cage was planned and well executed, Terry Funk and Vince McMahon (who evidently didn't know the table spot was coming) broke kayfabe — at the time, both were involved in feuds with Mankind — to come down ringside and check on Foley's condition. Later, Foley would later claim that he had introduced the idea of the throw from the top of the cage earlier in the day. The Undertaker at first resisted, asking him, "Mick, do you want to die?", but reluctantly agreed. As he was being wheeled up the aisle, Mankind got off of the gurney, and, despite having a dislocated shoulder, walked back towards the ring and climbed back on top of the cage, much to the delight of the fans. The match continued, even though the roof of the cage was buckling under both of them with every step they took. During the ensuing fight, The Undertaker chokeslammed Mankind on the roof of the cage. The section of the cage roof that Foley landed on gave way and Foley fell hard into the ring where he suffered a concussion and was knocked out cold for around a minute and a half. Mick Foley later acknowledged that the chokeslam through the roof spot was an accident, but there is no evidence to suggest this is true and clear-cut evidence to the contrary^[2]. Terry Funk wrote in his autobiography that both falls, including the second one through the cage, were planned. Some sources, including Power Slam magazine and Pro Wrestling Torch, reported that Foley denied planning this bump to placate his wife, who was furious with him after the match. The weight from the two wrestlers (almost 600 pounds) on top of the cage both before and after Foley's fall was said to be a key reason for the collapse of the cage. Making matters worse, the ring was one of the older style rings used by the WWF, which had less give to its surface so as to make the matches more realistic looking on television. A steel chair lying on the roof of the cage fell through and struck Foley in the face, dislocating his jaw and knocking out one and a half teeth as well as creating a large cut beneath his lip (The Undertaker has since stated in interviews that after the fall, he thought for sure Foley was dead). Upon seeing the fall, Jim Ross yelled out, "Good God, Good God!" and Jerry Lawler famously said, "That's it, he's dead." Ross continued, "Will somebody stop the damn match?! Enough's enough!" Terry Funk and other personnel immediately ran into the ring to aid Foley. The Undertaker jumped down through the new hole in the cage roof (despite a broken foot which he suffered before the match, which nearly caused him to lose his balance when he landed) and improvised a bit with Funk to give Foley a few minutes to recover. Despite suffering from a head injury, Foley was able to continue and finish the match. The Undertaker deliberately over-sold Mankind's offensive moves in order to work at a pace more conducive to Foley's heavily injured state. Shortly after Foley recovered from the second fall, he knocked The Undertaker off the top rope, and the camera panned around Foley to show the now infamous picture of Foley apparently smiling while one of his broken teeth, which he had aspirated into his sinus cavity, protrudes from his left nostril. Lawler could be heard on commentary asking on more than one occasion "What is that sticking out of his nose!?" In his first autobiography, Foley wrote that he was trying to show off the hole below his lips by sticking his tongue through it, but because of his thick beard and excesses of blood, the hole was not seen and this was misinterpreted as a sick smile. As the two brawled in and out of the ring, including a spot that saw the Undertaker crush Mankind in between the ring steps and the cell, Foley manged to reach under the ring and pull out a blue burlap sack, which contained hundreds of thumb tacks that he spread across a section of the ring. Jim Ross, aghast at what he was witnessing, remarked on commentary "This is Off-The-Page!" Foley applied the Mandible Claw to The Undertaker, who managed to reverse the hold and first backdropped, then shortly thereafter chokeslammed Foley onto the pile of thumbtacks. The Undertaker then delivered the Tombstone Piledriver to win by pinfall. Despite his injuries, Mankind managed to go ahead with his planned interference in the main event later that evening, a First Blood Match between Kane and Steve Austin (in which the Undertaker also interfered).Foley came back into the ring after the blood match and received a stunner. In the end, the match left Foley with a dislocated jaw, a dislocated shoulder, a bruised kidney, 2 broken ribs, one and a half missing teeth, a concussion, and 14 stitches for the cut beneath his lip. He took 2 months to recover. In one of Mick Foley's autobiographies, he said he could only remember bits and pieces of the 1998 Hell In A Cell match up until the second fall, and absolutely nothing of the match after that, and had to rewatch the entire event in order to write about it in any detail. Additionally, he wrote that his wife frantically tried to call him immediately after the match, and pleaded with him to never do anything like that ever again. Vince McMahon even reportedly gave very serious thought after the match to never holding another Hell In A Cell, due to the severity of the injuries that Foley had sustained. By Foley's own admission, some of those injuries have never fully healed. A humorous anecdote Foley has shared several times, including his first autobiography, was when he and the Undertaker were receiving medical attention backstage shortly after the match. Still dazed, he reportedly turned to the Undertaker and asked "Did I use the thumbtacks?" (the use of thumbtacks had become something of a trademark of Foley's during his time in Japan), to which The Undertaker replied, "Mick, look at your arm!", as there were thumb tacks still stuck there. Foley also wrote that the Undertaker was extremely concerned during the match. He thought that the first time he threw Foley off the top of the cell that he had paralyzed him and ended his career, and that the second time that he had killed him, but The Undertaker continued the match without breaking character. He was also relieved when Foley was able to get back up both times and continue the match, especially since he and Foley are very good friends in real-life. Many elements of this match, including the fall through the roof of the cage, were reused in Foley's second Hell in a Cell match against Triple H at No Way Out 2000. Video clips of the two falls have been some of the most replayed clips on WWE television. ^[3]

