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The Hell in A Cell match is one of the most dangerous and perilous matches in professional wrestling. The cuboid steel structure encloses the ring and the ringside area with tons of steel. There are no disqualifications in this match type and anything goes in such matches.
Throughout history, 38 matches have taken place inside the structure under the WWE banner. The first one took place in 1997 at Bad Blood between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels and the latest one took place last October between Shane McMahon and Kevin Owens. The Undertaker has appeared the most inside this unforgiving structure, with 14 appearances since the match's inception, and has walked out victorious on 8 occasions.
Hell in A Cell matches are used to settle personal feuds that have lasted for a long time, eg: The Undertaker Vs Edge in 2008. Such matches are often brutal and the 'extreme' ones involve a lot of blood.
Given that so many Hell in A Cell matches have taken place over the years, it was hard to pinpoint three of the best which is why I have short-listed a few honorable mentions:
- Triple H Vs Cactus Jack at No Way Out 2000.
- The Undertaker Vs Edge at SummerSlam 2008
- Triple H Vs Shawn Michaels at Bad Blood 2004
Now, let's look at the greatest Hell in A Cell matches of all time.
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#3.The Undertaker Vs Mankind (King of the Ring 1998)
This one ranks at number three because of the match's sheer brutality. Mankind took some insane bumps that horrified many watching at home. His fall off the top of the cage was cool and heinous at the same time. Many reports claim that Mankind may have lost consciousness for a few seconds.
However, his night wasn't over and things just got worse for the Hardcore legend. Undertaker choke-slammed him on the cell's ceiling, which led to Mankind crashing on the ring mat form twenty feet above. Mankind was reeling in pain but he still managed to fight back and got some offense on Taker too as he drove him with a piledriver onto a steel chair. Taker choke-slammed his opponent on thumbtacks and claimed another victim with a tombstone piledriver.
The match was so gruesome that the aggressor and victor, The Undertaker, was bleeding too. This contest solidified Hell in A Cell as one of the most dangerous match types. Mick Foley was severely injured during the match and was never the same after this blood-fest.
#2. The Undertaker Vs Triple H ( Wrestlemania 28)
The third encounter between 'The Deadman' and 'The Game' at Wrestlemania was billed as the end of an era. Shawn Michaels was appointed as the special guest referee of this match which would prove to be pivotal during the match itself.
Triple H and Undertaker showed that age was just a number. The match was a lengthy, vicious and gruesome match that saw all three characters at their best. The emotion, the drama and the physicality were all palpable. Undertaker's chair shots were spine shattering and Triple H's sledgehammer shots to Taker's head sent shivers down my spine. Shawn played his role as referee to perfection, demonstrating the utmost respect and compassion for each competitor.
The Sweet-chin music into the pedigree was the closest near-fall I have ever seen till date. This match was arguably the match of the night, if not the year. What happened after the match was even more amazing as the three legends walked to the top of the ramp and savored the adulation of crowd in what was an incredible moment.
This match was voted as the match of the year and was awarded a 4.75 rating by the Wrestling Observer, Dave Meltzer.
1.The Undertaker Vs Shawn Michaels ( Bad Blood 1997)
Isn't it ironic that all of these matches include The Undertaker? Well, that's because The Undertaker has always been in his element inside the Devil's Playground, i.e Hell in A Cell.The first Hell in A Cell match was the best one we have witnessed to date.
Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker had incredible chemistry together, which was perceptible every time they set foot in the ring. However, before their near-five star classics at back-to-back Wrestlemania in 2009 and 2010, the two icons had a thrilling match inside Hell in A Cell that was rated a stunning five stars by Dave Meltzer.
Michaels and Taker told a great story. Michaels tried to use his speed and wits to dominate The Undertaker but The Undertaker's amazing strength didn't allow him to gain much offense during the first part of the match. Taker used the steel structure to his advantage pretty well, even busting Shawn wide open during one point.
Shawn, on the other hand, played his role as a crafty heel to perfection. He avoided Taker at first, he took advantage once Taker was down and even went for a low blow to gain an upper-hand on The Phenom. Taker and Shawn fought at the top of the cell too and Taker sent Shawn crashing through the announce table from 10 feet above. Nevertheless, it was Kane's memorable debut that was really the icing on the cake. Kane's debut was one of the best we've ever seen and watching him dominate Taker was a new sight to behold.
This was WWE's last five-star classic till Money in the Bank 2011. Taker and Shawn took the competition to a whole new level and showed that they were elite competitors.
