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Hell in a Cell was at one point the most feared phrase in all of WWE. When a superstar uttered these words, the fans knew that the subsequent match would be brutal. It was once the premier stipulation bout that would blow off bitter rivalries in a memorable spectacle.
Since WWE made the Hell in a Cell a yearly themed pay-per-view, some of the luster behind this match type has lessened. More often than not, the cell has been used in feuds that did not warrant it. Matches have been placed inside the cage because it is the month of the themed pay-per-view.
That being said, this stipulation still has a proud history. The Devil's Playground has witnessed many epic encounters that will never be forgotten. With this year's pay-per-view on the horizon, let's take a look at the six greatest Hell in a Cell matches in WWE history.
Honorable mention:
- Armageddon Hell In A Cell (Armageddon 2000)
- Triple H vs. Cactus Jack (No Way Out 2000)
- Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker (No Mercy 2002/Hell In A Cell 2015)
- The Undertaker vs. Edge (Summerslam 2008)
- Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks (Hell in a Cell 2019)
#6 Bayley vs. Sasha Banks in a Hell in a Cell Match for the SmackDown Women's Championship (Hell in a Cell 2020)
The first entry on this greatest Hell in a Cell list comes from just last year. Bayley and Sasha Banks were the MVPs of the pandemic era in WWE. The Golden Role Models dominated the company across all three brands. Bayley made history with her reign as the SmackDown Women's Champion, and together, they won the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships.
After the duo lost their tag titles, Bayley turned on her best friend and harshly attacked Sasha Banks. This betrayal set the stage for a collision between two of the Four Horsewomen inside of Hell in a Cell. The two ladies put on an amazing performance that ranks among the greatest women's matches in company history.
With a year of buildup behind it, the Hell in a Cell match between Bayley and Sasha was innovative, as it featured several memorable spots. Banks ran up a table to hit Bayley with double knees into the cell. On the other hand, Bayley used kendo sticks and ladders to beat down her opponent. In the end, the same steel chair that Bayley used to betray Banks made all the difference.
Bayley brought the chair with her to the ring, but Banks immediately threw the weapon out of the cell. The Role Model would eventually reclaim the steel chair and use it against The Boss, but Banks ultimately used the chair in the Banks Statement to clinch the win. In hindsight, this bout was a remarkable contest that ranks among the best in the stipulation's history.
#5 The Undertaker vs. Mankind in a Hell in a Cell Match (King of the Ring 1998)
The Undertaker vs. Mankind is by far the most infamous Hell in a Cell Match of all time. Heading into King of the Ring 1998, the feud between the two men included different physical encounters. They faced off for the first time two years earlier at King of the Ring 1996.
Through the Boiler Room Brawl, Buried Alive and Paul Bearer turning on Taker, this rivalry hit heights of intensity never seen before. The Undertaker and Mankind had lofty expectations to meet after the initial Hell in a Cell classic that took place the year prior. Mick Foley then took things to unimaginable levels in order to elevate this match beyond the first Hell in a Cell contest.
Mankind climbed the Hell in a Cell before The Undertaker even came out to the ring, so The Phenom met him on top of the cage to start this contest. In one of the craziest spots ever, The Deadman tossed Mankind off the 20-foot tall cage, so Foley crashed through the commentary table. As a result, it looked like the match was over before it even started.
But Mankind pulled himself off a stretcher and returned to the top of the Hell in a Cell. He would take an even bigger, more horrifying bump when The Undertaker dropped him with a chokeslam through the top of the cage The thud heard when Mankind hit the ring is still cringeworthy to this day. Even after this, the match was not over.
Mankind continued to persevere, even after he was almost stretchered out a second time. The two men fought for another 10 minutes, and stiff steel chair shots and thumbtacks came into play. The sight of a bloody Mankind smiling while he had a tooth hanging out of his nose remains one of the iconic visuals of the Attitude Era.
To conclude the brutal bout, The Undertaker dropped Mankind with a Tombstone piledriver for the win. Of the 46 Hell in a Cell matches, this one is the most unforgettable of them all. When non-wrestling fans say that this business is not real, wrestling fans can always show this matchup to make them think otherwise.
#4 The New Day vs. The Usos in a Hell in a Cell Match for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships (Hell in a Cell 2017)
As stated in the introduction, the Hell in a Cell match has lessened in significance since it became a themed pay-per-view. Still, even with this development, there have been a few occasions when it has come at the perfect time for a rivalry. The 2017 edition of Hell in a Cell, when The New Day faced The Usos for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship, is a fitting example.
The feud between the two teams had stretched through various pay-per-views and featured several match types. The New Day and The Usos traded the SmackDown Tag Team Championship over the course of 2017, and they stole the show at many major events. This feud escalated to the point where the Hell in a Cell stipulation felt like the best way to conclude this series of matches.
This contest was only the second tag team Hell in a Cell match. With the added dynamic of tag team wrestling, this match stood apart from its predecessors. These competitors used steel chairs, handcuffs and kendo sticks in original ways. In one highlight, The Usos trapped Xavier Woods against the cage with kendo sticks. Everyone in this encounter played their roles extremely well, and even Kofi Kingston added to the match, though he was stuck outside of the cage.
Kingston's facial expressions elevated this contest because he visually reacted to the physicality on display. This Hell in a Cell match was filled with hate, drama and tremendous action. The New Day and The Usos put in an effort that had not been seen in this stipulation in years, and they certainly lived up to the great cage matches of the past.