RAW (August 1998): Kane vs. Mankind

This little remembered match between Kane and Mankind occurred in August 1998 on an episode of RAW is WAR, a mere two months after King of the Ring 1998. It is often forgotten due to its lack of hype and the fact that it occurred on broadcast television rather than pay-per-view. The most notable part of the match once again involved Mankind falling from the cell. The Undertaker, still somewhat involved in a feud with Mankind, pulled him off the side of the cage whilst he was paused at the halfway point of the structure. However, the landing was botched, with Mankind's lower body destroying the Spanish announcers table that was supposed to break his fall, and his head, back and shoulders directly hitting the concrete floor from a height of fourteen feet. In his second autobiography Foley says that this fall actually hurt him more than his infamous bump from the very top of the cage in the previous cell match. Mankind pulled a bag of thumbtacks from beneath the ring, and executed a modified piledriver then cause Kane to land on the tacks. However, Kane looked set to win the match after hitting Mankind with a steel chair three times, followed by a chokeslam and two tombstone piledrivers, the second onto the steel chair. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin then burst from underneath the ring and attacked Kane. The Undertaker, watching from outside the locked cage, attempted to break into the cage through the roof, but was thwarted by Vince McMahon who used the controls to raise the cage. The match was declared a no contest.

WrestleMania XV: The Undertaker vs. Big Boss Man

This contest took place at WrestleMania XV and featured the bodyguard of The Corporation, Big Boss Man, against the leader of the Ministry of Darkness, The Undertaker. It is the shortest pay-per-view Hell in a Cell match to date (lasting 9:46), and is noteworthy mainly for its bizarre ending. After the match was over (which ended with Big Boss Man receiving a Tombstone Piledriver and being pinned by The Undertaker), The Brood was lowered from the ceiling to the top of the Cell, where they lowered a noose to The Undertaker. The Undertaker proceeded to hang Boss Man from the cell as it rose to the rafters. It was suggested during the match, that the hanging was the "symbolic" hanging of The Corporation by the Ministry of Darkness, as opposed to a literal execution attempt. Bossman returned to action a few weeks later, with no mention of the hanging spot. ^[4]

