WWE Hell in a Cell - October 4th 2009

[Izzy]

The problem with all the recent HIAC matches - they are just cage matches

If you dont use the cell then why bother at all?

The whole 'blade-gate' thing is intresting...cant remember the last time i saw Cena blade anyway

[Rankin]

You guys do realise that 'blade' was actually Cena's Dogtag right? It fell out of the refs pocket when he went down to count a fall.

[BlowUpYourVideo]

You guys do realise that 'blade' was actually Cena's Dogtag right? It fell out of the refs pocket when he went down to count a fall.

It's still a blade to us, dammit!

[Hammy]

You guys do realise that 'blade' was actually Cena's Dogtag right? It fell out of the refs pocket when he went down to count a fall.

No otherwise we wouldn't be having this conversation...  

[Hammy]

The problem with all the recent HIAC matches - they are just cage matches

If you dont use the cell then why bother at all?

Simple I'd say, the name value of it is used to draw people in, but it is damn insulting.

Its essentially false advertising outside of the Main Event it was used so rarely it really did not need to be there, and the funny thing is, billed simply as a **** match or even a singles match Orton vs. Cena was pretty damn good, it just gets annoying when they bill it as something its not.

And when the Cell was barely used, it made Orton's "You are NEVER the same" speech seem dumb.

When HBK and Foley did that in the 90s it worked, you believed it.  For years they mentioned how HBK retired shortly after his and Foley didn't last much longer, they used the Cell as the storyline reason for contributing to their retirements, heck I think in Foleys case it really did.

Point is after Orton's match you thought, good match, but hellacious?

I remember the time when it wasn't about winning Hell in a Cell, if you were lucky you survived, but it changed you forever.

The winners should crawl out/be carried out.

Orton and Cena were both fine, on screen, pretty much straight after.

[BlowUpYourVideo]

Odd that they said Undertaker is the most successful HIAC competitor ever because he's been in more than anyone, though before last night, HHH had won more HIAC Matches than Taker (and still has, really...).

Also, I think Cole said that Cena/Orton was the fifth time the WWE Title had been defended in HIAC, though it was actually the fourth.

Where do they get this stuff from??

[nightrain]

Review about HIAC here - http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/2669968/WWE-Hell-In-A-Cell-PPV-review-Undertaker-v-CM-Punk-Randy-Orton-v-John-Cena-D-Generation-X-v-Legacy.html - or quoted below.  Sums it up pretty much I think.

THE WWE's Hell In A Cell used to produce spectacular matches and some of the most memorable moments in wrestling history.

Remember that very first classic encounter between Undertaker and Shawn Michaels? Or thinking Mick Foley was dead after he fell off the top of the structure and through an announce table?

What about the violence of Foley v Triple H, which featured flaming barbed wire, or the 47-minute all-out war between Hunter and Michaels?

Those were phenomenal matches and among the best Vince McMahon's company has ever showcased.

But the very first WWE Hell In A Cell dedicated pay-per-view - which used the gimmick for all three main events - sadly fell flat.

A few years ago, the company made the decision to tone down the content of their matches.

At the time, we welcomed the move. It was both a return to traditional storytelling and a way to protect the health of the wrestlers.

After all, Foley could well have ended up dead, or at least with a serious painkiller addiction, after all he put his body through.

However, we now believe the WWE have taken things a step too far with their new PG stance.

At Hell In A Cell there was NO blood, NO fighting on the top of the steel and NO moments to get fans chanting "holy s***".

Yes, if this was a standard PPV it would have been a very good one. After all, when your three main events feature Undertaker, Randy Orton and D-Generation X you're almost guaranteed good wrestling.

But when the whole show is marketed around the Cell — plugging its history and sheer brutality — a watered down version just leaves fans disappointed.

In fact both Taker v CM Punk and Orton v John Cena may as well have been fought in a regular ring, such was the sheer pointlessness of the steel surrounding them.

Only in the final match, DX v Legacy, did the Cell really come into play — and that was only for the psychology of 2-on-1 beat-downs rather than anything truly memorable.

Watching Hell In A Cell felt like going to the world's most renowned steak house and being served a salad.

No matter how tasty the lettuce and tomatoes, you can't help but feel you were missing out on the meat you came for.

That major gripe aside, a lot of the PPV was very tasty.

