WWE: Ranking all 40 Hell in a Cell matches from worst to best

Patches Chance

WWE Owner Vincent Kennedy McMahon (c) flanked by superstars The Undertaker (l) and Brock Lesnar (r) (Photo by Simon Galloway - PA Images via Getty Images)

With WWE Hell in a Cell 2019 less than a week away, we look back at all 40 Hell in a Cell matches and rank them from worst to best.

WWE Hell in a Cell 2019 looks poised to give us two instant classics as “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt will challenge Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship while “The Boss” Sasha Banks takes on “The Man” Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s Championship. Both matches carry a weight of their own, but what kind of legacy will they be carrying on?

With the event looming, we take a look back at every single Hell in a Cell match since Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker first stepped inside the structure back in October of 1997. In the 22 years since that first match, 45 different superstars have competed inside Hell in a Cell. The Undertaker leads the pack with most appearances (14) and most victories (8) inside the cell.

Before I get rolling, it’s important to note the criteria that come into play here. While this ranking is subjective, it takes into account the quality of the match and story it tells (including the build to the match and immediate aftermath), the impact each match has had on HIAC history, overall reception from critics and fans, memorable moments, and sheer entertainment value.

In order to properly evaluate all 40 matches, I chose to watch them all back to back. It was quite the journey, but one that’s given me a wonderfully complete perspective on Hell in a Cell and which matches stand out amongst the rest. With all of that in mind, let’s begin.

40. The Undertaker vs. Big Boss Man

When and Where: WrestleMania XV on March 28, 1999, in Philadelphia, PA

Unfortunately, the nature of a “worst to best” list is that we begin with the bottom of the barrel. It’s hard to articulate just how horrendous this match and what WWE chose to do with it truly are. Bell to bell, it’s a pretty bland exchange. Big Boss Man did his best, but the match was mediocre at best.

What puts this on the bottom of the list is the appalling decision by WWE to hang Boss Man by the neck from the cell after the match. He twitched around until he appeared to be dead, which still stands today as one of the most disgusting things WWE has ever done, a true feat considering their history.

39. WWE Championship Match: John Cena (c) vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. CM Punk vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Jack Swagger

When and Where: Raw on November 26, 2011, in Kansas City, MO

You might be wondering how you forgot a match like this, but you’ve probably never seen this dark match main event that took place after Raw went off the air. While a fan video of the match does exist, it’s not even worth the time to find.

This only lasted about five minutes, and barely qualifies as an official Hell in a Cell match. WWE has released a clip of the match’s ending, which gives you an idea of what it could have been while still showing you that you aren’t missing anything.

38. WWE Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Ryback

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 28, 2012, in Atlanta, GA

The first of two Hell in a Cell matches to involve CM Punk and Ryback came to us in 2012, and boy was it bad. Unfortunately, Ryback got over long before he was anywhere near up to the in-ring skill needed for the position he was placed in. This was deep in the record-setting reign of CM Punk, and Ryback wasn’t even close to in his league.

The match itself was bland at best and had a few weapon spots that were quickly forgotten thanks to an abysmal finish. Ryback dominated Punk and was about to hit Shell Shock for the win, only for referee Brad Maddox to hit a low blow on Ryback and count a quick pin to help Punk take the win. Yep. You heard me.

37. CM Punk vs. Ryback & Paul Heyman

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 27, 2013, in Miami, FL

The second of two terrible Hell in a Cell matches involving CM Punk and Ryback came at a time when Punk was resolving bitter issues with Paul Heyman. Ryback, at this point a Paul Heyman guy, was preparing to face CM Punk at HIAC. Punk won a Beat the Clock Challenge to decide the stipulation, creating this Handicap Match inside Hell in a Cell.

Of course, Heyman never actually entered the structure. He instead arrived on a scissor lift and was placed on top of the cell. Ignoring the fact that not all competitors were in the ring, they rang the bell anyway. Punk and Ryback went on to have a better overall match than they’d put together the year before, and Punk had a clean win to cap it off. Afterward, Punk scaled the cell and destroyed Heyman as well.

36. The Undertaker & Steve Austin vs. Mankind & Kane

When and Where: Raw Is War on June 15, 1998, in San Antonio, TX

The most interesting part of this match actually took place before the bell even rang. Kane and Mankind competed in a 10-team tag team Royal Rumble to earn a shot at reigning champions New Age Outlaws. Kane and Mankind defeated LOD 2000, Midnight Express (Bombastic Bob & Bodacious Bart), Headbangers, Disciples of Apocalypse (Skull & 8-Ball), The Oddities (Kurrgan & Golga), Too Much (Brian Christopher & Scott Taylor), Steve Blackman & Farooq, Taka Michinoku & Bradshaw, and Terry Funk & Scorpio.

Immediately after starting that match, running the gauntlet, and winning, they prepared to face Steve Austin and The Undertaker inside Hell in a Cell. Undertaker didn’t show at first, so Austin started brawling with his opponents on the ramp. Bearer locked himself alone inside the cell, presumably to avoid harm, only for Undertaker to come through the ring and attack him.

That week’s episode of Raw went off the air with Austin and Kane brawling on top of the cell, without having actually finished the match. Austin ultimately picked up the win after they were off TV, ending one of the wackiest and unfortunately worst HIAC matches.

35. World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. The Undertaker

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 4, 2009, in Newark, NJ

The very first HIAC match under the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view banner was terribly disappointing. Going into the night, this had real potential. CM Punk was extremely over as a heel, and the crowd was hot as this match started the event. The two men who would later have a WrestleMania classic instead were given barely 10 minutes.