No Way Out 2000: Triple H vs. Cactus Jack

After Triple H defeated Cactus Jack in a bloody Street Fight at the 2000 Royal Rumble to retain the WWF Championship, the two booked a rematch for the title: Hell in a Cell at No Way Out 2000. Stipulations held that if Cactus Jack did not win, Mick Foley would be forced to retire. Things got violent quickly. Some of the highlights of the match were Triple H throwing the steel steps at Cactus Jack, Cactus Jack jumping off the top rope to the outside of the ring crushing Triple H with a steel chair, and Triple H getting his face grinded into the side of the cell. At one point Triple H was going to give Cactus Jack a pedigree on the steel steps, but Cactus reversed it and spring board launched Triple H face first into the cell. Cactus threw the steel steps at Triple H, who got out of the way. The steps then broke through the side of the cell. Cactus Jack then rammed his body into the hole, making it big enough for him and Triple H to get through. After Triple H was piledriven into one of the announce tables, Cactus pulled out a barbed-wire 2x4 and struck Triple H with it several times in the forehead. Soon after, Triple H climbed to the top of the Cell, and Cactus attempted to follow. However, Triple H stomped his hands, and Foley fell off the Cell and through the Spanish announce table. After managing to climb to the top, Cactus resumed his offense with punches. After back-and-forth exchanges where both wrestlers came very close to the edge of the cage, Cactus Jack set his barbed-wire 2x4 on fire. After Triple H got back to his feet, Jack struck him with the weapon. He then tried to piledrive Triple H onto the 2x4, but Triple H countered with a back body drop. The cage roof broke under Foley's weight, causing him to fall into the ring. Upon impact, he broke through the canvas, which had been rigged to collapse to make the fall safer for Foley. After the fall, a shocked Triple H re-entered the cell. After watching Cactus lie motionless for a few minutes, Triple H poked his arm with his foot. Jack rose his arm, which prompted the fans to begin cheering and Triple H to seethe in shock. Cactus began to emerge from the hole in the ring, and tried to get to his feet. Triple H connected with several punches and then hit his finishing move, the Pedigree, to win the match by pinfall and retain the World Wrestling Federation Championship. As a result, Mick Foley was forced into "retirement". However, he would return one month later to headline WrestleMania 2000 along with Triple H, The Rock, and Big Show. ^[5]

Armageddon 2000: Kurt Angle vs. The Rock vs. Steve Austin vs. The Undertaker vs. Triple H vs. Rikishi

Kurt Angle after winning the Armageddon Hell in a Cell

This match featured six men, The Rock, Steve Austin, The Undertaker, Kurt Angle, Triple H, and Rikishi, and was contested for the WWF Championship. In the weeks preceding Armageddon, Vince McMahon had tried to convince the six superstars to step down from the match (he claimed to be concerned for the health of each man), only to receive a Stunner from Austin, a Rock Bottom from The Rock, and finally a Last Ride from the Undertaker in response. The match started on a brutal note, as each man chose another to assault, often leading to rather gruesome attacks (including Steve Austin dragging Triple H's face against all four sides of the Cell). Each competitor would also hit their respective finishing moves on one another.

About ten and a half minutes into the match, Vince came out with a truck and demolition crew with the intent on destroying the Cell and ending the match. The truck ripped the door to the Cell off its hinges, but Commissioner Mick Foley would come out and have Vince removed by security guards, and the match continued. The six men then headed out of the now open cell and fought among and utilized several demolished cars set-up as decorations for the event (notable bumps include The Rock receiving a pedigree from Triple H on the roof of a car, Austin swinging a camera boon knocking Triple H off of a car, and Triple H being sling-shot onto a windshield). The Undertaker and Kurt Angle would eventually brawl their way to the announcer's tables. Shortly after, Triple H began to climb to the top of the Cell to escape from Steve Austin, who climbed after him. While the two fought on top, Kurt Angle and The Undertaker began their way to the top of the Cell, and finally, as Triple H and Stone Cold began to make their way down, Rikishi started climbing up to escape The Rock. The Undertaker managed to obtain a steel chair by threatening a timekeeper (saying that if he didn't give him a chair, he would "Come down and rip his head off"), but it was ultimately utilized by Rikishi. Angle climbed down as Rikishi and Taker brawled, which resulted in the most brutal bump of the match, Rikishi being choke-slammed off the Cell into the bed of the truck. The truck was full of hay and the suspension very loose so as to break his fall. Shortly afterwards The Undertaker collapsed from exhaustion and blood loss on top of the cell and remained there for the rest of the match. Now back in the Cell, the remaining four wrestlers continued their fight in the ring. After a brief bout, a series of finishers and attempted pins led to The Rock lying unconscious from the Stunner, with Triple H and Stone Cold fighting each other. The two knocked each other out when Austin attempted a Stunner, but Triple H reversed it into a high-impact neckbreaker, resulting in a supposed "double-Stunner". Kurt Angle, who had received a Rock Bottom from The Rock, crawled his way onto the unconscious man for the pin and, against the odds, won the match and retained the WWF Championship.^[6]

