Hell On Earth”¦ (Plus: IP Staff Rasslin Roundtable Results for Unforgiven)
The feud between D-Generation X and the Clan McMahon has raged on too long, and has become too personal. When a conflict reaches these proportions, there’s only one way to settle it. The two sides must be locked inside a mammoth steel structure and contained within, until one side emerges victorious. Surrounding the entire ringside area, including a roof on top, this is no normal cage match; it’s an environment unlike any other. Welcome to Hell in a Cell.
TODAY’S ISSUE: A look at Hell in a Cell
On Sunday, 17 September 2006, DX defeated the McMahons (with partner the Big Show) in the 14th Hell in a Cell match in WWE history. But how did we get to this point? Let’s take a look at some past HIAC matches.
Shawn Michaels versus The Undertaker. At Badd Blood on 5 October 1997, the raging battle between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels boiled over, and the Cell was created as a means of keeping DX out of the way so Undertaker could mutilate HBK and earn a measure of revenge, and that’s exactly what happened. Undertaker mauled Michaels for the majority of the match, at least until Kane debuted, but that’s another story.
Hell in a Cell got over as a great new match type instead of a stupid gimmick because Shawn bumped like a maniac for ‘Taker, sold the beating and the fear of the environment like a master, and took everything ‘Taker could dish out. HBK’s performance also featured the famous mid-air bladejob, which was imperceptible when viewed at regular speed. Plus, the back-and-forth story they told in the match was outstanding.
The then-WWF had itself a brand new match format, tailor made for the blow-off in extremely intense feuds. Being the first of its kind, this match also set the stage for dramatic bumps, as Michaels crashed through the Spanish announce table from near the top of the cage.
Mankind versus The Undertaker. Certainly the most famous HIAC, and perhaps one of the most infamous pro wrestling matches ever, this King of the Ring showdown between the Man from the Dark Side and the psychopath who had his number was a car crash of legendary status. Although the second ever HIAC match took place on RAW two weeks prior, this is the one wrestling fans and sadomasochists still talk about today.
Mick Foley performed one of the gutsiest displays of bravery and tolerance for pain in the history of professional wrestling, surviving two horrific falls from the top of the cage. He crashed down to the floor below through an announce table in the first, and through the top of the cage to the ring itself in the second. The second fall is the subject of much debate, and it was most likely not planned as was the first. Like a true warrior (or a maniac, whichever you prefer), Foley continued the match after suffering injuries including a dislocated jaw, a dislocated shoulder, a bruised kidney, two broken ribs, one and a half missing teeth, a concussion, and a cut beneath his lip that would later require 14 stitches. Lest we forget, Mark Calloway also endured great pain in this match, wrestling on a broken foot. This was a display the likes of which we’ll never (hopefully) witness again.
Ironically, it was a little-remembered HIAC on RAW a mere two months later that would injure Mick Foley far worse, although the match itself failed to become a classic like it’s predecessor.
Triple H versus Cactus Jack. Following a brutally awesome Street Fight at the 2000 Royal Rumble against then-WWF champion Triple H, Cactus Jack wanted one more shot at The Game and his title. Triple H offered Cactus a compromise: Jack’s career must be on the line in the match. Cactus got to choose the match type, and of course he selected Hell in a Cell. The resulting match was in many ways an homage to Mankind vs. Undertaker at King of the Ring two years earlier.
Foley reenacted his painful fall through the top of the cage to the canvas below, but this time the bump was unquestionably planned, and the ring was gimmicked to break under his weight, obviously protecting Foley from serious harm. Foley’s horror film-type rise from the crater in the canvas was an amazing sight to behold, but Triple H soon overcame fear and frustration to hit his patented Pedigree finisher for the win. This match, as much as the Street Fight a month prior, added great depth to Triple H’s character, and went a long way toward turning him into a vicious brawler who could trade with the best of ‘em.
The Bad Blood pay-per-view revisited it’s connection to the inaugural Hell in a Cell match in two consecutive years, 2003 and 2004.
Triple H versus Kevin Nash. The story of this match was almost as much Foley vs. Triple H as it was Nash vs. Triple H. Based on referee Tim White’s legitimately injury in the exciting HIAC match between Triple H and Chris Jericho at Judgment Day 2002, WWE referees were too afraid to officiate another HIAC match. RAW’s dueling authority figures Austin and Bischoff came up with a plan to ensure the ppv went off without a hitch. They hired longtime Triple H foe and fearless madman Mick Foley as the one and only special guest referee in Hell in a Cell history. However, the reigning world heavyweight champion knew, since he himself had retired Foley in the HIAC at No Way Out back in 2000, that Foley as ref was not a good thing for Triple H whatsoever.
