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On June 20, 2021, WWE will present the 13th Hell in a Cell pay-per-view, and this year will be the first time it takes place in June.
WWE has officially announced two Hell in a Cell matches: Roman Reigns vs. Rey Mysterio for the Universal Championship, and Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre for the WWE Title. These contests will likely be memorable like many others before them.
Most fans remember the hellacious steel cage match between Triple H and The Undertaker at WrestleMania 28. Jey Uso's emotional battle with Roman Reigns last year also remains a fresh memory. Yet, a handful of encounters inside the unforgiving steel structure have been forgotten.
Let's explore five Hell in a Cell matches that many members of the WWE Universe don't remember.
#5 CM Punk vs. The Undertaker for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship (2009)
The Phenom returned at SummerSlam 2009 after the TLC main event between CM Punk and Jeff Hardy. The Undertaker made his intentions clear: he wanted the World Heavyweight Championship.
The Hell in a Cell match between Punk and Taker was the first-ever at the inaugural pay-per-view. The Deadman and the Straight-Edge Superstar fought in an under-whelming, ten-minute encounter that failed to meet expectations. The challenger executed the Last Ride, a Chokeslam and Tombstone piledriver for the victory. Most fans didn't have a problem with Taker winning, but no memorable moment elicited a "This Is Awesome" chant from the live crowd.
Compared to The Phenom's list of fantastic Hell in a Cell matches, the battle with Punk is near the bottom of the list. Taker had a five-star match with Shawn Michaels in 1997, and a stellar "End of an Era" encounter with Triple H at WrestleMania 28, inside the unforgiving cage.
Three matches took place inside the cell that night in 2009, and the World Heavyweight Championship match was the least entertaining one. With nothing special about the in-ring combined with its short match time, it comes as no surprise that Taker vs. Punk has been forgotten.
#4 Roman Reigns vs. Rusev for the WWE United States Championship (2016)
Following WWE's brand split's reintroduction, Roman Reigns lost to Finn Balor and moved out of the Universal Championship picture. Instead, the Big Dog entered a feud with Rusev that culminated in a Hell in a Cell match.
In the prelude to the eponymous pay-per-view, immeasurable hype surrounded the first-ever women's Hell in a Cell match between Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks. Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins' intriguing rivalry was coming to a head at the event too. Consequently, it wasn't easy to get excited about the US Title match.
Reigns and Rusev took each other to the limit. It was an enjoyable wrestling match. Highlights included the Bulgarian Brute locking in the Accolade using a Russian chain while Reigns was draped over the steel steps. Unfortunately for the challenger, the Big Dog executed a spine-rattling Spear off the steps for the three-count.
The match was great, but it lacked those memorable spots that fans are accustomed to witnessing in such contests. Combined with the lackluster build and the predictable outcome, it comes as no surprise that the WWE Universe has forgotten about Rusev's only Hell in a Cell match.
#3 Randy Orton vs. Sheamus for the WWE Championship (2010)
At Night of Champions 2010, Randy Orton won the WWE Championship by outlasting five other men in a Six-Pack Elimination Challenge match. The previous champion, Sheamus, invoked his rematch clause, and the two rivals collided in a Hell in a Cell match.
Orton and Sheamus put on a clinic at the event that exceeded expectations. WWE's Apex Predator won by nailing his opponent with an RKO on the steel steps. In all fairness, it should've closed the show. However, the rivalry between the Viper and the Irishman was plagued by a couple of external issues.
Firstly, John Cena's storyline with the Nexus reached its climax at the pay-per-view as he faced Wade Barrett with huge implications. As Cena lost, Nexus didn't disband, and Champ had to join the dominant faction. Second, Paul Bearer returned after a long hiatus to support The Undertaker in the Phenom's profoundly personal feud with Kane. Bearer turned on Taker and allied with the Devil's Favorite Demon.
As a result, Orton and Sheamus's brutal affair got lost in the shuffle. A decade later, many fans recall The Nexus' dominant run and Paul Bearer's shocking betrayal. However, very few remember the classic WWE Championship match at Hell in a Cell 2010.
#2 Mark Henry vs. Randy Orton for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship (2011)
WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry won the World Heavyweight Championship at Night of Champions in September 2011. Henry inducted Randy Orton into his infamous "Hall of Pain," a list of the World Strongest Man's victims that included Kane and The Big Show. It was a shocker for the crowd, but it was pleasing to watch Henry win his first World Title after 15 years of hard work and consistency.
The Viper was out to avenge his championship at a Hell in a Cell pay-per-view. After an RKO couldn't get the job done, Orton went for the Punt kick only for Henry to turn it into the World's Strongest Slam to secure the pinfall.
There were a couple of dilemmas with Henry vs. Orton at Hell in a Cell 2011. The World's Strongest Man and the Legend Killer couldn't put together a entertaining, high-risk contest. Plus, their encounter was overshadowed by the WWE Championship Triple Threat Match later in the night.
Moreover, the result was inevitable. With the reign of terror, Henry was on. It was too soon for him to drop the championship, and Orton was not the one to dethrone him. WWE was building the Hall of Famer for a match against the returning Big Show.
Almost a decade later, many fans have forgotten about Mark Henry's only Hell in a Cell match. As incredible as his "Hall of Pain" shtick was, his battle with Orton inside the cell was a low point.
#1 CM Punk vs. Ryback for the WWE Championship (2012)
After WrestleMania 28, WWE had found a new version of Goldberg - Ryback. The Big Guy was a powerful, invincible beast that was on an impressive winning streak. His mantra was "Feed Me More". During this time, CM Punk kept adding victories to his memorable championship reign of the 2010s.
Much to Punk's chagrin, Vince McMahon chose Ryback as his challenger for Hell in a Cell. Unfortunately, the match was a lackluster affair that many fans forgot a few days later.
Ryback wasn't ready for the big leagues yet, and it seemed as if WWE was forcing him into a position he wasn't prepared for. It was the right decision not to crown him the champion, but the ending was a mess.
Brad Maddox, who went onto have a successful managerial role, low-blowed the Big Guy, and Punk rolled the challenger up for a quick three-count. Ryback attacked Maddox after his loss before turning his attention to the WWE Champion. He Shell Shocked Punk atop the cell.
It was a shame that the champion looked weak even in victory. Some fans voiced their displeasure on social media.
Luckily for both stars, this encounter didn't last long in the memory of the WWE Universe. One of the biggest reasons was that The Rock got involved in the championship picture not long after, and Ryback was moved to mid-card, which seemed like a more natural position for him.