Judgment Day 2002: Triple H vs. Chris Jericho

This match was made as a result of the feud between Triple H and Vince McMahon. Triple H rebelled against Vince's wishes, and thus Vince recruited Chris Jericho. Jericho also had differences with Triple H many times in the past, but the main reason for his "obsession" to defeat Triple H is because Triple H was the man who took his WWE Undisputed Championship at WrestleMania X-8 two months earlier. The match was highlighted with a legitimate injury that referee Tim White suffered (although it was originally scripted). As a result, the referees opened the lock of the cage and helped White. As a result, Jericho was able to crawl out of the ring, which was of course followed by Triple H. On the outside, Jericho attempted to perform Triple H's own Pedigree through the announcer's table. Triple H countered and gave Jericho a DDT to put Jericho through the table. Triple H grabbed a 2x4 with a barbed wire wrapped around it. Jericho climbed the cell, and Triple H followed with the barbed wire in his hand. As Triple H got on top, Jericho grabbed the barbed wire and nailed Triple H with it several times. Jericho then put Triple H in the Walls of Jericho. A second referee, Mike Chioda, came and climbed the cell. Chioda checked on Triple H whether he has submitted or not. Triple H did not, and was able to get out of the submission hold. Triple H eventually went for the Pedigree on Jericho, but Jericho countered it with a back body drop on the roof of the cage. However, the roof did not break. In the end, Triple H clocked Jericho with the barbed wire and followed it with a Pedigree to secure the win.

No Mercy 2002: Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker

Brock Lesnar's rise to the top of WWE after his debut in 2002 was rapid; he won the 2002 King Of the Ring and gained the WWE Championship at SummerSlam 2002. This led to a match between him and The Undertaker at Unforgiven 2002, which ended in a double disqualification and Lesnar retaining the title. The next month he faced The Undertaker again in the Cell for the WWE Championship. Hype leading up to the match was intense, as Lesnar, with his manager Paul Heyman, broke the Undertaker's hand with a propane tank. Despite Heyman begging Stephanie McMahon, then general manager of SmackDown!, not to let The Undertaker use his cast as a weapon, the request was denied and the match would go on as planned. It was a brutal match with both wrestlers' faces eventually covered in thick blood. Undertaker's blood loss was particularly severe; his cut never stopped bleeding after he bladed. Even Paul Heyman, who was outside of the cage, felt the Undertaker's wrath as Undertaker beat him up through holes in the cage. Sometime during the match Undertaker had grabbed Paul and slammed him forward into the cell wall. In return, Heyman took his belt and tied it around the Undertaker's cast to hold it against the cell, while Brock hit the cast repeatedly with a chair until Heyman's belt broke. Later, after Undertaker used his cast as a weapon, Lesnar gained control and removed the cast, leaving Undertaker's broken hand exposed. Undertaker successfully hit a Chokeslam and the Last Ride, but the match ended when Lesnar reversed a Tombstone Piledriver into his F5 slam for the three count. After the match, Lesnar climbed to the top of the cell to celebrate, holding his title up high.^[7]

Bad Blood 2003: Triple H vs. Kevin Nash

The return of Triple H's former friend Kevin Nash sparked tension as Nash was stuck between the feud of Triple H and Shawn Michaels (also former friends). However, Triple H had enough, and turned on Nash leading up to the brutal Hell in a Cell match at the Bad Blood 2003 pay-per-view. This is the only Hell in a Cell match with a special guest referee (Mick Foley). The storyline explanation for a special referee to be introduced was because no referee wanted to officiate a Hell in a Cell match, since the previous year referee Tim White got injured while doing it. Highlights of the match include Nash throwing Triple H into the cell wall several times, Triple H hitting Nash in the knee and the head with a sledgehammer, Triple H digging a screw driver into the head of Nash, Triple H busting a crate over Nash's head, Nash giving Triple H a drop-toe-hold causing him to land face first into the steel steps, Triple H blasting Nash and then Mick Foley in the head with a steel chair, Mick Foley applying the Mandible Claw to Triple H, Nash hitting Triple H and Foley in the head with the steel steps at the same time, Triple H pushing Nash into Foley causing him to fly off the ring apron into the side of the cell, Triple H being slingshot into the corner where a barbed-wire 2x4 was positioned on the top turnbuckle pad. Triple H retained the World Heavyweight Championship after nailing Kevin Nash with the sledgehammer, followed by the Pedigree.^[8]

