WWE Hell in a Cell 2015: 10 Greatest Steel Cage Matches of All Time

It's that time of year, the time when WWE focuses its attention on ending some of its most heated rivalries inside the demonic structure known as Hell in a Cell.

Since 1997, the enormous steel structure has been the battleground for some of the top stars and their most hated foes, leading to some extraordinary wars.

Beginning with Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker and progressing over the 17 years that followed, The Cell has spelled the end for the most memorable feuds of all time.

But how did Superstars settle their beefs prior to the incarnation of Satan's Playground?

They did it inside a steel cage, using the structure to batter, beat and bloody their opponents before escaping for the victory. That gimmick match housed such epic encounters as Hulk Hogan vs. Big Boss Man, Tito Santana vs. Greg Valentine and Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart.

On Sunday, October 25, Brock Lesnar will meet inside Hell in a Cell, as the latest chapter of their epic rivalry unfolds in front of the WWE Universe.

As you prepare for that contest, take a look back through wrestling history at the greatest matches to ever be waged inside four sides of steel.

Be it a traditional steel cage or the sadistic Hell in a Cell, these are the elite of the elite. 

10. Steel Cage Match: Kerry Von Erich vs. Ric Flair

One of the greatest rivalries in sports entertainment history was born in a steel cage match on Christmas night in 1982, as Kerry Von Erich challenged "Nature Boy" Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. 

Fabulous Freebird Michael P.S. Hayes was the special referee and did everything in his power to help Kerry capture the title. As an honorable competitor, though, Von Erich wanted nothing to do with the blatant cheating.

Feeling as if he was ungrateful for all the Freebirds had done for him, Terry Gordy slammed the door on Kerry's head, thus allowing a beaten Flair to score a victory.

The match itself was fine, but it was the angle involved that helped elevate it to greatness. The involvement of the Freebirds ignited the war between them and the Von Erich family, which is one of the greatest rivalries in wrestling history.

Flair, for the first time in his career as champion, was but a background player in a larger story at play. 

9. Hell in a Cell Match: D-Generation X vs. Legacy

There are times in wrestling when working smart rather than hard results in a much better and more cerebral match.

That was the case in 2009 when D-Generation X (Triple H and Shawn Michaels) met Legacy (Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes) in the main event of the inaugural Hell in a Cell match.

With his tag team partner trapped in The Cell with DiBiase and Rhodes, Triple H tried everything he could to penetrate the otherwise impenetrable exterior of the cage. Michaels took a beating from the young stars as desperation set in.

The Game emerged from the locker room with a pair of bolt cutters, snapped the chair and tore through the competition. He repaid the favor, locking DiBiase outside the structure and working with Michaels to put Rhodes away for the win.

It was a completely fresh take on Hell in a Cell, one that was more story-focused. While none of the matches on that 2009 show really lived up to the history of the match, this was a great performance by all involved, leading to a fantastic match for reasons other than its peers on this list.

8. Hell in a Cell: The Undertaker vs. Mankind

There will undoubtedly be backlash over this match ranking as low as it does, which is understandable. Some absolutely love the 1998 Hell in a Cell match between Undertaker and Mankind (warning: video NSFW), while others consider it a dangerous stunt show that could have seriously injured Mick Foley more than it already did.

This writer falls somewhere in the middle, appreciating the story that was told but not the risks taken by both competitors. 

The fact is that the violence that unfolded within the match perfectly fit the tone of the rivalry. The two characters had hated each other from the moment Mankind debuted on WWE television, so it made sense that they would want to unleash on each other in the manner they did.

At the same time, the injuries suffered by Foley prevented the match from ever evolving past "move, lay around, move, lay around."

As a wrestling match, it was bad. As a spectacle, it was unlike anything fans had ever seen before. 

It deserves ranking on this list, but it cannot, in good conscience, go any higher than No. 8.

7. Steel Cage Match: Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle

The rivalry between Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle ranks as one of the most competitive in WWE history. Throughout the spring of 2001, they engaged in a series of bouts that included a near-classic at WrestleMania X-Seven, a 30-Minute Submission match at Backlash and a 2-Out-of-3 Falls bout at Judgment Day.

With both men moving in opposite directions following that final contest, they revisited their rivalry one last time, competing in a steel cage match on the June 11 episode of Raw.

They utilized their tremendous wrestling ability to wear the other down but did not stop there. Each took tremendous risks, throwing caution to the wind while diving off the top of the structure. Benoit successfully executed a headbutt, while Angle missed a beautiful, picture-perfect moonsault.

Thanks to the presence of WWE champion and Benoit rival "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Angle secured the victory and got the last laugh.

6. Steel Cage Match: Tito Santana vs. Greg Valentine

Prior to the rise of Hulkamania and the dawn of the Rock 'n' Wrestling Era, the greatest feud in WWE was over the Intercontinental Championship between Tito Santana and Greg Valentine.

The Superstars traded the title between themselves and in the process brought further credibility and prestige to it. Two of the best workers in the industry, they brought a certain work rate to Vince McMahon's promotion that the heavyweights further up the card could only dream of sustaining.

After nearly a year of chasing the title he had won from Don Muraco, Santana took to a steel cage in Boston with the hopes of wrestling the gold away from his greatest rival.

Valentine, the ground-and-pound technician, punished the more dynamic Santana, keeping him grounded. The challenger showed great resilience, though, and fought back. Most importantly, he seized every opportunity presented to him and escaped the cage, dropping to the arena floor just seconds after Valentine had the door of the cage slammed on his head.