After an extremely forgettable match, The Undertaker delivered a Tombstone Piledriver to handily put away CM Punk. The moment felt like a true burial for Punk, who had grown into one of the top names on SmackDown, only to seemingly fall to Undertaker without putting up much of a fight.

34. Mankind vs. Kane

When and Where: Raw is War on August 24, 1998, in Philadelphia, PA

One of our few non-PPV Hell in a Cell matches came in 1998. Only a few short months after The Undertaker and Mankind gave us an epic clash at King of the Ring, we saw Mankind back inside the cell. At least, that was the intent. Before the match even started, Mankind tried to climb up on top of the cell.

Referees yanked him off, leading to a brawl in the open doorway between him and Kane. Mankind fought his way around the ring, climbing the other side only to be pulled off by The Undertaker and sent through an announce table. After a mediocre match, Kane looked set for a dominant victory, but Steve Austin apparently had been hiding under the ring.

Austin’s interference caused the match to end in a no contest as he attacked Kane while Undertaker was stuck outside of the ring. Taker climbed the cell in an attempt to get inside, only for Vince McMahon to order the cell be raised to keep Undertaker and Austin separate ahead of their match at SummerSlam 1998.

33. World Heavyweight Championship: Kane (c) vs. The Undertaker

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 3, 2010, in Dallas, TX

Kane interrupted and debuted in the first-ever Hell in a Cell, costing The Undertaker that match as well. You’d be surprised to realize that, despite those beginnings, these two first faced off inside the structure nearly 13 years later. You’d be more surprised to realize that, despite the historic potential they carried into this match, it was downright bad.

This barely felt like a Hell in a Cell match, with Kane and The Undertaker wrestling like shells of the competitors they had once been. That’s extra unfortunate considering the moments they had in the years to come. The potential was there, but it just didn’t happen.

An injured referee forced the door to be unlocked, allowing Paul Bearer to enter the fray. He used the urn as a flashlight, blinded The Undertaker, and handed it to Kane to be used as a weapon. Kane turned on his brother, hitting him with the urn before picking up the win.

32. World Heavyweight Championship: Mark Henry (c) vs. Randy Orton

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 2, 2011, in New Orleans, LA

Much like the clash between The Undertaker and Kane, this match was just terribly disappointing considering the talent involved. Mark Henry is one of the most talented big men in WWE history and has always excelled at the roles he’s had the opportunity to play.

During this time period, we finally got to see World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry. He defended his title against Orton, but it didn’t feel like Hell in a Cell. The lackluster match went just under 16 minutes, and Henry picked up a dominant, albeit forgettable, victory.

31. WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs. Randy Orton

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 4, 2009, in Newark, NJ

You’ll notice a trend in some of these earlier entries that they simply didn’t belong inside Hell in a Cell. When the structure is at its best, it culminates bitter rivalries in an over the top way. When the structure is at its worst, it’s just sort of there. In this match, it was just sort of there.

John Cena and Randy Orton always seemed like a great match on paper, but their in-ring chemistry just never compared to what they were able to do with other competitors. After a decent match, Orton put John Cena in a sleeper while he was tied up in the ropes. He followed it with the devastating punt to pick up the win in a match I’m already about to forget happened.

30. Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Braun Strowman

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on September 16, 2018, in San Antonio, TX

I wish I could forget this match happened. It was the 40th and most recent Hell in a Cell match and the main event of last year’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view. Roman Reigns defended the Universal Championship against Braun Strowman with Mick Foley as the Special Guest Referee.

There is some noteworthy context here, as this was about a month before Roman Reigns revealed his battle with leukemia and relinquished the championship. The match itself started solid, with a few good spots between Roman and Strowman despite not feeling that special overall.

That’s when things went off the rails. Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler ran down the ramp, demanding to have the door be opened for them. Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose quickly showed up, and a brawl between those four somehow ended up on top of the cell. Ziggler and Rollins fought on the side of the cell, both falling through tables.

The entire time, Strowman and Reigns were down on the inside. Oh, then Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman showed up. Lesnar literally kicked the cell open, forcing his way in as Paul Heyman pepper-sprayed Mick Foley to keep the referee from intervening. Back inside, Lesnar destroyed Strowman and Reigns as the most recent HIAC ended in a no contest.

29. The Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon

When and Where: WrestleMania 32 on April 3, 2016, in Arlington, TX

Let’s be clear. This match never should have happened. Not only did Shane McMahon not belong in a match at WrestleMania, or in a match against The Undertaker, they really didn’t need to have that match inside Hell in a Cell. Despite all of that, it was a match with special and memorable moments.

Easily the most memorable was Shane McMahon death-defying leap off the top of the cell, which The Undertaker dodged and left Shane to crash through a table all by himself. We also had some fun spots with the steel stairs and the classic Coast to Coast, but ultimately this was a match we never needed to see.

28. World Heavyweight Championship: Batista (c) vs. The Undertaker

When and Where: Survivor Series on November 18, 2007, in Miami, FL

There are epic classics inside Hell in a Cell from both of these men that you’ll see me talk more about inside of the top ten, but this match just wasn’t on that level. Despite some fun moments, it was the disappointment of the overall match quality that really hinders this one.

Some solid weapon spots and a bit of blood helped things along, but both Batista and The Undertaker felt downright sloppy at times and the match just didn’t feel up to snuff. The most memorable part of the match came when a cameraman inside the cell revealed himself to be “The Rated R Superstar” Edge. Edge took the liberty of attacking The Undertaker with a camera, ultimately helping Batista pick up the win.

