WWE Hell in a Cell 2009
October 4, 2009
Newark, NJ

In 2009 WWE decided to brand their PPVs after match titles. As a result, No Way Out became Elimination Chamber, No Mercy became Hell in a Cell and Armageddon became TLC. Unfortunately, and especially in the Hell in a Cell case, this forced WWE to use these match types at these respective events. Instead of organically having a feud that led to a Hell in a Cell match, fans would expect a feud that began in August or September to have a Hell in a Cell match in October. Also, this ruled out having Hell in a Cell matches at any other point in time, taking away a potentially exciting twist for feuds that take place during any other part of the year. (This led to tons of excitement when HHH-Taker at Mania XXVIII became a Cell match, since it was absolutely unexpected).

The other issue with this was that WWE had become PG. Now, WWE had become PG about 15 months earlier and Edge and Undertaker had a great Hell in a Cell match anyway, so all hope wasn’t lost. The idea of three HIAC matches on one show had fans salivating at the possibilities of what could happen.

The Card

World Heavyweight Championship: Hell in a Cell
CM Punk© vs. The Undertaker

We had another Montreal Screwjob at Breaking Point, where Teddy Long turned heel and called for the bell when Punk had Taker in the Anaconda Vise. Taker captured Teddy and this forced Teddy to make Punk vs Taker at Hell in a Cell (first point to make about the PPV title…of course we knew this was happening already because the next PPV was Hell in a Cell). So here we are.

This is a surprising opener for sure. Being there live this was the match I was most looking forward to. I was really getting into Punk’s character here…and the Undertaker is the Undertaker.

Match starts fun enough with Taker throwing Punk into the cage.

Taker shoves Punk off the ring apron into the cage. Again, really fun start.

Suicide dive from Punk into Taker and the cage!

Legit shocked at a Punk chair shot to the head to Undertaker. When were headshots banned? I forgot.

The Undertaker pins CM Punk to win the title in 10:24. We get a really fun back and forth for five minutes…then Taker finishes Punk. Man, this was a really fun match that just gets cut off. Give this 6-7 more minutes and you potentially have a classic. Despite the good match, it’s still pretty disappointing in the name of Hell in a Cell. At least at the time it was.

Intercontinental Championship
John Morrison © vs. Dolph Ziggler

At the time Morrison seemingly looked like the future while Ziggler was just a midcard guy. Funny how that’d change over the next two years.

Ziggler starts with some solid mat wrestling, which is something he should do more of honestly.

Match has mostly been Ziggler, but it’s turning into a fun back and forth.

John Morrison retains by pin in 15:41. Starship Pain for the win. Really good match here, but I have to question this going five minutes longer than the opening World Title match. Match did tell a good story in regards to Ziggler getting close but not close enough. I don’t remember what the led to though.

Mysterio and Batista interview. Does a great job with Mysterio referencing his past with Chris Jericho and even hints a little bit about Batista’s future heel turn.

Diva’s Championship
Mickie James © vs. Alicia Fox

Michael Cole mentions…with no hint of irony…that many are shocked Fox is the #1 contender this early in her career. I love Alicia now, but she was awful back then.

This is pretty solid to start, although sometime you can tell Fox’s timing is off (like when she takes the neckbreaker).

Mickie James retains by pin in 5:20. Mickie hits a Tornado DDT that Alicia doesn’t take correctly, and while it looks devastating you have to fear for Alicia there. Anyway, this didn’t seem bad at all, but it was pretty boring and the crowd was dead for it.

World Tag Team Championship
Chris Jericho and Big Show© vs. Batista and Rey Mysterio

It should be noted that Chris Jericho pretty much saved rescued the tag division in the latter half of 2009. He also helped a floundering Big Show, who despite being in a World Title match at Mania and a feud with Cena, had been regulated to fighting Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne before Jericho’s 1st partner, Edge got injured.

With these four top guys contending for the tag belts, it really feels like the Tag belts matter.

Big Show is just killing Rey and it’s awesome. Brutal slap that sends Mysterio to the floor!

Jericho and Show’s beatdown of Mysterio is fantastic. What a good match so far.

Tornado DDT from Rey to Big Show! Wow!

Great sequence where Big Show gets 619ed, then Jericho gets dumped on him. Show catches him, but Batista takes them both down.