After countless matches and chances to regain his title, Santana finally held the gold in his hands.

Like the Hart brothers some nine years later, Santana and Valentine focused on creating drama rather than brutality.

It worked spectacularly.

5. Hell in a Cell: Cactus Jack vs. Triple H

At Royal Rumble 2000 inside historic Madison Square Garden, Cactus Jack and Triple H fought for the WWE Championship in a Street Fight that proved The Hardcore Legend still had it at his age and that The Game was, in fact, a legitimate main event talent.

With their issues unresolved, they stepped inside Hell in a Cell weeks later at No Way Out. Triple H may have put his title up for grabs, but the story of the match revolved around Jack and the fact that his career was on the line.

Cactus fought a brilliant match, even sending his opponent retreating to the top of The Cell for safety. But in the end, an ill-advised piledriver attempt led to the challenger being backdropped through the roof of the structure and through the ring.

It was a huge bump that summed up the career of Mick Foley and led to Triple H's successfully retaining his title.

As the beaten and battered great limped up the ramp, he could feel comfortable knowing he was exiting on a high note, one-half of yet another five-star classic.

That is, until he returned a few weeks later and ruined what could have been a heartfelt sendoff. 

4. Steel Cage Match: Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart

The sibling rivalry between Bret and Owen Hart dominated WWE in 1994. With twists and turns that included a major upset victory by Owen at WrestleMania X and the unforeseen return of Jim Neidhart, fans were captivated by the program.

Intensifying with every passing week, and in hopes of keeping the massive Hart family on the outside of the squared circle when Bret defended his heavyweight title against his brother, it was decided that the match would take place inside a steel cage.

Crafting a match full of drama rather than barbaric and ruthless violence, the Harts entertained the fans inside Chicago's United Center by trading escape attempts. The timing of every escape was perfect, with Bret and Owen recovering just long enough to stop the other from dropping to the arena floor.

Eventually, Bret hung his brother up, trapping him between the bars of the cage and escaping for the win.

The match was a brilliant new take on the match, proof that two skilled veterans could deliver a classic without relying on blood and violence to fuel the story.

3. Hell in a Cell: The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels inadvertently cost The Undertaker the WWE Championship at SummerSlam in August 1997 (warning: video NSFW), but it was his lack of remorse and attitude change in the wake of the event that led to a rivalry between the two Superstars.

Their match at In Your House: Ground Zero, the first showdown between the legendary stars, ended in a wild, chaotic brawl. In order to ensure that Michaels could not run and that Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Chyna would have no effect on the outcome of their second bout, Hell in a Cell was booked for the first time in WWE history.

The steel structure was incredibly imposing as the two Superstars stepped through the door.

Once the bell rang, Undertaker brutalized his opponent, bloodying Michaels and leaving him unconscious in the center of the squared circle. It looked like The Phenom would finally achieve vengeance when the arena went dark and Kane made his debut in the company.

A stunned Undertaker stared at his long-lost brother in awe, then endured a Tombstone piledriver. As Kane made his way up the aisle and through the curtain, Michaels draped his arm over his opponent and scored the victory.

It was a phenomenal display of storytelling that saw the egotistical, arrogant and cocky Michaels beaten into oblivion, only to emerge with his arm raised in victory thanks to a demon from Undertaker's past.

There are few matches in WWE's long and illustrious history that were superior.

Except these next two.

2. Steel Cage Match: Magnum TA vs. Tully Blanchard

The United States Championship was the object of Magnum TA's affection as he stepped inside the steel cage for an "I Quit" match against Tully Blanchard at December 1985's Starrcade pay-per-view extravaganza (warning: video NSFW).

Though Dusty Rhodes vs. Ric Flair was the main event of the Jim Crockett-produced event, it was the grueling match for the secondary title that stole the show and left fans buzzing about the event.

After months of build, the feud between the upstart Magnum TA and Four Horseman Tully Blanchard erupted inside a steel cage, with each man forcing the other to wear the proverbial crimson mask while simultaneously trying to get the other to quit.

Blanchard used a microphone to try to beat his opponent into submission, but it was Magnum who blocked an attempt by his opponent to use a sharp piece of chair, then grabbed the weapon himself and dug it into the champion's forehead.

The pain too much to endure, Tully uttered the words "I quit" in between screams, ending his title reign and awarding Magnum the second-most prestigious title in the National Wrestling Alliance.

1. Hell in a Cell: Batista vs. Triple H

The epic encounter between world champion Batista and Triple H was a violent battle inside Hell in a Cell, a match that finally brought brutality and storytelling together to create a classic match between teacher and protege (warning: video NSFW).

After defeating his mentor at WrestleMania 21 and Backlash, The Animal arrived in Las Vegas determined to make it a clean sweep, proving to The Game that he was now "the man." Triple H, on the other hand, was determined to prove that he had not been passed by, that he was still the measuring stick in the industry.

Together, the two Superstars crafted a brilliant battle. 

Triple H was the cerebral assassin, using every possible move and weapon he could to try to defeat the champion. Batista, though, proved more barbaric, using the ring steps as an implement in his opponent's agony and finishing him off with his trademark Batista Bomb.

It was a fantastic match, one that finally encapsulated everything a fan could want out of the brutal match type, as well as a clean finish to boot.