27. United States Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Rusev

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 30, 2016, in Boston, MA

There were two major factors that hindered this match going in. The first was that it had no business inside Hell in a Cell. It was the first and only time that a secondary championship was defended inside the structure, and it wasn’t exactly a rivalry that earned the stipulation. The additional problem was that fans loved to hate everything Roman Reigns came within spitting distance of, including this match.

Despite those issues, Reigns and Rusev had a decent match with some fun spots. Rusev locked on The Accolade with a steel chain, which should have finished off Reigns, but Roman fought out and ended things with a Spear off the steel steps. This match wasn’t terrible, but it didn’t belong inside the cell and didn’t live up to the potential it possessed.

26. WWE Championship: Randy Orton (c) vs. Sheamus

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 3, 2010, in Dallas, TX

And here we have another entry that should never have been a Hell in a Cell match. That being said, this is one of the better ones to fit into that category. Sheamus may feel like a perennial mid-carder now, but he was well on his way to being a career main-eventer during his early run. He captured the WWE Championship for the first time in late 2009 and looked to regain it here by challenging Orton.

Despite a slow start, this turned out to be a really fun match. Sheamus and Orton both had some good spots, and there were some legitimately surprising false finishes. Sheamus’ Brogue Kick wasn’t a guaranteed win at this point, but even I was surprised watching this back that Orton kicked out of such a cleanly delivered kick. Orton picked up a solid win in what was a better match than I’d anticipated.

25. WWE World Heavyweight Title No. 1 Contendership: John Cena vs. Randy Orton

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 26, 2014, in Dallas, TX

The second of two Hell in a Cell matches to feature John Cena taking on Randy Orton paid homage in a way to the original Hell in a Cell. This was only the second time that the winner of Hell in a Cell would get a shot at the WWE Champion. Unfortunately, that’s where the comparisons between this and the original between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels end.

While there were some decent spots between these two, the match didn’t need to be in the cell and turned out relatively underwhelming considering what these two superstars are capable of. Their rivalry never really worked, and while this was surely the better of their two Hell in a Cell matches, it just couldn’t become the kind of instant classic you’d expect these two to produce.

24. WWE Championship: Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 27, 2013, in Miami, FL

Less than six months before he’d main event WrestleMania 30 and give us “YEStleMania,” Daniel Bryan challenged Randy Orton for the vacant WWE Championship. By this point, Bryan was a 2-time WWE Champion, but he’d only held the title for about 24 hours between both reigns. It was clear that Bryan was the one to go with, but WWE continued to have The Authority hold him down because it was “best for business.”

In this match, Shawn Michaels was chosen to be the Special Guest Referee. Despite the structure feeling superfluous, these two went on to have a really fun match. Daniel Bryan didn’t hold anything back, whether that meant doing a suicide dive into the cell or a superplex with a pile of chairs as a landing pad.

Ultimately, Triple H ended up forcing his way into the cell to check on a downed Shawn Michaels. Bryan took the opportunity to hit the running knee on Triple H but caught Sweet Chin Music from a frustrated HBK moments later that allowed Orton to cover him and capture the WWE Championship.

23. D-Generation X (Triple H & Shawn Michaels) vs. Mr. McMahon, Shane McMahon, and Big Show

When and Where: Unforgiven on September 17, 2006, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

This match was significantly better than it had any business being. At Unforgiven 2006, we saw the first glimpse of the “amplified” cell, which was four feet taller than the original 16-feet-tall version of the structure. While this is far from the best Hell in a Cell match, it’s surprisingly far from being the worst. Say what you will about Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon, but they were never afraid to get their asses kicked for our entertainment.

The story told during this match was really quite simple. Vince and Shane had the numbers and power advantage with Big Show on their side. Any time Big Show was active, he could dominate either Shawn or Triple H while Shane and Vince picked at the scraps. However, things shifted the second Big Show was neutralized.

Any time D-Generation X could temporarily nullify the impact of Big Show, they would start to just demolish the McMahons. Vince and Shane both started bleeding early and subsequently bled all over the place. Vince also got a face full of Big Show’s posterior, which was a nice cherry on top as DX picked up the win.

22. Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 25, 2015, in Los Angeles, CA

This wasn’t just a match that didn’t need to be inside Hell in a Cell, but one that no one ever really needed to see again in any form. It’s unfortunate how disappointing both this match and this rivalry were because there was plenty of reason to believe these two were capable of something great. You’ll hear about their epic clash in 2002 later on in this list.

Unfortunately, this match pretended that one never even happened. The pre-match video package labeled their WrestleMania 30 match as “Chapter 1,” which actively ignored something that could have made this match feel more special. This took place 13 years after their first Hell in a Cell meeting, but that didn’t mean these two were 13 years better.

There were some solid moments throughout, including good work with the steel steps and some creative work near the end by exposing the wood underneath the ring mat. There were a few spots on the wood, and Brock Lesnar ultimately hit an F5 on the exposed wood to pick up the win and end a match that could’ve been so much better.

21. World Heavyweight Championship: Triple H (c) vs. Kevin Nash

When and Where: Bad Blood on June 15, 2003, in Houston, TX

I honestly expected this match to be much lower on my list. Going in, I’d figured this would land in the low 30s. There aren’t many glowing reviews of the 2003 run that Kevin Nash had, and this period for Triple H was widely criticized. With all of that in mind, along with Nash’s tendency towards injury, I expected this to be a bad match with a bad finish where Nash’s knees kept him from doing anything fun.