Bad Blood 2004: Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels

This was the ninth Pay Per View meeting in the feud between Triple H and Shawn Michaels that lasted from 2002 in a Street Fight (SummerSlam), the first ever Elimination Chamber (Survivor Series), a Three Stages Of Hell Match (Armageddon), a six-man tag team match with their partners being Chris Jericho and Ric Flair and Booker T and Kevin Nash respectively (Backlash 2003), The Second Elimination Chamber (SummerSlam), a Last Man Standing Match (Royal Rumble), as part of the main event at WrestleMania XX, and a rematch from WrestleMania a month later at Backlash. The match lasted 47 minutes, with both men bleeding heavily by the end. Michaels hit Triple H with a diving elbow through a table, and the two made frequent use of the ring steps, and ladder. Shawn Michaels tried to finish the match with the Sweet Chin Music but missed. Triple H got the pin after three Pedigrees. After the match, Triple H was assisted by his fellow Evolution members Ric Flair, Batista and Randy Orton to leave the cell leaving Shawn Michaels out cold. After a few minutes, Shawn Michaels, barely on his feet, was given a show of respect from the audience. It is the longest Hell in a Cell match to date.^[9]

Vengeance 2005: Batista vs. Triple H

This heated rivalry began as the two former Evolution team-mates squared off at WrestleMania 21 after Batista won the 2005 Royal Rumble, turned face and turned on Triple H. After losing twice to Batista first at Wrestlemania, then again at Backlash, Triple H then demanded a Hell in a Cell match, thinking that Batista was no match for him since Triple H was undefeated in Hell in a Cell matches (although Triple H did not win the 6-man Hell in a Cell match at Armageddon 2000). Also, Triple H said that the reason Batista beat him on two previous encounters is because he didn't get to utilize his lethal finisher, the Pedigree. The Pedigree was regarded as a move that made Triple H so succesful, as he has beaten every all-time greats with it. The Rock, Steve Austin, Undertaker, Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, Kevin Nash, Kane, and Rob Van Dam are just a list of the great wrestlers Triple H has put away using the Pedigree. In the first several minutes of the match the two took turns ramming each others' bodies into the cell and into the steel steps. Triple H brought a chain and began whipping Batista with it, and even went as far as hanging him with it from the top rope. Triple H then brought out a steel chair wrapped in barbed wire, and the two began beating each other with it. At one point Triple H attempted a Pedigree onto the chair but Batista countered and powerslammed him onto it. Later, Triple H hit Batista in the head with a sledgehammer. Batista attempted to do the same, but Triple H punched him while his hand was wrapped in the chain. Triple H climbed to the top rope and attempted to hit Batista with his chain-wrapped hand, but when Triple H came down Batista held the sledgehammer up, causing Triple H to land on it, mouth-first. The steel steps were later brought into the ring. Triple H then gave Batista a Pedigree, but Batista kicked out. Triple H then attempted to execute a Pedigree while atop the steps but Batista countered with a spinebuster on the steps. Batista followed up with a Batista Bomb to retain the title. This was the first match to introduce a barbed-wire chair. In the end, Batista became the first man to defeat Triple H in a one-on-one Hell in a Cell match. This would be Batista's last match under the RAW Brand before being drafted to SmackDown!.^[10]

Armageddon 2005: The Undertaker vs. Randy Orton

At the start of 2005, Randy Orton challenged The Undertaker to a match at Wrestlemania 21, in hopes of killing the greatest Legend in WWE History. Orton was unsuccessful, however, this wasn't his last attempt to overcome The Phenom. After being drafted to Smackdown! in the 2005 Draft, Orton immediately made an impact, RKO-ing The Undertaker. Orton went on to defeat Taker at Summerslam, much thanks to his Father Bob Orton Jr.'s distraction whilst dressed as a Fan. At No Mercy, The Undertaker challenged the Orton's (Randy and his Father) to a Casket Match. The Orton's managed to defeat The Undertaker. After the Match, they locked the Casket, poured gasoline over it, and set it on fire. Shortly afterwards, WWE.com reported that there were no signs of Undertaker's remains in the Casket. A month later, at the Survivor Series, The Undertaker returned. Orton was the sole survivor of the Classic Survivor Series Match: Team Raw vs Team Smackdown. The Smackdown lockerroom raided the ring celebrating with Orton, when a Casket was carried our by Druids. Lightening struck the Casket, setting it aflame, and The Undertaker emerged through the door of the Casket. The Undertaker attacked the whole Smackdown! Lockerroom, leaving them laid out around the arena. His message was sent to the Orton's, despite them escaping before he could get his hands on them. The Undertaker then challenged Randy Orton to a Hell in a Cell Match at Armageddon 2005. Leading up to the Match, The Undertaker played mind games with Orton. After a long, hard-fought match, both Taker and Orton had given their all, but not even Bob Orton Jr.'s interference could save Randy Orton, as The Undertaker finished him off with a Tombstone Piledriver.

