WWE Hell in a Cell 2014: Power Ranking Every Card in PPV's History

If WWE Hell in a Cell 2014 is going to surpass the best editions of the pay-per-view, it will have to do so minus several of the biggest stars in the event's history.

Alberto Del Rio won't be stepping inside the steel structure this year. Daniel Bryan or CM Punk won't be around this time either. 

With those men injured, retired or working elsewhere, opportunities await emerging stars. Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Rusev and Bray Wyatt could be composing their own classics when Dallas, Texas, hosts this year's Hell in a Cell.

This pay-per-view has only been around since 2009. It has yet to put on a truly great show, to make the kind of mark that Money in the Bank has made.

Still, there are a number of thrillers inside the steel to remember fondly as well as standout matches on the undercard to applaud.

The following list ranks every Hell in a Cell to date based on how memorable and exciting the main event was and how much the rest of the card entertained. Dud matches bring an event down the rankings; big moments bring it up.

5. 2012

Main Event: CM Punk vs. Ryback (Hell in a Cell)

Standout Matches: Big Show vs. Sheamus 

Hell in a Cell is a B-show. The 2012 edition of the pay-per-view is proof of that.

No match deserves to be called a classic, and none are of the can't-miss variety. John Canton wrote on The Oratory, "There's really nothing worth checking out except for Big Show vs. Sheamus."

Big Show vs. Sheamus was the kind of hard-hitting clash one would expect from these guys. It was an engaging brawl, but not as memorable as their Survivor Series match that year.

Eve Torres defeating Layla and Kaitlyn was subpar, offering little in the way of highlights. The undercard mostly featured uninspired bouts such as Cesaro vs. Justin Gabriel and The Prime Time Players vs. Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara.

The lack of crowd reaction and electricity from those matches would have been forgotten had the main event been tremendous. Instead, it was only good.

An injury to John Cena had WWE scrambling. To replace him, the company pushed Ryback to the main event too soon. 

There were few options in terms of booking his battle with CM Punk. It was too early to end Ryback's undefeated streak, and he didn't seem ready to be WWE champ.

Ryback performed well, and the match was solid, but it wasn't violent enough, not making enough use of the Hell in a Cell gimmick. As a result, it didn't just feel like a main event. As Brandon Stroud wrote for Uproxx, "It wasn't something that should be representing the best part of the most successful pro wrestling company in the world."

The aftermath, Ryback pummeling referee Brad Maddox, was entertaining, but not enough to get this show higher on the rankings.

4. 2010

Main Event: Kane vs. Undertaker (Hell in a Cell)

Standout Matches: Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz vs. John Morrison (Falls Count Anywhere Submission). Sheamus vs. Randy Orton (Hell in a Cell)

Hell in a Cell 2010 started strong, and then its momentum dissipated. The worst main event in the event's history dampened any enthusiasm the rest of the night generated.

Bryan vs. The Miz and Morrison was a strong opener, a blend of mat wrestling, emotion and high-flying action. Fans could see Morrison's final leap coming, but it was still stunning to watch. 

After Sheamus and Orton put on a physical battle, it seemed as this show would only get better as the night went on.

Then Edge and Jack Swagger collided in a match that lacked energy. The crowd wasn't into it, and it's not hard to blame them. You won't find this contest on Edge's greatest hits collection. 

A tepid clash between Natalya vs. Michelle McCool then led up to Kane vs. Undertaker, a sigh-inducing world title match. A slow pace, uninspired brawling and a convoluted finish hurt it. The climax involved Paul Bearer shining a light from the urn into Undertaker's eyes. Suspending disbelief was a tough task.

Wade Keller wrote on PWTorch, "The finish was just too complex or not well-executed, as it came off flat and somewhat confusing as it played out."

It was a cartoony, clumsy way to end the show. Had the undercard not been as strong, it would rank as the worst Hell in a Cell event largely because of that match.

3. 2013

Main Event: Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan (Hell in a Cell)

Standout Matches: Cody Rhodes and Goldust vs. The Usos vs. The Shield

Last year's Hell in a Cell opened with excellence and ended in controversy.

The tag team title match was fast-paced, and each of the three teams shined. Near-falls and great chemistry powered it. That action had excitement racing through the audience, but the show's limp middle soon followed.

Fandango and Summer Rae vs. Natalya vs. The Great Khali shouldn't have been on a pay-per-view. It was a filler match on Raw at best.

The Real Americans vs. Los Matadores, Big E vs. Dean Ambrose and AJ Lee vs. Brie Bella left little impression as well. CM Punk vs. Ryback and Paul Heyman ranks as one of the least compelling Hell in a Cell matches ever. Heyman sitting atop the cage the entire time was a cop-out. 

That many flops keeps Hell in a Cell 2013 far from the top of this list, but it arrives this high thanks to the main event.

Some fans may have taken issue with Bryan vs. Orton ending with a Shawn Michaels superkick to the fan favorite, but this was a violent, aggression-filled fight. The mentor betraying his student was a memorable, emotional moment. 

Both foes excelled, surpassing their other pay-per-view bouts together.

Even with a main event that WrestleZone's Mike Killam called a "great match," it slides down the rankings. The 2011 and 2009 edition of the event didn't suffer from inconsistent undercards.

2. 2011

Main Event: Alberto Del Rio vs. John Cena vs. CM Punk (Hell in a Cell)

Standout Matches: Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger vs. Air Boom

Even with a thriller of a main event, Hell in a Cell 2011 can't nab the top spot thanks to its duds.

Beth Phoenix vs. Kelly Kelly did little to raise one's heart rate, title change and all. Sin Cara Azul vs. Sin Cara Negro ranks as one of the most disappointing climaxes to a feud.

For every solid match (i.e Sheamus vs. Christian), a snoozer like John Morrison vs. Cody Rhodes followed.

It's undercard was still better than Hell in a Cell 2013 thanks to a fun tag team match and the aforementioned battle between Sheamus and Christian.

The main event, though, is what earns this show its ranking. On ProWrestling.net, Jason Powell called it "an entertaining and intense match," and with good reason.

Del Rio, Punk and Cena worked extremely well together. The action was fluid. Emotion popped on the screen.

Steel pipes and padlocks added to the action before R-Truth and The Miz came charging in. Their attack on everyone involved gave fans plenty to talk about afterward, leading right into the Survivor Series main event.

1. 2009

Main Event: Legacy vs. D-Generation X (Hell in a Cell)

Standout Matches: Chris Jericho and Big Show vs. Rey Mysterio and Batista, Randy Orton vs. John Cena (Hell in a Cell)

The first edition remains the best. It is the most enjoyable show overall in Hell in a Cell history.

CM Punk and Undertaker opened with a solid Hell in Cell match that could have used more violence.

After that, quality bout soon followed quality bout. The tag title match, Cena vs. Orton and John Morrison defending the Intercontinental Championship against Dolph Ziggler were all fun and engaging.

Nobody is going to hand out five stars for any of those matches, but together they made up an undercard that didn't let fans down as in the other Hell in a Cell events.

The main event doesn't quite match Alberto Del Rio vs. Cena vs. Punk in terms of excitement, but the animosity between the teams, good chemistry and having D-X around again certainly made it enjoyable.

Wrestle Zone's Nick Paglino goes even further. He wrote of it, "This was a damn good match, with psychology and ring work acting as a really solid unit."

From top to bottom, this was the most consistent Hell in Cell card to date.

It's clear, though, that outdoing it will be no herculean task. Hell in a Cell still lacks a great show in its history, and 2014 offers another chance to remedy that.