I was pleasantly surprised. Despite all of the negative factors that could have led to a trainwreck, this was a pretty enjoyable match. Mick Foley was there as the referee, and as such some Foley classics like the barbed wire 2×4 showed up. We also saw Triple H foraging through a small toolbox early on, grabbing a small hammer which he essentially used to kneecap Kevin Nash.

As things escalated, both men were bleeding all over the place, and the sledgehammer came into play as well. That barbed wire 2×4 even got wedged into the corner turnbuckle so that someone could be sent head-first into it. Things finally came to a conclusion with a sledgehammer shot and Pedigree finishing Nash in what was a really fun contest.

20. D-Generation X (Triple H & Shawn Michaels) vs. Legacy (Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase, Jr.)

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 4, 2009, in Newark, NJ

We’ve hit the halfway point, and as such we’ve fortunately gotten through all of the bad Hell in a Cell matches. While I would argue a few above this aren’t necessarily bad, they earned their bottom half rankings for various reasons. I think all of these matches have merit and are worth watching for some reasons, even if it’s just to have seen every Hell in a Cell match, but from this point on I feel like each of these deserves a watch when you have the time.

This 2009 clash was the third tag team match inside Hell in a Cell (if you count the 2-on-3 handicap match at number 23 on this list). It was also the first truly special tag team match inside the structure. Regardless of how you may feel about Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase, they were doing their best with what they were given in 2009. The match started fast and furious when Legacy ambushed DX before they could even get inside the cell.

As they brawled on the outside, Legacy managed to get Triple H down on the ramp and bring Michaels into the cell. Once inside, they locked the structure and HBK was left alone to be picked apart by Rhodes and DiBiase. Triple H eventually found bolt cutters and entered the cell, even locking DiBiase outside with the cutters inside. Rhodes was left alone, and a combo superkick and sledgehammer strike ended things for the 24-year-old.

19. Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 8, 2017, in Detroit, MI

Hell in a Cell has a murky history when it comes to rules. Not every normal Hell in a Cell has rope breaks, and not every normal one ends inside the ring. However, they clearly knew going in that this one was going to end outside of the ring, so it was advertised as a Falls Count Anywhere Hell in a Cell Match.

In reality, the main black mark on this match was Shane McMahon being a part of it. At 39 minutes in length, this is the second-longest Hell in a Cell match of all time. The longest took place at Bad Blood 2004, but we’ll get to that later. Kevin Owens was really shining as a heel during this match, even grating Shane McMahon against the cell with his family feet away at ringside.

There were some great moments inside the cell, including a cannonball through a table by Kevin Owens thanks to a last-second dodge by McMahon. Once things spilled to the outside, we got a lot of fun moments. The fighting eventually went on top of the cell, which gave us a Pop-Up Powerbomb by Owens that sent Shane into the steel ceiling they were standing on.

Owens tried to escape, climbing down the cell only to be followed by McMahon who bounced his head off the side of the cell and sent him careening through a table at ringside. To put the cherry on top, Shane set Owens up on a table and was going to hit an elbow drop off the top of the cell to put him through it. At the last second, Kevin’s old friend Sami Zayn appeared and pulled Owens to safety, causing Shane to crash unimpeded into this table. Sami dragged Kevin over Shane’s lifeless body, giving him the pin and the win.

18. Randy Orton vs. Jeff Hardy

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on September 16, 2018, in San Antonio, TX

Okay, so this is the last of the matches that I would contend didn’t belong inside Hell in a Cell. The rivalry between Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton hadn’t even come close to earning a match like this, but here’s the thing: Jeff Hardy wanted it. Commentary stated during the match that competing inside Hell in a Cell was a career goal for Jeff Hardy, and I’m convinced that’s the only reason this match even happened.

Boy, am I glad it did though. This match was so much fun, and it was clear that Jeff Hardy was just having some fun in a way he’d probably never get another chance to. Jeff quickly brought ladders into play, which never ends well. Orton didn’t take long to use the ladders against his opponent, dropping Jeff into an upside-down ladder at ringside as just a taste of the chaos they’d give us.

In one of the most stomach-churning moments in HIAC history, Randy Orton retrieved a screwdriver from a toolbox underneath the ring. Once in possession of said screwdriver, he put it through the partially stretched earlobe of Jeff Hardy. Randy Orton then twisted…and twisted…and twisted. Hardy got some revenge, later wailing on Orton with a chair and using his studded leather belt to bust open Orton’s back.

In the end, it was one last death-defying attempt by Hardy that spelled disaster. Jeff was hanging from the top of the cell itself before he let go and tried to splash Orton through a table. Orton had moved, which meant Hardy just violently crashed through the table by himself. Orton grabbed the easy pin as medical personnel came out to tend to Hardy.

17. Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 26, 2014, in Dallas, TX

This was certainly a match that earned Hell in a Cell. The structure is meant to be an end for bitter rivalries, and few were as bitter as Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose in late 2014. In June of 2014, Rollins had shocked the world by turning on his fellow Shield brothers and aligning himself with The Authority. Ambrose took the betrayal hardest and spent most of the following months trying to exact revenge for what had been done.

“The Lunatic Fringe” lived up to his name right from the start, coming to the ring with a shoulder-strapped Kendo Stick and quickly pulling other goodies out from under the ring. Once the ring was littered with weapons, Ambrose then stepped back outside and climbed the cell, all before Rollins even entered. Once Seth did arrive, he sent J&J Security up to fight Ambrose on top of the cell first.

Some brawling on top later led to Ambrose and Rollins trading strikes while hanging off the side of the structure, which they ultimately fell off of and each went through a table at ringside. At this point, the match still hadn’t entered the cell. They did finally make their way inside and proceeded to continue this truly classic Hell in a Cell clash.

