WWE Hell in a Cell 2011: Why the PPV Should Be Better Then Expected.

On Sunday, five men will go into the confines of the greatest torture device ever conceived.  With weapons at their disposal running the gambit from chairs to the unforgiving embrace of steel, a plethora of tools are available to inflict pain, their skills and sheer will to endure called into question.   All for the throne.   

In New Orleans, WWE Hell In A Cell will have at least five matches on the slate, with three championships on the line. One to resolve a mystery of masked men and one for the simple sake of pride.  

The stage in the New Orleans Arena will be set and the musicians set to go.  How the performers will fair is simple speculation at this point in the game, as they get set to dance in the "Devil's Playground."   However, there really isn't much feel for the PPV this time due to the short turn around cycle.  Admittedly, it feels a little weak on it's face, but the PPV could be one of the better ones of the year.

The official card is as follows:

John Cena (c) vs. CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio - Triple Threat in HIAC - WWE Championship

Mark Henry (c) vs. Randy Orton - HIAC - Heavyweight Championship.

Beth Phoenix vs. Kelly Kelly (c) - Divas Championship

Sheamus vs. Christian

Sin Cara (Hunico) vs. Sin Cara (Mistico)

There are cases where victories will lead to redemption for certain wrestlers or a loss will damn them.  There could be more to the PPV when the WWE invades the Big Easy.

The Structure Itself

Ok, look at the thing.  Just look at it. 

There is little reason to recap it, other then to mention that monstrosity is over five tons and is 20 feet high.  Built with the idea of finishing the WWE's most visceral feuds, it's also perfectly suitable in any instances where the idea of pain and suffering is needed.   Hell In A Cell is a signature gimmick match of the WWE, others being the infamous TLC (Tables, Ladders and Chairs) and Money In The Bank.

Usually, Hell In A Cell matches tend to be, at the worst, watchable.  At their best, they produce moments worthy of remembrance and matches that are legendary. That should lead to, at the very least, two matches that are Pay Per View worthy. 

Whether or not those matches are worthy of Hell In A Cell are debatable in and of itself, but that debate is academic.  When the forces collide in New Orleans Arena, careers could be changed forever.  For better or worse is almost irrelevant.

Redemption or Damnation

I think it suffices to say that Beth Pheonix's feud with Kelly Kelly started with all the promise in the world, but began to taper off around Night of Champions with her home town loss to the Roll Up Queen. 

Being the fans that we are, we have been hoping for a redemption of a division that been infected with the "Barbie Doll" virus, that being all looks, little ability. With the WWE's releases of talents Gail Kim and Melina and recent acquisition of Kharma (formerly Awesome Kong) getting a bout of pregnancy, the roster situation hasn't improved.

When "Goldust" Dustin Rhodes took over booking for the Divas, the situation became better then it had been in a long time.  Story lines were being told and match quality began to improve.  But the "A" feud for the Divas will be in full blow off mode, meaning it will end.  

Does Beth finally go over K2 or is she doomed to mediocrity from here on out?   Do we get actual matches worth talking about or are the gals simply eye candy?  Not to over sell the situation, but the 'E does make it's decision Sunday.

Cara vs. Cara: Match of the Night?

Genuine Lucha Libre contests in the WWE are like a John Cena heel turn.  It just doesn't happen. 

Admittedly, the build for the match has been average. But the Hunico and Mistico display two weeks ago left me salivating and that is what sold this match more then anything else up to that point.  Fast forward to Friday and HuniCara displaying new ring gear while cutting a promo hinting at their unusual history makes this match all the better.

Overall, if the match is given enough time, it could be a great change of pace and ultimately steal the show in New Orleans.  This will be the former Hunico's first PPV, while MistiCara needs a strong PPV performance to settle any doubts about his ability to hang in the WWE.  

Needless to say although I am cynical by nature, I am hopeful for this one.

Henry vs. Orton: The Vulnerability of the Viper?

At Night of Champions, a rather monumental thing happened. 

Randy Orton lost clean. 

Yup, "The Viper" ate a World's Strongest Slam and was given a three second tan by Mark Henry.  For me, it was probably the "Holy S__t!" moment of the night.

Needless to say, Henry's booking against Orton has been done fairly well and the match at Night of Champions was actually pretty good.  Orton ate a pin to put over Henry as an unstoppable monster.  Culminating a brilliant run by the former "Sexual Chocolate," it cemented him as the best heel in the company right now and a case for story of the year.

Henry, to his credit, has stepped up his game with a recent series of great promos and spots that have sold the story of his domination over everything that had a pulse, including the storyline shelving of the Big Show, Kane and now The Great Khali. 

Orton has been made to be a little crazier as of late, with his promos recently displaying a certain edge and emotion that has been missing since he turned face.  The accidental opening up of Cody Rhodes only aided that perception.

Going into Sunday, I have some expectation that the match will be better then at Night of Champions as they've had time to work on their timing and the type of match will favor Henry's slower, more powerful style. 

There is a little more riding on this match then at Night of Champions because it might signify the WWE's faith in it's newest monster and his ability to carry the SmackDown show.  If they have that faith, Henry will likely go over in a brutal match, which will let Orton move on to Cody Rhodes while Henry resumes his feud with Sheamus, giving the "Blue" show a couple of solid "A" feuds to work with through the end of the year as they begin the build up to WrestleMania.

In recent weeks, they've sold the idea that the RKO is maybe the most devastating finishing move in the WWE and the fact that Orton hadn't, up until recently, been able to hit it on the World's Strongest Man.  Will Henry continue his domination or will Randy embrace the "special place" he goes to? 

Triple the Threat, Triple the Fun

Punk and Cena is enough of a reason for the main event to be great.  Given the duos rather colorful history this summer—Cena taking two losses at the hands of the Second City Savior and their two PPV matches being some the best this year—there is little reason to doubt that trend will continue.

However, the recent injection of Del Rio into the Punk/Cena feud gives it something it desperately needed.  A heel.  Del Rio lifted the title from Punk at Summerslam only to lose it to Cena at Night of Champions.  While his push into the storyline did not feel as well done as it could have been, it has been passable.

Overall, unless the Sin Cara/Sin Cara match blows the roof of the New Orleans Arena, this should be the match of the night.   I would have preferred more Cena and Punk confrontations in the build to this match, but the overall history between the two top stars on Raw is enough of a sell.  Del Rio is simply icing at this point. 

Who wins the match will be irrelevant ultimately, as the triangle will likely continue to Vengeance later this month and then segue off to different feuds.  But that is no reason why the match should not be spectacular.

Christian, Sheamus, and the Future of Smackdown.

I've already laid the case that Christian and Sheamus will have a large effect on the future angles of SmackDown.  Little has changed in this regard.

Sheamus is one of the few big guys in the WWE who doesn't need a talented opponent to carry him to a good match.  As such, that will free Christian up for a bit more offense then usual and will allow him and Sheamus to tell a better story.  

Overall, this won't be a blow off match as the feud is just beginning, and it is a bit more then simple filler.

The PPV, while on a short hype cycle, has more meat then it first lets on.  Between the Hell in a Cell matches, the future of the Divas division, the absolute potential of the Sin Cara/Sin Cara match and Sheamus and Christian, this PPV will be more fun then folks are giving it credit for. There is a lot riding on it.

Thanks for reading!  What do you think?  Worth the time or simply a blow off "B" PPV that should never happen?  Leave your comments below.