WWE Hell in a Cell 2012: John Cena's Injury Shows That Themed PPVs Must End ASAP

With John Cena's elbow injury preventing him from facing CM Punk for the WWE Championship at Hell in a Cell, Ryback will have to step in as the challenger instead.

Unfortunately, the Hell in a Cell stipulation limits what the WWE can do. That is a glaring example of why themed pay-per-views should come to an end.

In a perfect world, there would be no winner or loser when Punk and Ryback meet at Hell in a Cell, but the writers have no choice at this point. The two world title matches are usually contested inside a cell at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view, meaning the result will be decisive in the favor of either Punk or Ryback.

That is a real problem because there isn't a feasible option aside from a disqualification, countout or no-contest, but none of those are possible.

If Ryback wins, then he becomes WWE champion, which is something he obviously isn't ready for. If Punk wins, however, then Ryback's undefeated streak comes to an end, and he loses some of his considerable momentum.

My best guess is that Brock Lesnar will make his WWE return by breaking off the cell door, attacking Ryback, helping Punk retain his title and joining a Paul Heyman-led stable. Although that would obviously give Ryback an excuse for coming up short, it would be a loss nonetheless, and it would hurt his mystique to some degree.

The WWE is in a very difficult situation as it is being held captive by the calendar.

If October's pay-per-view event was Over the Limit or No Way Out, then there wouldn't be an issue; the main event could be booked to end without a clear-cut winner. Since this month's pay-per-view is based on a gimmick, though, the WWE must adhere to it.

It used to be that a Hell in a Cell match was used in special circumstances to end or even further a feud, much like the Triple H vs. The Undertaker match at WrestleMania.

The presence of the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view has essentially prevented the WWE from using that match type throughout the rest of the year. That has damaged the match's prestige.

That alone doesn't seem to have deterred the WWE from utilizing themed pay-per-views, but perhaps the Cena situation will. I'm sure that the WWE's plan from the start was to have Cena face Punk at Hell in a Cell, provided his elbow healed fast enough, but that obviously hasn't happened.

Had Cena lost to Punk at Hell in a Cell, it wouldn't have been a big deal. Cena has lost plenty of matches over the course of his career, but he has won many more. He is well past the point of being hurt by a loss.

I'm sure this was the WWE's rationale; however, a wrench was thrown into the company's plans, and the Hell in a Cell theme puts the writers in an extremely difficult position.

I have no problem with some themed pay-per-views such as Royal Rumble or Money in the Bank, but there is absolutely no reason to have Hell in a Cell as an event.

Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank are matches that happen on one night per year, but Hell in a Cell should be able to happen at any point it is needed and shouldn't be limited to just one night. It certainly shouldn't prevent proper booking decisions from being made.

It's unfortunate that it took an injury to the company's top star to make it apparent, but it is now abundantly clear that themed pay-per-views like Hell in a Cell should be eliminated from the calendar.

I'm sure it has everything to do with hoping the pay-per-view name leads to more buys, but there hasn't been a noticeable difference. The majority of the hardcore fanbase isn't in favor of the company limiting its options throughout the year.

Whether it is Ryback winning the WWE Championship or Punk handing Ryback his first loss, an undesirable result is going to be put in place on Sunday. There is nothing the WWE can do about it because of the shackles it has placed on itself with regard to the Hell in a Cell stipulation.

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