Hell in a Cell is one of the most hardcore places to prove your mettle. The annual event has seen the bloodiest matches in WWE history and is one of the most brutal PPVs in the business.
Hell in a Cell has a long and interesting history. Superstars have been bouncing off the brutal setting for decades and there is really no concept of mercy when it come to the cold and hard steel cage.
Steel Cage matches were a common occurrence in WWE since 1985. An iconic SummerSlam match between Bret Hart and Owen Hart used the traditional Blue cage with thick bars.
However, the new Hell in a Cell match would be much bigger, and a lot more ominous. Designed by Jim Cornette, the cell was originally 16ft high and weighed over 2 tons. It was later replaced by a 20ft version weighing 5 tons.
Unlike the traditional Steel Cage, this Cell would not have an open roof. The Superstars competing at Hell in a Cell would well and truly be locked in with each other.
The only way out was to defeat the opponent by any means possible or escaping the cell. Cornette designed the cage with inspiration from Memphis Wrestling promotions that popularised them.
The first-ever Hell in a Cell match was fought at Badd Blood: In Your House in October 1997 between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. The epic showdown ended with Shawn Michaels making history by notching the first-ever win in the structure.
Hell in a Cell would have to wait 12 more years until it got its own exclusive PPV. In 2009, WWE announced the new event Hell in a Cell and since then, it has been taking place every October, and sometimes in September.
The first-ever Championship match in the cell was held at No Way Out 2000 when Triple H successfully defended his WWF Championship against a determined Cactus Jack.
The Undertaker made history yet again in 2009 by becoming the first-ever Superstar to win a Championship inside the confines of the dark cage by defeating CM Punk for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
“The Deadman” also holds the record for most appearances and coincidentally most wins at Hell in a Cell. He has competed in 14 matches in the cell and won 8 of them.
The longest ever match at Hell in a Cell was the bloody encounter between Triple H and Shawn Michaels that lasted for over 47 minutes.
The first-ever Women’s Hell in a Cell match was fought in 2016 between Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks in one of the most brutal fights in Women’s wrestling history. Flair defeated Banks to win the Raw Women’s Championship, marking a significant achievement for the revitalized Women’s division.
One of the most memorable moments in Hell in a Cell was when “Mankind” Mick Foley was thrown off the top of the cage by The Undertaker, straight to the ground.
The hardcore legend climbed back up, only to be Chokeslammed through the roof down to the floor of the ring. Foley audaciously continued the match despite the fatal fall and made it one of the greatest wrestling matches in history.
We have seen a lot more such insane moves performed inside and on top of the steel cage. There is no doubt that we will continue to see them. The cell is no place for the faint-hearted, and only the toughest come out of it on two feet.
You can watch Hell in a Cell 2020 on WWE Network exclusively if you are a member. You can also watch the event live on traditional streaming channels.
WWE Hell in a Cell will take place on Sunday, November 1, 2020. The timings are yet to be revealed by WWE. The event will take place at Amway Centre, Florida, also known as ThunderDome.
WWE Hell in a Cell 2020 can be live-streamed through WWE Network if you are a member.
Country of Origin | United States of America |
Original Network | WWE |
Distributor | WWE |
History | October 4, 2009- Present |
First Event | Badd Blood: In Your House (1997) |
Date | October 5, 1997 |
Location | ThunderDome (Amway Centre, Florida) |
Live Streaming | WWE Network, Traditional Streaming Channels |