WWE Hell in a Cell 2016: Most Underrated Matches in Event's History
Similar to past installments, WWE Hell in a Cell 2016 is shaping up to be a blockbuster event with three Hell in a Cell matches already on tap. With that in mind, there are bound to be bouts on the undercard that will be overlooked as a result.
It would be far from the first time, however, as there have been several Hell in a Cell matches over the years that have gone under the radar. Whether it was due to their positioning on the card or because they didn't transpire inside Satan's Structure, these forgotten gems don't often receive the recognition they deserve.
TOP NEWS
Fresh Backstage WWE Rumors 👊
Modern-Day Dream Matches 💭
Most Likely Backlash Heel/Face Turns 🎭
As this year's installment draws near, let's look at the most underrated matches from the event's illustrious history.
Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz vs. John Morrison (2010)
Two weeks removed from his grand United States Championship win, WWE bookers forced Daniel Bryan to defend his newly won title at Hell in a Cell against two opponents: The Miz and John Morrison. However, Bryan was right at home with it being declared a Submissions Count Anywhere match.
That match had been done only once before (Breaking Point 2009), and it was a mystery why it hadn't been brought back until that point. Despite that, Bryan, Miz and Morrison made the most of the stipulation and took the fight all over the arena.
As a submission specialist, Bryan had an edge over his opponents. But to their credit, Miz and Morrison did tremendous jobs of incorporating their own innovative offense and adapting more submission-based styles.
Miz claimed that his previous loss to Bryan was a fluke, but there was zero doubt who the better man was at Hell in a Cell when his former protege forced him to tap out for a second straight time. It was an entertaining opener that was forgotten in favor of the night's main event matches.
Randy Orton vs. Alberto Del Rio (2012)
Coming off three straight losses on pay-per-view to Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio was anxious to regain lost momentum at Randy Orton's expense. He put The Viper out of action for several weeks at one point, but once Orton returned to action, he was chomping at the bit for a fight with Del Rio.
Despite how boring Del Rio's character could be at times, there was never any question that he was an excellent athlete, and the same could be said for Orton. Thus, it wasn't surprising that they had instant chemistry in the ring against each other.
Their respective styles meshed together perfectly, causing fans to take notice of just how skilled both men were. They kicked off 2012's Hell in a Cell pay-per-view on a high note by producing a good match that deserved better placement on the card.
As Del Rio was walking off the turnbuckle, he came crashing down to the mat by way of an RKO. It was a well-deserved victory for Orton, but Del Rio lost nothing in defeat with the strong showing he had.
Cody Rhodes and Goldust vs. The Shield vs. The Usos (2013)
Tag team wrestling went through a renaissance period of sorts in the final few months of 2013 when Cody Rhodes and Goldust became WWE tag team champions. They were willing to take on all comers and defend their titles on a weekly basis.
Their premiere title defense came at Hell in a Cell in the form of a Triple Threat tag team match with The Shield and The Usos. The Shield was hungry to get the gold back in its grasp, while The Usos were looking to prove themselves as viable threats to the rest of the tag division.
This was a prime example of a match that didn't need to take place inside Hell in a Cell in order to be special. With all six Superstars working incredibly well together, there wasn't a single dull moment during the course of the contest.
Although the odds were stacked against Rhodes and Goldust and their championship reign was in jeopardy, they still managed to pull out the victory and retain their titles. This merely marked the start of what would be a fun three months with the Rhodes dynasty on top of the tag division as champions.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Cesaro (2014)
When Dolph Ziggler reclaimed the Intercontinental Championship for a third time in September 2014, he vowed to bring back prestige and honor to the overlooked prize. His first true test came in the form of Cesaro, who was riding a wave of momentum in the weeks preceding their championship clash.
After the two traded victories on episodes of Raw and SmackDown the week preceding the pay-per-view, Ziggler vs. Cesaro in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match was made official for the Hell in a Cell card. It served as an excellent opener to the event, and the stipulation played to their strengths.
Cesaro had suffered a series of losses on pay-per-view up to that point, but he still had a strong showing against Ziggler. The Swiss Superman pulled everything out of his arsenal in an attempt to put Ziggler away, but the champion endured the punishment and refused to give up the gold.
Despite Cesaro's best efforts to take the title from the The Showoff, Ziggler shockingly won the bout in back-to-back falls. The two could have benefited from a few more minutes, but the match was infinitely more interesting than anything else on the card, with the exception being the Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins main event.
Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, is a Digital Journalism major at Endicott College. Visit his website, Next Era Wrestling, and "like" his official Facebook page to continue the conversation on all things wrestling.
.jpg?w=600 "WWE Raw Results & Grades 🔠")