“Now you pay for it. You stabbed me in the back you son of a bitch,” were the words of Dean Ambrose before blasting Rollins in the back with a steel chair. The fight continued to escalate inside, and Ambrose was poised to Curb Stomp his opponent through a cinder block to take the win, but the lights went out. Suddenly, Bray Wyatt appeared. He attacked and laid out Ambrose, ultimately giving a confused but appreciative Rollins the victory.

16. Universal Championship: Kevin Owens (c) vs. Seth Rollins

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 30, 2016, in Boston, MA

We’ve already seen Kevin Owens show up on this list, but this clash with Seth Rollins in October of 2016 was the better of the two. Kevin Owens was riding high as Universal Champion, a title he captured with a little help from Triple H and Chris Jericho along the way. This title reign by Owens had mixed reviews, with some not liking the fact that Chris Jericho helped him win almost every single title match.

However, Jericho’s involvement didn’t feel out of place for Hell in a Cell. As much as you might want to believe the structure is good at keeping people out, history shows that there are plenty of ways to get inside Hell in a Cell. Here, we saw a classic moment as the cell had to be opened to check on an injured referee. Chris Jericho took the moment to bolt down the ramp, lock the cell back with him inside, and keep the key to the lock to himself.

Before Jericho had even found his way in, these two men had already put themselves through all kind of punishment. Seth Rollins even got powerbombed through two tables at ringside. Once Jericho was in, it was only a matter of time before the numbers advantage helped Owens to victory. An absolutely brutal powerbomb through two chairs finally ended things and allowed Owens to escape with his title.

15. Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 25, 2015, in Los Angeles, CA

We’re in the top fifteen! The first entry in this elite grouping near the top saw Roman Reigns taking on Bray Wyatt, furthering a rivalry between The Wyatt Family and The Shield that still roars in some form to this very day. We’ll actually see a continuation of this at Hell in a Cell when The Fiend takes on Seth Rollins, but there’s a reason this match made the top fifteen.

Once the match got rolling, Bray Wyatt took an early command of things. With Roman Reigns down for a moment on the outside, Wyatt introduced the kendo stick and the violence really got rolling. He got some shots in of his own before Reigns got a few kendo sticks of his own and got some hits in, later even spearing Wyatt off the ring apron and through a table.

As things continued to heat up, three kendo sticks were affixed to one of the corner turnbuckles. With them in place, three implements now stuck out and were ready to have someone driven into them. Wyatt tried to send Reigns into them, but Roman countered and yanked out a kendo stick to use as a weapon. Not long after, a huge Spear finished things off and gave The Big Dog the win.

14. Raw Women’s Championship: Sasha Banks (c) vs. Charlotte Flair

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 30, 2016, in Boston, MA

We’ve arrived at the first and (so far) only women’s Hell in a Cell match. At the peak of the bitter rivalry between Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks, they were set to finish things inside Satan’s Structure. This was also the main event of Hell in a Cell, another milestone for the women. Before the bell even rang, the spectacle and importance of the match were on display.

Charlotte Flair was carried to the ring on a throne, while “The Boss” Sasha Banks arrived and emerged from the roof of a luxury SUV with the Raw Women’s Championship strapped around her waist. As the cell was being lowered, Charlotte blindsided Banks and sent her out of the ring.

The cell was stopped a few feet off the ground, allowing both women to brawl to the outside of the cell. It was fully lowered, and Banks started climbing the structure only for Charlotte to pull her off and send her crashing through a commentary table with an enormous powerbomb. For several minutes after that, medical personnel got to ringside and looked ready to wheel Banks out on the stretcher.

As the referee announced Charlotte as the winner by forfeit, Sasha fought off the stretcher and the real match was on. Tables and chairs came into play, but we also saw both women utilizing the cell structure and their surroundings really well. Eventually, Charlotte ragdolled Sasha over the table several times before hitting Natural Selection for the win.

13. The Undertaker vs. Randy Orton

When and Where: Armageddon on December 18, 2005, in Providence, RI

Back in 2005, the man who is now 13-time WWE Champion “The Viper” Randy Orton was only 25-years-old and known as “The Legend Killer.” Orton cut his teeth by going after classic legends, and his next target was affixed to The Undertaker. The two first collided at WrestleMania 21, where The Deadman, of course, took the win.

The next big collision took place at SummerSlam 2005, which Orton managed to win. Orton also partnered with his father, “Cowboy” Bob Orton, to defeat The Undertaker in a 2-on-1 Handicap Casket Match at No Mercy 2005. When things finally arrived at Armageddon 2005, these two needed to finish things.

Things didn’t take long to get violent, or for Randy Orton and The Undertaker to start bleeding all over the place. We saw some traditional HIAC violence, with tables and steel chains both entering the fray. Orton even went so far as to wrap his fist with the chain and subsequently strike ‘Taker in the balls. However, The Undertaker refused to stay down, fighting back and finally taking the win.

12. WWF Championship: Kurt Angle (c) vs. The Undertaker vs. Triple H vs. Steve Austin vs. Rikishi vs. The Rock

When and Where: Armageddon on December 10, 2000, in Birmingham, AL

There are plenty of mixed opinions about the infamous Armageddon Hell in a Cell. Let me be absolutely clear, this match is a magnificent clusterf*ck. It really is. You’ve also got five of the greatest champions of the Attitude Era in the same match. Rikishi is there too, and he’s great, but the comparison in accolades just isn’t there.