Unforgiven 2006: The McMahons & Big Show vs. D-Generation X

At the start of 2006, Shawn Michaels became involved in a feud with Vince McMahon when he told McMahon to put the Montreal Screwjob behind him. This set off a heated feud between the two that would only intensify as Michaels reunited with old tag team partner Triple H to reform D-Generation X. After DX beat Vince and his son Shane at SummerSlam, McMahon was hungry for revenge. At Unforgiven 2006, Mr. McMahon, Shane, and Big Show, were pitted against D-Generation X in the first-ever Hell in a Cell handicap match. At the beginning of the match DX incapacitated Big Show with a double low blow, they then proceded to beat up the Mcmahons, busting both of them open. Other Highlights of the match were Shawn Michaels giving Shane McMahon an elbow drop with a chair wrapped around his neck, Michaels and Triple H shoving Vince's face into Big Show's exposed rear end (giving Vince a taste of what it was like for others to join his "Kiss My Ass Club"), and Triple H breaking a sledgehammer over Vince's back to win the match for DX. This match also marked the debut of a brand-new design of the Hell in a Cell; the new 30-by-30 structure stands at 20 feet tall, runs for 3,500 square feet, and is made of steel mesh and support beams. The new structure addressed problems with the older structure, which made it difficult for top-rope maneuvers to be executed. ^[11]

Survivor Series 2007: Batista vs. The Undertaker

This feud started with a trilogy of matches, with The Undertaker defeating Batista for the World Heavyweight Champion at WrestleMania 23. The next month at Backlash, they fought to a no contest in a Last Man Standing Match. On the May 8th addition of Friday Night SmackDown!, the two fought to a draw in a Steel Cage Match. After the match, Edge cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and defeated the Undertaker for the championship. The Undertaker was out of action for four months and when he returned he went straight for the World title. Batista finally defeated The Undertaker for the first time at Cyber Sunday. At Survivor Series on November 18 2007 The Undertaker entered the Hell In A Cell match for the 7th time, to face the defending World Heavyweight Champion, Batista. Despite their feud, this would be the first time a Hell in a Cell match would have two faces against each other. Both men ended up bloodied, some of the highlights of which included Undertaker Last Riding Batista from the 2nd Rope, Batista powerbombing Undertaker through a table, and several spots involving the ring steps. In the end, just after Undertaker had hit Batista with a Tombstone onto the steps, the referee was pulled out of the ring by the returning Edge. Edge then proceeded to assault Undertaker, finally laying his head on the very same ring steps, and bringing a chair down across his head and rolling the unconscious Batista over to pin him, thus causing Batista to retain the title. On the following Smackdown taping, it was revealed that Edge had enlisted the help of Vickie Guerrero to enable the interference. ^[12]

Variations

A variation of the Hell in a Cell match used in the World Wrestling Federation was the Kennel from Hell match, held at Unforgiven 1999. The match was "conceived" by wrestler Al Snow during his short-lived feud with The Big Boss Man in mid-1999; the feud started when Boss Man kidnapped, cooked, and served Snow's dog, Pepper, to him. The match was a spin-off of this event, where the cell was placed over the ring, which was already equipped with a standard Steel Cage. Two dogs that had been "starved for weeks" were placed in between. The object was simply to escape from the structure, which was designed to be very difficult, however the match turned out to be a disaster, as the dogs spent the duration of the match snapping at each other, urinating on the floor and at one point even attempting to mate, and the whole spectacle was ridiculous. Snow won the match, which ended the feud. Due to the ludicrous nature of the match (which pertained to Al Snow's "madman" gimmick) and the critical mauling it received, this has been the only such match to be held.