WWE: Could Hell in a Cell Undercard Be Better Than the Main Event?

We still have almost a full month before WWE Hell in a Cell 2012, and there is widespread speculation about the matches we will see.

To date, only one match is set. Sheamus will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against The Big Show. CM Punk and John Cena were expected to headline the Oct. 28 pay-per-view, but Cena’s recovery from elbow surgery could possibly sideline him for the show.

The latest buzz has Ryback or Mick Foley stepping into that spot, but that likely will be determined as we get closer to the date.

While the WWE creative team sorts through what to include in Hell in a Cell, we are left to wonder if a trend we have seen in recent PPVs will continue in this one. There is one match on the undercard that ultimately overshadows the main event.

Think back to WrestleMania 27. The Undertaker-Triple H match was far superior to the main event match, where The Miz beat Cena to retain the WWE Championship.

Then there was this year’s No Way Out. The Triple Threat match with CM Punk, Daniel Bryan and Kane was much more exciting than the main event with John Cena and The Big Show in a steel-cage match. Unless you lived under a rock for the previous few months, you knew that Cena would win that match and lead to John Laurinaitis’ long-expected “firing” as the Raw and SmackDown general manager.

Other PPVs have followed that same line. So which match on the upcoming HIAC undercard could wind up generating more buzz than the main event? The lineup still is in flux, but there are some matches likely to happen.

Any match involving Kane and Daniel Bryan

Team Hell No is as over with the WWE Universe as any tag team can be right now. Their comedic adventures in anger management and team development are big reasons why many people have been watching Raw and SmackDown recently. They are expected to be on the show and likely defending their tag team titles against the Rhodes Scholars in a match that could be both highly entertaining and competitive.

Likelihood of overshadowing main event: Extremely strong

World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus vs. The Big Show

 This is the only definite match on the lineup right now that could possibly outshine the main event if the run-up is properly booked. But given that Show became the No. 1 contender last week, and there are just four weeks until HIAC, there are questions that a proper feud could be developed in such a short time. The WWE creative team members will earn their paychecks if they can build this one up.

Likelihood of overshadowing main event: Possible but not likely

Randy Orton vs. Dolph Ziggler

 Again, this is not definite. But given that both Orton and Ziggler are proven draws, it would be hard to leave either of them off the lineup. Plus, both are players in the WHC picture and have a solid history with each other. So expect to see this match serve as the launch for Ziggler to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase and Orton to go film 12 Rounds: Reloaded.

Likelihood of overshadowing main event: Very strong.

Matches involving other championships

 With the exception of Intercontinental Champion The Miz, who cares to see these belts go up? WWE seemed to be building a feud between Miz and Ryback, but now Ryback appears to be a wild-card fill-in for Cena against Punk. Christian could seek retaliation against Miz, but his actual standing within WWE is up in the air now. Without any decent build-ups, any matches involving these belts could be opportune times to check the refrigerator or head to the snack bar or bathroom.

Likelihood of overshadowing main event: Zero

There always is a chance that Triple H, Brock Lesnar or someone who has strong ties to previous Hell in a Cell matches could make an appearance to rile up the crowd. Depending upon what transpires, there is no reason to doubt that an appearance like that could push the main event into the background.

We’ll know more in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we just will have to assume that CM Punk will finally get that respect he has been craving and be the star of the show.

Or will he?

Follow Bill Atkinson on Twitter at @BAtkinson1963.