Inside the cell, things went off the rails quickly and we saw people brawling in different groups. Of course, Vince McMahon came out to save the day. In a large open-bed truck filled with “kennel bedding,” Vince McMahon, Gerald Brisco, and Pat Patterson made their way to the ring. The truck was backed up and hooked to the door, allowing it to be yanked off with force.

With the door removed, the action spilled onto the ramp and up the stage. At the top of the stage were several junk cars being used as props, which the competitors proceeded to fight on and around. Rikishi brawled with The Undertaker on top of the cell and ultimately got chokeslammed off the cell and into the back of the truck. It’s almost difficult to comprehend all of the crazy moments that took place in this match.

As things escalated near the end, we started seeing finishing moves get hit left and right. Ultimately it was a Stone Cold Stunner to The Rock that ended things, but Triple H intercepted Austin’s pin attempt. As Austin and Triple H brawled, defending champion Kurt Angle was able to crawl to The Rock and slip a hand over him to get the sudden victory and retain his title.

11. WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs. CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 2, 2011, in New Orleans, LA

Back in 2011, we saw the first and (so far) only triple threat take place inside Hell in a Cell. We were only a few months out from CM Punk’s shocking capture of the WWE Championship before disappearing into the Chicago crowd at Money in the Bank. CM Punk’s famous 434-day reign didn’t begin until a month and a half after this, but he was well on his way.

The WWE Championship had been held by all three of these men at some point in the few months prior, which led to this three-way clash inside Satan’s Structure. It turned out to be an extremely fun contest. The nature of a triple threat allows for several surprising moments as one competitor gets removed from the equation just long enough to make their re-emergence into the brawl feel sudden.

Late in the contest, we saw Albert Del Rio’s personal ring announcer, Ricardo Rodriguez, try to gain access to the cell. He procured the keys and unlocked the door, only to be met at the doorway by John Cena. Rodriguez was AAed out of the cell, allowing enough of a distraction for Del Rio to grab a lead pipe that Rodriguez had carried with him.

Del Rio struck Cena with the pipe and locked the door with him on the outside. With Punk alone, he slid in and used the pipe to finish off Punk and capture the WWE Championship. After the match, things got even more out of hand. R-Truth, The Miz, Triple H, the police, and the majority of the WWE locker room were involved, but that’s a tale for another time.

10. The Undertaker vs. Triple H

When and Where: WrestleMania XXVIII on April 1, 2012, in Miami Gardens, FL

I’ve seen this contest ranked as high as number one, and often in the top five or top three of lists. I don’t feel like it quite hits that level, but this match absolutely merited being inside my top ten.

This match was billed as, and truly felt like, “The End of an Era.” It was the culmination of years of issues that began with Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker tearing the house down at WrestleMania 25. The next year, The Undertaker defeated Michaels for a second time and sent him into retirement. Triple H tried to avenge him at WrestleMania 27 but was unsuccessful.

This time, Triple H had one last attempt with Shawn Michaels as the Special Guest Referee inside Hell in a Cell. What followed may not be the most violent, most over the top, or most technically impressive Hell in a Cell match, but few told this magnificent of a story. It was top-notch character work by all three parties involved that carries this match near the top of the list.

Triple H began to dominate early, beating down Undertaker and trying to get Shawn to call for the bell in order to stop the onslaught. Steel chairs, steel stairs, unbelievable false finishes, ref bumps, it was all there. When the dust finally settled, the era had ended, and The Undertaker stood tall in one of the most compelling Hell in a Cell matches of all time.

9. Triple H vs. Chris Jericho

When and Where: Judgment Day on May 19, 2002, in Nashville, TN

If I were to identify any of my top ten Hell in a Cell matches as a “hidden gem,” this would be the one. When discussions come up about great HIAC contests, this one seems to rarely enter the conversation. Just two months after Triple H had defeated Chris Jericho for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 18, these two aimed to settle their personal issues once and for all.

In what was only the eighth Hell in a Cell match of all time, we saw two men go to war 17 years before a new war begins. This Wednesday, AEW Champion Chris Jericho leads the charge for AEW on TNT the same night that Triple H’s NXT goes head to head with them via USA. If you want a warzone, this match is a great example of one.

Unfortunately, there were casualties that didn’t include the two competitors. Veteran referee Tim White was severely injured in this match in a spot where he bounced off the ropes and into the cell wall. White hurt his shoulder, which ultimately kept him out of wrestling altogether.

With referees down on the inside, that gave an opening for the door to be opened so help could arrive for them. This caused Triple H and Jericho to spill to the outside and ultimately find themselves on top of the structure. Jericho managed to lock in the Walls of Jericho on top of the cell, but Triple H fought out and hit a Pedigree into the cell to pick up the win.

8. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels

When and Where: Bad Blood on June 13, 2004, in Columbus, OH

This is a controversial one, as I’ve seen the matched ranked as high as the top ten and as low as the bottom ten. The main bone of contention deals with the match itself, a brutal cap to a bitter rivalry between Triple H and Shawn Michaels that was resuscitated upon Shawn’s return in 2002.

From bell to bell, this match lasted 47 minutes and 26 seconds. Over three-quarters of an hour of struggle, carnage, and violence. For some, the length is just too much. However, I can’t help but see it as something before its time. Iron Man matches were seen on occasion before this point, but a single fall match going this long was very rare.

I can’t help but wonder what the reaction to this kind of a match in today’s era would have been. Think about the epic matches between Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega. At Wrestle Kingdom 11, they went 46 minutes and 45 seconds. At Dominion 2017, they went to an hour-long time limit draw.