Big Show and Jericho retain when Show pinned Rey in 13:41. Rey goes for a springboard, but Show punches him right in the face as he comes down to win it. KO Punch was just getting established here, but it was working for sure. Awesome match. Jericho, Show, Batista and Rey just have awesome chemistry together. It was the perfect finish too, Big Show pinning Rey doesn’t hurt Rey and further established Big Show.

WWE Championship: Hell in a Cell
John Cena© vs. Randy Orton

Orton beat Cena at Summerslam, but Cena got Orton in an “I Quit” match at Breaking Point. Rubber Match time.

Shocked this isn’t the main event. I think that’s a problem too. Either Punk-Taker or Cena-Orton should be main eventing this.

Cena and Orton also went to the top of the Cell on RAW. It was good build for sure.

Here’s the problem with this match. There’s nothing here that’s done to really use Hell in a Cell. It’s just a regular match inside the Cell. I mean what’s the point?

Randy Orton pins John Cena to win the title in 21:24. Orton traps Cena in the ropes and chokes him out…and then finishes with the Punt to regain the title. I liked the finish and Orton’s mannerisms were spot on. He really became an awesome heel in 2008-2009. I still am quite disappointed in the match though.

R-Truth vs. Drew McIntyre

McIntyre is new, and there’s a respect problem between the two. R-Truth has a pretty good promo before the match.

McIntyre still had generic rock music here too. That didn’t help him at all.

No be honest, no one cares. Boring chant breaks out. McIntyre would never make it as a high level guy either…although he definitely had the potential for sure.

Drew McIntyre pins R-Truth in 4:38. Future Shock DDT. If this was designed for the crowd to take a break after Orton-Cena, it succeeded.

Orton tells Dibiase and Rhodes that once you enter Hell in a Cell, you don’t just walk out. I’d take him more seriously if he actually used the Cell in the match.

United States Championship
Kofi Kingston© vs. Jack Swagger vs. The Miz

Miz hilariously runs down Newark. What the heck happened to him? He was so good on the mic.

Miz and Swagger double team Kofi for most of it, but Miz betrays him.

Crowd is dead for this too.

We get some fun three-way spots at least. Kofi’s putting a show on out there.

Kofi Kingston retains when he pinned Miz in 7:53. Swagger hits Miz with the Swagger Bomb, but Kofi knocks him out with Trouble in Paradise. I enjoyed this for the most part, but again, crowd really wasn’t into it and seemed burned out.

Hell in a Cell: Legacy vs. DX

For all that’s said about HHH and HBK holding people down and whatnot, they made Legacy look like stars throughout this feud.

Great booking decision here: Legacy attacks DX during their entrance.

Great brawl to start outside of the ring. Legacy take out Triple H, then slam the cage door on Michaels’ knee. Again, brilliant booking in this one.

In more brilliant booking, Legacy traps HBK in the Cell and lock HHH out!

Legacy proceeds to beat the living crap out of Shawn in the Cell with HHH trying to find ways to get in.

A Million Dollar Dream and a Figure Four around the ringpost at the same time is a pretty awesome double submission. HHH makes his way back in.

DX now trap Dibiase outside of the Cell. Poor Cody.

DX win when HBK pins Rhodes in 18:02. Cody gets a Sweet Chin Sledgehammer, and it’s over. Fantastic booking. I remember being disappointed when I first saw this, but I really don’t know why. This was fun and different, and actually used the HIAC in a unique way. Also, Legacy controlled most of the match, and even in losing looked like future stars. Of course, only Cody would take advantage of that.

Hell in a Cell is an interesting show that promises one thing, but you get something totally different. Sure Taker vs. Punk and Orton vs. Cena were good, but given expectations both fell short. The main event at least did something totally different. The second half of the card also falls off a cliff, as the US Title match and McIntyre-Truth just kills the crowd. IC Title match was fun and Tag Title match stole the show.

Sadly, CM Punk would get pushed down the card for some reason after this (well, after Survivor Series), but everything else storyline wise would progress nicely.

It’s a fine show, but I just can’t get past the expectations of what three Hell in a Cell matches were supposed to be. This was the beginning of WWE watering down its ultimate feud ender.

Final Grade: B-