Try as he would to convince Foley not to do it, Mick went on to officiate the match, and took a pounding the week prior on RAW for honoring the commitment he’d made. If you consider Nash’s lack of mobility at the time, they actually did a decent job of making him seem like a legitimate threat to Triple H’s title, and of course Mr. Levesque sold his ass off for fellow cliquer Big Kev. Unfortunately, the entire ride of the match was ruined when Triple H struck Nash in the knee with a hammer, then drilled him on top of his skull with the same tool. Those two shots should have shattered Nash’s patella and possibly killed him, respectively, so watching Nash continue to fight shortly thereafter ended the illusion for me from that point on. In order to compensate, Nash bled, Triple H bladed a gusher, and even the guest referee juiced like a man. Of course, Triple H retained after a sledgehammer shot and Pedigree.
Triple H versus Shawn Michaels. Seven years after the inaugural HIAC match, this contest was going hot and heavy for the first 8 minutes or so, until HBK appeared to legitimately re-injure his back. However, that injury dropped a perfect psychology opportunity in Triple H’s lap, and he took advantage with gusto. Triple H pounded HBK’s back mercilessly, reminding us of the unsanctioned war the two waged at SummerSlam in 2002. This was another great battle in the war between the once-and-future DX partners, as I found my own back aching just watching the way Triple H dissected HBK.
But Michaels was not to be finished off that easily, as he drilled Hunter with two of the sickest chair shots to the head I’ve ever seen, and Triple H bladed accordingly, dumping buckets all over the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. There was indeed bad blood, and a lot of it, spilled by both men for their art on that night.
In order to end this emotionally draining struggle and emerge victorious, Triple H survived an elbow drop off a ladder through a table to hit Michaels with a Pedigree, only to see HBK kick out of the attempted pinfall and strike like lightning with his vaunted Sweet Chin Music superkick. Triple H then delivered an unprecedented two more Pedigrees to finally seal the deal and defeat his former partner in crime. This was one “Hell” of a match indeed.
With these two back-to-back Hell in a Cell victories, the one over Jericho in 2002, and his awesome performance in retiring Cactus Jack in 2000, Triple H had cemented the Hell in a Cell as “his” match, much the way Undertaker owns the Casket Match. Ironic, considering Undertaker himself wrestled not only the first ever HIAC, but also the most famous one against Mick Foley at King of the Ring in 1998, and another dramatic one against Brock Lesnar at No Mercy in 2002.
Of course, ‘Taker also wrestled in a bowling shoe ugly HIAC against the late Big Bossman at WrestleMania XV in 1998, which featured Bossman being “hanged” with the aid of The Brood after the match. Undertaker also battled in the most recent HIAC, against Randy Orton at Armageddon in 2005. Are ‘Taker and Triple H in a contest to see who can compete the most times within the barbaric structure? They both notched their belt at Armageddon 2000 in the only 6-man HIAC, in which WWF champion Kurt Angle defended and retained against those two plus Rikishi, The Rock, and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
While the June 2005 ppv was no longer known as Bad Blood, WWE continued a 3-year tradition of HIAC matches in that month at Vengeance, when Batista defeated Triple H for the world heavyweight title, marking the third time he had done so in three straight pay-per-view matches. This also was the first time Triple H was ever pinned in a HIAC match.
This innovative, brutal, unique match enjoys a rich heritage, and has seen many different styles of competitor battle for survival within its ominous confines. All of them, however, have been dangerous to the wrestlers who battled within, and career changing for each man involved. Well, each man but Al Snow, who nearly got peed on during the Kennel From Hell variation of the HIAC. But the less said about that, the better.
Hell in a Cell has come full circle. Shawn Michaels, who performed in the very first HIAC ever, and Triple H, who made the match “his” over the years, teamed up at Unforgiven to face their rivals inside Hell in a Cell. Did the most recent chapter in the story of this one-of-a-kind match live up to its predecessors? Let me know what you think via e-mail.
Speaking of Unforgiven, how did our Inside Pulse staffers fare in their ppv predictions? First, check out The Rasslin Roundtable for our picks, then scroll down for the final tally.
IP Staff Rasslin Roundtable Results
NOTE: Due to the no-contest ending in the Umaga/Kane match, there were only six matches scored for our purposes.
Vinny Truncellito Roundtable Champion!
RAW Unforgiven (17 Sep 06): 6-0
Total: 9-4
Jeremy Botter
RAW Unforgiven (17 Sep 06): 3-3
Total: 3-3
Eric Szulczewski
RAW Unforgiven (17 Sep 06): 3-3
Total: 7-6
Steve Murray
RAW Unforgiven (17 Sep 06): 3-3
Total: 6-7
Matthew Michaels
RAW Unforgiven (17 Sep 06): 2-4
Total: 7-6
Danny Wallace
RAW Unforgiven (17 Sep 06): 2-4
Total: 8-5
Ellie
RAW Unforgiven (17 Sep 06): 2-4
Total: 2-4
BLATT
RAW Unforgiven (17 Sep 06): 1-5
Total: 1-5
We now return you to your regularly scheduled reality.
p.s. — Why don’t the words “comb” and “tomb” rhyme?