This match might not be for everyone, like the epics between Okada and Omega, but it’s one I see as a true classic. The level of exhaustion as the match progressed was palpable. There was plenty of blood, a ladder, chairs, and more as these two tore into each other for nearly an hour. Triple H took the win once the dust settled, but both of these men deserve recognition for this masterpiece.

7. SmackDown Tag Team Championship: The New Day (c) vs. The Usos

When and Where: Hell in a Cell on October 8, 2017, in Detroit, MI

The most recent Hell in a Cell contest in this top ten is also less than half the length of the one ranked just below it. This was the first time the tag team titles of any variety were defended inside Hell in a Cell, and these two teams didn’t hold anything at all back. This wasn’t the first tag team match inside Hell in a Cell, but it felt like the first one that truly honored tag team wrestling.

Of the three tag team (or tag team handicap) matches inside HIAC that took place before this one, only one (DX vs Legacy) came close, but even that wasn’t quite at this level. The Usos and The New Day are objectively two of the greatest tag teams in modern professional wrestling, and they carried that weight well into this contest.

There was no shortage of creativity and brutality, which went hand in hand as this match went on. Colorful kendo sticks, plenty more plain kendo sticks, musical instruments, steel chairs, handcuffs, and the cell itself all played a role. Kofi Kingston was stuck on the outside, forced to watch in moments like a handcuffed Xavier Woods being isolated and wailed upon with kendo sticks by The Usos.

The New Day came close to fighting back near the end, with Xavier Woods saving a near fall despite being handcuffed. It wasn’t enough, as The Usos got Big E down on the outside long enough to place a chair over a handcuffed Xavier Woods and land their Double Uce onto the chair to pick up the win and become the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions.

6. World Heavyweight Championship: Batista (c) vs. Triple H

When and Where: Vengeance on June 26, 2005, in Las Vegas, NV

Just shy of the top five, we’ve got the 2005 matchup between reigning World Heavyweight Champion Batista and Triple H. Just a few short months after Batista had triumphantly defeated Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 21, the two were set to settle their differences inside Hell in a Cell.

Things didn’t take long to escalate, with a steel chain becoming a focal point early on. Some of the shots of Triple H choking Batista with the chain just as things are getting rolling are truly amazing, and things really hit another notch when a steel chair wrapped in barbed wire joined the fun.

Of course, Triple H did eventually have “The Great Equalizer” which Jim Ross loved to call “The Damn Sledgehammer.” These two tore into each other at every turn, and we looked to see shades of Triple H using the sledgehammer to defeat The Undertaker at WrestleMania 17.

Batista got Triple H up high for the Batista Bomb, and Triple H had the sledgehammer. He looked ready to strike Batista with the hammer to slip out, much the way he did to Undertaker, but Batista was able to follow through with the Bomb before the strike could happen. It was enough for the win and gave Triple H his very first loss inside Hell in a Cell.

5. Undisputed Championship: Brock Lesnar (c) vs. The Undertaker

When and Where: No Mercy on October 20, 2002, in North Little Rock, AR

We’ve arrived at the top five, and these truly stand above the rest in their own special ways. To start things off, we have a gem from the early days of Brock Lesnar. Back in 2002, Lesnar was on a tear like few had ever seen. He tore through The Rock, Hulk Hogan, and looked here to finish off The Undertaker inside of Hell in a Cell.

Paul Heyman was right at Brock Lesnar side here, as was evidenced by the odd build to the match. Heyman had found a woman who alleged to have had an affair with The Undertaker, which is just scratching the surface on the weirdness. Skipping over that nonsense, this match really got special once the bell rang.

The Undertaker’s hand had also been injured in the lead up to this match, which is why he wore a thick cast when the match began. The cast gave The Undertaker an early edge, as he could use it as a handheld weapon, but Brock Lesnar then focused on removing the cast.

Heyman stayed involved from the outside, using his belt to trap Taker’s hand against the cell so that Lesnar could wail on it with a chair until the cast broke apart. As things continued to escalate, Lesnar finally countered a Tombstone Piledriver into an F5 which gave him the win in what remains one of my favorite Hell in a Cell matches.

4. The Undertaker vs. Mankind

When and Where: King of the Ring on June 28, 1998, in Pittsburgh, PA

I’m sure you were wondering when this one would come up. There’s just no denying what it means for Hell in a Cell history. While not the greatest ever, it was the power of a few key moments and what this match has come to represent that carry it up the list. The Undertaker and Mankind went to war early, and you might have forgotten that the iconic moment we remember most wasn’t even late in this match.

Mankind being thrown off the cell and through the table was one of the first big moments we saw, and things were just getting started. While Terry Funk came to the aid of his friend, and medical help came out, Mankind refused to let things end that easily. He fought his way back into the match, and they went on to do even more amazing spots.

The action got to the top, leading to the cringe-inducing chokeslam through the cell that came close to ending Foley’s career. There were even thumbtacks at play, as The Undertaker finally finished off a battered and broken Mankind to take the victory in one of the most memorable Hell in a Cell matches we’ve ever seen.

3. WWF Title No. 1 Contendership: The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels

When and Where: Badd Blood: In Your House on October 5, 1997, in St. Louis, MO

The first-ever Hell in a Cell match remains one of the absolute best. Not only did it seek to solve boiling issues between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker, but to decide who would get the right to challenge Bret Hart for the WWF Championship at Survivor Series 1997. Some readers might have already realized, Survivor Series 1997 was home to the infamous Montreal Screwjob.