We saw some very good wrestling, excellent psychology, clean finishes, two championship changes and a clutch of new stars getting time to shine.

The WWE set their stall out early with Undertaker beating CM Punk to become the first man to win the world championship in the Cell.

With Punk unable to cheat or chicken out, Taker won decisively with the Tombstone inside 10 minutes.

It was the right result given the characters involved but left many insiders second-guessing Punk's role going forward and suggesting he may be in the doghouse.

John Morrison continued his run of very good matches, beating Dolph Ziggler to retain his intercontinental title.

Neither have the star presence yet to really get fans going without a big name in there with them, but everything they did was technically sound and hints at great things for the future.

Mickie James retained her women's championship next over Alicia Fox in a fair outing, before our favourite bout of the night.

Chris Jericho and Rey Mysterio — who have had so many outstanding matches against each other — this time brought partners with them.

And any worries that Big Show and Batista may slow down proceedings were misplaced as the four put on a tag team showpiece. In fact it was Show and Mysterio who were the stars with their big v little man chemistry.

The ending was a nice surprise too. After hitting a 619 on Show, Rey's follow up was met with a huge right hand from the Giant — meaning Jericho and Big Show retained their tag titles.

Orton v Cena was another very solid match complete with the duelling chants that you'd expect from anything involving John.

As in previous bouts, both tried to slowly and methodically take the other apart — always falling short when it comes to getting the three count.

After an Attitude Adjustment and STF — which saw Randy tap out but no ref — Orton choked Cena on the ropes and hit a slightly-mistimed punt for the victory.

The next two matches were designed to showcase the federation's newer talents.

Sadly while the wrestling was good, following Cena and Orton's explosive clash was too much for the up-and-comers and the next two bouts were lost on the crowd.

Still it was nice to see Brit Drew McIntyre make his PPV debut beating R Truth and another superb high-flying effort from Kofi Kingston — who retained his US strap in a good outing against Jack Swagger and The Miz.

The night's main even was DX v The Legacy.

It was a strange choice given no titles were on the line — but at least the Cell finally came into play.

Rhodes and DiBiase — who earlier had once again argued with 'boss' Orton — ambushed their opponents. Taking out Triple H, they locked themselves in the Cell with Shawn Michaels and beat the hell out of him for 15 minutes.

This is the sort of scenario HBK excels in and the look on his face as Hunter left ringside was a picture. Although not as good as Legacy's facials when Triple H returned with bolt cutter and managed to reverse the situation to leave Cody locked in the Cell alone with DX.

The usual Degenerate fair followed with a sledgehammer/Sweet Chin Music double felling Cody and Ted getting a post-match beat down for good measure.

It gave fans a happy ending to a show that sadly failed to live up to the legend of its name.

We give WWE Hell In A Cell 6.5 out of 10.

[Hammy]

That review is spot on, but for the false advertising this was a good show, and that tag title bout was a surprising show stealing match, I expected very little from it and it shocked the heck out of me.

[Hammy]

[Hammy]

There was apparently a minor backstage issue involving R-Truth prior to his match at last week’s pay-per-view.

According to reports, as R-Truth was preparing to go out to the ring, he was told he had to take off the camouflage vest he was wearing as camouflage is now associated with DX. The wrestler approached Stephanie McMahon about the complaint, which presumably came from a producer.

Stephanie said that Truth should probably discuss the issue with Triple H. At that point, R-Truth decided to just abandon the wardrobe item as he headed to the ring for his match.

[Gnrfan]

There was apparently a minor backstage issue involving R-Truth prior to his match at last week’s pay-per-view.

According to reports, as R-Truth was preparing to go out to the ring, he was told he had to take off the camouflage vest he was wearing as camouflage is now associated with DX. The wrestler approached Stephanie McMahon about the complaint, which presumably came from a producer.

Stephanie said that Truth should probably discuss the issue with Triple H. At that point, R-Truth decided to just abandon the wardrobe item as he headed to the ring for his match.

Its a good thing that boots aren't DX thing or all the wrestlers would have to wrestle in Flip Flops..... Just ridiculous.

The next golden age of wrestling will occur pretty soon after HHH, HBK, Taker retire

[Izzy]

Shame we are already losing Smackdown to 'them' - first Batista, now Cena....