#3 The Undertaker vs. Triple H in the "End Of An Era" Hell in a Cell Match (WrestleMania 28)
Since 2009, the Hell in a Cell stipulation has usually been featured on the pay-per-view that shares its name. But on a few occasions, the match type been held on other shows. Of these exceptions, the End of An Era Hell in a Cell Match between The Undertaker and Triple H ranks above them all.
After their spectacular clash at WrestleMania 27, The Undertaker was stretchered out following the punishment that Triple H inflicted on The Deadman. The Phenom was not seen for an entire year until he returned looking for revenge on The Game. The two legends then decided to put everything on the line in the most dangerous match possible.
At WrestleMania 28, The Undertaker faced Triple H in an "End Of An Era" Hell in a Cell Match. To make things even more special, Shawn Michaels was enlisted as the special guest referee for this contest. After all, The Phenom was the man who retired Michaels due to their Streak vs. Career match at WrestleMania 26. The presence of The Heartbreak Kid added even more emotional to what was already a dramatic encounter.
The drama and intensity of this Hell in a Cell Match was captivating throughout the course of its thirty-minute duration. This bout became a stellar storytelling encounter that featured three all-time legends. The physical intensity and brutal nature of this contest kept building, and it peaked at just the right time.
Michaels wasn't just the referee for the bout; "The Showstopper"; he got physically involved, and he nearly helped Triple H win the match. His Sweet Chin Music into the Pedigree on The Undertaker is one of the best nearfalls in the history of the business. This remarkable story that unfolded in the ring had every fan in attendance on the edge of their seat.
While this Hell in a Cell Match did not end an era, it did showcase the greatness of The Undertaker, Triple H and Shawn Michaels. It's fair to say that this match isn't just one of the best bouts in the history of the cell, but it's also one of the greatest WrestleMania matches in history.
#2 Batista vs. Triple H in a Hell in a Cell Match for the World Heavyweight Championship (Vengeance 2005)
Other than The Undertaker, Triple H has made more appearances in the Hell in a Cell match than anyone. With this experience in mind, he chose to challenge an inexperienced Batista to this stipulation after The Animal had already beaten him.
In 2005, no feud was hotter than the conflict between Batista and Triple H. Following his legendary babyface turn against Evolution, Batista defeated Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 21. The next month at Backlash, Batista once again beat his former mentor. As a result, The Game went home to reevaluate himself before he returned to exact revenge.
The main event of Vengeance 2005 would become one of the bloodiest Hell in a Cell matches of all time. The Cerebral Assassin used as many weapons as possible to brutalize his former protege and take back the World Heavyweight Championship. He used steel chairs, steel steps and his signature sledgehammer to control this violent contest.
Despite his lack of experience inside the cell, Batista utilized the cage in various ways to distribute his power. This Hell in a Cell Match was extremely barbaric, and it truly felt like the end of an iconic rivalry. The enthralling nearfalls, the incredible intensity, and the compelling drama combined to create an unforgettable match.
Though this Hell in a Cell bout is often overlooked, it also had a great finish. Following a superb nearfall off a low blow into Triple H's Pedigree, Batista hit a spinebuster on the steel steps. He then lifted Triple H up for the Batista Bomb while The Game held his sledgehammer. Just as Triple H lifted the sledgehammer, Batista dropped him the powerbomb for the win.
Triple H pulled out all the stops to finally beat Batista, and he still couldn't win. This rivalry-ending match was exactly what the feud deserved, and it cemented Batista's staus as a top star. This contest should be remembered among the best blow-off matches ever, as it ended a legendary feud inside Hell in a Cell.
#1 Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell Match (In Your House: Bad Blood 1997)
As has been repeatedly said throughout this article, Hell in a Cell is the most iconic stipulation in WWE history. The contest has earned this reputation because the first encounter set the standard incredibly high. Plus, it featured two of the biggest stars, The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels.
The rivalry between thsee two legends felt like it needed Hell in a Cell just as much as this match type needed them. At Summerslam 1997, Shawn Michaels screwed The Undertaker out of the WWF Championship when he attacked The Phenom with a steel chair. Bret Hart then pinned The Deadman to take the title, so The Undertaker vowed to get revenge.
For the next few months, Michaels and Hunter Hearst Helmsley made The Undertaker's life a living hell. At In Your House: Ground Zero, the two men met in a crazy brawl that ended in a no contest when the two men fought all over the building. Michaels repeatedly avoided The Undertaker's wrath during their rivalry, so the creation of Hell in a Cell was the perfect way to finally settle this war.
This bout was groundbreaking and fantastic in the spectacle that it was built to become. The psychology of Michaels doing everything possible to beat The Phenom or escape his grasp, with the The Undertaker just shaking it off, was brilliant. The visual of Michals losing his grip and falling off the side of the Hell in a Cell remained legendary.
This encounter is not only remembered for the outstanding work of the two legends, but it also stands the test of time because it featured an all-time great debut. The Undertaker's brother, Kane, had been teased for months. So when The Phenom was on the brink of victory and his brother emerged to Vince McMahon's iconic call, his arrival was exceptional.
Kane ripped the door off of the cage and tombstoned his brother. Michaels then pinned The Phenom for the victory. This bout was an absolute classic from the start. Everything made sense, and every aspect of the bout was executed perfectly. Though fans have seen plenty of matches in the Devil's Playground, The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels is the greatest Hell in a Cell Match in WWE history.
