WWE Hell in a Cell 2015: Top Breakout Performances in PPV History
Many would argue that the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view has diminished the value of the structure itself. It's difficult to dispute the fact that the cell had more of an aura about it when it wasn't guaranteed to appear at least once a year.
However, the event has still been the setting for some memorable moments since its debut back in 2009. Whether they took place inside the cell or otherwise, some excellent matches have been produced by the pay-per-view.
The history of Hell in a Cell as a stipulation certainly adds to the appeal of the show. While some matches have detracted from that tradition, the best of the best have added to it, putting a modern spin on one of the most fondly remembered relics of the Attitude Era.
Here are the top five breakout performances from the first six years of the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view.
5. D-Generation X vs. the Legacy at Hell in a Cell 2009
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Looking back on the career of Cody Rhodes, it's easy to forget that the son of the son of a plumber is scarcely 30 years old.
Back at the inaugural Hell in a Cell pay-per-view, he was just 24—but that didn't stop him from hanging with some of the very biggest names in the business in the form of D-Generation X. For the fledgling Rhodes, competing against Triple H and Shawn Michaels was an early career highlight.
However, back then many would have tipped his teammate Ted DiBiase Jr. to be the breakout star of The Legacy. Rhodes managed to stake his own claim for stardom, and performances like this demonstrated that he was capable of reaching the highest echelons of the wrestling world.
Even today, many would argue that Rhodes is yet to reach his full potential. Looking back on matches like this one, you can certainly see why he's considered to be one of the more underrated wrestlers on the WWE roster at present.
4. Ryback vs. CM Punk at Hell in a Cell 2012
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This bout was Ryback's first taste of the main event—but it wasn't the Big Guy who delivered a breakout performance on the night.
Instead, it was the underutilized Brad Maddox, the acting referee for the championship match. With little more than a low blow, an assist to CM Punk's pin and a fast count, he managed to make the most of an unusual debut. The next night on Raw, he took full advantage of the crowd's dislike for his chicanery.
However, this breakout performance didn't lead to the success that it should have. Maddox has had several stints on WWE television, most memorably his time as general manager of Raw, but he's never really been put into a role that allows him to make the most of his talents.
The finish to this match took some skill to pull off correctly, and Maddox deserves his share of the plaudits. It's just a shame that this breakout performance didn't lead to more success in the long run.
3. John Morrison vs. the Miz vs. Daniel Bryan at Hell in a Cell 2010
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Typically, a breakout performance benefits one competitor in a match. However, this Triple Threat from 2010 could very well be considered a breakout performance for all three men involved.
The early stages of Daniel Bryan's WWE run might look inconsequential compared to his dramatic ascent to the world title, but his path to the United States Championship was almost as enjoyable to take in. A slow burn feud with The Miz was the perfect way to debut a wrestler with the technical prowess of Bryan.
This match, just a month after Bryan claimed the belt from Miz at Night of Champions, was a showcase for his abilities. The Submissions Count Anywhere stipulation played into his wheelhouse, but it also made for a unique and engaging way to start the show.
Recently, John Morrison has reignited his career as Johnny Mundo on Lucha Underground, but five years ago he was making a concerted effort to break through the glass ceiling of the WWE midcard. This match was just about as close as he ever came, looking like a star throughout.
Even the much-maligned Miz served his purpose here—it certainly helps that he had good matches with both Bryan and Morrison separately. At the time, this was a very exciting start to Bryan's first title reign in WWE—little did anyone know just how high he would climb.
2. Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins at Hell in a Cell 2014
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This year, we've become very accustomed to seeing Seth Rollins in the main event—and this bout from last year's Hell in a Cell pay-per-view was something of a precursor.
It's worth saying up front that the finish detracts from the bout, but it's a blemish rather than a deal-breaker. There was plenty of discussion ahead of the event whether this bout or Randy Orton vs. John Cena would be the main event, and you would have to say that the correct decision was made.
As soon as Dean Ambrose made his entrance—weapons in tow a la Casey Jones, no less—it was clear that this was going to be outside of the norm for modern Hell in a Cell matches. Rather than being restricted by the so-called "PG era," both men endeavored to deliver a brutal match regardless of outside influences.
The memorable sight of both men plunging from the side of the structure through commentary tables demonstrates the willingness of the duo to suffer for their art. However, this wasn't just meaningless spectacle—it's one of a minority of feuds to feel deserving of the Hell in a Cell stipulation.
Ambrose and Rollins were both established before this bout, but here's where each earned his entry into the main-event scene proper. Rollins has stayed there ever since—and you would have to think that Ambrose will return to it before too long.
1. Mark Henry vs. Randy Orton at Hell in a Cell 2011
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It's not often that a breakout performance comes more than a decade into a wrestler's career, but it's difficult to describe Mark Henry's showing at Hell in a Cell 2011 as anything else.
Having spent too long as an ineffectual spoke on the wheel of the midcard, Henry rose to prominence in 2011 by inducting competition into his Hall of Pain. It was a new side to the veteran, completely fresh and constantly engaging. However, it wasn't clear just how far the character development would propel him.
Henry answered that question inside Hell in a Cell, defeating Randy Orton without any kind of extenuating circumstances for the Viper. It was a clear-cut victory, perfectly placed to legitimize a seasoned veteran claiming his first world title so late in his career.
Crucially, this wasn't the typical WWE routine of having a villain resort to backhanded tactics. Henry used his size and his strength to their maximum potential, and that was enough of an advantage to get the job done. This is how you might like to see someone like Rusev be presented.
Henry made good on his career renaissance on this fateful night—and his memorable fake-out retirement to spark a feud with Cena couldn't have happened without this win. In fact, had he not been so dominant at Hell in a Cell and started his reign the right way, his time with the title might not have been so successful.
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