There’s a lot of history wrapped into this match, and that connection doesn’t even have anything to do with the events of the match itself. We saw lots of moments that would come to be staples of HIAC first exhibited as early as this match, whether it was crew being “injured” and causing the door to be opened, people falling off the cell through tables, steel chairs, steel stairs, it was all there.

There was even a surprise appearance, this one being the historic debut of Kane. “That’s gotta be Kane,” Vince McMahon screamed from commentary as the arena glowed red and The Undertaker’s long-lost brother appeared. He attacked Undertaker, hitting the Tombstone Piledriver on him and ultimately helping Shawn Michaels pick up the win in what still remains a truly classic and unforgettable contest.

2. The Undertaker vs. Edge

When and Where: SummerSlam on August 17, 2008, in Indianapolis, IN

Here we are. Number two. You’ve probably already glanced at number one, but stay a minute here and appreciate what carries this 2008 Hell in a Cell match so close to the top of the list. The issues between The Undertaker and Edge began nearly one year before this when Batista defended his World Heavyweight Championship inside Hell in a Cell against The Undertaker.

That match landed all the way back at 28 on this list, but it planted the seeds for one of the greatest ones we’ve ever seen. Edge revealed himself to have been in disguise as a cameraman inside the structure, as he ambushed The Undertaker and cost him the match. It began a bitter rivalry that hit an apex at WrestleMania 24 when The Undertaker captured the World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Edge in the main event.

That bitter rivalry continued to boil, arriving at the true peak at SummerSlam that same year. This was also the last Hell in a Cell match prior to the creation of the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view, which certainly feels like an “end of an era” in HIAC history. The match intensified quickly, with Edge spearing The Undertaker into the steel stairs just as this one started to get rolling.

Edge definitely went back to his TLC roots here, as tables, ladders, and chairs were all focal points throughout the contest. He used all three in a moment that was an ingenious callback to something Edge had done to Mick Foley only a few weeks prior. The match even spilled to the outside, as Edge speared Undertaker through the cell itself and a few moments later through an announce table.

Earlier in the match, Edge had set up and stacked two tables just outside the ring between the mat and the cell structure. Unfortunately, Chekhov’s tables came back to bite him as The Undertaker chokeslammed Edge off the top rope and through both tables. After taking the win, The Undertaker wasn’t done as he chokeslammed Edge all the way through the ring, even raising fire through the hole in the ring to signify the absolute end of “The Rated R Superstar.”

1. WWF Championship: Triple H (c) vs. Cactus Jack

When and Where: No Way Out on February 27, 2000, in Hartford, CT

Here we are. The cream of the crop. The absolute top. The best of the best. Number one out of all 40 Hell in a Cell matches that have ever happened. This is one where I found some agreement, as this had been ranked at the absolute top on two other lists. I vividly remembered much of this match, as I’ve seen it several times. I honestly believed this might end up being my top match after taking the time to watch it yet again for this journey, and I wasn’t surprised when the dust settled and it topped my list.

Final Ranking for all Hell in a Cell Matches

Triple H vs. Cactus Jack at No Way out 2000
The Undertaker vs. Edge at SummerSlam 2008
The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels at Badd Blood: IYH in 1997
The Undertaker vs. Mankind at King of the Ring 1998
The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar at No Mercy 2002
Triple H vs. Batista at Vengeance 2005
The New Day vs. The Usos at Hell in a Cell 2017
Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels at Bad Blood 2004
Triple H vs. Chris Jericho at Judgment Day 2002
The Undertaker vs. Triple H at WrestleMania 28 in 2012
John Cena vs. CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio at Hell in a Cell 2011
Kurt Angle vs. The Undertaker vs. Triple H vs. Steve Austin vs. Rikishi vs. The Rock at Armageddon 2000
The Undertaker vs. Randy Orton at Armageddon 2005
Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair at Hell in a Cell 2016
Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt at Hell in a Cell 2015
Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens at Hell in a Cell 2016
Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose at Hell in a Cell 2014
Randy Orton vs. Jeff Hardy at Hell in a Cell 2018
Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon at Hell in a Cell 2017
D-Generation X vs. Legacy at Hell in a Cell 2009
Triple H vs. Kevin Nash at Bad Blood 2003
The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar at Hell in a Cell 2015
D-Generation X vs. Mr. McMahon, Shane McMahon, and Big Show at Unforgiven 2006
Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan at Hell in a Cell 2013
Randy Orton vs. John Cena at Hell in a Cell 2014
Randy Orton vs. Sheamus at Hell in a Cell 2010
Roman Reigns vs. Rusev at Hell in a Cell 2016
The Undertaker vs. Batista at Survivor Series 2007
The Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon at WrestleMania 32 in 2016
Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman at Hell in a Cell 2018
Randy Orton vs. John Cena at Hell in a Cell 2009
Randy Orton vs. Mark Henry at Hell in a Cell 2011
The Undertaker vs. Kane at Hell in a Cell 2010
Mankind vs. Kane at Raw is War in 1998
The Undertaker vs. CM Punk at Hell in a Cell 2009
The Undertaker & Steve Austin vs. Mankind & Kane at Raw is War in 1998
CM Punk vs. Ryback & Paul Heyman at Hell in a Cell 2013
CM Punk vs. Ryback at Hell in a Cell 2012
John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. CM Punk vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Jack Swagger in a dark match after Raw in 2011
The Undertaker vs. Big Boss Man at WrestleMania 15 in 1999

Patches Chance

Patches Chance is a former co-expert and current contributor for Daily DDT. A fan since 2000, he has come to love all forms of wrestling, from the most technically sound to the silliest and most absurd. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @patcheschance, at his website patcheschance.com, or by email at patcheschance@gmail.com.